Five Lessons from My Sabbatical

Last autumn, marking my 50th year, I embarked on an audacious journey—selling my home, quitting my job, traversing Europe, and settling across the country in Southern California with my sweetheart, Gina. It may sound a bit crazy but it was all calculated risk—big steps toward my version of living life to the fullest.

As I prepare to re-enter the workforce this spring, I reflect on the lessons learned during my time off.

1. Take Calculated Risks

Taking a sabbatical was a big risk, no doubt. But for me, it was a risk worth taking. Life isn't just about following a safe path; it's about embracing uncertainty and seizing opportunities to pursue your vision. With my son off to college, I saw a window of opportunity and jumped through it. It’s a reminder that calculated risks often lead to the most rewarding payoffs.

 2. Set Goals, Execute Plans

Taking risks doesn’t mean being reckless. My sabbatical was the result of many years of saving, planning, and goal-setting. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision but a deliberate choice to prioritize adventure over predictability. By setting clear goals and executing well-thought-out plans, I was able to turn my dreams into tangible experiences. For me, it was traveling the world and relocating to the west coast. For you, it is likely something different. Regardless, setting goals, taking action, and having faith in yourself are the keys to turning your dreams into reality. 

3. Practice Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification – the act of resisting an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future – is the most important lesson I have ever learned. I used it for decades to save and invest for the future. Fancy car, nope. Designer clothes, nay. $5 coffee, never. Mortgage, 529, 401k. Yes, yes, and yes. Delaying gratification is hard but worth it. It involves being ok with dissatisfaction, but the benefits are improved self-control, self-confidence, and decision making which ultimately helps you achieve your long-term goals faster.

4. Don’t Wait to Travel

I put off travel for most of my life, believing seeing the world should wait until I was older. It’s a classic example of delayed gratification gone too far. I failed to realize life is too short not to do quality travel in your 20s and 30s. This is the year travel finally became my passport to introspection and self-discovery. Whether wandering European alleyways or hiking desert trails of America, I experienced for myself that the best adventures happen when you step out of your comfort zone and go for it.

5. Pursue Your Dreams at Every Age

Moving to California had been my dream since childhood, and believe it or not I found a partner with that same dream. It wasn't until 2024 that we were able to turn our shared dream into a shared reality. With careful planning that started more than 10 years ago, we held hands and leaped with an unwavering determination to see the plan to completion. It has been scary for sure, but worth it all the way. We can confirm that you’re never too old or too stuck in your ways to fulfill old dreams or dream up new ones.

My extended time off allowed me to recharge, reflect, and fulfill old dreams while setting new ones. You can unlock a world of possibilities by delaying gratification and taking calculated risks towards your long-term goals. So, seize the moment, chase your dreams, and never stop exploring. After all, the greatest adventures await those bold enough to take the first step.

Matt Bechtel is reentering the workforce from Newport Beach, California. Matt offers corporations and small businesses expertise in marketing & communications, digital marketing operations, partner relations, and business development. Matt is adept in business-to-business and business-to-government industries with deep experience in technology, aerospace, engineering, software, transportation, government, and media. Most recently, Matt held corporate communications leadership roles at Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Hamilton. He earned his Master of Science in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University and has taught MBA-level marketing at William & Mary.