Why do you read this blog? Why should anyone read this blog? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself lately as I continue to decide upon the direction that this site should take.
After spending a few hours combing through old posts, I actually have an answer to that question.
Reading this blog will give you the courage to live the life you really want to be living.
That’s a bold statement. But I sincerely believe its true. For some this means location independence, for others its travel, and others still it may be just freeing up more time to do the shit they love. But I’ve achieved it. I’m living the life I want. I can work from anywhere, travel whenever I want, I can always make the time to do the stuff I love, and am generally speaking, I’m much happier because of it.
Who wouldn’t want that?
The difference between Location 180 and some of the other sites you might read, is that for me, things weren’t always so good. So many bloggers show you the result of hard work and persistence, but they don’t tell you the whole story of how they got there. I’ve gone through a hell of a transition, and you have to understand where I was at before, to really appreciate where I am now.
To figure this out, I went through the archives to find some quotes that illustrated the full story of my “location 180″
I Started Out Terrified and Totally Clueless…
“So goal #4 is: Live a life interesting enough to write and read about.“Defining Goals of seanogle.com, May 19, 2009.
“The hardest part about a comfortable life is that it is so difficult to break out of. I mean, who doesn’t like being comfortable? There is very little that is unknown, and thus very little fear or risk. And that terrifies me more than anything. I have a great job. For many, it would be the perfect job. It isn’t that I don’t like what I do, rather it is a concern that I will look back on my life in 10 years and regret not taking more risks and having more adventures.” – Accountability and a Comfortable Life - June 22, 2009.
Oh, how times have changed...
“With that I ask you, what is more important: Bankruptcy of the wallet, or Bankruptcy of the Soul?” – How Important is Money? June 25th, 2009.
“Breaking free is hard to do. I don’t care who you are, but if you want to leave a steady paycheck and a “traditional” life you better be prepared to work your ass off and face a lot of stress or anxiety. The most difficult part in the process are the months leading up to your “release date” (the term I have coined for when you start living life for yourself). You not only have the responsibilities of your current employment weighing on your mind, but a myriad of other uncertainties to battle with. However, once you reach your release date, half of your worries and concerns will be put to bed. You are no longer burdened with the stress and responsibilities that came with your old life, and you have freed up dozens of hours a week to invest in your personal endeavours. Your stress shifts from bad to good, because you are now the one in control. Don’t get me wrong, things will probably get a lot more difficult before they get better, but you no longer have anyone else to worry about but yourself. I am looking forward to that day.” – The Reality of Breaking Free, July 23rd, 2009.
“So rather than stifle your creative life dreams, embrace them. Evaluate your current path and if that isn’t taking you in the right direction, change your path accordingly. Day dreaming is your mind telling you what you really are passionate about seeing and doing in this life. There is no better time to break out of the ordinary and start doing the things you really meant to do.” The Benefits of Day Dreaming, July 30, 2009.
I Slowly Overcame My Fears Enough to Take a Risk…
“Reading through this post, I am realizng that it is a little more personal than many of my other posts. At first I neglected to actually consider posting it due to this fact. However I quickly realized that I want this to be a community of support and learning, and in order to accurately depict the process I am going through, there has to be a little bit of vulnerability. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I will get to where I am trying to go, but the path to get there isn’t always easy!” What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do, August 6, 2009.
“I am slowly coming the the realization that there is no perfect time, and there never will be.” Finding the ‘Courage to go Through With It, August 27, 2009.
“It wasn’t that bad. But you know what? I don’t want to settle for “not that bad”. I want the best life I can possibly have, and I am now in a position to pursue that. There is no best time for anything. In my perfect world, this wasn’t the best time to leave. Financially, I am not sure I am at a point to do everything I want to do. But you know what? If it didn’t happen, I may have been there forever.” My Last Day, October 22, 2010.
“Well I did it. I joined the legions of car-less Portlandians, who despite their predisposition to motorless travel, still shun umbrellas during the dreariest months of the year.” I Finally Sold My Car, November 30, 2009.
“I’m not sure when the realization actually hit me, but at some point in the last week, I couldn’t help but think to myself “holy crap, I’m actually moving to Thailand”. I don’t know if it was finalizing the visa, or getting my plane ticket purchased, but after over a year of trying to work towards a new lifestyle, it is finally happening.” Holy Crap, I’m Actually Moving to Thailand, December 10, 2009. 
