Your outlook on life & your journey to quitting resonates strongly with me because it closely mirrors my own. I quit in my 40s & it's been 14 years since I quit. I went through the same phases: foreboding, exhilaration, worry about the future, depression, anxiety, etc. And all that despite having a secure financial net worth that would allow me a comfortable life. I kept doubting my decision, & perceived the loss of income as a failure. I also found it awkward in social settings when people would ask what I do for a living. But I came out the other end of it with a realization that it was the best decision of my life -- that the luxuries of time & freedom to do what I want, when I please, are more important than a paycheck. I have no alarm clock, no boss, no limits on vacation time, no deadlines, no constraints on my leisure time, no commute, no unnecessary bills. And with the passage of time, I realize that my time is more valuable than money. Your videos help me reflect on all of that.
Thank you so much for sharing this kind note with me and everyone else. It means a lot and i believe it gives a lot of people faith to embark on their own non-corporate journeys and find more happiness. The money in the bank truly isn't the recipe for automatic happiness there's so much else in the mix but most people never get around to realising that. Fear keeps them in their place even though it may not be their ideal life. Thanks.
@jacqdanieles Thank you for sharing your personal experience. That's really helpful and I take comfort in that it is quite normal to go through all this. I stopped working 2 years back and I am facing the same issues as you did - foreboding, depression, anxiety, etc, and feeling awkward in various social settings when others ask me what I do for a living. Managing my parents' reactions is a whole other issue, their dismay and appalment at my decision, etc.
How did\do\will you guys handle health related expenses? I do have health insurance but it's only for hospitalization and that too it pays only 85%. Nothing bothers me more while thinking about future.
thanks Jim, still a boy, never too old 😜😉 retirement is just like every other stage in life like marriage, adulthood etc.... we'll step into it... n then meet all the challenges with grace, and eventually figure out our way around them & find happiness :) I hope you look forward to it!
" The policy of not saying too much works quite well" Thanks Jean for reminding us. Most people just wants to contradict us rather than being happy for us. Love your sharing
Great video. Retired last year from Corporate America at 49, together with my wife relocated from the US to Laos and enjoying a quieter, simpler life in SE Asia. You bring up good points about the realities of early retirement and expat life. It’s a Hero’s journey full of pitfalls that include self-doubt and temptations of a past life. Thanks for providing a roadmap for the rest of us!
Your videos are the most helpful I have found on RU-vid! I lost my job due to the pandemic and once it was "safe to go outside" so to speak, I was at an age that no one really wanted to hire me. So I find myself mid 60s trying to create (re-create) a life I love with fewer resources. Your information is incredible real and helpful! Thanks!
I enjoy watching and rewatching your videos, Jean. You're an inspiration. Three months into my retirement at age 48, I enjoy every moment of it. Nothing in me longs to return to work.
I love it when people rejoice in their present moment and enjoy their retirement :) there's so much pleasure in everyday living to be had that everyone just neglects 🌻😊
"...the policy of not saying too much works quite well." True for almost everything in life, but especially finances. Too often others see our good financial decisions and feel guilty about their own poor and perhaps less courageous decisions. If they truly are interested, they will ask. Otherwise, silence is golden.
You are an inspiration as always. Ive worked hard for years and need to learn to work less hard and make travel and adventure my new life priority bc thats what I really want to spend my life doing
Thank you for sharing. It soothes me. I gave up lawyering on December last year and still feel a little bit lost. Related to financial security and the opinion of my family!
Food and roof is all we need. Being a father of 3 it's still possible to do what you love to a certain extend 'if' you chose and decide to live your own way of 'life'. The only thing preventing us is peer pressure i noticed and to work away from peer pressure is no easy task especially in developing countries. People in rural areas live a happier life.
It's not so much peer pressure. Its capitalism. You will be rewarded more for being able to do a job that nobody else wants to do or is able to do. If we let everyone do what their lifes calling, then our system will collapse. The disciplining mechanism to make sure that people put up with doing what they hate is to make them poor. Communism may be answer to those who think we should ALL pursue what we love.
hi there Mrs Bumblebee 😊 yes i actually have that listed down as one of the videos i must get around to! actually tbh our life here in Bali is quite simple and often featured in the video footage here as i narrate my thoughts behind... but i'll do smtg of a realistic day/week in a more organized manner soon! tx for the suggestion!
