Looking back at 2023: A year of bold moves, saying “yes,” and letting go.

As 2023 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what has been a rewarding, transformative year, and one that was initially marked by professional challenges.

At the beginning of the year, the path to growth in my career was unclear. I was feeling stuck, hitting roadblocks, lacking inspiration and support, and the overall situation was causing ever-increasing feelings of anxiety and impostor syndrome to build up within me.

My 2023 goals were simply to “get to the other side” of the situation. I just wanted to overcome those feelings and push through the period of professional stagnation. I convinced myself that by sticking it out and trying to change things that were within my control, I could get back to a place where I felt motivated, happy, and successful.

And I tried. For a while, I convinced myself that things were moving in the right direction. But, inevitably, clarity struck. I was no longer in a place where I could thrive. The only way through was out.

It was time to do something I've done many times before in my professional life — throw caution to the wind, take big risks, and forge my own path. Which has always (eventually) led me to greater success. So in November, I took a somewhat terrifying leap and quit my "comfortable" job to venture back into the exciting, uncertain world of entrepreneurship.

But this is only part of what made 2023 a significant year for me. It was a year full of deeper self-exploration, finding inspiration in relationships and community, and refocusing on what I want my life and career to look like. And despite the career-related struggles, there were many good times and successes — plus huge highs in my personal life. Overall, I count it as one of the very best years of my life.

So I wanted to share some of the highlights (in no particular order):

1) Wedding: In May, I married my partner and the love of my life at a beautiful castle in France. We were joined by 50 family members and friends who traveled from across the globe to support and celebrate us, and we followed it with a month-long honeymoon — the first time we’ve both taken so much time off together. As long-time remote workers, traveling WITHOUT opening our laptops (other than to watch Netflix) was a true novelty and a first in our seven-year relationship. I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to do so.?

2) Conferences: In March I attended SXSW in Austin, where I had an incredible time helping host events with Remote's partners and customers. I also got to spend time with some of my incredible colleagues, who became dear friends by the end of the weekend. In September I represented Remote at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, where we hosted dinners, fireside chats, and celebrated our partnership with Gusto.

3) Wifi Tribe: In October, I spent a month in Weligama, Sri Lanka, co-living and co-working by the beach with an incredible group of global remote workers and entrepreneurs (with WiFi Tribe , a group I’ve traveled with several times). Introspection was a big focus for me, and I left feeling refreshed, inspired, more confident in myself, and ready to make big moves.?

4) Book sales: My book, The Remote Work Era, set a new monthly sales record in 2023 — three years after I published it, and without me needing to market it! I’m proud to have written something with such enduring relevance. (If you’re curious about the remote work life or how I built my career, you can get an ebook or paperback copy at RemoteWorkEra.com. ;))?

5) PMM work: This year, I built a strong foundation for productizing global knowledge at Remote — ensuring that our customers had access to all the regulatory and cultural information they needed to confidently hire across the globe. With services spanning 70+ countries, this was no small challenge but a very fun one to tackle.

6) Remote Talent: I’m proud to have helped lead the GTM for the launch of Remote Talent, a new product from Remote helping employers connect with the best global talent and helping workers find new opportunities (see remote.com/jobs). This was my last big project with the company, and a strong note to end on.?

7) Leaving Remote: After a 2.5-year tenure at Remote, during which I authored groundbreaking reports, launched viral social campaigns, and developed the company's most trafficked guides, tools, and resources, I decided to say goodbye to rebuild my consulting business. While goodbyes are bittersweet, it feels exhilarating to create space for the next chapter of my career to unfold.

So what’s in store for 2024? While it may not be quite as exciting of a year (2023 will be hard to beat), I plan to continue my sabbatical for the next month or two and proactively focus on myself, my health (mental and physical), and my relationships. I already see myself making progress toward my goals for personal growth. On the career side, I have ideas swirling, and plans for the next phase of my professional life are starting to solidify.?Stay tuned!