“What if I hadn’t left my job? What if I failed to take risks when opportunities presented themselves? Then I would be like 95% of the people in the world who don’t go after their dreams. I couldn’t live with that. Life will present you with opportunities to make a decisions that will define how you live and what you do. Maybe it will come in the form of a new job opportunity. Perhaps it is a decision to leave a current job with no plans for the future. At one point of another, you will have a tough decision to make, and it will probably scare the crap out of you. Embrace it.” Embrace Life’s Defining Moments, January 5th, 2010.
Things Only Got Better From There…
“It’s been about five months since I left my job. In that time I’ve experienced just about every emotion possible, and over the last few weeks I’ve come to one very important realization. I love my life.” Quit Your Job, Love Your Life, March 16, 2010.
“Anyone that wants to make major change in their life can do it. They really can. Its all a matter of turning your uncertainty into something positive, and being willing to take action when the right opportunity presents itself.” Another Year Has Come and Gone, May 8, 2010.
“No longer am I searching for what is important and meaningful in my life, as I know what it is. I know exactly the kind of lifestyle that I want to live, except this time I know how to do it. That is where I think the new found confidence has come from. By taking the time to really analyze my life, and make the necessary changes to put myself on the right path, I’ve found direction. As soon as you know where you are going it’s easy to do it with authority because you believe in what you are doing.” The Evolution of Confidence, May 29, 2010.
“Coming to this city [Bangkok] gave me the opportunity to break away from the incredibly comfortable life that I’ve been living for the last 25 years. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and experience new adventures on a daily basis. Coming here gave me the time to explore my hobbies and passions, and have helped me to realize which ones I miss the most (I’m really looking forward to playing a round of golf next week), and which ones may not have been that important.” Thankful, July 20, 2010.
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It’s important to go back and review your successes every once in awhile. While dwelling on the past can have its disadvantages, paying attention to how far you’ve come can give you the motivation to continue going farther and ensuring that you are doing the things that add the most value to your life.
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Join The Discussion
Love the differences in the two pictures! Great read
Cool post Sean. Really shows you walking through the steps and talking yourself into it. It’s nice to see the whole progression instead of just the end result. I find it discouraging to go start something only to find out it’s an incredible amount about of hard work to get to where the big guys are. Some of them try and get rid of any evidence of their old struggling selves but many inadvertently forget about where they came from and how they got to where they are.
I love reading about your transition Sean. It’s encouraging for me to see someone who took the risk and had it change their life. A lot of your initial thoughts and worries are exactly what I’ve had to deal with so it was interesting to see how your mind used those questions and anxiety in a positive way to create a life change.
I’m glad that you clearly point out through all your changes that it takes hard work. The key is finding the things that you are passionate about and place yourself in locations that stimulate you so that work actually becomes an interesting and exciting life. And that appears to be what you have accomplished.
Thank-you for sharing Sean. It’s great to read about how taking risks, moving forward in the face of fear, and trying things most people wouldn’t consider doing can pay off with rich experiences. Would love to read more of your thoughts on your personal impact – then vs. now. How did you make a difference/create lasting value before vs. now, and how do you feel about the change? At a minimum, you’re making a difference by influencing the readers of your blog – do you see additional impacts?
@Poul Yeah you won’t see that suit and tie anytime soon! Ok, there’s a wedding this weekend, but thats besides the point…
@Ross I agree, you see so many big bloggers that have a ton of success, but you dont see how they get there, you only hear about how they get there. I’d love to be super successful 3 years from now, and have everyone be able to go back and see the transition in its entirety. Thats pretty powerful in my mind.
@Matt You you are on the same path I am. I have a feeling that come the end of the year, YOU are going to be the one with a really cool story that everyone will be talking about. I can’t wait to see what happens.
@Ami Thats a really good question. I think the biggest difference between then vs now is that then I was talking. I was bringing up ideas that a lot of people think, but few talk about, and even fewer act on it. So it gets people thinking, hey maybe I can do this. Now that I’ve actually gone through the transformation, it shifts from getting people talking and thinking, to hopefully getting people acting. Thats what the new product is all about, getting people over the hump from theory to implementation.
