Photo courtesy of ShelleySeale.com

This year will be my first year not hosting Meet Plan Go in Austin. It was a tough decision to make because I really love this event. In the past two years, I got the chance to meet so many great people getting ready for their own trip. But, my schedule just didn’t allow for it to happen. Luckily, we found a great pair to take the reins and from what I’ve seen, it’s going to be a fantastic night. Shelley and Keith are globe trotters who have first-hand experience taking a career break. They have great stories so I asked them to provide us with a guest post so you could get to know them better. To Shelley and Keith I saw, Knock ’em Dead! I know you’ll do great as hosts. And, for anyone thinking about taking a break, please check out this year’s Meet Plan Go event.

How Career Breakers Are Made

It’s literally the ticket to the whole world…but only 30% of Americans have a passport. A passport is about so much more than travel; and travel is about so much more than sightseeing and vacationing. It’s about witnessing different ways of life than your own, experiencing different cultures and ways of thinking, meeting and interacting with people who have a completely different lifestyle than your own.

It’s about their traditions, beliefs, loves, foods, hardships, dances, songs, history, geography, and passions. It’s about life itself – and there is far, far more to life and the world than what any of us see in our own backyards, in the little corner of this planet that we are born into.

Neither of us came from families that traveled much while we were growing up; family road trips were the most of it. When we each finally started traveling as young adults — decades before we knew each other — worlds were opened up that we had previously only dreamed about.

Photo courtesy of ShelleySeale.com

Keith’s story: A serial career breaker

I never really had the opportunity to travel while growing up, but even as early as in my middle school years I knew that I wanted to eventually get out and see the world. Then, burnt out on school after finishing my sophomore year in college, I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to backpack around Europe with my best friend. That decision ended up being one of the most important and best decisions of my life.

To save the money I needed for the trip I worked a ridiculous number of hours of hard labor at a box factory of all places and took any other odd jobs that I could find that summer. When September came around my friend and I flew standby to Brussels with the vaguest of plans, our precious travelers checks (no ATM cards back then!), a copy of Let’s Go Europe, and a sense of excitement that I cannot possibly put into words. Before that time I had never been more than 400 miles away from where I was born, and here I was about to backpack around Europe!

That three and a half month trip changed my life forever. The sense of wonder and excitement that I got from exploring different countries and cultures on my own never left me, and I knew without a doubt that travel would always be a big part of my life. Likewise, learning how to adapt to the unexpected while on the road made me much more confident in myself and prepared me for taking other worthwhile risks in life. And last but not least, getting outside of my ‘normal’ life and comfort zone to mix with people with such different lives and belief systems has enabled me to see our complex world in a much more open and understanding way.

Upon returning home from that auspicious trip back in 1985 I eagerly finished school, and I have been a regular career breaker ever since. Sprinkled all throughout my various stints in Corporate America and even after practicing law for a short while I have taken multiple extended trips abroad. From backpacking throughout different regions of the world, including a two year hiatus in Southeast and South Asia, to studying Spanish in Guatemala, to teaching English in Japan, to doing bits of volunteer work, I have taken breaks from work to recharge my batteries and to regain perspective.

And after my last job in Corporate America three and half years ago I decided to intertwine my livelihood even more closely with my love of travel. I simplified my life to give me the time and space to explore different opportunities, and I ended up starting a travel consulting business that has spread into travel photography as well. With my partner Shelley Seale, I co-wrote the book How To Travel For Free (or pretty Damn Near It!), and I likewise became the Director of Overseas Projects for a non-profit organization. Doing these things hasn’t always been easy, but it has certainly been well worth it.

Because travel has changed my life for the better in so many ways, I a firm believer that everyone should take an extended trip at least once in their lives. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard anyone who has done it say that they regretted it later, and at the same time I have heard plenty of people say that they HAVE regretted not taking the time to do it. So if you have been thinking about hitting the road, you really just need to make up your mind and take the plunge!

