For the last four months I have been working in the ‘cozy’ space of a 23’ school bus. Managing a business under the best of circumstances is stressful. Doing it on the road feels near impossible some days. The relocating, the dance of not being in the other’s way, and taking meetings without a proper setup can be frustrating. Not to mention the weather, which over the last four months has made me deeply appreciate the simplicity of the Pacific Northwest. (Tornadoes = do not recommend.)

So why do this? Why such an alternative work style?

While we all have our unique traits, I believe the “why behind the why” is something much more fundamentally relatable than it appears. Freedom.

When I have “all the monitors” at home, a closed office, and a workout schedule that is adhered to like clockwork, my life exists to work. I’d like to think I’m working to live but the more I am doing the exact same thing every day, the more I use work as my escape from the melancholy of sameness.

When adaptation and flexibility is my normal, I am full of gratitude for the moments of calm and uneventfulness. My boundaries are better, my life balance is better, and somehow I am better at getting all of the essential work tasks done.

The reward for every day being like the last is comfort and convenience. I can order takeout, shop on Amazon, and be sitting in front of the TV minutes after work is done for the day. The reward for no day being like the last is: better prioritization, genuine appreciation, and having new experiences. While having a different work style than what the American Dream Expectation sets us up for isn’t feasible for some or even desired for others, I believe just the act of asking ourselves this question adds value and awareness to our lives:

If I was free from the fear of being uncomfortable, what would I be able to achieve?

Over the next few weeks I will be diving into the most important things I carry with me from the road and posing questions on how others can explore the topics within their own lives. While these lessons aren’t specific to living in a school bus or being a nomad, my goal is to shed light on how alternatives to the status quo may be where our real passion and purpose lies.

Hope you’ll stick around and thanks for reading.

-Amanda