I also hope that I’m having an impact on my blog readers, the additional impacts I think are still to come. The more I learn and the farther down this path I go, the more useful I will be to my readers and the community as a whole . It’s pretty exciting to think about where things are going
Thanks for giving us a sneak peek into the last few years of your journey. It’s encouraging to see your writing going from “My life’s not bad, I guess” to “My life is awesome!” It really does take a lot of guts to make a huge life change when your own cue is a feeling, and it sounds like you are rewarded in spades. You are an inspiration to the rest of us.
Really great post, Sean. Thanks for this. Some day I’m going to get over my fears and do whatever it is I day dream about all the time (probably travel and somehow working for myself). Thanks for not only doing what you’re doing, but for sharing it with all of us.
So great Sean. Loved reading through all the old snippets. What’s encouraging to me is that when I started reading your blog way back then, you were basically in the same position that I’m in right now. You made it, so that gives me even more encouragement and resolve that I can as well. Keep rockin’!
Wow. Awesome introspective Sean. Your adventures continue to be a phenomenal source of inspiration. And this latest article (rather freakishly) aligns with almost the same thought-process I’ve been going through recently. I think you’ve just affirmed the new direction that I need to go in. “To infinity and beyond!”
Cheers,
Matt
and *this* is why I love your blog Sean. It’s not static, you’re always growing & evolving. Great talking to you the other day, let’s make it a habit =) Keep rocking the world.
Awesome job, Sean.
This post came at the right time for me in that I’ve just decided to end my Sabbatical and face my fears. I am sitting here at Denny’s at 2 in the morning, I fired up the computer to make a post on my blog, and saw yours. I had to read it before getting started on mine.
You and I started our blogs about the same time. Seeing your progress gives me hope and encouragement. I guess it is harder to turn on the dime at 55 than it is at 25. lol
Keep on Rocking!
PS when are you going to be in Austin? I may drive up there to meet up with you. It’s only a two hour ride and another excuse to hit the road for a Present Day Nomad.
Rasheed
It’s great to see how you’ve changed during your journey. I love how you used excerpts from your posts to show this. You’re right, not enough people show the struggle and we’re left looking at the shiny parts after they’ve figured everything out. Kudos to you for being brave enough to detail your struggles as well as your triumphs! Congrats and good luck!
“Now that I’ve actually gone through the transformation, it shifts from getting people talking and thinking, to hopefully getting people acting.”
Well, you got me to act. I recently started a blog, started taking Facebook a little more seriously (I’m really, really bad at staying in touch with people. You’ve helped me realize I need to fix that), and I started a bucket list.
It’s a small start, but it’s better than nothing.
Above all else, I love reading your story. It’s a real life adventure.
Keep it up!
Great post Sean. I enjoyed this one perhaps most of all. I could see a lot of myself in the quotes you chose. “There is very little that is unknown, and thus very little fear or risk. And that terrifies me more than anything. I have a great job. For many, it would be the perfect job. It isn’t that I don’t like what I do, rather it is a concern that I will look back on my life in 10 years and regret not taking more risks and having more adventures.” Amen.
Ps Realized this the other day, but forgot to write it. Your goal #4 – “Live a life interesting enough to write and read about.” has been a part of my twitter “about me” thing for the last 6 months or so…
Stop subliminally influencing me!
So inspiring. My blog just started the last two weeks, and I am starting in a place many don’t consider ideal, but it’s nice to see others who came from similar straits. Good luck to you!
I remember a few years back when something was flicked on like a light switch. That’s when I started selling all my stuff and living like a minimalist. One thing lead to another and now travel is all I can think about!
Things can be a bit scary at first, but after that first step it only gets easier!
I’ve clicked on so many links today I’m not sure how I got to your site, but glad I did!
2007 was the year I quit my job, sold everything I owned and moved (sight unseen) to the Island of Roatan, nestled in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras.
Admittedly family and friends thought I may have lost my mind, but after three years of only returning to Canada for short visits they know I have found exactly where I’m suppose to be.
The Roatan Vortex pulled me in and I never want to leave.
Discovered you via Rowdy Kittens (found her via 100 Steps) and I have to say you articulate the process of “just doing it” really well and with an honest tone that interests me to continue following your journey
I most definitely agreed with all your comments as it relates to living the comforts of a steady paycheck, the responsibilities, the anxiety and embracing it all to live a life authentically. I have been one of the “lucky ones” someone who has freelanced and done contract work for years, others assuming how great it must all be, how freeing and empowering… have I had for 10 years the chance to start my day at 6Am and end it at 12AM with a break here and there to go for a run, stop at the market, etc? Sure, but I have, because there are NO guarantees that client is going to honor a contract, continue to hire you month to month, that the flipping shitty US economy might eviscerate my source of income entirely (yes, I’m a single mom with kids at home) a daily stress factor that is insane to grasp. So I have, little by little, as I work to pull away from the “work” that drains my time and my passion for life, to devote creative energies to my photos, essays and whatever else might come my way journalistically. I’m not sure where it will all take me, and I relish the experiences you are having and too foresee this for myself, so thanks much for documenting your path and activity, I’ll make sure to track you along the way. Cheers and peace be with you with every step.
Sorry, I’m not going to join the adoration party.
Reading quotes like: “Reading this blog will give you the courage to live the life you really want to be living. & Anyone that wants to make major change in their life can do it.” reeks to me of white, wealthy, western, male privilege.
As far as I can see your bucket list is all about you. No mention of doing anything for anyone else.
Come back and talk to your readers about the courage to live life when you’ve lost your health or the life of your child or lover. When your neighborhood has been wiped out by a natural (or man made) disaster. When you’ve been hungry for a year or two.
Reply comment to Et; you’re candid and right on with your views, however it does smack a tad bit righteous to assume the author of this blog is a wealthy, western, privileged male. While we can gather he is white and he’s from western society and culture because he clearly shares his life history in the States, to assume that this blogger is devoid of compassion for the unfortunate circumstances isn’t really fair; he writes about his life, his life experiences, his choices and his suggestions, according to him, of ways other can try and break free from the mental confines of fear that keep them from living an authentic life.
I know poverty, pain, lose, not having resources, wondering do I pay the electric bill or buy groceries for my kid, walk to work because there isn’t enough money to afford the subway fare and I have never had health care and have paid thousands and thousands over the years for even the worst care here in the US – point is, courage is all within he realm of someone’s experiences and references and OK, maybe this author is a tad lofty and maybe he is a guy of privilege who can take long sabbaticals from life to follow his path, but to expect him to someone that he’s not – won’t happen. This “bucket list” is entirely up to each individual and if on his list of things he’d like to see and do excludes saving the world, then so be it. What I think would be more amazing, as you obviously seem to be such a person, is to find a blog (yours perhaps) where life struggles, genuine, real life get-through-the-day-barely-able kind of writing to be shared. Maybe you’re the person to do just that, give the reader a perspective not otherwise given, and offer solutions and inspiration – feed the hunger you write about with faith and some hope because I’m guessing if you can get to a computer to read here and post a comment, you can get to one to write and inspire.
Thanks for the comments, Lisa!
Someday I may write a blog, until then I try hard to be a gracious person. But if/when I write I know I will not include sections like: Reading this blog will give you the courage to live the life you really want to be living.
No one can tell anyone else how to gain courage to live.
Don’t mean to sound harsh, but the attitudes expressed here are just so common among privileged writers. Each to their own…
@ET There are a lot of things to address in your comments, and I’ll do my best to do so. First off I appreciate your opinions, and your honesty. The bucket list, while I hope that it inspires people do make the time to do the things that they want to do in life, isn’t about others, its about me. I started the site to hold me accountable for both the changes I hoped to make in my life, as well as to continue to do all of the stuff I’ve always said I would do “someday”. So in that sense, you are right, my bucket list is all about me.
However that said, if you read the other 150 posts on the site, you see a transformation from someone who was unhappy with their life, was willing to take a risk, and made a change – then found happiness in the process. Also, sure I’m young, white, and by global standards come from a privileged background in the sense that I’ve always had a home and my health. But I’m sorry, I write about what I know, and what I’ve experienced in my life. If you want to read about those that have lost their health, child, or lover, then you should go read a different blog. However even if you have experienced any or all of those things, there is a message in my writing that evokes positivity and could go a long way if you had more of an open mind about it.