Keith’s website is Travel Sherpa Keith and you can follow him as @SherpaKeith on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of ShelleySeale.com

Shelley’s story: A passport to a new lifestyle

I got my first passport in my senior year of high school, in 1984. Up til that time I had only been to places in Texas and a few surrounding states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana) and to Mexico (you didn’t need a passport back then). My high school’s Spanish teacher, Doctora Rodriguez, was organizing a month-long European trip – and that is what I wanted for my high school graduation present. With all my heart and soul, desperately. Many other people would have perhaps thought that was $2,000 that could have bought a car, something longer lasting.

But the truth is that it is the car, or any other thing that could have been purchased with that money, which would have been gone long ago. Now, more than 25 years later, I still have fond memories of my first glimpses of London, the Eiffel Tower and Leaning Tower of Pisa (you could actually climb it then!). I remember looking down from my hotel window in Rome, after Italy had just won a huge soccer match, to see the complete gridlock party in the streets. That trip fueled a lifelong love of travel – and the curiosity and desire for learning that came with it.

Over the next 15 years I didn’t travel extensively, internationally. I started a career (my previous career in real estate), got married, had a child. I traveled here and there, but it wasn’t until I took my daughter to France when she was 10 years old that my next phase of life — that of a global wanderer — really began. Within the next few years I began to transition out of real estate, which was a career that sort of chose me and that I wasn’t passionate about, and into a full-time writing career.

I also began to transition my writing around travel writing. I still write about a lot of other topics in addition to travel, such as food, lifestyle, nonprofits, health and wellness — but part of my crafting of a new work life including crafting of a new whole life. See, I came to realize that we shouldn’t have to compartmentalize our lives. Work shouldn’t be some separate thing that you do for 1/3 of your life just to pay the bills. I wanted to create a life that reflected my passions, values, interests and beliefs — and that certainly included travel.

You don’t have to be a writer to do this. There are plenty of ways that people find to earn money on the road or to support a traveling lifestyle. I have several friends who come home and work and earn money (which they save) for months or years at a time, then hit the globe for months or years at a time on that money. Others work their way around the world doing bartending, odd jobs, child care, English language teaching, working on farms, etc. Still others start businesses that can be done online or become consultants who can work virtually from any location.

In today’s world, with the Internet and mobile phones as well as the new workplace norm of more freelancing, entrepreneurship and virtual offices, it’s much easier to make a living, and a life, while traveling. I encourage anyone to follow their dreams in this regard. Yes, it takes time and patience and a lot of hard (but mostly just consistent) work to make it happen. But if it’s really what you want, I promise you — if I can do it, so can just about anyone else!

Shelley’s website is ShelleySeale.com and you can follow her as @shelleyseale on Twitter.

Meet Plan Go is a nationwide movement focused on career breaks and long-term travel. The Austin event, one of 10 cities in North America hosting the events, will be held on October 16 at Abel’s on the Lake. Tickets are limited to 120 and selling fast. Get yours today. 

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How Career Breakers Are Made is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Not a bad view for the event. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

On Tuesday night, once and future Austin career break travelers came together at Abel’s on the Lake to talk travel. We broke through our attendance from Meet Plan Go 2010 of 70 by having 87 people show up. A few ticket holders didn’t make it unfortunately. I’m particularly happy that Austin ranked 5^th out of the 17 Meet Plan Go cities for tickets. Clearly this city is craving a little international travel!

Most of the attendees were still dreaming of a career break, but a good chunk had already started their planning. We even attracted a few career break veterans. Most people from from Austin and central Texas, but a few came from as far as California, the eastern seaboard and Toronto.

Our great panel showcased the breadth of experiences that career breakers can have. Catherine Hearn talked about her decision to go traveling after battling with a brain tumor at the age of 23. Angela Pettit showed how you can redesign your life to keep yourself on an ongoing sabbatical. Chris Poynor and Caroline Boudreaux showed what kind of impact taking a career break can have on your life. We also showed a video of Caroline talking about her experience. And, Toby Tull and David Aycock shared their planning experience for their upcoming world tour.

