planning ahead: have an exit strategy

I've spent the last week bouncing around the East Coast. I spent Christmas at my parents' house in Central New Jersey then time in Hoboken and NYC and I am blogging as I wrap up a day of working remotely from a friend's apartment in Arlington, VA.

Now I am always meeting interesting people. But I think I do so more when I'm traveling. I think this is pretty common; at least for me I feel less inhibited and find myself striking up conversations with strangers more freely since if I embarrass myself I'm most likely never going to see that person ever again. 

In the West Village on Saturday evening a few friends and I met three guys from the UK. We chatted a bit about what we all did and where over wine and gin n tonics. While the conversation was somewhat short one of the guys made a very interesting comment that stuck with me. After telling him about my job and life in Atlanta he asked, actually suggested or recommended really, that I have what he called an "exit strategy."

He was a little older, 33 I think, and over the past 10 or so years he had lived in a few different places in the United States as well as Asia. Single and not revealing much about his personal life he shared his perspective that basically was: If you're going to move somewhere entirely for a job it's smart to have a plan in place to "get out", just in case you hate it. 

While the risks associated with life changes are very real to me this was sort of a novel concept that I admit I hadn't considered: Having an actual plan in case things don't go, well, according to plan. 

Luckily I've been very happy with my decisions and don't think I'm any where near a point to consider an "exit strategy" but still, it was interesting advice. And he seemed to have had some life experience that made him have this POV and share it actively and openly with me.

Sure you don't want to be pessimistic and enter into a new situation with the assumption that things won't work out well. But you do want to be realistic. It's a balance. And I think it's an important one to have.

Each New Year adds another year and more experiences to our lives. Regardless of whether or not we each feel a big change in our lives on January 1 as compared to December 31 there is definitely a cultural association of change that accompanies each New Year. I say go out and embrace the changes in the air. Don't be pessimistic, but hear the words of the gin n tonic drinking accountant my friends and I met Saturday night: Be thoughtful in your decisions, be realistic and have a plan B. I'll also add to be resourceful and do your best to avoid employing plan B.