There I am, standing at the dock staring at the distant storm. It’s surreal. The wind will carry it away and open up the smooth sea, I reassure myself. Time slows to a crawl. I contemplate while it waits for my move. It’s not a stalemate, in fact, quite the opposite. The storm isn’t my enemy, though unforgiving. It is life. It is the future. It is my potential. It is my weaknesses.
I hear my name. She clasps my hand. I turn my attention to her. She smiles and turns toward the storm. Ready.
It seemed so far off during our preparation, yet here it is. We have a date. Departure.
I have spent the last couple years working towards this a bit differently than Erica. I knew we would meet our goal with enough dedication and effort, so I focused my energy on my job. In July of last year, I was promoted to a position that allowed me to support both of us so she could focus on her photography and the blog.
I will admit, I’m a workaholic. I’m also extremely dedicated to my company of employment. Well, it goes deeper than that. I’m a loyalist. If a brand wins me over, I’m pretty much sold for life. This dedication didn’t serve me very well in my semi-conductor manufacturing years. It was then I decided I needed to find a company I could stand behind. That company was Blizzard Entertainment.
Most people know Blizzard from their powerhouse MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) World of Warcraft, the RTS (Real Time Strategy) StarCraft, or Action RPG (Role Playing Game) Diablo. No matter the genre, they raise the industry standard almost out of sight. For me, I was sucked in the first time I played Warcraft II in 1996. Needless to say, working for my favorite video game developer was a dream come true.
But enough gamer talk for now.
Leaving the company that has been such a big part of my life for the last 4 years has been one of the most difficult choices I’ve had to make. Additionally, I have been so invested in my coworkers that I’ve had to deal with guilt and abandonment issues at the same time. Luckily, the stars have aligned enough that I now feel I can take my leave and allow other aspiring employees the opportunity to pick up where I left off.
I’m so stoked that our adventure is about to begin and can’t wait to start being able to contribute to the blog and really getting to know all of you.
To all my Blizz coworkers, you better fucking follow this adventure.
We start driving to Phoenix on April 10th to drop off the car at a friend’s house. We leave from there to Puerto Vallarta on April 12th.
Hey Shaun! Awesome to *meet* you here- love the post. What a great way to leave a company- no burning bridges, no middle fingers, just appreciation and keeping it classy after a lot of hard work.
And I get it- It’s so much easier leaving a crappy situation than a great one. You really know you HAVE to travel when you’ll leave these kind of situations. You two are headed for some mind-blowing adventures though I’m sure, and I can’t wait to read both your accounts of what comes next. Hope to meet you on the road! 🙂
Awesome! Only two weeks to go! Congratulations guys!
We’ll break out some Starcraft (or maybe some D3?!) at a PC Bang if you guys wander through Korea any time in the next while.
@Lorna – Thanks! I’m really looking forward to getting to see you in person!
@ Evan – That would amazing! We’re gonna have to make this happen. 😀
So excited for you guys! Loyalty is a wonderful quality to have & I can understand how hard it is to leave your job. But I’m sure they understand you have to be loyal to yourself too & that means taking this trip because it’s important to you. I can’t wait to read about your adventures!
Congrats, Shaun and good to see you around here too! Chris was in a similar dilemma with his career as well.. he had a job he loved too much to give up. In time, the career made the choice for him.
Hi Shaun. Nice to have hear your voice here. Blizzard, and your coworkers, are very lucky to have had you and have no doubt that you have left them in a great position to move forward. You are lucky to be able to leave with such support. Good luck as you guys prepare to leave! Cheers!
Wow, you gave up a great job but don’t worry, better things are to come.
I look forward to reading your adventures in this part of the world.
Rob W.
YAY! Wow, that came up fairly quick, hey? Nice to see you on here Shaun, and looking forward to more great writing from you!
Good luck in these last few weeks! They are going to fly by…
Scary thing, I know a few people that work at Blizzard and I used to work about 4-5 blocks away from your Irvine office. Funny how I recently only came across your blog in the past 2 months since I have moved to NY.