We ran over…by an hour. My intention was to be done in an hour to leave much more time for questions and networking. We lost a few people and for all of you, I am sorry I underestimated the time we needed. But, looking back, I can’t think of who we could have cut to finish earlier. And, there was so much we didn’t touch on. For example, someone tweeted a question wanting to know more about families who take a career break. Too much good stuff to share. Of course, you can always reach out to me to help answer your questions! And, here’s how to get in touch with all of our panel to follow them and their travels.

• David Aycock, Global Encounter
• Caroline Boudreaux, The Miracle Foundation
• Catherine Hearn, Thrive-ing
• Angela Pettit, Sabbatical Scapes
• Chris Poynor, Hot Austin Real Estate
• Toby Tull, Global Encounter

Here are a few shots from the evening and a video from Erica and Shaun of OverYonderlust from our panel in 2010 and are currently traveling on their career break.

A room to a view. Great venue at Abel's on the Lake. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Check in at the door. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Hanging out waiting for the show to begin. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Panelists ready for action. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Some of our fab volunteers. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Is Angela ready? Or is she ready?? Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Jeff getting things kicked off. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Catherine tells her story. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Checking out Angela's story from the crowd. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

It's quite possible that Chris and Caroline stole the show! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Toby and David talk about their big trip in 2012. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

National Sponsor Intrepid Travel represented! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Hostelling International represented! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

After-event networking. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Austin Rocks Meet Plan Go 2011 is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Last year's cast of Glee, I mean, Meet, Plan Go!

A Career Break Call To Action

Having a Bad Romance with your job? Feeling like you want to Take a Bow? But maybe fears about all those Bills, Bills, Bills is making you feel trapped. Maybe leaving your job to travel makes you feel Alone or like a Loser? Hey Soul Sister, taking a career break isn’t a crazy Teenage Dream when your job is leaving you with No Air. Sometimes you have to just Go Your Own Way, get Physical and make your stand to say “It’s My Life!”  Taking a career break isn’t Pure Imagination. Imagine all the people who found their True Colors and came back Stronger. It’s not about being Lucky. It’s not even about Taking Chances. It’s about looking inward, to that inner, personal place, Somewhere Only We Know, and committing to yourself that this is the Last Christmas before you go Over the Rainbow. It’s about going to the Borderline where your Smile is so big, that you Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore. In fact, you are Burning Up, and on such Fire that your friends and family are screaming for Ice, Ice Baby. You are Defying Gravity and can’t wait to be Leaving on a Jet Plane.

This is How We Do It!

• First, Try a Little Tenderness With Yourself. While your burnout may make you feel less than Bootylicious, or like you want to Bust Your Windows, that’s no way to deal with your Toxic situation.
• Second, Bust a Move. And think about yourself Leaving on a Jet Plane. Then, Dream On, set a goal. What needs to happen to make you feel Like a Virgin on your career break? What do you need to achieve so you can say “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life?”
• Third, Give Up the Funk. Make your plan and focus. Don’t be Proud Mary! You really want to Light Up the World? Then, PYT (Pretty Young Thing), if what you’re doing doesn’t move you towards your career break goal, then treat it like Poison, and Run Joey, Run. And, if you’ve got a few nasty naysayers in your midst, don’t be afraid to say “Don’t Stand So Close to Me!”
• Fourth, My Man, it’s time to put on that Poker Face and go for it. Jump off that Highway to Hell and get yourself Rollin’ in the Deep sooner rather than later. Life is out there and it’s your turn to be Lovin’/Touchin’/Squeezin’ all it has to offer. Just be sure to respect it if it turns around from time to time and says, “U Can’t Touch This!”

And just so you know, I’ll Stand By You.

So, Raise Your Glass and make this commitment to yourself. It will take less than 4 Minutes to open your life up River Deep, Mountain High.

Jeff

Come join us at Meet Plan Go on October 18 at 17 locations around North America for an inspirational night to show you have to make your someday trip a reality. And if you’re in Texas, come to the Austin Meet Plan Go event which I’m hosting.

