Fire Drill

Have you ever thought of building a business around travel?

Andy Steves started his travel business in 2010, giving student tours to exchange students all around Europe. At first he was doing all the manual work himself (tours, guides, etc) but eventually learnt how to scale and grow his business. He currently lives in Medellin, Colombia.

You'll love how inspiring his story is.

We also chat about...

Growing up with a travel lifestyle

How he scaled his business

His business and personal goals

How do find off-the-beaten-path places as a tourist

The emotional perspective of working and travelling.

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/building-a-travel-business-while-on-the-road-andy-steves

Is exploring the US by RV one of your dreams?

Steve and Courtney retired in their thirties and are now travelling the US with an Airstream. They are both technologists and quit their jobs when they realised the better option was total freedom. They also travel with their two dogs and manage to do some hiking in the most beautiful places in the US.

You'll love how inspiring their story is.

We also chat about...

Reaching FI

Their definition of FI

Their Airstream

Types of US travels

Travelling with dogs

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/exploring-the-us-with-an-airstream-think-save-retire

Is exploring the US by RV one of your dreams?

Steve and Courtney retired in their thirties and are now travelling the US with an Airstream. They are both technologists and quit their jobs when they realised the better option was total freedom. They also travel with their two dogs and manage to do some hiking in the most beautiful places in the US.

You'll love how inspiring their story is.

We also chat about...

Reaching FI

Their definition of FI

Their Airstream

Types of US travels

Travelling with dogs

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/exploring-the-us-with-an-airstream-think-save-retire

What are you planning to retire to?

Bob has been semi-retired for two decades, and tells us his story of working his tail off and retiring at the age of 42 and immersing himself in art. We talk about how he feels watching his co-workers becoming successful, the importance of giving meaning to your life and market volatility.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How Bob reached FI

Doing sculpture once he retired

Watching your coworkers be retired

The underlying need to make a difference

What he feels about the market

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/semi-retired-for-2-decades-bob-clyatt

What are you planning to retire to?

Bob has been semi-retired for two decades, and tells us his story of working his tail off and retiring at the age of 42 and immersing himself in art. We talk about how he feels watching his co-workers becoming successful, the importance of giving meaning to your life and market volatility.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How Bob reached FI

Doing sculpture once he retired

Watching your coworkers be retired

The underlying need to make a difference

What he feels about the market

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/semi-retired-for-2-decades-bob-clyatt

Have you ever considered living abroad for a year?

Ellen and Michael have lived in Mexico, Ecuador and are now planning to spend a year in Costa Rica. They reached FI at the age of 36 and have two children - who are now bilingual. But they're thinking of starting to work again once their children get older and continue having a flexible lifestyle.

You'll love their story!

We also chat about...

The Cost Rica trip

Why Cost Rica

Travelling while being vegan

Their personal money journey

Negotiating with your company

How they manage healthcare

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/living-in-costa-rica-for-a-year-uncommon-dream

Have you ever considered living abroad for a year?

Ellen and Michael have lived in Mexico, Ecuador and are now planning to spend a year in Costa Rica. They reached FI at the age of 36 and have two children - who are now bilingual. But they're thinking of starting to work again once their children get older and continue having a flexible lifestyle.

You'll love their story!

We also chat about...

The Cost Rica trip

Why Cost Rica

Travelling while being vegan

Their personal money journey

Negotiating with your company

How they manage healthcare

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/living-in-costa-rica-for-a-year-uncommon-dream

What are some FIRE horrors and treats you've been experiencing lately?

Today we have a special Halloween episode where Gwen and J discuss Gwen's Halloween Heartbreak and some rough times for Gwen as she moves out of Minneapolis and gets back into the corporate world. We also hear some people's FIRE Halloween Horrors and some pretty sweet treats!

You'll love the spooky stories!

We also chat about...

FIRE Breakups

Experimenting with freelancing

Facebook Live in November

Halloween horrors and treats

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/halloween-horrors-with-gwen-j

What are some FIRE horrors and treats you've been experiencing lately?

Today we have a special Halloween episode where Gwen and J discuss Gwen's Halloween Heartbreak and some rough times for Gwen as she moves out of Minneapolis and gets back into the corporate world. We also hear some people's FIRE Halloween Horrors and some pretty sweet treats!

You'll love the spooky stories!

We also chat about...

FIRE Breakups

Experimenting with freelancing

Facebook Live in November

Halloween horrors and treats

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/halloween-horrors-with-gwen-j

Plan A is life. Financial independence in plan B. Do you agree with this statement?

Today we have Doc G - a physician who reached FI before realising what he'd done. He then discovered the FI community and now focuses on the philosophical aspect of FI: finding your purpose, the importance of being employed and fulfilling your identity.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

The emotional aspect of FI

How he reached FI and discovered the community

His blogging journey

The amazing influence of the community

Why he loves what he's currently working on

Enjoy this chat with Doc G, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

 

Show notes and links from today's episode

Doc G's blog: DiverseFI

Doc G on Facebook and Twitter

Episode: White Coat Investor

Key takeaways from our chat with Doc G

1 - FI is a huge part of our identity

Doc G explains how he felt when he realised he had reached FI: depressed for several months. This was because he realised that he no longer enjoyed his job, and quitting and being FI meant losing that identity as a physician. When you spend years working in one job, of course it becomes part of your identity. Reaching FI and quitting means you lose that identity - which can be very hard to accept.

Doc G also explains how FI in itself can also become a huge part of your identity; you can get so involved in the goal that you forget that FI is 'supposed to be a plan B'.

2 - Life is Plan A, FI is Plan B

What does Doc G mean when he says this? Basically he means that best case scenario you get a job that you love and want to dedicate your life to. This is what you want to be aiming for. Plan B is FI - if you get a job you dislike and don't want to do forever, then FI is your 'escape hatch'.

This is what Doc G is doing now (also called FIOR, Financial Independence Optional Retirement), where he works 10-15 hours a week and devotes all his free time to his passion of writing, communicating and speaking.

3 - The FI community is life changing

Anyone who's part of the FI community know how amazingly supportive it is. Doc G and Gwen talk about how they felt always out of place in school, work, college, etc. The FI community is a place where everyone is welcome and extremely supportive, and where people keep pushing you to become a better person, improve your life and lifestyle. As Doc G says, FI is irrelevant if you always know how to make money, what makes the difference is the community.

Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!

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