Adam, “The Serial Breaker”, Australia

When you meet Adam, you learn one thing very quickly – he is passionate about skiing. After having been an instructor in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the United States for years, Adam found the woman of his dreams and settled down back in his native Australia.  Fearing that he would have to give up his life skiing as he knew it, his wife suggested that he continue his connection with his passion in a new and innovative way.  Adam had taken a job as a groundskeeper at a golfing course in the northern Sydney suburbs.  Working with his boss, Adam arranged to have six weeks off every year to be able to return to Colorado to ski, and most years, continue teaching.  Adam says, “If your wife is happy and your employers are happy on both ends, you’ve got to go with it.”

Adam returns to Colorado annually and is able not only to reconnect with his passion in life year after year, he gets to reconnect with old friends who worked beside him at the ski resorts.  Adam finds the time reinvigorating and has provided him with the bridge he needed to maintain balance between his old and new life.  Why does he do it? “It’s part of who I am, my history. I can’t sever it.” Following his example, Adam says he now knows of almost 30 other ski instructors that are doing the same thing.

His advice to people thinking about a career break? “You need to support your lifestyle and your family.  It’s a tough thing. Luckily we live now rather than in our parents’ time when attitudes about work style were different.”

Adam returns from his career break year after year to his supportive family (and his career) in northern Sydney.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Adam is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Kimberley, “The Rebalancing Breaker”, New Zealand

For years, Kimberley had always maintained a healthy work-life balance.  In her professional life, Kimberley is a Chartered Accountant in New Zealand and had served as a Finance Manager for a variety of organizations.  She also had been a successful hotel entrepreneur. In her personal life she traveled, played tennis, netball and volleyball.  But, by her late 30s, her life fell out of balance.

After an accounting contracting job ended, she decided that she needed a break to reflect on her past and think about her way forward.  In 2006, she hit the road for 7.5 months on a round the world ticket taking her through Hong Kong, Europe, Turkey, the Caribbean, the US and South America.  In 2007 after finishing up a short-term contracting assignment, she went back to South America for 4 months to learn a bit of Spanish and see some more.

Her experience strengthened her confidence in herself and it enabled her to figure out how to launch into her 40s knowing what she wanted in her next stage of life, both personally and professionally.  In addition, she credits her newfound confidence from her career break with positively impacting her job performance.  “I had to learn how to navigate in countries where English was not the primary language. It was exhausting, it was really frustrating not being able to communicate, but in the end, I did it.  I now prefer to select contracts which tend to involve project management. As a result of my experiences, my ability to work through business problems creatively has increased immensely.”

Her advice to people thinking about a career break? “Definitely go for it. Life is too short.  I think having a back-up plan in place in case something goes wrong so you can recover.  Having that in place will allow you to really be spontaneous and be flexible as opportunities come up along the way that you hadn’t planned for.”

Kimberley returned successfully to contracting work in Wellington where she currently lives.

Here are a few pictures from Kimberley’s career break travel adventures.

Kimberley in Bolivia near Uyuni. Copyright Kimberley Gates.

Kimberley at Machu Picchu in Peru. Copyright Kimberley Gates.

Kimberley in Hong Kong. Copyright Kimberley Gates.

Kimberley sandboarding in Peru. Copyright Kimberley Gates.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Kimberley is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Tamsin, “The Deliberate Breaker”, England

Tamsin’s year-long career break highlights the fact that sometimes working professionals happy with their career just need a break to recharge and refocus.  Always a driven professional, Tamsin tackled her career break in 2001 with the same passion that she approached her career.

She set off to Africa to volunteer in Namibia before heading over to South America for the remaining 6 months of her trip.  While traveling to see the world was part of her mission, she set out to go and do something.

Reenergized, more confident when she returned, she wanted to have a fuller life and live it more deliberately.  “I can recall almost every day of my trip whereas before I could only remember events.”  The experience of having stepped outside her comfort zone helped her put her career in perspective upon her return recognizing that “I am the one choosing here.”

Her advice to people thinking about a career break? “Do it. If you have the desire, explore it.  Live with the people, experience the culture.  It intensifies the experience for you.”

Despite some negative reactions from corporate recruiters on her return, Tamsin found that her prospective employers loved that she had taken the time and asked her many questions about her experience.  Tamsin currently lives in Manchester, England and founded her own consulting company, Provadis, focused on non-profit organizations..

Here are a few pictures from Tamsin’s career break travel adventure.

Tamsin volunteering in Namibia. Copyright Tamsin Fielden.

Tamsin working on a farm in Argentina. Copyright Tamsin Fielden.

Tamsin in Namibia. Copyright Tamsin Fielden.