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Career Break Call to Action (Inspired by the Songs of Glee) is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

On October 18, 2011, Meet, Plan, Go! will hold their second annual nationwide event in 17 cities to inspire people to fulfill their career break and long-term travel dreams. The event will offer participants the opportunity to MEET inspirational speakers and like-minded travelers; get motivation, contacts and resources necessary to PLAN the trip of a lifetime; and start taking concrete steps forward to GO on that global adventure.

The event in Austin will be held at Abel’s on the Lake, doors open at 7pm, and will be hosted by Jeff Jung, the career break travel guy and co-founder of Austin-based, CareerBreakSecrets.com The program will feature a panel of individuals who have either fulfilled their own world travel dreams or are currently in the planning stages. Panelists include Caroline Boudreaux of The Miracle Foundation, life and wellness coach Catherine Hearn, former IT executive Angela Petitt (SabbaticalScapes.com), and future career breakers, Toby Tull and David Aycock who just launched Global-Encounter.com. In addition to offering tools and resources for planning a career break, they will also address the main concerns that prevent people from taking a career break, usually centered around financial, career-related, societal, and safety concerns.

“Career Break Secrets is thrilled to be hosting the Austin event for the second year in a row. Taking a career break is fairly new to Americans, where as other parts of the world like the UK and Australia where taking time off to travel is much more accepted – our mission is to change that,” says Jeff Jung, founder of Career Break Secrets and host of the Austin event. “It’s really about finding some balance in your life, and taking the time to pursue a passion you have or just recharge,” adds Jung.

Over 2,400 people registered for last year’s inaugural event – 23% of which were in a trip planning stage pre-event. In a post-event survey, that number rose to 41%. “We want career breaks to be more acceptable in America,” says Meet Plan Go co-founder Michaela Potter. “In fact, we would love to see a career break on every resume. And with the support of our 17 inspiring hosts, their panelists, and our sponsors, including Intrepid Travel, we are making great inroads to achieving that goal.”

In addition to Austin this year’s Meet, Plan, Go! locations include: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Washington DC and Toronto, Canada.

Visit CareerBreakSecrets.com for registration and ticket information

Career Break Secrets provides planning and travel advice for career break and around the world travel adventures through the Career Break Secrets travel show, on the website, and an independent blog by Jeff Jung, the career break travel guy. Career Break Secrets makes planning for your career break or long-term travel adventure simple and fun. For more information visit CareerBreakSecrets.com.

Meet, Plan, Go! offers travel advice and coaching for people planning a career break or sabbatical. When someone is venturing on such a life changing adventure it’s important for them to have a support community that they can connect with, and Meet, Plan, Go! offers that through in person events,  an online course, and inspirational blog. For more information visit MeetPlanGo.com

Career Break Secrets hosts Meet, Plan, Go! in Austin, a Nationwide Event to Help People Realize Their Career Break or Long-term Travel Dreams is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Some of the hosts together in Vancouver at the 2011 Travel blogger conference

Long-term and career break travel is still a concept that eludes a lot of people. ¨Who are these crazy people?¨ As the concept gains acceptance and more people break away to travel, it’s becoming harder and harder to identify the sterotypical career breaker. From singles to couples to families to single parents to 20-somethings to 40-somethings to, egad, 50-somethings, people of all stripes are giving themselves permission to break from their career and pursue their personal passions.

Before Meet Plan Go 2010, I highlighted the hosts from around North America as a way of showcasing a cross-section of these travelers. Now, we’re gearing up for Meet Plan Go 2011. The event has grown and so too has the cross-section of travelers who make up this well-traveled crew.

As with last year’s post, this is my non-scientific, but not completely random categorization of travelers represented by the Meet Plan Go hosts. Many of the folks listed below could fall into multiple categories. And, for every type of traveler represented here, there are many more archetypes that are not.

The Faces of Career Break Travel

The educators and volunteers

Jane in Africa

Lillie in Thailand

Boston public school teacher, Lillie, took a break early in her career. Using her experience in Asia, Europe and a 3 month volunteer stint in Ghana, she brings her global outlook to her students. Jane from Denver, spent a year traveling around the world volunteering along the way. Volunteering is one of the most popular career break travel activities and these ladies have a lot of expertise on the matter.

