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Home » Destinations » North America » United States

The Last Temptation of Work

Modified: Mar 4, 2020 · Published: Aug 28, 2007 by Dave Lee |

Last Summer I faced a tough choice when deciding upon a departure date.

I could plan to leave at the end of 2007, thereby missing the busiest period of the year for my department and company, or I could leave in early 2008, after qualifying to receive a 10% annual bonus.

Ultimately, I realized if I could meet my savings goal by the earlier time frame, it'd be best to hit the road.

If I continued to stick around, I felt as though there was an increased risk of something occurring to derail my travel plans. S

o far, I've been very happy with my decision.

My employer's new CEO believes in the importance of providing quarterly updates on our company's performance as it relates to the annual bonus.

Updates are based on actual results and projections for the remainder of the year.

I received the 2nd quarter update last week, and was reminded of how much money I'm passing up by leaving the company before 12/31/07!

I've found it somewhat easy to be cavalier about leaving my job, however, it's a lot harder to feel that way when I think about the salary and benefits I'm leaving behind.

After all, I've been working my way up the food chain for the past 5 years. C'est la vie! (aka "That's life!")

When money is taken freedom is forsaken. -- Proverb

Money makes a good servant, but a bad master. -- Francis Bacon

Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants. -- Benjamin Franklin

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Alan says

    September 04, 2007 at 5:30 pm

    If staying one extra month brings you a bonus and some extra money to travel longer, I would do this extra month of work! Depends of course of how much extra you will get, and how much you would lose (like changing your plane ticket)...

    • Dave says

      September 04, 2007 at 11:01 pm

      The thing is I've set the wheels in motion to leave by late November already. I did it as a way to fully commit. I'm prepared to pass on the money, as I truly can't focus too well at work these days anyways. It'll be best for both sides if I hit the road sooner rather than later! Who am I kidding, it'll be best for me! :)

  2. Alan says

    September 04, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    If staying one extra month brings you a bonus and some extra money to travel longer, I would do this extra month of work! Depends of course of how much extra you will get, and how much you would lose (like changing your plane ticket)...

    • Dave says

      September 04, 2007 at 6:01 pm

      The thing is I've set the wheels in motion to leave by late November already. I did it as a way to fully commit. I'm prepared to pass on the money, as I truly can't focus too well at work these days anyways. It'll be best for both sides if I hit the road sooner rather than later! Who am I kidding, it'll be best for me! :)

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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