Retire Often

In this episode, we accompany Cosmin on his remarkable journey from the brink of burnout in his career to embracing a life of nomadic adventure. After years of high-intensity work, he took his first month-long mini-retirement. Cosmin returned with a new perspective: continue on a path of stress and exhaustion or forge a new way of living. He chose the latter, setting off on an inspiring journey of...

In this conversation with Darlene, we delve deep into the journey of early retirement and the surprises it holds beyond the workplace. Darlene's story goes from her demanding corporate career to a retirement decision spurred by an enticing severance package. This episode is not just about the transition into early retirement; it's about the unexpected emotional roller coaster that followed. Darlen...

In this conversation with my friend, JL Collins, we take a look at a professional journey that defies convention, punctuated by career breaks and the power of 'F.U. money.' His career began marked by intense work periods that eventually led to inevitable burnout. But through these experiences, JL began taking mini-retirements, illustrating that stepping away can often add more meaning in life. Thi...

In college, Joe fell in love with hiking and climbing. He loved the community and time in nature. He tried pursuing a corporate life, but a mini-retirement where he hiked the Appalachian Trail shifted his path.  He realized that corporate life wasn't how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. But he also wasn't drawn to the "dirt bag" life of taking odd jobs to pay the bills between adventures....

Getting diagnosed with a brain tumor during her residency helped Dawn refocus on who she wanted to be as a person and what she wanted her life to look like.  Instead of losing herself in her profession, she consistently course corrected by using mini-retirements. The medical profession, like many others, can become an all consuming identity. Instead of accepting the prescribed narrative to what he...

Eric was a schoolteacher in Boston. Along with his wife and two kids, they moved to France for two years. This seems like an impossible step for many people. But it was after years of practice taking smaller trips and spending time abroad. His wife is originally from France, and she used that time to complete a master's program. Eric shares the financials behind a massive move like this, showing h...

Stepping away from a successful, lucrative, and important job can be tricky. Even when that job is eating up all your free time and bandwidth and at the cost of your health and relationships. It's scary to kill the golden goose. But Amanda discovered all that life had to offer on the other side during her mini-retirement. Surprisingly, the lower stress and more free time even helped their finances...

Vikaash has always been good at work. Professionally, success came quickly. From Harvard Business School to 40 Under Forty Young Business Leaders award by CNBC, to CEO. But that type of success has a cost: 15 to 18-hour work days and little time or energy left over for family, health, sleep, or hobbies.  At the peak of his career, he decided to take a mini-retirement. What I find incredible about...

Jamie and her husband are both self-employed. Walking away from their business for a month seemed overwhelming. But they desperately needed to rest, recover, and focus on family, health, and fun for a bit. Jamie shares how they planned and prepared for that first month off. It was so good for everyone that they knew they wanted to do it again. Now, after their second mini-retirement, they are figu...

Chad (Coach Carson) started his financial journey by investing in real estate. It helped fund his and his wife's first budget mini-retirement. Over the years, as his rentals became more profitable, he was able to upgrade the mini-retirement adventures as well. He is just finishing his third mini-retirement, a year-long trip to Spain with his family.  Chad gives practical and encouraging advice on...

In her mid 30's, Rachel decided it was time for a change. She had been working 10 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week, stressed about even asking for a day off. She was ready for a change of pace and autonomy over her life. Despite never being a hiker and never even traveling outside of the country, she began preparing for a 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain. Her two-month mini-retirement plan expanded int...

Growing up in Mexico, Angel never expected to travel the world. If he did well financially, there was an expectation of simply buying nicer stuff. During his 20's, he took an open ended trip to Southeast Asia, assuming this was his one chance. That trip shifted his perspective and changed the course of his life. He came back knowing he wanted to be different and live differently. After his baby wa...