The couples

Bert and Patty in the Cook Islands

Adam and Megan on the Lake of the Ozarks

Lisa and George in Tonga

Ah, young love. Whether on a honeymoon or recently after marrying, many couples hit the road to write the first chapter of their lives together. Sometimes, it’s just a good way to restart and reenergize their lives to transition to the next phase. Bert and Patty from Seattle, Lisa and George from Los Angeles and Adam and Megan from St. Louis, know the good and the bad of traveling with your best firend and spouse.

The soloists

Janice in Patagonia

Olivia in Iceland

JoAnna in Vietnam

Lisa in Australia

Don’t have anyone to go with? Not a problem as these 4 strong women show. If solo travel were a fashion trend, we’d probably say that ¨solo is the new black.¨ Janice from Toronto, Olivia from Portland, JoAnna from Las Vegas and Lisa from Chicago, all took the plunge. And, here’s a career break secret: there are lots of women who decide to go solo. Gentlemen, it’s still OK for you to go solo too.

The families

Rainer and his family in Kyoto, Japan

Sarah, Morgan and the kids in Barcelona, Spain

Mike and Catrell in Brazil. Not pictured are their 3 sons they traveled with. Copyright CooneyFamilyAdventures.com

Have kids and think you can’t travel? These Meet Plan Go hosts would beg to differ. Every year, I see more and more families taking the plunge, using the experience to give their kids another dimension to their education. Rainer from New York, Sarah and Mike and Catrell have led their families around the world raising the next generation of global citizens.

Multiple Breakers

Kirk with his son

Yen in Indonesia

Sometimes, one break just isn’t enough. It certainly wasn’t for Yen from Honolulu or Kirk from Minneapolis. Be careful, career breaks can be addictive.

The Digital Nomads

Alyson and John in Colombia

For some, travel becomes a llifestyle. So, to keep an income stream, travelers like Alyson and John from New Orleans, set up a virtual shingle. Have access to internet, can work while traveling!

The Former Corporatists

Sherry in Vietnam

Jeff in Colombia

Leaving our corporate jobs behind to see the world, Sherry, Meet Plan Go co-founder, and myself, the Austin host, represent the most stereotypical career breaker. While many businesses are starting to adopt paid and unpaid leave policies, sometimes you just never go back…and advocate for the cause.

The Back-To-Work Breakers

Sonia in her Burning Man costume

Michael and Michaela in New Zealand

Here’s another career break secret: Most career breakers actually go back to their same career, sometimes even their same employer! Sonia from Washington DC and Micheala and Michael, co-founders of Meet Plan Go, represent this bulk of 70% of career breakers.

Many MORE Faces of Career Break and Long-Term Travel is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

North America’s largest career break travel event is coming back to Austin in October. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 7 months since we met Austin to talk world travel, career choice and lifestyle design. Over 70 people in Austin and 1000 people across North America showed up to listen to and meet our panel of travel experts. We shared stories, tips, tricks and gave away lots of great prizes thanks to a bevy of national and local sponsors. Here are some of the photos from last year’s event!

Since then, several of our participants left the US and are currently traveling the world. Some were already on their way. While others were so inspired after the event that they took action and started traveling.

I am really thrilled that we will be doing it again this year. On Tuesday October 18, 2011, we’ll be meeting up in Austin and 16 other cities around North America to talk long-term travel and how you can make it a reality for yourself. Here is what we know now with more to come!

Date: October 18, 2011

Where: not in Austin? No worries. Check out Meet Plan Go in these cities: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Portland, San Francisco, St. Louis, Toronto and Washington DC

Tickets: Tickets will go on sale soon

Resources to Watch:

• Career Break Secrets site
• Career Break Secrets on Facebook
• Meet Plan Go site
• Meet Plan Go on Facebook
• Meet Plan Go Newsletter

Other Great Information

• 2010 Recap

Want to Be Involved?

