Back home with no regrets

Two years ago, Nicole and I decided to pack up our lives, leave our home and head into the unknown. At the time, if you can remember that far back, the world was a little unstable to say the least. The universe’ new favourite, and infinitely more loaded C-word, was still very much top of mind and continued to impact everyones day to day lives.

It was beyond many of our friends and family to understand why, of all the times to choose, we had decided to jump on a one-way flight at the precise moment the world was in turmoil. C-words aside, we lived in a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by people we loved, great incomes and a fantastic lifestyle.

Naturally, those that cared about us were concerned about how we would sustain an income, find another apartment just as nice as the one we had when we returned, store all of out stuff etc etc etc.

Thankfully, we had already discussed the pros and cons at length and as such, were undeterred by the kind hearted appeals we received.

We knew then that the car, apartment, clothes etc could all be replaced - but that our time could not. If we didn’t go then, maybe we never would.

Having been back on pseudo-home Aussie soil for little over 48-hrs, I’m so bloody glad we did.

The one thing in this life that is finite is time.

And the best thing about stepping into the unknown, is that you never know what you might learn.

Becoming bendable

As someone who is a sucker for routine, adapting to the new suitcase-wardrobe, work from home without a home lifestyle wasn’t something that came naturally. Unlike Nicole, who could open up her laptop in the middle of the M1 and quickly slip into a state of optimum productivity, I am a little more particular in how and when I work.

Not only were the practicalities of setting up a work space and balancing timezones challenging, but the perpetual state of nomadic guilt was unsettling.

If I was inside working, I would feel guilty that I wasn’t our exploring. If I was out exploring, I felt guilty I was spending money rather than making it.

I am very much aware that this may come across as a particularly privileged problem to have, but it was nonetheless a reality for me at the time.

Being the dynamic and adaptable big-boy that I am, in-time I learned to roll with the punches a little more. To become less precious about how and when I worked, planned for what I could control, learned not to stress what I couldn’t and trust that if it was important, I would get done.

Having never considered myself as particularly inflexible, learning to become bendable wasn’t something I had anticipated be required, but I am glad that it did.

The world, especially the business world, will throw you curve balls at you again and again and again.

Circumstances force unwanted change.

Pressing problems must be solved. If you’re only able to turn up and be effective on your own terms, the chances are you’re unlikely to be the first person your clients call for help, and are more than likely to cause yourself no end of stress.

Would I still choose routine over the unknown? Mostly, yes.

Can I operate when things aren’t set in stone? 1,000,000%.

Brief free thinking

I am in the business of creativity. I am paid to generate ideas and solve problems with creative thinking. Over the years, I have reflected a lot on my own creative process, and observed as others have wrestled with their own.

However, I had always contemplated this through the guise of a brand, brief or execution as that is what commercial creativity demands. I had never considered it from the blank canvas perspective of an artist, inventor or entrepreneur.

Travel provides a certain mental and emotional space that is hard to tap into when your feet firmly fixed on the ground. An sense of the shackles being loosened, that encourages brief-free outcome agnostic thinking.

This shift in energy allowed me to think differently not just about my existing business, rethink the entire model and launch it from nowhere in particular, but devise new ways to commercialise my skill set, create new income streams, broker partnerships and strive towards an unconventional lifestyle that provides us everything that we want and need.

I cannot say for sure that these thoughts and ideas wouldn’t have materialised had we stayed put. But I do believe they would have been less likely and taken a lot longer.

Traveling and immersing yourself in different cultures is not only a liberating in the obvious ways, but can be a powerful subconscious creative stimulus.

Clarity & choice

Perhaps my biggest takeaway from the last 2-years on the road, is the clarity I have on how I want my work and personal life to look, and the gratitude I feel for being able to choose.

Having an anchor with routine and community is important to me. But so is travel and the expansive experience that comes with it.

I am fortunate that I have the ability to create a lifestyle that incorporates both. Choosing to settle and build a home feels good. Talu will continue to scale in the location agnostic, lean manner in which it began, allowing me to travel as and when I choose.

Last week I did a short interview for a doco on living as a digital nomad. The questions were pretty much what you'd expect; biggest challenges, best aspects of it etc etc.

The one that go me though, was the good old "what would you say to someone who is on the fence?".

My reply? "Whats the worst that can happen if you go? Either way, you go home with no regrets".