Why I Quit a Dream Job and Moved to Buenos Aires

24-Aug-2011

I like this.

By

An eternal optimist, Liu-Yue built two social enterprises to help make the world a better place. Liu-Yue co-founded Oxstones Investment Club a searchable content platform and business tools for knowledge sharing and financial education. Oxstones.com also provides investors with direct access to U.S. commercial real estate opportunities and other alternative investments. In addition, Liu-Yue also co-founded Cute Brands a cause-oriented character brand management and brand licensing company that creates social awareness on global issues and societal challenges through character creations. Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Liu-Yue worked as an Executive Associate at M&T Bank in the Structured Real Estate Finance Group where he worked with senior management on multiple bank-wide risk management projects. He also had a dual role as a commercial banker advising UHNWIs and family offices on investments, credit, and banking needs while focused on residential CRE, infrastructure development, and affordable housing projects. Prior to M&T, he held a number of positions in Latin American equities and bonds investment groups at SBC Warburg Dillon Read (Swiss Bank), OFFITBANK (the wealth management division of Wachovia Bank), and in small cap equities at Steinberg Priest Capital Management (family office). Liu-Yue has an MBA specializing in investment management and strategy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from Stern School of Business at NYU. He also completed graduate studies in international management at the University of Oxford, Trinity College.







by Greg Patrick, International Living,

About five years ago I walked out on a dream job. I had been working for Dell and traveling to far-away places like the Philippines and Argentina.

I was fresh out of college—working hard and partying hard.

I’d often travel for months at a time… staying in luxurious hotels, dining at fine restaurants, and pretty much living like a rock star.

Of course, I can’t take credit for any of this—the U.S. dollar went a lot further at that time. For example…

  • In Buenos Aires, Argentina you could get 16 ounces of grass-fed beef and a glass of Malbec wine for about $6.
  • In Boracay—a beach island in the Philippines—you could buy 40-cent rum and Cokes.
  • You could even find a round-trip ticket from Manila to Hong Kong, along with two nights in a four-star hotel, for just $175.
  • And in Bangkok, Thailand, a 60-minute massage would only cost you $5—90% cheaper than what you’d pay at home.

This international lifestyle was a far cry from the one I could afford back in the U.S.

So why would I possibly give it up?

Well, on one of my Dell trips to Buenos Aires I met a girl.

We hung out as much as possible whenever I was in town for business… but it grew harder and harder to say goodbye whenever I had to leave.

The problem was, I had no control over my travel schedule. My job demanded me to be in other cities too—not just Buenos Aires.

Pretty soon the long-distance took a toll on our relationship and I came to a cross-road: Girl? Or dream job traveling for Dell?

I couldn’t have both.

It was the easiest, toughest decision I’d ever made.

In the past month I’ve worked from Austin, Texas… Boston, Massachusetts… Toronto, Canada… and even a cabbage farm in upstate, NY.

I really like traveling… and I really like my job.

But it’s not with Dell. I’m a copywriter now… and as a copywriter, the sky is the limit.

Not only are there better financial opportunities—but more important, in my opinion, is that I can do my job from anywhere in the world… on my own terms.

And that means I don’t have to say goodbye to that girl from Argentina any more.

We’ve been married for almost four years now—and any traveling that we do today is together.

In October we’ll be going back to Buenos Aires. It will be our home—once again—for the next 5 months.

The U.S. dollar may not go as far as it did a few years ago, but you can still find plenty of bargains in Buenos Aires. It’s one of my favorite places to live.

Whether you’re at your own cross-road in your career… or if you’ve just got an itch to try something new in a foreign country, consider starting your own career in copywriting.

It’s one of the few careers I know of that offers the freedom and lifestyle that many people only dream about.

The crazy thing about copywriting is that anyone can do it. You don’t need any special skills or experience… and I’m a perfect example of that. When I was at my cross-road a few years ago, I was starting from zero. If you’re the least bit interested in trying it out, one of the best ways to fast-track your success is to hook up with the AWAI copywriting training program.


Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Subscribe without commenting