We’re definitely on the lookout for great volunteers, especially travelers who have made the leap themselves. If you want to help us, please email Jeff and Cheryl at info @ careerbreaksecrets.net (remove the spaces)

Want to Be a Local or National Sponsor?

First, check out the benefits of being a sponsor and follow the contact info on that page.

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It’s Time To Meet Plan Go in Austin…Again! is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

UPDATE

Since writing this review, Meet Plan Go has updated its program. So, be sure to review their site for what’s included. I still recommend the program and believe that the changes strengthen an already great program.

REVIEW

On January 19, 2011, the people who organized the successful Meet Plan Go events around North America, are launching the Career Break Basic Training Program. It is designed specifically for people that have moved beyond dreaming to action! When I planned my career break in 2006, there was nothing remotely close to this kind of resource available to me to help me plan and prepare.  The best part is that you will be joined by others who are in the same spot as you in life.  So, not only will you receive top-notch training, but you will be part of a supportive community that wants to see you get to your goal!

I am proud to be one of the few exclusive sites to offer this amazing program. And, I highly recommend Basic Training to you and I encourage those of you planning a career break to enroll. In fact, I’m involved directly and will be one of the ¨Career Break Veterans¨ in the program’s community.

Finally, I am so excited by this program, that if you sign-up for the Basic Training through Career Break Secrets using one of the links on this page, we will GIVE you a copy of our downloadable Spain Video Travel Guide!  Bonus details below.

The Basics of Basic Training

Curriculum: 8 Modules

The Basic Training Program has 2 major components: An 8-module, self-paced travel course and community both designed by Career Break Gurus Michaela Potter and Sherry Ott of Briefcase to Backpack. Here are the modules included.

• Lesson 1: Finding Your Inspiration

• Lesson 2: From Inspiration to Reality…Next Steps

• Lesson 3: Earn Your Freedom: Financial Planning for Long-Term World Travel

• Lesson 4: Alternatives to Traditional Tourism

• Lesson 5: Own Your Journey

• Lesson 6: Essential “To-Do” List Items for the Road

• Lesson 7: “To-Do’s” For Home and Career

• Lesson 8: Two for the Road: Tying it Together and Next Steps

Finally, know that your membership in the community will continue after you’ve completed the modules.

Key Program Features

• Wisdom & guidance from career break veterans – a hand-picked community of road-savvy travelers.

• Inspiring video and audio files prepared exclusively for Basic Training.

• Access to a wealth of recommended reading and resources for aspiring world travelers.

• Valuable tips & resources from experts in the fields of: Financial Planning | International Volunteering | Teaching ESL | Journaling | Blogging | Insurance | Downsizing | among others

• Opportunities to interact through discussion groups and forums.

3 Testimonials (Of Many)

Meet Plan Go has already been through Round 1 of the Boot Camp. And, the feedback has been incredible. Here is what real students had to say about the course.  More can be found on the Meet Plan Go site.

Enrollment Information

Enrollment for Career Break Basic Training Program opens on January 19. For just $149, you receive:

• 8 self-paced lessons
• Ongoing community and forum access
• Reliable career break resources
• Time saving structure

In addition, purchasers will get a $75 coupon from Airtreks to help you with your international airfare.

Exclusive Career Break Secrets Bonus Offer

As I mentioned above, I really believe in this program. So, to sweeten the pot for you, I am going to throw in an hour coaching session with me. You can schedule your hour with me at the beginning, middle or end of your course, whatever makes the most sense for you. I will talk to you about your specific situation and offer you advice on whatever topic you want from negotiating your time off to buying tickets to budgeting to reentry advice. It’s up to you! It’s your hour. The call is only available via skype since I am in South America most of the time. If you haven’t used it before, I’ll help you get started. And, it’s a great technology to use on the road so you might as well get used to it now, before you go.

Good luck in the Program. And, feel free to reach out to me in the community forums to let me know how your planning is going!