Tamsin on the pampa in Argentina. Copyright Tamsin Fielden.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Tamsin is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Sjoerd & Daphne, “The Adrenaline Breakers”, The Netherlands

Sjoerd had been planning his career break for some time when he met Daphne; 2 weeks before his departure date.  Despite the chemistry between the two, he left on schedule in October 2007 for South America to travel and study a little bit of Spanish.  Daphne was so excited about the trip (and Sjoerd) that she joined him in January for the final part of the journey.

The trip included several adventure sport destinations like La Serena, Chile for rock climbing, hiking the “W” at Torres Del Paine park in Chile, Mount Fitzroy in Argentina, Machu Picchu in Peru and exploring the salt flats in Uyuni, Bolivia.  As a couple, the risk to travel together paid off.  Upon their return to Nijmegen, Sjoerd and Daphne moved in together.

Their advice to people thinking about a career break? “Do it. It can only enrich your life.  It doesn’t change your character completely, it just enriches you.  We are now more balanced, better with colleagues and better with our patients.”

Sjoerd and Daphne returned successfully to their nursing careers in Nijmegen.

Check out a few of their pictures from their career break travel adventure.

Sjoerd and Daphne in the Lake District of Chile. Copyright Sjoerd Van Loon.

Sjoerd out trekking in South America. Copyright Sjoerd Van Loon.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Sjoerd and Daphne is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Paul, “The If Not Now, Then When? Breaker”, UK/Chile

Before Paul knew it, Paul was in his 30s and managing his career without having taken time to take a big trip like he had always wanted.  One day while sitting in a meeting at work, he had his epiphany.  It dawned on him that he could quite comfortably spend the rest of his life working for the British government agency where he was. Or, he could take the time now to go to South America, learn a bit of Spanish and learn more about Latin American culture.  Paul wasn’t looking for a complete overhaul, just a chance to experience life outside the office. The thought driving him to take the trip at that moment was, “If I don’t go now when I’m in my 30s, when will I do it?”

After a few months of intense savings and planning, Paul headed to Santiago, Chile in 2007.  He enrolled in a Spanish language institute and did a bit of traveling around northern Chile and the Santiago area. While he wasn’t looking for a complete overhaul to his life, it happened after he met the love of his life, Alejandra in Santiago.  They met after only just over a week into his trip.  While he went back to Birmingham as planned, the relationship continued and eventually took him back to Chile.

His advice to people thinking about a career break? “Go for it. It’s never too late.  I thought it was too late when I was 23 and I did it when I was 34.”

Paul now lives in Santiago with his wife, Alejandra where they own and manage the Escuela Fronteras Spanish language institute.

Here are a few pictures from Paul’s career break travel adventure.

Paul backpacking in the south of Chile. Copyright Paul Davy.

Paul and Ale celebrating Chile. Copyright Paul Davy.

Paul visiting the cemetery in Santiago, Chile. Copyright Paul Davy.

Paul out with friends made in Chile. Copyright Paul Davy.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Paul is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Kathryn, “The Two-Time Breaker”, Australia

Kathryn’s story shows that sometimes a break in your current career can give you the chance to try out a potential new career you’ve been thinking about.  A lawyer from Australia, her first break in 2000 was more open-ended and less structured allowing her to work in the UK and the US where she spent several months working for a non-profit women’s rights organization in the United States. While she ultimately decided that career did not fit her as she had hoped, the experiment was not a failure in her eyes as it allowed her to stop focusing on that option and open up to others.  After returning to her previous career in Australia for a few years, she was still dissatisfied and tried a more structured approach. Kathryn entered a program for governmental employees to help them find additional opportunities in the public service.  While not a true “break” it allowed Kathryn to be exposed to many different facets of the law to see what would be a better fit for her.  One stint included 3 months in the United States.

She credits the experience with helping her to know herself better so that at the end she was able to take a position that better suited her interests and skills.  “Now I’m in a place where I practice law that really does help people more than anywhere else I looked.  It also helped me realize that sometimes the grass really isn’t greener somewhere else in the place you envision it will be when you are looking at it from the outside.”

Her advice to people thinking about a career break? “Know that you have to be running to something, not just running away. If you do it, know what you want to achieve, then ask lots of questions of yourself and others that you meet along the way.  If you’re going to try on a new career away from your current one, perhaps a more structured approach is best.”

Kathryn still works as a lawyer for the Australian government in Canberra in the portfolio she joined at the end of her second break.

Check out some of her pictures from her career break travel adventures.

Kathryn at the US Open in New York. Copyright Kathryn Johnson.