Anyhow, glad to hear that everything is going swimmingly and that your date is set. You are off for an adventure and I could not be happier for you guys.
Have fun, first and foremost, we all will be following along, living vicariously.
So excited for you guys!! John had no problem leaving his job so that wasn’t really a sacrifice we can relate to but I’m sure your travels will be worth it. Looking forward to reading your posts once you guys get on the road =)
Congrats on being able to make that move. I can certainly understand how hard it is to leave a job and people behind that you truly love and enjoy but hopefully you enjoy your travels even more.
This is so exciting for you! I can’t imagine the emotions you must be feeling. Enjoy this time. I look forward to reading about your adventure as it progresses!
Glad to meet Shaun in a new way! Looking forward to reading more from your perspective in the months to come.
Wasn’t expecting the departure date to be just a couple if weeks away but so glad that the prep is nearly over!!! I remember those last few weeks for me…hang in there with the flood of emotions and enjoy every moment with friends and family.
You are lucky to have a job that you love so much and even more lucky to have a company that understands your needs so well. That only makes your decision so much more fulfilling!
I’m super excited, I can’t believe how close you guys are to heading off! Very exciting to keep following along and to hear more from you as well!
Congrats on your departure date! I can certainly relate to finding an enjoyable job and loving it. I used to work for Dynamix (another game company owned by Vivendi at one point) and loved that job before the place closed it’s doors. I imagine it’s a bit different to choose to leave and I admire your choice and dedication to your adventure. Where one door closes another opens. You’ve got some incredible adventures ahead of you and I for one am looking forward to reading your perspectives along your journey. Cheers!
@Ali – Yeah, I have definitely been getting lots of support from my co-workers. So far two of my teammates even got mohawks, haha!
@ Cherie – Thanks! I’m sad I didn’t get to see you guys during SXSW.
@ Gillian – Yeah, the support is phenomenal. I don’t think I would have been able to do this without them.
@ Rob – Thanks, I’m really looking forward to whatever the future throws at us!
@ Dalene – Yup, everything kinda fell together last minute. ^^
@ Justin – Every day the world seems a bit smaller than the last, but I love it. I actually tried to get Erica to move to Irvine before Blizzard came to Austin, but she wouldn’t go for it. We love to visit So Cal, but we just love Austin too much to move there.
@ Andrea – Any other job and it wouldn’t have been an issue for me either. I’m definitely going to need some kind of creative outlet so this should work out great. 😀
@ Kirk – Thanks! I’m really hoping that a good chunk of my co-workers will follow us. That would be an awesome combination of the two.
@ Debbie – Yeah, I have been quite invested for so long that it’s hard to let go. I did have a hilarious situation today where one of the members of my team told me I have passed on a legacy, much to his dismay. He then proceeded to use the word “homie”. My work is done here.
@ Heather – It hasn’t really hit me yet cuz we’ve been so busy (both with preparations and with work). I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for when that massive wave crashes. Lets hope I don’t go crazy.
@ Annie – This is absolutely true. I can’t wait to get started on the adventure!
@ Matt – Oh, man! Dynamix did the Red Baron, I loved that game! Also, I’m a firm believer in the door theory, I can’t wait to see where those doors lead. 😀
Hi Shaun, Wow Erica told me you were a good writer and she was right! I love this post. The way you wrote the beginning is so dead on since embarking on an adventure and changing your life feels just like that.
It is always hard to leave a place you love but you don’t know what awaits you on the road. Maybe you will find a place that needs you even more than they do. 🙂
I can guarantee you’ll find it easy to put your workaholic manner toward the blog with Erica – there is always something to do…
Can’t wait to read another post by you – I’m so excited to fall you guys as you embark!!
Awesome job son
@ Bethany – Yeah, I think Erica is pretty stoked that we’ll get to split the writing so she can focus more on photography/video. Also, I think we’re really going to enjoy volunteering during the trip for that reason.
