Exploring the F.I.R.E. Lifestyle: A Personal Journey and Reflections on Work and Life

A couple of years ago, I decided to take a break from work and do what I call a F.I.R.E. trial (financial independence, retire early). I was curious about this lifestyle but was unsure if it suited my personality or if it was just a mirage of what I thought life should be about. Reading an article by Mark Manson on the topic of identity vs reality made me want to explore this path before fully committing to it.?

Ideally, in life, we should be able to test out big decisions before committing, especially if those decisions are difficult to reverse. We can test drive cars, and we have a free, no-questions-asked return policy when it comes to online shopping, but somehow this does not apply to bigger life decisions.

Why can’t we test-drive a job? Yes, I know usually there is a probation period where both the company and the employee can decide if it’s a right fit, but this is not a true test. The employee has to quit his/her current job before starting at the new company. If during the trial period, they find that it's not a suitable match for any reason, returning to their former employer isn't a straightforward option. What about taking some paid or unpaid time off and trying out the new job during this period? This would make things more equitable.

The same applies to buying property: some time ago I wanted to purchase an apartment and when discussing with the owner, I asked if I could rent the apartment (it was empty) for a month, to see if I like living there. This was not accepted and when I shared this experience with my friends and family, the consensus was that my request was absurd. Why? Why do we as a society reject the idea of testing out big life decisions?

Planning is a girl's best friend

Going back to my early retirement trial, to make sure I prepared the ground for a great experience, I had to plan it. I ensured I had sufficient finances to cover an extensive period without employment income, as I foresaw two stages: the experiment, which I wanted to last anywhere from six months to one year, and the second stage - the job search, which can also take some time, especially if you are picky.

I made sure to have significant savings before starting this journey and kept my spending low compared to my peers. To be fully transparent, I also have a wonderful support system that could help me out if things got tight. I know this is a privilege and I am extremely grateful for it.

From a professional perspective, I made sure to continue channeling my work mantra: “Make yourself disposable at all times”. As a leader, I made sure my team had a great deal of independence and confidence in their skills, the latter is the most important, especially in our Romanian culture. I tried to share all my knowledge with them and was proudly able to promote my replacement from within the team, upon my departure.

Why not take unpaid leave?

I got asked many times why I didn’t choose to just take unpaid leave and come back after a couple of months. This was never an option from my side. I researched the topic of a sabbatical (closest to what I was planning to do) and think the following points are the main arguments against taking unpaid leave:

• To reap the benefits of a break from work, I believe six months is the minimum time frame one should plan. In the first three months, I was still in the “working brain” mindset. To be able to truly test this out, I needed to get away from the old way of thinking: the need to always do something or be working on something. Sounds a lot easier than it is. This proved to be one of the biggest challenges.
• After holding a particular role for a while, it became clear that moving on to create growth opportunities for my team was the next step. People need opportunities, they need someone to believe in them, even if they don’t. If I had taken unpaid leave, I wouldn't have been able to permanently promote someone to my role.
• I liked my job, but I felt that I could do so much more. A lot of people are content with doing a job well and contributing to the overall goal. This is perfectly fine. For me, to have a fulfilling job means that I need to work in an environment open to taking risks, doing experiments, being wrong, and innovating. To summarize, I need to feel that I am creating a better tomorrow, not making sure there is a tomorrow. This is simply part of my nature. Being naturally inclined in such a way, makes me have an even greater appreciation for those who keep the ball rolling.
• Often, when someone takes unpaid leave, companies typically put projects on hold until that person's return. This could spoil the entire experience, as I would be preoccupied with the accumulating work awaiting my return.

How did it go?

It was everything I expected and more. It confirmed my strong belief in UBI and the fact that people no longer need to be forced to make decisions in terms of mental resource allocation led by fear of not having their basic needs met. When there is no traditional pressure to work, the mind can concentrate on creating actual value, not the illusion of it.

I had an inkling of this, but it indeed confirmed my suspicion that I enjoy working, when working means, connecting with other people, sharing passions, exchanging ideas and creating meaning. I had the opportunity to explore some of my hobbies, travel, and try out new things, but nothing I couldn’t have done while working. I just needed a mindset reboot.

Another unexpected aspect was people’s reactions. People are ok with me buying an expensive car, but to quit my job and stop working for a while, that’s just….blue screen territory.

Everyone knows that we are born and bred in a consumeristic society, but the surprising factor is that people often don’t even register something if it’s not within the norm. They just don’t see the other options we have in terms of ways of living; this makes me wonder if unicorns are real and if we have just been told not to see them.

9 to 5 is dead

Maybe this is old news and I am late to the party, but I feel that the traditional working style is gone (when it comes to corporate jobs). Why stick to a rigid schedule when I am most productive in the morning and late afternoon, after a power nap? Why set myself up for a bad day by going into the office every day if I can create carefully thought-out gatherings? By prioritizing the curation of face-to-face experiences over adhering to old methods, we can foster excitement for future gatherings instead of leaving people with the Sunday blues. Like with all fine things, they must be enjoyed in moderation. Let’s wait for those corporate rental contracts to run their course and embrace the new way of collaboration. Make meetings meaningful and intentional, instead of forced and wasteful of resources.

What’s next?

Whatever roles I will hold in the future, I will try to embrace the new way of working and living. We have AI but we still hang on to the old ways. The Office is cool, but it is just a TV show that should be watched for nostalgia, not inspiration.

We already have real-life examples of people who managed to find something they are good at and pursue it. Willis Gibson, AKA Blue Scuti, just broke a new record in Tetris and made gaming history. When discussing this with a friend, we were debating what sets such people apart. We all know them, the ones who have such a drive towards a certain thing, that they elevate it to an art form. This applies to anything, from playing a retro game, calligraphy, tea rituals, and poetry, to project management, and coding. One supposition was that they were either kids with all the time in the world or people who had the means to focus on their THING.

What would the world look like if we could all explore our thing?

This article has been written from a European perspective.