Has anyone made a big move to chase a dream?

Clipsey · 7 Feb 2011 at 15:03

Moved to the States when I was 22/23 I think, for a girl. Married now, so yes very much worth it

Col_M · 7 Feb 2011 at 15:04

I moved to Prague when I was 25 to be with my now ex-girlfriend. I was a graduate with no experience when I came here, I'd had a couple bad jobs while I found my feet but now I'm one of two global Salesforce.com admins for a really great company to work for

I don't know why but even when I was younger I had the urge to live abroad. I can tick that off the list now and I guess it'll look good on my CV, if I can start from almost nothing in a strange country and do reasonably well I think I should be at least a little proud of that.

Smit said:
Lets see, moved to the opposite end of the country when I was 21 and then moved to the Czech Republic when I was 24.

Hope you don't mind but I sent you a request on MSN

Surfer · 7 Feb 2011 at 15:14

hopefully later this year yeah. Cant say anymore dont wanna jinx it..... secretsss

Deleted member 77746 · 7 Feb 2011 at 15:52

-|ScottFree|- said:
Yes thats me

My dream would is to be a Songwriter... I like to sing and perform, but I love writing songs for other people!!.. working on a few projects at the moment.

..and thank you for your kind comments!!

You must have talent. On the other hand a lot of people on these forums don't have as such free style talent. You obveously do. Well done.

Destroyer^ · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:31

Clipsey said:
Moved to the States when I was 22/23 I think, for a girl. Married now, so yes very much worth it

Wow man.. sounds like something out of a film

Sp00n · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:35

I moved from Southampton to Brighton to be with my gf when I was 21, we're still together and life is pretty good, not to mention Brighton is awesome, so yea, I'm glad

Destroyer^ · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:45

o rly, where bouts in Brighton? i was born there

FNGsam · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:50

Moved to the UK from Aus last year in July for 2 years (hopefully more if I can find someone to sponsor me to stay).

Retromatic · 7 Feb 2011 at 16:55

Got married at 20, back in 1998 to an Australian whose dad owned a big company over there was gonna give me a decent job, etc. Alas, I never ended up going to Oz, so no - but nearly!

doiks14 · 7 Feb 2011 at 17:00

Vtec9k said:
Not a physical move (yet) but last year at 29 I walked out of a job paying £50k+ and started my own business. Things are starting to come together now and hopefully 2011 will be my year Totally the right decision!

Once things settle down a long term move to Thailand or Brazil is my plan

Must have taken some balls to completely quit your £50k+ job... Did you play it safe? i.e. made sure that the business can support you (and whoever you're with)? or did you just jump the gun and went for it?

dbov22 · 7 Feb 2011 at 20:11

I've just resigned from the police force, £28k a year, to get my life back and follow my dream of teaching music (drum kit) in schools - I already have about 10 hours a week and have just taught myself web design - basic standard (enough to create informative site and look good) for now to point schools and private pupils in my direction.

It was the single most hardest decision i've ever made, the stress was unreal leading up to it, I was stuck in a job I never wanted to do again but felt financially that I couldn't leave, with support of family and fiancee i resigned, they were desperate to keep me but I resisted, I have never felt better, trust me, just do it....

If you don't you'll ALWAYS wonder.... what if....

Good Luck, hope it works out!!

redeye_uk · 7 Feb 2011 at 20:21

Nothing too outragous... 6 months ago I packed in my perm IT job, moved to London, started my own company and now do IT contracting. Best thing I ever did. Life's never been so good and its only the start

bakes0310 · 7 Feb 2011 at 20:28

Currently working in a warehouse, been there for 5 years. I left nearly 2 years ago to join army. Didnt like it, now back at that damn place. I cant seem to escape it

Vtec9k · 7 Feb 2011 at 22:56

doiks14 said:
Must have taken some balls to completely quit your £50k+ job... Did you play it safe? i.e. made sure that the business can support you (and whoever you're with)? or did you just jump the gun and went for it?

I'd done a fair bit of testing and was pretty confident i could give it a good shot without losing my shirt. Still it's had plenty of ups and downs so far

(philosophical mode on...) To the OP: I read a great quote that sums up exactly why I made my change.

"Somewhere along the line, we seem to have confused comfort with happiness" - Dean Karnazes, who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days.

So are you comfy or happy?

britboy4321 · 7 Feb 2011 at 23:07

tres said:
OCUKers,

Have any of you made a life changing move to chase a dream, or a radical change in career?

I think I'm about to make one - move from a very comfortable life, surrounded by friends, to the other side of the country where I know absolutely no one. This way is the best chance I have to follow a dream I have, a huge career move, back into education for 6 years... but the desire to do it means I'm willing to put up with all that.

Anyone else successfully had a huge mid-life change in career or relocation for something?

spent 140 grand on a business idea. Appeared on Dragons Den with it. Wish I'd bought a Lambo now ...

OH and 2 months ago quit a 50K+ job to go IT contracting. Why everyone that does IT doesn't go contracting just plain bewilders me ..

tres · 15 Feb 2011 at 15:54

Well, went for an interview for college to study Access to Medicine.

6 A-level equivalents in 40 weeks :eek:

But, the interview went very well and they offered me a place there and then - not bad considering the huge numbers that go for the course.

I'm going to go for it. Lots of encouraging thoughts in this thread. Will involve leaving my happy(comfy) life, moving across country, being very poor for many years, but it's a dream, and I must follow it.

Sp00n · 15 Feb 2011 at 15:56

Destroyer^ said:
o rly, where bouts in Brighton? i was born there

Scoomb

Viper² · 15 Feb 2011 at 16:09

FNGsam said:
Moved to the UK from Aus last year in July for 2 years (hopefully more if I can find someone to sponsor me to stay).

Why hopefully? I moved from Aus at a young age but I've always wanted to go back and live there.

Mr^B · 15 Feb 2011 at 16:19

britboy4321 said:
spent 140 grand on a business idea. Appeared on Dragons Den with it. Wish I'd bought a Lambo now ...

OH and 2 months ago quit a 50K+ job to go IT contracting. Why everyone that does IT doesn't go contracting just plain bewilders me ..

Because I earn more than contract developers and get to tell them what to do.

I was tempted by the contract route about 10 years ago, and back then it would have been a bit of a gamble, dotcom bubble, etc. So I didn't chase my dream as I was already there and I'm glad I didn't just chase money instead.

Really glad I stuck at it, as I'm in an amazing position now, and it's only going to get better.

Hamish · 15 Feb 2011 at 16:21

Moved from the uk to the UAE a year ago, but wouldn't say it was a big move except for distance wise. I knew people out there and could go back whenever so just went for it. No regrets whatsoever.