To your more recent comment, your right “no one can tell anyone else how to gain courage to live”. I can’t tell you exactly what to do. But I can tell you what worked for me. I can inspire change. I can give you the confidence that there are other ways to live your life, regardless of your background. It’s up to the reader to decide if they will gain courage because of it – but I believe they can.
@Lisa I really appreciate your views and they are dead on. I’m not going to be someone that I’m not, and no one can expect me to be. And while yes, my writing could be considered “lofty” at times, it all stems from real life experiences. I think you also bring up a good point that perhaps ET should in fact start a blog. I was trying to think of another blog to suggest that would coincide more with the writing he seems to want to read, and don’t have a good example. I’d love to read about life from the eyes of someone who seems very different than myself. I know I could learn a thing or two, as I imagine he could learn from me if I was a little more open to influence.
I really sincerely appreciate both of your thoughts. It’s not very often people challenge me or disagree, and its a good thing to see, as I know I’m not always right and everyone has a different view point. Just know I’m going to keep writing about life as I view it based on the experiences that I’ve had. I’d never be able to do anything else!
@ET I say “gracious is as gracious does.” So while you may still sting a bit at the thought of this author assuming he has privileges above your own, I firmly believe as I am living proof, that the time and energy spent talking about how things aren’t happening for you, is to the degree you aren’t devoting that time or energy to manifest something different for yourself. I’m very serious; if you were to research just a little, you would find there are hundreds upon thousands even, of individuals working hard, struggling, lost, confused, damaged, but also are grabbing on to whatever they can, holding tight and DOING something that gives them joy, lends some sense of intrinsic purpose in an otherwise screwed up, floundering society. I genuinely feel from the tone of your writing you are just such a person… your writing, your own blog as I’ve suggested, just like this one, could give you a voice for what I’m sure will be many thought provoking and interesting conversations. Jump in, its the only way to really know if you can swim.
@Sean Cheers to you for allow the reader to express their opinions even when they challenged your own; true sign of an evolved individual. You won’t be right most of the time, there isn’t a “right” way for much of anything these days, but what you will be is a strong, insightful, and prolific author, someone already on the road to success.
I’ll say one thing for ET ~ it’s great to see a real conversation happening!
@Lach – perfect job? Wanting to leave? Do tell.
@ET
It’s a lot easier to criticize than have a solution and implement it. I do have to admit, I find it a tad ironic that you’re upset Sean isn’t doing anything to build others up, right before tearing him down.
I can’t speak for the entirety of Sean’s readership, but I know Sean has helped me personally, and whether or not it’s on his bucket list, doesn’t mean he’s not working towards it. I don’t think Sean’s perfect, but that’s no reason to get mad at him. If you read the blog and see the change that’s happened in the last year, I think you’d have a little different opinion of him.
Best
Joel
I have been following this thread of conversation with great interest.
In my opinion some people do need to be encouraged to live their dream…before it is too late.
ET, your suggestion that Sean’s posting “reeks of white, wealthy, western, male privilege.” Three years ago I sold everything, quit a very good job and moved to the Island of Roatan, Honduras. Some assume, I must be rich because I live on a Caribbean Island. I live well below the North American poverty level to live my life now. I can truly see what matters in this world, removing myself from the trappings of a(so called) civilized society. I am not caught up in having stuff, or keeping up with the Jones’s anymore. I write a blog about day-to-day life on Roatan (roatanvortex.)
And what you said about “Come back and talk to your readers about the courage to live life when you’ve lost your health or the life of your child or lover.” I guess qualifies me to share encouragement with people to find the courage to live your life now. The day after my 43rd birthday my much loved husband died of a massive heart attack in front of me. He was only 46 years old at the time with no known health conditions. Stress killed him! We had talked of giving up the rat-race, about living lives that really mattered to us. But I lost him before we had the chance to do it. Perhaps if I had read what Sean is talking about before my husband died…we might have gotten out…in-time…together.
