That's awesome. I remember when you did that and it's cool that it worked out so well for you.
Did something very similar. Owned an insurance brokerage in Tempe over a decade ago. Represented 27 different insurance companies and specialized in health insurance. Became disillusioned when I ended up spending more time at the AZ Dept. of Insurance fighting on behalf of my clients against the companies I repped than I spent generating new business. I can sell ice cubes to eskimos if I believe in the product, but I'm the world's worst salesman if I don't. Just couldn't do it anymore once I lost confidence in the companies I was repping.
Sold my entire book of business to another big brokerage, had garage sales on a weekly basis until I sold everything I owned except for what would fit into 2 suitcases, sold my crib and moved to San Jose Costa Rica - where I knew absolutely no one. Got a job with BetOnSports.com, an "offshore" casino which was the world's biggest online sports book at the time. Had so, so much fun. Had a cool place, met a bunch of cool friends, had a little 90lb dancer chick named Maria move in with me, and just partied my freaking ass off. Almost had too much fun, though. Costa Rica was a little too close to Columbia/Bolivia/Peru for my own good.
Living abroad - especially in a country that has the caliber of female Costa Rica has - is something I can't recommend highly enough. For me it was absolutely life-changing.
Very liberating to realize that the only barriers in your life are the ones you create. You can do anything and go anywhere if you want it bad enough and you put your mind to it.
Planned on being down there for at least 4 years unless I got a sweet job offer in the Denver/Boulder area. It was the only place in the US that I would've left San Jose for. Eventually got a job offer from Wells Fargo in Denver and the rest is history. Wouldn't change a moment of the entire experience, though. Changed my life in so many ways. Mainly just the knowledge that I can do anything I put my mind to, and that your past does not equal your future.
Here's where I worked in Costa Rica, and I was there for the Pussycat Dolls party. Lots of cocaine and loose, gorgeous women down there...