Thanks, Pops! <3
Hey Shaun, great to “meet” you! I was bummed we didn’t get the chance to meet while Kali and I were in Austin, but life happens. Cute pic, btw. 🙂
That teeny-tiny noise your superhuman senses might have detected just now was me hitting “Bookmark This Page.”
I hope you guys realize how much you’ll be missed.
@ Christy – Indeed, I wish I could have been there. Though I made Erica tell me everything that happened and she said wonderful things about you guys. 😀
@ Badger – WOOT!
Good on ya Shaun. We too left our careers for the road and I must say it was the best decision we have ever made. It make take a little time to settle into it but I am positive there will be no regrets when you look back. Looking forward to reading all about your adventures!
Wow, it definitely sounds like you had a dream job. We were in the same position. People thought that we had the dream jobs too working in the film business. We felt the same way, we never did hate our jobs, it is was just time to move on. We loved the people that we worked with and enjoyed going to work every day putting 100% into our careers. We were just ready to make new goals and begin a new chapter in our lives just like you are doing now. It is a wonderful thing in life to be able to leave one incredible part of it to continue on with something as equally incredible. You are going to have an amazing adventure. Best of luck to you both!
I guess you’re both standing on the precipice of something huge and new! Good luck and look forward to reading about your adventures;)
Just 9 days until you leave for your RTW? Wow, life must be surreal right now. Enjoy every moment of it.
@ D&D – Yeah, I think this is the best time to take a career break and live our dreams. I’m still waiting for it to really hit me, but I’m ready!
@ D&D – It’s really encouraging hearing so many positive stories from people who were in similar situations, I can’t wait!
@ Ciki – Indeed, we are! This journey is going to make us grow so much and really help figure out what our future holds.
@ Odysseus – Heh, yeah… surreal is definitely the best word for it. Seeing so much planning and preparation come to fruition is crazy. Our excitement right now is really helping us get over the stress of the little details. 😀
I’m so excited for ya’ll!!!!!!!!!! Unlike you, I left on my trip to escape my horrible job situation. However, I can imagine it would be tough if I had been working in something I truly loved. Eager for your start date!
Congratulations! So happy it’s all announced and blogged and official.
So jealous of you in Mexico, it’s just an amazing place. Please eat a taco a day for me!
How exciting! I know exactly how you feel with leaving a job you enjoy and the people you work with. I went through this when we moved overseas a long time ago…. Good luck to you. I’m sure it will be great!
Good you are ready to hit the road…and the surf! Will be seeing you and Erica in Sayulita next week…surf’s on the way!
YAYYYYY!!!!! So happy for the both of you! Cannot wait to read all about your adventures. Be safe and savor every single moment! xx
Yay — I loved hearing from Shaun. I’m soo excited for you guys!! It seems so long ago I met you guys, and now off you go. I can’t wait to follow your adventure.
@ Laura – Yeah, it would have been much easier if I was unhappy with my job. I’m just glad that my co-workers have been so supportive. 🙂
@ Ayngelina – Oh I’m sure there will plenty of tacos everyday, accompanied by many beers!
@ Margo – Thanks! I’m really hoping that we can inspire our friends and co-workers to travel and experience life.
@ Federico – Oh, man. I am soooooooo stoked! 😀
@ D – That’s the plan. We’re gonna be going slow and steady. 🙂
@ Abby – Indeed, it feels like forever since we left Vegas, but damn did we have a good time. We owe you huge for that! <3
Nice to meet you Shaun!! So exciting when the trip is right around the corner! Can’t wait to read about your new adventures!!
@ Mica – Indeed! We haven’t even left the States yet and the adventures are starting!
I bookmarked! It’ll be up to me to remember to check it enough though 😀
We’re rooting for you back at the office.
@ Shannon – Awesome! Let me know who you guys get to fill my old spot and what he/she thinks about getting a pink mohawk. 😀
Great! Looking forward to many more stories…all the best 🙂
@Siddhartha: Thanks!