Kathryn in New York. Copyright Kathryn Johnson.

Kathryn taking a night sail. Copyright Kathryn Johnson.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Kathryn is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Deepa, “The Eclectic Breaker”, United States

Deepa’s story shows that your career break can be as individualistic and eclictic as you want it to be.  Deepa left her job in Chicago as an Account Director for an advertising agency.  The combination of being wedded to her career and her upcoming nuptials led Deepa to visit family and friends all over the world to have some much-needed quality time with them.  Her journeys took her to India and the Caribbean before finishing off her break back in the US pursuing personal interests: studying French, volunteering for an HIV program, focusing on her cooking passion, and interior design.

“It was an opportunity to stop complaining about things she couldn’t do and couldn’t get to.  You don’t have to do it all, but you can do some of it now.”

Her advice to people thinking about a career break? “Be bold. Embrace your dreams.  Be open to what may come along the way.  And, approach your employer. Many are open and open to working with you.  You never know until you ask.”

Deepa now runs her own independent marketing agency, Integrated and Multicultural Marketing, in Washington, DC.

Here are a few pictures from Deepa’s career break travel adventures.

Deepa in India. Copyright Deepa Venkataraman.

Deepa at the Taj Majal, India. Copyright Deepa Venkataraman.

Deepa visiting family in India. Copyright Deepa Venkataraman.

Deepa at Petra, Jordan. Copyright Deepa Venkataraman.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Deepa is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

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Melanie and Fabian, “The Cautious Turned Adventurous Breakers”, The Netherlands

Before taking their career break, Fabian and Melanie toyed with the idea for years. Fabian had been thinking about taking a break for years, but Melanie remained unconvinced, not knowing what to expect on such a long trip.  Eventually, the decision to move in together provided Melanie with the catalyst to say, “OK. Now is the time if we’re going to do this.”

Fabian and Melanie spent 6 months in South America: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.  After a couple of weeks on the road, Melanie left her apprehension behind, opened up to the experience and had fun.  In fact, seeing the pictures even now of the trip, make her “want to go back in time.”  They count the Galapagos and Machu Picchu as the highlights.  But, the biggest came on the Uyuni salt flats of Bolivia where Fabian was so inspired by the trip that he asked Melanie to marry him.

Their advice to people thinking about a career break? “Just do it, because if you don’t it will haunt you for the rest of your life.  Inform yourself really well. But know that the anxiety that people have is not called for.”

Fabian and Melanie found jobs in their respective fields of telecommunications and social work.  They now have a son and continue to live in Amsterdam.

Here are a few pictures from their career break travel adventures.

Fabian and Melanie hiking in South America. Copyright Fabian and Melanie Sarlemijn.

Melanie out riding in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. Copyright Fabian and Melanie Sarlemijn.

Fabian Sand Surfing in Peru. Copyright Fabian and Melanie Sarlemijn.

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Fabian and Melanie is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Kent, “The Ace Breaker”, United States

Kent took a three-month career break to escape the post-merger acrimony after the consulting firm where he was employed was purchased. He originally intended to quit, but the partners of his firm convinced him to take a few months off and return to the firm after the upcoming summer.

Real Career Break Travel Stories: Kent is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Caroline exemplifies the kind of transformation that can happen to people on their career break.  Leaving the US in January 2000, Caroline sought time to decompress and escape the burnout she felt after years in corporate sales for a local television station in Austin, Texas.  She and a good friend left to pursue an endless summer. After leaving India where she spent time volunteering, she was haunted by memories of conditions of the Indian orphanages where she worked.  She decided that it was time her endless summer ended.

She returned to Texas and founded The Miracle Foundation, which is changing the way orphanages are traditionally run in India.  The Miracle Foundation now operates 4 orphanages that currently serves over 500 Indian children and since its founding has served thousands of children.  The foundation provides opportunities for people to get involved directly by making trips to India or indirectly through sponsorship of a child.

Her advice to people thinking about a career break? “Go. Run, don’t walk. We’re not getting any younger. It’s good for you; it gives you perspective.”

Check out some of Caroline’s pictures from her career break travel adventures.

Horseback riding on the beach. Copyright Caroline Boudreaux.

Scuba diving around the world. Copyright Caroline Boudreaux.

Caroline with orphans in India. Copyright Caroline Boudreaux.

Caroline in India. Copyright Caroline Boudreaux.

The Miracle Foundation

Millions of children in India share a similar story. A life of poverty with no family and little hope. The Miracle Foundation provides these orphans with food, water, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, love, and most of all – hope. Visit the website at www.MiracleFoundation.org

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Real Career Break Travel Stories: Caroline is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures