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Intro: I Quit (and I’m Moving to China)
Posted by Mike in My Life, Work
It was less than a month ago when I invited my manager into a conference room to tell him that I was quitting my job. Not only that, I was quitting my job without having another job. Not only that, I was quitting my job without having another job AND moving to China. I think it’s safe to say, no one expected this.
It was really a bittersweet moment. I liked my team, I liked the people I worked with, I liked some aspects of my work, and I was on target for the typical American dream — upper management with arguably the top bank in the world, a great salary, could have had a house, found a local wife, had a few kids, joined a country club, taken up golf and become mediocre at it, watched American Idol, cultivated my personality into the conservative norm, grown old and died.
It just wasn’t for me.
There are times when I think to myself that there must be something psychologically wrong with me. Why can’t I just settle into something? Why can’t I just relax and enjoy comfort? Why is it that, instead of being resistant to change, I seek change? I have friends that are married. I have friends that have kids. I have friends that remained in their hometown all of their life. I seem to have, subconsciously, fought it all.
It’s like my own sick form of entertainment. I love pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Once I get good at something, it’s time for the next challenge. I need to be mentally (and sometimes physically) stimulated to the max and, if not, I start seeking the next stimulant. I want to look back 5 years prior and see as much growth as possible. The idea that, in 5 years, I will be the exact same person with the exact same life is absolutely sickening. I take risks to lead to change to lead to personal growth to allow myself to maximize life as much as possible.
So, back to the beginning (I get off-topic quickly)…
It started with my parents, then my friends, then my manager, then my co workers, and then everyone else I meet in day to day life. In 2010, a year of economic suckiness, I am leaving a “dream” job to pursue my next passionate challenge — surviving in China from the ground up.
“I quit and I’m moving to China.”
I will either be looking like an idiot or like a visionary in 5 years. Stay with me and find out.
Good on you Mike! I am on the same path, just arrived 10 days ago in Shanghai. Quit my job in Oct 09, read Tim Ferris book and plan to stay here for the next two years at least. I will follow your journey but I am sure you will come out on top in whatever you choose to do!
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Mike Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Kat,
Thank you for the encouragement! I will do what I can. If I　figure out a way of coming out on top, I’ll surely share my tips with the readers.
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Mike, thanks for sharing really awesome and useful information on your site. I stumbled upon it when looking for tips on how to go about finding an apartment in Shanghai.
As for the path you took to make it to China – my jaw nearly dropped to find someone else with so similar a turn in life. Hope there might be a chance to run into you in Shanghai!
[Reply]
Mike Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Hi Christina,
I’d be happy to chat, just shoot me an e-mail :).
Take care and thanks for the comments. Also, click the big blue banner in the header if you need help with your apartment search.
Best regards,
Mike
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