Reflecting On Our Six-Month Anniversary
It has been six months since we launched Briefcase to Backpack into the world and it’s been great to see and hear people’s reactions to the site. It especially made all of the work and passion we put into building it the year beforehand so worth it!
Ironically, we launched at a time when the economy took a nose-dive, so many people expected us to find a large audience of unemployed individuals looking to travel – but it’s been just the opposite. Everyone we’ve encountered who are planning or have started a career break are people who willingly left their jobs to follow this dream. And we are happy to be that support system for them when others told them they were crazy.
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We also knew that there were other Americans who were passionate about travel yet we never realized how many career breakers already existed until we launched the site. So it’s been reassuring to know that there are other like-minded people out there who are very supportive of our efforts. They have been a great resource not just for sharing information with our readers, but sharing the mission of Briefcase to Backpack with their loyal followers.
Here are some of the long-term travelers that we have been inspired by.
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It’s also Sherry Ott’s three-year anniversary of her career break! She left the cubicles of the IT world in 2006 and after 16-months of travel hasn’t looked back. She is now finishing up a year of teaching English in Vietnam and looking forward to what the world will bring her way. Read about her “Daring Tales of Corporate Escape”.
We have been thrilled with the people and travel resources we’ve connected with to bring you the best advice out there when planning your career break travel. And moving forward, we are also connecting with career experts and advisors to help enrich our Contemplating and Re-Entry sections. We look forward to working with these individuals and companies to help guide you through the process of leaving your job and making the steps necessary to redefining your career goals upon your return.
As Briefcase to Backpack continues to evolve, we have added some new features:
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Editorial Calendar – we will be featuring at least two posts a week on a revolving schedule so all categories are covered! If you have something you’d like to share, please let us know. The best feedback we get is about other people’s stories!
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Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities – we will be actively seeking advertisers and sponsors that will interest our followers and help bring BtoB to new levels.
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YouTube Channel – a place where followers can view our videos and those of other career breakers. Show us what you’ve got!
We are excited about the future of Briefcase to Backpack and the growing acceptance of career breaks in America. Thanks for coming along on the journey and let us know where you'd like to see us go!
3 Responses to “Reflecting On Our Six-Month Anniversary”
Other comments
9 Comments on "A Year in Paris"-
Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂 -
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
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Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
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Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
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Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
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Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
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shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
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Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
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G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.
2009-08-31 11:53
6 months ALREADY?!?!? Goodness, congratulations!! Keep it up, really like the site.
2009-09-01 13:17
So glad you're building this blog and community - I think some professional support on re-entry is much needed! Or at least some encouragement. Ok, maybe just a place to commiserate with others who have just returned from their dream trip. :)
Keep up the great work!
2009-09-02 21:13
Congratulations on your six-month anniversary! It will get easier and easier with time (and traffic). And thanks for the link to my Motivation for Long-Term Travel article on Transitions Abroad! Cheers...