Designing your new life, free of shackles!
Take charge of your life…or someone else will
Some Dude
Is it Possible, can I do it?
Preparation is 9 tenths of the battle!
In January 2005 at 25 years old, I packed up my entire life. everything I knew since the day I was born, put some of it in a suitcase, some into storage, and moved myself and family from Sub Saharan Africa into the northern hemisphere and the tweed lined shores of the British Aisles.
Culturally and geographically this was by far the biggest undertaking that I had ever taken on. I was to discover 6 months later when my deficient Rand was deflating faster that a blow up doll after a night at your dads house, that not only was I financially walking backwards, but that the lifestyle in the new country I had moved to was so far removed from that which I knew, that I began to doubt my decision was a good one.
Culture & lifestyle, education, religious beliefs, earning potential, cost of living, language, transportation, healthcare, friends, weather and safety & security, are all factors that are needed to be considered and weighed up…a chart of pro’s and cons needs to be drafted and carefully considered when making a large move that will shift your entire core being into another enviroment. In my instance there were significant factors for our move that made the decision easy however the job itself was not.
Factors such as Visa’s and immigration laws needed to be considered. The path that leads to a favourable visa application can be fairly easy for some and quite difficult and near impossible for others, but I am a firm believer that if you pursue something with enough vigour and tenacity, you will achieve your intended outcome.
In my case I had two options which made my move from Africa as a South African citizen to the UK possible. One was through ancestry, which is a fairly long and document heavy process which involves digging up your family history of citizenship and right to live in your country of choice, and the other was through my spouse who was a British citizen. Added to my need for a visa, and there are also many visas to consider, was the need for my son (5 at the time) to acquire a visa. Now there are ways you can navigate this minefield on your own and there are avenues and people that will offer help on the subject but in all honesty, the fastest and most likely way to secure your desired result is to consult with an immigration consultant who will tell you exactly what to provide, what to acquire and when and where to submit that. Its a route we took at the time through a firm called Breytenbachs and while it was a very expensive undertaking, it was an investment into my future that I believed would pay significant dividend sometime into the future.
Fast forward 18 years and I am on a business trip in Cape Town, my home. Its 7am and I am currently sitting on an outside sofa on the patio of my cousins house in a beautiful part of Cape Town looking out over the extensive estate typing this, the sun has just risen, the temperature is 19°c and the sprinklers have just turned on, the birds are an orchestra and there is a lingering smell in the air of the braai we had last night which is currently being cleaned up by the ground staff. I sit here reminiscing about the hungry, determined and motivated young man that was so keen to leave this county. He was so right to do so. The opportunities that I have created for myself far outweigh anything that I believe that could have been created if I stayed here (I am aware that is speculation) but I didn’t shut the door, as I sit here now in a very. different headspace with a vastly differently level of experience and maturity, I am chasing something different now to what I was all those years back and the reason for writing this blog is to make that intent known to myself but also and more importantly, to hold myself accountable to these goals that I want to now achieve.
Update your goals!
The world is very much smaller now than it was 18 years ago! Our ability to collaborate and work remotely has changed and as a result our freedom of movement has grown exponentially.
Since the world has opened back up after the dreadful lockdowns, our event production business has been getting back to its feet and as a result we have been recruiting. This we have found to be no easy task, the pool of British freelance technicians are quite content to remain freelancers, there was a significant exit of skilled labour from the industry and there just isn’t anyone applying for the roles that is suitable. We thus had to think outside the box and came up with a solution to apply for our sponsor licence to bring non British citizens into the country. My first point, old friends and one of a handful of original mentors in the industry. He is a South African citizen with no claim to British ancestry and no spouse that can assist him with a visa application…BUT where he may typically have never been in a position to emigrate by his own means, we are able to help him apply for a skilled labour visa which now offers him an opportunity to change his life, whether its for the better of worse only he can decide.
Why mention all the above? …In my current position, I am very keen to live a life that is less traditional, one less bound by geographic or financial factors. Why not chase endless summer? Why not move around and experience different cultures?
YOU MUST SIMPLY WORK TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO WORK…UNLESS YOU’RE AN ENTREPRENEUR, THEN YOU’RE FUCKED!
Paddy2
Below is an outline of what I think is crucial for you to focus on if you are to make a success of emigration.
- Research: Researching the country you plan to move to, including its culture, laws, economy, and job market, can help you make a well-informed decision and prepare for the move.
- Planning: Make a plan for your move, including securing housing, finding employment, enrolling children in school, and obtaining visas or residency permits.
- Language: Learning the language of the country you are moving to can greatly increase your chances of success and make your transition smoother.
- Networking: Building a network of friends, acquaintances, and professional contacts can provide support and increase opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Budgeting: Creating a budget and managing finances effectively is crucial in ensuring a successful transition, especially in a new country with a different cost of living.
- Open-Mindedness: Being open-minded and adaptable to change can help you embrace new experiences and overcome challenges in a foreign country.
- Legal compliance: Ensure that you are fully aware of and compliant with the laws and regulations of the country you are moving to, including tax laws, immigration requirements, and employment regulations.
- Focus, consistency and dedication to the above are absolutely critical. You must be disciplined in your time management and dedicate yourself to your tasks that have been set…chip away at the above list consistently before your move and your move is far mor likely to be a success.
If you would like to read more ramblings about my life stories or advice on business, emigration, crypto, motorcycling, whisky consumption, the inner workings of your moms vagina, toast, sustainability and renewable energy, event production and a whole host of other random shit, subscribe to my newsletter below…I cant promise I’ll send you one but at least I’ll have your email address for spamming 🤠