@@JeanVoronkova My pleasure and thanks for your videos, they are invaluable. I have seen some videos of your lifestyle but a longer one with more detail would be nice.
Unpacking financial psychology, gaining financial literacy, tools, and perspectives through deep reflection on my relationship with money... these are my game changer. I have been out of corporate for a year and while this is work in progress, identifying these factors certainly helped me in my journey ahead. I love your question on "How you want to measure your life?" It is so crucial to be with liked minded ppl especially when this is not the norm. Thank you, Jean, for doing what you do, I am less lonely, and I feel less outcast!
When I listen to you I know I'm in the right track. Im enjoying my freedom from not waking up early becuse I need to go to work etc. etc. I'm in my retirement years. I'm my boss 😊🥁🎸🪘 Thank you for your wisdom. I can resonate a lot.
yeah, since two years I quit the job while also starting a family. Since two years we already stayed abroad for total 8 month... we gave things away we didn't need anymore in our cellar (actually we had two filled cellars and now we only fill a half). We grow our own real estate business but we are more flexible with the time. It is so helpful especially with our son.
It's inspiring to see someone tackle the challenge of recalibrating their financial security after leaving corporate life! 💼💡 Traveling and gaining diverse perspectives can indeed reshape our understanding of happiness and financial well-being.
Thanks for sharing. Life is best live when you are happy and contented in simple ways. Retiring at 50 was always my plan at the back of my mind although many were surprised when I actually did it. I have always studied and worked hard in my life focusing on all things other than myself before I turned 50 and reaching 50 became my crossroad and I thought that its about time for self love, doing things that I love most, appreciating nature, reflecting on life and enriching my spiritual being.
Thank you so much for answering my questions in the second half of your video where you addressed issues about how to respond to others about living a very different lifestyle, aka, not working. This video deeply resonates with me as I stopped working due to a mixture of factors. I like that you question societal standards of "success" and the reminders that we should live on our own terms.
Great video. I quit my corporate life as a management consultant in my late 20s to pursue my dream as a musician. I did it for 15 years, and while I had some successes, I think it ran its course and I came back to full time work. I will never regret it, because I would have always thought what if. So now I am back to work and saving aggressively so that in a few years I can hopefully make a lifestyle change like yourself. Music will always be a part of my life, but so are alot of other things. So your videos are really inspiring me. :)
Dear Jean, thank you for sharing your insights with us. Once again I can totaly feel you! Your conscious thoughts and way of living life is so relatable to me. My husband and I would really love to meet you and Vitaly one day and just sit and talk with you about life. 😊 Wish you both a nice weekend.☀️
Thank you for the video, I currently work part time and transitioning to an alternative lifestyle. Close friends don't understand and this message was truly helpful.
This recent quitter needed to hear this today. Thank you Jean, you are so wise and have the answers. Very conclusive video and exactly what people go through. I feel like hearing your experiences and solutions, gives others the strength to believe another life is possible ❤ There isn’t only the corpora world!
Brilliantly simple and courageous. Certainly resonates with me as I approach 50 and look to plan my "retirement". It really is about breaking away from societies expectation of life. Loving your content. Well done. Have you thought about coaching at all?
Thank you, Jean, for your sharing. There's always new things and perspectives I can learn from you each time. Thank you for sharing Tim Ferris's Fear Setting, will check it out
Wise advice, as usual. I think when ppl react negatively at your decision to quit a well-paying job and retire early, it's because they are jealous!!! 😄 Well done, Jean, I hope to meet you one day in Bali, I go there every year.
