Blog 1: Baby Steps
On April 21st, 2023, I made a life-altering decision: I quit my dream job on Wall Street to embark on a new adventure I call “The Vietnam Dream.”
Note: To read “The Harvest” properly, please click hyperlinks like this which will take you to (1) 360-degree photos (2) 360-degree videos, or (3) informative articles that add valuable context. You can use your fingers to scroll through each photo to see the full 360-degree content.
Love many, trust few.
Always learn to paddle your own canoe.
Strive hard to accomplish much,
And remember that a good name is better to be chosen than great riches.
A clean heart and a good education will carry you through this world.
– A Poem Written by my Great Grandmother, Ruth Helen Thomas, in 1959.
On April 21st, 2023, I made a life-altering decision: I quit my dream job on Wall Street to embark on a new adventure I call “The Vietnam Dream.” Inspired by Robert Frost’s words, I wholeheartedly embraced the road less traveled.
For the past four years, Vietnam had been a distant aspiration, something I often told myself I would pursue when the timing felt right. Yet, as time passed, I came to the realization that the perfect moment would never arrive. There will always be something more to do, another box to check, before taking the necessary leap of faith and embracing the risks associated with pursuing our dreams.
I must confess that, like many others, I harbored fears and doubts. Leaving behind the familiar comforts of my home country, America, and moving to Vietnam puzzled many around me. People likely received similarly perplexed facial expressions when they told their friends of their plans to relocate from America to China in the late 2000s. For some, Vietnam is still synonymous with the notorious Vietnam War rather than its rapidly growing economy, world-class cuisine, and vibrant people.
A recent conversation with my aunt, Mimi, gives you a taste of the reactions I often receive when I share my plans to quit my job on Wall Street and move to Vietnam:
Me: I’m just a few days away from quitting.
Mimi: Quitting as in unemployed?
Me: Yep, until I move to Vietnam.
Mimi: Quitting like no paycheck?
Me: Nope, no paycheck, lol.
Mimi: Haha, seriously, are you sure?
Me: Absolutely. I’m ready to start in Vietnam.
Undoubtedly, my decision carries its fair share of risks. Being a foreigner, adapting to a Communist country, navigating a recession, embracing the possibility of failure, and leaving behind a coveted position on Wall Street — these are all valid risks both in the present and the future. However, it’s important not to overlook the fact that these risks also sow the seeds for tremendous opportunities (more on this in a later blog post).
Cus D’Amato, a fellow New Yorker and debatably the greatest boxing coach of all time, was instrumental in transforming Mike Tyson from an overweight, self-conscious, bullied youth into one of the greatest fighting champions in history. Cus D’Amato’s words resonate with me deeply as I face the unavoidable risks and forge my own path:
“There is no difference between a hero and a coward in what they feel. It’s what they do that makes them different. The hero and the coward feel exactly the same, but you have to have the discipline to do what a hero does and to keep yourself from doing what the coward does.”
I sincerely believe in this philosophy.
The decision to quit never becomes less scary; in fact, I found that risk-taking becomes even scarier the longer we delay.
Fortunately, I’m blessed to have the support of cherished friends, family, and mentors. They helped me uproot my existing life in America and move to Vietnam. They held me accountable and provided the loving push I needed to take a leap of faith into the unknown. I am forever grateful to them for their unwavering support.
With my upcoming move to Vietnam this summer on the horizon, I find myself eagerly anticipating the adventures that await. In the meantime, I am taking this opportunity to savor life’s precious moments by indulging in travel and cherishing quality time with quality people.
Should our paths align in the future, let’s seize the opportunity and enjoy lunch together.
Location: Aguada, Puerto Rico
Date: May 11, 2023