Jeff

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Enroll in the Career Break ¨Basic Training¨ Course is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Meet Plan Go Host Meetup

One of the most visible aspects of the upcoming Meet Plan Go events around North America is to highlight who actually engages in long-term and career break travel.  There is a lot of speculation about who the stereotypical long-term traveler or career breaker might be.  And, most of the hypotheses put forth are, frankly, wrong.  Even in the travel blogosphere, big travel media sites which I would expect to be the most educated about who we are, get it wrong.

Long-term travel is a very specific and yet amorphous niche within travel within the US and Canada.  Our friends in the UK, New Zealand and a few other European countries have a much better handle on long-term travel because, for a variety of reasons, it plays a much bigger role in their national culture and dare I say, national identity. “Travel happens” as it were.

Who We Are

So, forget what you know or think you know about long-term travel and those that do it.  Here is a summary of the different faces of the long-term travel segment that are involved with Meet Plan Go.  There are other segments (like the mini-career breakers) and some are more prevalent than others.  What I want you to convey is that the long-term traveler is not one type of person but a diverse group of people all passionate about the potential that long-term travel has to enrich one’s life in a way that no other activity can.  And we feel that way because of the effect it’s had on our lives and the interest we’ve seen from family, friends and strangers in what we’ve done, what we’re doing or what we’re about to do.  That’s not to say that this type of travel is appealing to everyone. But for us, the experiences that we’ve had traveling are part of what defines us.

I focus here on the hosts of Meet Plan Go.  But, look below the surface at any event and you’ll see an even wider circle of diverse travelers helping make it happen.  It should also be noted that many of the hosts fit into other categories in addition to where I placed them.  This list is certainly not complete, nor scientific.

Elizabeth and Barbara Pagano. Copyright YourSabbatical.com

The Enablers:  Atlanta hosts, Barbara and Elizabeth Pagano; and San Francisco Host, Tara Russell.  These folks are in the trenches daily talking to companies and individuals about the benefits of taking a long-term break.  They make the business case to companies of offering a sabbatical benefit. And they work with individuals to figure out how a break fits into their lives. But, these women and others like them are key to increasing acceptance in the business community of people heading out to travel and pursue their personal passions.

The “Back to Work” Breaker: Washington, DC Host, Sonia Zamborsky.  Sonia represents 70% of the career break segment – those that literally just wanted a break and then go back to their career.  While she is still an avid traveler, she’s melded back into her corporate life…but this time around, she’s maintaining her balance.

Lillie Marshall, Boston Host. Copyright AroundtheWorldL.com

Teresa Sandboarding in Peru. Copyright ArtofBackpacking.com

The 20-Something Breakers:  Boston Host, Lillie Marshall; Philadelphia Hosts, Michael Tieso and Teresa Gotay.  These travelers are on the front-lines of rewriting what a career looks like.  By taking a break early in their careers, they are rending the notion of what a “typical” career looks like obsolete.

Janice eating a cricket. Copyright SoloTraveler.com

Alisha in Puerto Rico. Copyright SmallWorldPursuits.com

The Soloists: Toronto Host, Janice Waugh; Dallas Host, Alisha Robertson; and Chicago Host, Lisa Lubin.  These women highlight something that I noticed while I was traveling: there are many more single, female travelers out there than gets noticed.  And they show all travelers, male and female, that traveling solo doesn’t mean traveling lonely.

Lisa catching the sunrise on Mount Sinai. Copyright LLWorldTour.com

The Traveling Duos: Seattle Hosts, Betsy and Warren Talbot, and Philadelphia Hosts Keith and Amy Sutter.  One couple is getting ready to leave and the other is just coming back.  Doing the big trip together might scare some, but not these dynamic duos.  Both couples have downsized their life in the US to make it possible to fulfill their dream abroad.

Keith & Amy in Sydney. Copyright GreenAroundtheGlobe.com

Warren and Betsey Talbot in Vancouver. Copyright MarriedWithLuggage.com

The Cooneys, Morgan, Harrison, Catrell, Mike, and Zach, in Guatemala. Copyright ConneyWorldAdventure.com

The Family Breakers:  Dallas Hosts, Marc and Danielle Hoffmeister; and Orlando Hosts, Mike and Catrell Cooney.  If you think education only begins outside the classroom, then these travelers might be your heroes.  Breaking all conventional norms about how to raise a family, these travelers took their kids around the world to give them insight on how the world works through first-hand experience.