I’m taking a gap year (not fully convinced I’m able to quit forever) and trying to start a freelancing business. I’m working on minimizing my living expenses, although it’s not that easy in a high cost of living country as United States… I don’t think I want to/can move abroad (at least while my elderly mom is here). Don’t have a clear picture yet of how to balance things and achieve financial independence, but I’m exploring possibilities. Thank you for sharing how you were able to make it work
thank you for sharing your story with me and the rest of the audience :) you're very brave, and I'm rooting for your freelance business! Would your mom be open to relocating to an exciting new place together with you? just an idea. If geoarbitrage is possible FI can be reached much faster. All the best!
Gosh, same here. I am so burned out and really want to take a gap year to get my head back in order. I also live in the US and just need to figure out the health insurance thing before I pull the plug!
2023 was a gap year for me. I am now applying for jobs but the market is awful. I don’t want to come back to work, but seems to be the only option financially. I live a simple life and don’t mind moving abroad but my mom is 89 so I need to be in the states for now. Love Jean’s reflections. Good luck to you!!!
Excellent video. Thanks. Only a few people is enough brave for leaving behind the wheel of the hámster. The process to freedom never ends, and it's exciting.
thanks Abbie! it's been busy with puppies and family and travelling and a lot of other stuff so feel like i havent been much active on YT for a while but its nice to hear from you! hope u r well!
@@JeanVoronkova Thank you for caring. I am as well as can be expected, put it that way. 🤔 I was moved into temporary housing whilst my apartment building is being totally remodeled and I am liking where I am put, so ... that's good. But, other completely unexpected life's events I am trying to deal with.
It takes alot of work to manage and maintain a successful RU-vid channel. There are elements of a corporate job that cross over into running a channel. It would be an interesting topic for you to cover some day.
First, I want to preface my comment by saying that I respect you and your perspectives. That said, I have a cautionary tale to share: Seven years ago, I left a six-figure income as a real estate agent in New York City to pursue what I believed would be more meaningful and fulfilling work in teaching. Looking back, I now see this decision as a mistake. Videos about quitting high-paying jobs to pursue happiness can be inspiring, but my experience serves as a reminder that dramatic career shifts, especially those involving significant pay cuts in pursuit of happiness, should be carefully considered. The reality may not always match the idealized vision presented in these videos.
Hi Jean. Thank you for sharing your journey, lessons learnt, and other insights with us 😊 Have you ever considered setting up coaching or mentoring calls with people who are interested in following your example? Even if you only did a few 30-minute calls per week at $50 US each, that could open up a new income stream for you (with little prep and no cost). Wishing you both, every good thing. Paul
You have such calm and relaxing charisma , I could listen to you for hours 😊! Atm I also build up my portfolios to get enough cashflow to start a new life eiter in Thailand or in Bali. I really cant stand Germany and the bad attitude here nomore..
Good you still had money travel. You could read to learn about other people. Money is a tool to make you comfortable not actually bring inner joy but its a big help. I never had to explain to others since its not important to me. But if I have to explain to my kids on expenses becomes mandatory when I retired. Fears for me come from lack of knowledge, uncertainties and lack of control. So, I budgeted, studied my expenses against my passive income and gave myself a certain time a day to worry. All the rest, i live and let go what i cannot control. My social is my family my dogs, a friend or two. That's enough for me.
Love your videos, so much positive thinking. I have interest also for the Greek stoic philosophy (Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius ...) which helped me live peacefully in Asia in the past. (despite being from the "West")
I've left a corporate job 8 months or so ago. I thought I'd be happy doing art which I was until about a month ago. Now I'm starting to question if just doing art everyday is fulfilling enough for me and I feel there's still something missing. Is it possible to do multiple things & make a living after quitting a corporate job? Keen to know what others think
of course it's possible. Bear in mind that you've probably spent all your school years and adult life being brainwashed into being an eternal employee.... that's like 10-30 years for most? It takes time to switch mentalities and appreciate life and all its multiple facets and possibilities. A month is nothing. It takes most people years to truly master their free time productively and happily and to manage the change of livelihoods.
Hi, would you mind to share how you used fire ? what finance app did you use to make your investments (interactive brokers etc) ? in which stocks or etf did you invested (vanguard etc) ? Just to help people who are getting started. Thanks
I'm not sure what the heck to do with my life. I'm sitting on millions of dollars and real estste I built up over the years. In my early 40s. May be I'll follow your foot path. Still working for now. But undecided what to do with my life. I know if I continue working till my 60s, my assets will hit 10s of millions in assets as I'm quite savvy at investing.
