My last day at P&G was June 30, 2012. Since then, I’ve worked for myself, building and growing Humor That Works. I’ve worked with phenomenal organizations, have met some incredible people, and talked about a wide variety of topics. I’ve also traveled a ton.
Last year alone I spent 94 nights on the road and traveled more than 50,000 miles by planes, trains, and automobiles. For more than 25% of the year I was away from my place in NYC, translating into roughly 15% of my total annual expenses being paid to rent a room I wasn’t in.
As I looked at my calendar for 2015, I noticed the trend of traveling continues. I already have a few extended trips planned, including: 2 weeks in Geneva, another 2 in Norway, a week in Florida, 5 days in Philadelphia, a week in Quad Cities, and 5 days in D.C.. And that’s all before the end of the summer.
So I thought, “Instead of going back to a single location between all of these events, why not explore other areas?”
One of my business goals is to speak in all 50 states and on all 7 continents. In some sense, being “homeless†will not only allow but also encourage checking off a few more locations that I may not otherwise get to (I’m looking at you Wyoming!).
Plus I’m bound to end up with a few good stand-up stories out of the ordeal oh, and personal growth stuff I guess).
Will it be challenging? Yes.
Could I hate it? There’s a good chance.
Will I give up before I barely start? Quite possibly.
Is it worth trying? I think so.
Am I done with asking myself questions? Maybe.
Worst case scenario is I die a horrible death in some sort of freak accident. Not-nearly-as-bad-but-still-not-great scenario is that I realize quickly I hate traveling all the time and I go back to NYC or move to a new city.
Best case scenario is that I get to see incredible parts of the country and world while meeting new people and creating memories I’ll tell future artificially intelligent appliances (and my kids).
If you’re curious about what I’m up to or how I’m going about such a task, check back here for updates on posts like how I’m prepping for the life of a nomad or what gear I’m packing. You can also follow my adventures by signing up for my newsletter or following me on Twitter @drewtarvin or on FourSquare.
Oh, and if you have any recommendations of where I should go, let me know.
I am filled with a jealous rage. Congrats!
New York’s loss is the world’s gain.
Drew this is amazing and wonderful. Best wishes on this giant adventure!!!
Very disappointed that there was not a single Jack Reacher joke in the post.
Best of luck! When you hit Cincinnati next, let’s connect and update. Also, if you ever want a speaking engagement in Columbus, let me know. I am now chairing the Association of Enterprise Architects Ohio chapter and we meet in Columbus.
Onward, ho! Great for you, Drew! May God be with you…