There’s an interesting point here, though, that is worth discussion. Sometimes, in order to make these big life changing decisions, you do have to hurt someone else, or at least make them unhappy. Someone who would rather you would stay with them. It could be an aging parent, a good friend, or a lover. I’ve lived abroad myself, and saw how many relationships it destroyed as well as created.
I count myself as one of the fortunate ones because, for the most part, my loved ones were happy to see me off at the airport and welcomed me back when I came home. They still roll their eyes when they look at my life (I’m a writer by trade, while the rest of my family are scientists, literally people who work in field that save lives such as medicine). I know my life seems frivolous to them at some level. But they don’t press the point, and they’re happy to see me happy, even though I have chosen a life different from theirs. It certainly causes misunderstandings, but we work through it.
In the end, I know we should surround ourselves with people who care about us. They should always be happy for us. But life sometimes puts you in relationships, especially regarding family, that you don’t get to choose. And life sometimes does get into the way of doing the things we want to do – you have a child, you want to take care of your sick grandparent, etc. It is hard to make those kinds of choices, and although I commend the people who can throw everything away and live life as an adventure, I also commend people who can put aside their dreams and desires for others.
I like to think that we can learn something from anyone. It may be that some things that Sean writes about don’t pertain to me or don’t interest me. I’ve learned to take and apply those things that do and just discard the rest. That said, I’ve learned a lot from Sean and this blog. He has inspired me to take the first steps towards my dream of living overseas. Sean has helped me both directly and indirectly to work through my inner fears. But at the end of the day I have to take responsibility for my own life. No one can live my life for me. It’s up to me and me alone to change my destiny. Getting depressed about where I am in life or where I am not in life gets me nowhere. Applying direct action to my present circumstances is the only way that I can improve my situation. Reading this blog can give you courage to change if you take it in the light that it was given, keep an open mind and apply action to your own life.
Sean – What a great way to share the “journey” you’ve been on with folks. Having been there through much of it I vividly remember many of those posts hitting my reader and being very excited for the life you were creating for yourself. And you are so right, it isn’t as easy as just deciding one day to jump (at least not for most people.) The timeline you are able to define is great. Congrats on being an evolutionary being!
@Lisa “perfect job? Wanting to leave? Do tell.” Long story short, I created a remote work arrangement which gave me, by most standards, both freedom and security. But I discovered that something was still missing: meaning. Blog coming soon
@Genny My dad died of cancer when I was 22. Well, cancer was the means, but what really killed him was the job he hated.
Sean,
Stumbled upon for first time today. Loved getting a “short history” of your path towards something better for yourself (and by the looks of it, many other too).
I’m in the startup process, trying to document each step of a new business venture out of Central America via blog (www.allofusrevolution.com). You are so right in that people often see where you end up, but the most important part–the journey–is often missing.
You’ll be a continuing inspiration as I start on my own path. Thanks for sharing!
Best,
Kristin
Nice post Sean
Haha, just a bit of a teaser – are you not having comfortable life in Bangkok? you can get ANYTHING in that city, to me it is too overwhelming… maybe you should try out a bit more of wilderness – Cambodia or Laos, that’s where you find out how many things that you had in your previous life do not matter at all…moving back to ‘developed’ world seems like a impossible task after. even Bangkok is too much then.
@ Lach So delayed in catching up with location 180, I’ve been on a bit of a transition/find the intrinsic meaning to it all quest the past few weeks. Challenging times to be sure, but I’m wading through the quagmire of it all to come way saner, happier and more focused than ever – I’ll let you know how that’s working for me later
Losing your dad at 22 is tough, knowing it was ultimately because he was consumed with the discontent of a life he didn’t want sounds to be a positive, strong driving force for your own journey and that’s a wonderful thing to come from a seemingly great loss. I had a father who was an artist, a concert musician and a teacher, who, by virtue of the times found himself with a woman and a life that produce six children – all mouths to feed and tiny bodies to clothe so he choose the path of least resistance and walked away from his soulful journey as an artist to take care of us all. He sucked at it ultimately, not able to stay with any one thing for very long, all the while grinding away trying to make all ends meet… not a happy guy, and it killed him much too young. I can definitely relate.
So pleased for your plans for the blog and I sincerely look forward to you sharing with everyone, I will certainly be a fan from the start!
Cheers,
Lisa
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