How To Retire From The Corporate Rat Race In 6 Months Or Less

You know the worst thing about the daily 9-to-5 grind? The feeling of hopelessness that you deal with in the morning as you get ready to go to work. That was always the worst part for me!

Believe it or not, a few years ago, like millions of other people, I bought into the myth that status and the daily grind in a pointless job are the pinnacles of self-actualization. I swallowed this idea hook, line and sinker.

Yet, every morning when it was time to wake up, feelings of displacement and hopelessness overcame me. I just didn’t want to go to work, but not because I was lazy or lacked self-discipline, it was because I HATED my job, and not just a little bit.

Eventually, the time was just right for me to leave the corporate rat race and end the pointless chasing of promotions and material wealth. Instead, I chose MYSELF. I chose to swap my desk in the office cubicle against my own office back at home.

Looking back, choosing myself and leaving the corporate rat race was not only the right thing to do, but it was A LOT EASIER than most people think it is.

If you feel the same the way I did back then, if you feel you are directionless and without purpose, if you hate your job or your colleagues, if you have chosen a wrong career, or if you would just like to get a fresh start somewhere else, it can be done. I am proof of it.

If you want to break out of the soul-crushing daily grind and strive to be more than an employee number in a large corporation that would exchange your ass for someone else in a second, I am here to tell you that you don’t have to settle for this kind of life. If you are tired of bad, abusive bosses, unpaid overtime, conniving colleagues, and pointless paper-shuffling, there is a way out.

Instead of choosing your boss and working your ass off to make his dreams come true, choose yourself.

That’s right. Choose yourself. Because the alternative is to live a life of quiet desperation. Do you really want to spend the majority of your life here?

Of course, not. Not if you are sane…

If you are dreaming about a relaxed lifestyle in a tropical paradise, this dream is totally within your reach for the average guy and gal out there. If you are on the edge and look for a way out, here are the best tips I can give in order for you to be able to say goodbye to the corporate treadmill and start living your life on your own terms.

And here’s how you can drop out of Western society and start a new life abroad within just 6 months:

1. Choose A Country

You can move to countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America quite easily. The important thing here is to realize that you don’t have to have it all figured out when you start.

If you dream about coming to Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam or Costa Rica, hop on plane and check things out while you are there, don’t just rely on ‘hear-say’ on the internet or from friends. Get a real first impression. Plane tickets are affordable and websites like www.skyscanner.com help you find cheap air fares.

If you don’t like a place, feel free to move around. Nobody forces you to stay in a location that you don’t like. If you don’t like Thailand (but I bet you will!), check out neighboring countries Laos or Cambodia. If you are more adventurous, check out the next tourism frontier in SE Asia: Myanmar.

There is a place abroad for everyone to feel at home 🙂

2. Set A Departure Date

I did the hardcore version: I didn’t do any planning at all, I just left. Never regretted it either. Realistically, though, I would say most people need ~6 months to fold up their tents back at home.

What helped me a lot to leave quickly was that I never owned any furniture or cars, never had long-term leases or insurance contracts that tied me down to a location. Of course, most people have stuff to take care of. Getting out of a condo or house lease is probably the biggest issue for many.

If you are single, hate your job, have no financial responsibilities and are below 40, you are in the pole position. The only thing that might really hold you back is your lack of confidence…Take the risk and force yourself out of the comfort zone! You have nothing to lose anyways, and it will be well worth it.

Setting a departure date can help you mentally and psychologically to take the plunge. I NEVER met a foreigner in Asia that regretted their decision to leave their home countries. The only thing they regretted was that they didn’t leave earlier.

3. How Much Money Should You Have Saved?

If you are a hustler, you can make money anywhere, especially online.

I recommend you to have 6-12 months worth of expected living expenses saved up before you leave (do your research about what the average living costs are in your desired destination).

I hustled like crazy when I worked in Australia in 2012 and made a shit load of money there, so I didn’t even have to touch my savings back home. I saved it all, which helped a lot when I finally “retired” at 32 in Thailand.

If you have at least $10,000+ in your bank account right now and you are looking to resettle in Thailand, Vietnam or any other SE Asian country, I say go for it. Remember, you don’t have to have it all figured out.

In any case, it might be good idea for you to have an exit strategy in place if things don’t work out for you. Buy a flexible return plane ticket if it makes you sleep better at night.

4. Check Out The Visa Situation

Here is what you need to know about most SE Asian and Latin American countries: They welcome foreigners, their knowledge, and their money!

Millions of foreigners have found solutions to their unique visa situation, and so will you! If you want to stay long-term in a country, say Thailand, you can try to find a job and get a work permit, you could get an ED (a.k.a. education) visa, a retirement visa, a business visa, or a marriage visa.

If you have money in the bank, you can also buy (YES, buy!) the Thailand Elite Visa which will set you back 500,000 THB for a 5-year visa. While standard reporting requirements with respect to Immigration apply, it is a hassle-free visa choice for individuals that don’t have to work.

5. Get A Job or Start A Business

Once you are here and have had some time to settle in and are over your initial excitement, reality will inevitably settle in.

You need to make some bread.

If you are from the U.S., the U.K., Australia and Canada you can find, without that much effort, local English teaching jobs. They won’t make you rich, but you can make a good living with them regardless. You can also look for teaching opportunities online using www.google.com and use country-specific job boards online.

The internet, of course, is also a good way to teach English remotely. Heaps of opportunities out there for location-independent English teachers. Again, use Google.

I also recommend you to read my article “10 Side Hustles For 2019: 10 Income Ideas You May Want To Explore” in which I discuss other income ideas for digital nomads and online entrepreneurs.

Takeaway

I don’t know about you, but I can tell you, giving the finger to the rat race was the best thing I ever did in my life. I am my own boss, work on my own schedule, am in full control of my time, and nobody gets to tell me what to do. It’s awesome! At the same time, I enjoy the tropical lifestyle, year-round sunshine, friendly people, beautiful, exotic girls and low living expenses. I wouldn’t change my life for the world. I am living the dream, and I am never coming back 😉

Please help me spread the message, like, comment and share!

If you want to read more about what it takes to really drop out and win the confidence game, I recommend you to read my book “Have The Courage To Be You – How Not To Live A Life Of Quiet Desperation”. It’s just $2.99 to give your life an entire new perspective. Now on Amazon.com.