Michael, Michaela, Sherry, the trio behind Briefcase to Backpack. Copyright BriefcasetoBackpack.com

Jeff in Pamukkale Turkey. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

The Ex-Corporatists: New York Host, Sherry Ott, and Austin Host, Jeff Jung.  Burned out and looking to recharge, Sherry and I left the corporate world to write the next chapter of our lives.  Wanting to literally get away from it all and reconnect with our personal passions, we knew that being defined only by our career wasn’t the path we were meant to be on.

Kirk on Lake Superior. Copyright Kirk Horsted

The Multiple Breakers: Minneapolis Host, Kirk Horsted, and New York Host, Michaela Potter.  True world travelers, Kirk and Michaela are veterans of several career breaks.  Their examples show that if you liked your first career break, there is always a way to take a second one, or third, or fourth!

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The Many Faces of Long-Term and Career Break Travel is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Sponsorship Details

As a sponsor of Meet Plan Go, Career Break Secrets will give away one full season of its Video Travel Guides at each of the 13 events to one lucky attendee.  The season will include four episodes each from Spain, New Zealand, Patagonia and Colombia.  The video guides highlight three types of activities that career breakers typically like to do while traveling.

1. Those where you can pick up a new skill.  For example, Jeff has been to a cooking school in Spain and a sailing school in New Zealand.
2. Those where you can give back by volunteering. For example, in South Africa, Jeff looked into volunteer programs at a AIDS/HIV orphanage and a monkey sanctuary.
3. Those that give you an interesting way to see a country. For example, Jeff walked on the famous Camino de Santiago in northern Spain and took the TransScenic rail across New Zealand.

In addition, each attendee to the 13 Meet Plan Go events will receive a discount code for Season One of the Video Travel Guides.

A three minute teaser video of Season One´s Video Travel Guides is available at CareerBreakSecrets.com.

About Meet Plan Go on September 14, 2010

For years, books like Vagabonding by Rolf Potts and Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman have inspired countless readers across the country to break out of their routine and travel the world. Then in 2006, Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir Eat, Pray, Love exploded onto the literary scene, becoming a runaway hit and opening up a wider conversation about Americans and long-term travel experiences. Many people found themselves waking up and asking, “Wait a minute…why haven’t I ever taken time off? Where is MY gap year?!” Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

At each Meet Plan Go event, participants will

• MEET inspirational speakers and like-minded travelers in your area.
• Get motivation, contacts and resources necessary to PLAN the trip of a lifetime.
• Start taking concrete steps forward and get ready to GO!

At every event will be individuals who have fulfilled their own dreams of traveling around the world, or are currently in the planning stages. Their real-life stories include an understanding of the unique challenges that all long-term travelers must overcome in order to claim their freedom on the road and who appreciate the unbelievable triumphs of realizing one’s dream of a long-term international adventure.

About Career Break Secrets

Career Break Secrets provides video guides and advice for career break and around the world travel adventures. Through the power of video and internet, Career Break Secrets shows people what the travel adventure and experience looks like through first-hand reporting.  The travel video guides are fully downloadable via the web, are available in High Definition (HD) quality and can be carried around on your portable device.  The guides will be available for purchase in the fall of 2010.

The company was founded by Jeff Jung after he took his own career break trip in 2007-2008. Inspired by his experiences, Jeff wanted to help make it possible for more people to have the chance to take their own break and reconnect with their personal passions.

We believe that life is out there in the world and we hope to inspire people to take the steps necessary to make their dream of a someday travel adventure a reality today.

If you like this post, sign up for our newsletter or subscribe to our RSS feed to keep up with Career Break Secrets’ career break and travel advice.

Career Break Secrets Announces Sponsorship of Meet Plan Go Travel Event is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures