Everyday Courage with Jillian Johnsrud

Jillian sits down with her dear friend, August, to talk about part of her new book, Fire the Haters.

Empowering yourself and your work starts with setting boundaries. 

Finding courage in an online world is intimidating, but you and your work are worth taking the risk. Jillian shares three hints on how to be successful online and in your personal life, too. 

#1. Set up rules for yourself 

“Other people can’t know your rules for you.” 

We all have our limits. When we feel burned out, it is often because we either didn’t communicate our rule well or we stopped following it. The expectations other people have for you are endless, and they will distract you from focusing on what you really want. 

Consider what keeps you working, productive, and happy. Then, align your values and schedule to those things. That may mean not replying to every email within 48 hours or making sure you get 8 hours of sleep every night. 

#2. Give yourself the gift of being misunderstood

Your work can feel like an extension of yourself, but the reality is that you have created it, and now you have to let it speak for itself. Of course, people will get it wrong, but trying to moderate your way into making them understand is a losing battle. 

“You can’t protect things online. If it’s not grown, don’t ship it.” 

#3. You can create a wide circle around your triggers

We all have our stuff. We have bruises that most people may not see, but if they get poked, they are very painful. So you have permission to create a wide circle around those bruises. It is your best chance for survival. You don’t have to engage with the thing that hurts the most. 

By “firing the haters,” you empower yourself to set boundaries, decide what is and isn’t allowed, and free yourself from other people’s bad behavior. That’s a step in the right direction. 

Get your copy of Fire the Haters: Finding Courage to Create Online in a Critical World on Amazon.

One week into his mini-retirement, Josh Obermyer joins Jillian to discuss the challenges and intentions he has to destress, decompress, and figure out what’s next. 

Burnt out with his ever-increasing workload and long commute, Josh was ready for a break.

An active member of the FIRE community, Josh has embraced the mindset that life is more than the destination. Committed to enjoying the journey, he planned for a mini-retirement.  

Professionally, Josh is at the top of his game. He is an expert in his field and a leader in his career. So, stepping away in his 30’s is a surprising move and one that veers from the path of most of his peers. 

Taking a career “gap year” will allow him space and time to do what he wants to do while figuring out the next steps. Josh anticipates that this time, decompressing and refreshing while spending time with dear family, taking road trips, visiting national parks, and attending conferences might be the bridge that helps him transition into self-employment. 

The mini-retirement challenges he faces now, like figuring out health insurance options and learning to spend rather than being a diligent saver, will help him gain clarity for his next chapter.

“I’m a natural saver. I’m going to be spending down that horde of cash that I have. And that’s gonna be a bit of a trick in my mind.”

You don’t have to wait until you get to some imaginary finish line to begin enjoying the fruits of your labor. So what would it look like for you to take a mini-retirement as a stepping stone to your next life transition? Is it more possible than you might think? 

One week into his mini-retirement, Josh Obermyer joins Jillian to discuss the challenges and intentions he has to destress, decompress, and figure out what’s next. 

Burnt out with his ever-increasing workload and long commute, Josh was ready for a break.

An active member of the FIRE community, Josh has embraced the mindset that life is more than the destination. Committed to enjoying the journey, he planned for a mini-retirement.  

Professionally, Josh is at the top of his game. He is an expert in his field and a leader in his career. So, stepping away in his 30’s is a surprising move and one that veers from the path of most of his peers. 

Taking a career “gap year” will allow him space and time to do what he wants to do while figuring out the next steps. Josh anticipates that this time, decompressing and refreshing while spending time with dear family, taking road trips, visiting national parks, and attending conferences might be the bridge that helps him transition into self-employment. 

The mini-retirement challenges he faces now, like figuring out health insurance options and learning to spend rather than being a diligent saver, will help him gain clarity for his next chapter.

“I’m a natural saver. I’m going to be spending down that horde of cash that I have. And that’s gonna be a bit of a trick in my mind.”

You don’t have to wait until you get to some imaginary finish line to begin enjoying the fruits of your labor. So what would it look like for you to take a mini-retirement as a stepping stone to your next life transition? Is it more possible than you might think? 

A sabbatical meant to last two months has stretched into two years, and an indefinite mini-retirement as Paul learned that time is more valuable than money in this season of life. 

When Paul and his family, including four children, decided that it was time to leave their work in the developing country of Zambia, they knew they needed rest. So, they planned a month or two away in between jobs and before they moved to their future home to allow themselves to relax, decompress, and reset. 

However, a trip to FI Chautauqua would challenge their – keep it small – mentality and encourage them to pursue a longer mini-retirement in a place they really wanted to be. Invigorated by this idea, they weighed their options. 

Knowing that traveling the world with four children would be exhausting for their already weary family, Paul researched areas that might be a better fit for an extended stay. They wanted a place that would allow their children to experience a new culture and an opportunity for the family to build community wherever they landed. 

After striking out with their first choice location in Spain, Paul, his wife, and the entire family traveled for a week to option number 2. This location just felt right, and the decision was made.

As they settled in, moved past the initial discomfort of doing something unknown, and reevaluated their to-do lists, Paul recognized that their new way of life was transformative for their personal and familial happiness. What began as a short-term situation has shifted their life trajectory. 

This mini-retirement is extended indefinitely. Paul does not want to return to traditional full-time employment.

“I value the flexibility of time more than the security of income coming in.”

Every season of life brings new opportunities. For Paul and his family, a mini-retirement allowed them to test out an entirely new lifestyle. Find out more about their experiences at www.cuttingthroughchaos.com.

Melissa took advantage of her family’s move across the U.S. to launch their mini-retirement travel adventures. Could a job transition help you step away and into your bigger goals?

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Melissa, from the Travelling Wallet, connected with Jillian in 2017 through Jillian’s blog. They met in person at FinCon, and Melissa signed up for a paid mentorship with Jillian. She was even able to participate in the first retreat Jillian hosted. So, it is no surprise that Melissa has continued on her FIRE path and embraced mini-retirements, minimalism, and adventure. 

When their family decided to move from Californian to Michigan, it provided a unique opportunity to travel with their young family. They were able to take twenty-one days to road trip across the United States and explore the cities and national parks along the way. 

When that leg of the trip finished, they headed to El Salvador and Ecuador to spend time immersed in the Latin American culture that Melissa experienced as a young girl. She wanted to give her children the same opportunity to be shaped by their Latino heritage. 

Two hurdles stand in front of most families when they consider taking a mini-retirement: 

1. How do we pay for this? 
2. Can we survive without earning an income while on the mini-retirement? 

By saving three months’ expenses, dropping their housing expenses while they moved, having an emergency fund, and embracing minimalism, Melissa and her family found a workable formula. She encourages other parents to find the formula that works for their families. 

“Don’t wait too long to travel with your kids.”

Find more tips on how to make memories, stretch your dollar, and travel with just one backpack at Melissa’s website, on Twitter, or Instagram. 

It is common for medical professionals to become burnt out in the often toxic and high-stress environments they work in.

Brenda Krygowski shares how taking a mini-retirement helped her unplug from the system and find something better. 

What is a mini-retirement? Jillian has taken six of them and knows how transformative they can be in helping you get unstuck in life and motivated on your journey to financial independence. 

What would you need to do to make room in your life to take a mini-retirement? What would you want to do with that time? 

For help getting started, check out Jillian’s free resource: 6 Simple Steps to Taking a Mini Retirement at www.jillianjohnsrud.com/mini and check out her new course in August!

Adam and Jillian wrap up the season with an encouragement to plan a weekend with your partner to get on the same page, celebrate your progress, and dream big for your future together!

Behind every successful, married entrepreneur is a supportive partner. Jamila Souffrant offers helpful advice on how to get on the same page as your spouse on the journey to self-employment.