I know three Korean American friends who went to law school and refuse to practice. I ask them why? My parents wanted us to do that.. Wow, I didnt know.. yes, we are human. They told me, you are lucky. Why? Because growing up we hated you. Why , because you would get a F grade, but your parents still loved you. Frank Martinez Downey Ca…😅
I reckon my employer is planning to get rid of me (already many victims already). Watching your video n getting your wisdom actually make me feel happy this shit is happening 😊
Hey man… sorry to hear that @weetak 🙄… it may actually be a blessing in disguise cos u can move past (what sounds like a toxic job)…. But I guess for everyone it doesn’t feel good being treated this way. But yeah, move past and on to better things 💪🏼 I sure as hell am glad my job is a thing of the past. Hang in there
indeed, it's all about the balance. We just need to realize that truly and not give in to fear and hoarding. Like the toilet paper scenario during pandemic times lol
I was forced to resign during covid lockdown as could not return to office which they demanded of me even with valid reason of being sole caregiver to mum n able to work from home but they the company gods would not care n insisted i either quit or return to office it was then i realised that the company i served for over a decade faithfully was heartless n never cared for me when i needed compassion n support they abandoned me - so never ever give your life to any company its just a thankless job in the end n you are just replaceable a number to them Don't believe the bullshit about company colleagues are your family culture - they are not and will not hesitate yo throw you under the bus to save themselves - you only have your own real family n learn to be wise about how to spend your time n your loyalty towards
Hi Jean, I take it to heart to settle into a new life in Bali in my autumn years. If I settle down with my family in Bali, where exactly do you recommend I move?
I am leaving my corporate life and moving to Bali in August as well. Do you have any recommendations of places to meet other nomads out there? What part of Bali are you located?
This seems like this advice only applies to upper middle class and higher otherwise you won't have the means to get this started but that's just my opinion
well clearly if one has financial obligations one must discharge them fully before quitting their livelihood if that livelihood is their sole source of income..... I mean, who would advise others to be financially irresponsible? But whether one is tied down to obligations or not is also not a class issue. It's individual circumstance. I'll be the first to admit i'm very lucky that my parents aren't financially dependent on me. But me becoming a well paid professional after years of hard studying is my hard work. Me selling off my car in Singapore back then and paying off my mortgage is a choice. Us having no kids is a choice. Us relocating to Indonesia where the life we want is affordable to us is a choice. if one was waiting for money and an easy life to drop from the sky it'll be quite a while I expect.
@@JeanVoronkovaWell, being a child of divorce, victim of abuse & neglect weren't my choices, last time I checked. I tried the way you propose but working and school together is too much, if part time either not enough $ or courses start being obsolete, turning to crime to survive was a choice but more like duress instead of choice, debt slavery is insidious. I'm not omniscient but that's my 2 cent hot take.
Hi Abbbbiiiiieeeeeee we're back in Bali finally! Picked up the dogs from their respective dog sitters and now in the process of reclaiming our home from nature... which tends to move in in a big way whenever we leave for some time! This was filmed in an area near our home which we refer to as Dreamland :)
@@JeanVoronkova Wow, I can see why! This park is lovely. It doesn't look like Bali, to be honest with you which is why I asked where you are currently. Thank you for your reply, m'Dear. 😃
i actually didn't bother to do a tally of my financial situation properly when i first quit cos my quit was quite an impulse thing... i was turning 30 and i felt that if i didn't do it i would never. But i do recall doing an overall money check about 2 years into the journey and there was just Singapore $27k+ cash left in my bank account and i was feeling very strange about it.
@@JeanVoronkovaa vídeo about these actual numbers would be very useful. You can share what you feel comfortable sharing with us. I also thought that you retired with a larger amount in the bank.
We live by standards that are generally deemed very affordable across the world - less than US$2,000 for 2 persons & 2 dogs per month, and that's because we geo-arbitraged and live in Indonesia, in Bali.
