Danielle Desir - Traveling With a Full-Time Job

Traveling With A Full-Time Job

How To Make The Most Of Your Time

Danielle Desir

Introduction

W ith close to 5,000 photos and videos on my phone, I scrolled back as far as I could and landed on my photos from 2017. It was an extraordinary year because I jumped on every opportunity to travel. I booked solo trips, weekend getaways, and planned a couple of week-long vacations with friends. I visited Chicago, Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Iceland, and Barcelona. That was the year I proved to myself I could travel extensively with a full-time job. I visited 11 countries, bought a house, and adopted a dog.

Feeling nostalgic, a smile must have appeared on my face because my fianc asked me what I was thinking about as my alarm went off. Big bold letters appeared on my screen, T-Minus 10 Minutes Until Showtime . Frantically running up the stairs, I burst into my bedroom. With a few minutes to spare, I needed to find something to wear. I was hosting a virtual book release party for my second book.

Sharing in my excitement, my fianc offered to join, and together we prepared a short outline for the event. He would share his favorite takeaways, and Id discuss why I wrote the book. Later Id read a chapter and share the behind the scenes of my writing process. Little did I know the idea for writing this book would come to me during that live stream.

Right before signing off, I shared details of the new book I wanted to write. However, there was one problem. Deep down I wasn't sure if it was going to resonate.

Nonfiction books typically solve a problem and offer a transformation of some sort. Although my solution was clear, I was having a hard time articulating the problem. I also wasnt sure if readers would care enough about the topic.

Not wanting to waste time writing a book no one would read, I brainstormed alternatives on the spot. As a new author, I was on a roll. Last year, I wrote two books: an Iceland travel guide and a how-to about saving for travel. I enjoyed the writing process so much I wanted to continue writing more books.

Thinking out loud, I mentioned wanting to write another book about traveling with a full-time job. I was well-versed in the topic, and it is a pain point for many. Since the initial response was overwhelmingly positive, I knew I was onto something. By the way, 357 million results show up when you search for traveling with a full-time job. Thank you, Samara D., for planting the seed.

With a demanding job, limited vacation time, and a big appetite for travel, I have traveled extensively over the last six years. I have poured the perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin (Ireland) twice, I have walked behind a waterfall in Iceland, and I climbed to the top of the Castle of San Giovanni in Kotor (Montenegro), all while holding down a full-time job. If Im being honest, its not enough that I travel a lot. This is half the story. During this time, I have also grown in my career. I have gotten two promotions, and my responsibilities continue to increase. Overachiever is my middle name. Its really Cassandra, but I digress.

A Grants Manager by day and an avid world traveler in my free time, I learned how to balance travel and work through trial and error. No one gave me the blueprint in college or graduate school. I did not have a mentor who I could look up to or ask questions. If I wanted to travel and grow professionally, I would have to figure it out on my own. That is exactly what I did.

For a long time, I felt alone in wanting to lead a travel abundant lifestyle with a nine-to-five job, until I started my affordable travel and personal finance blog, The Thought Card five years ago.

By reading other travel blogs and getting to personally know the authors, I discovered I wasnt alone in my experience. I met many savvy travelers who were crushing it in their careers and also accumulating a ridiculous amount of airline miles. Wanting to share our success stories, tips, and lessons learned, I began writing this book. It was important to write because we are bombarded with messages that say: Quit your job to travel the world, or Quit your job to pursue your passions. While this may be an option, it is not the only way to go.

Perhaps you love what you do, or you have financial responsibilities that make it difficult to pack up and go. Or youre like me and realized your nine-to-five is helping you reach your financial goals sooner than later. Regardless of your reasoning, Im not here to convince you to keep your nine-to-five job. Instead, I want to show you how to creatively plan so you can explore the world without sacrificing your career.

If youre feeling stuck or believe you cant travel with a day job, think again. By sharing what has worked for me and many others, you will:

Become familiar with your workplace vacation and holiday policy,

Learn how to travel more without taking any time-off,

Optimize your vacation days so you can go on longer trips.

While all of this is helpful, theres more. If you have concerns that traveling often will negatively affect your work, this book is for you as well. Keep reading to find out how you can plan and be proactive so your time out of the office doesnt negatively affect the quality of your work or reputation. If you want to travel the world without sacrificing your career, there are things you can do at work that will help you be seen as a thoughtful, reliable, and dependable team member. The last thing you want is for your boss and colleagues to get the impression you are distracted by all of your travels. Right? Im confident that when we are done, your team will sing your praises and admire your ability to do both.

If youre wondering who I am and why I am qualified to write this book, let me introduce myself. My name is Danielle Desir. I work full-time as a research administrator in New York City, and Im a part-time world traveler, affordable travel and personal finance blogger, and podcaster. I usually travel on the weekends, during public holidays, and I make it a point to use all of my vacation days every year. On my blog, The Thought Card, I empower financially savvy travelers to make informed financial decisions. From finding the best travel deals to discovering wealth-building opportunities, I am passionate about pursuing financial independence and living a fulfilled life.

I am also an advocate for not waiting to travel. While many have adopted the idea that you have to wait to start living your life, or you have to quit your job altogether, I refuse to limit my potential. Im guessing youre reading this book because you do not want to limit yourself either. If you want to have a career and travel, you do not have to pick between the two. You can do both, climb the corporate ladder, and have a passport full of stamps to match.

Will it take effort? Absolutely.

Will you need to prioritize? Certainly.

However, as Acquania Escarne of The Purpose of Money blog and podcast says: Traveling is for anyone that wants it. Period.

O ver the last few years , I have had several deaths in my family. Three of my great uncles passed away shortly after reaching retirement age. While sad, this loss inspired me to seize more opportunities.