Last year I quit my job at a cool Berlin-based start up company, not because I didn’t like it. I actually liked it a lot, but I had the feeling that I needed a change in scenery and get out to explore the world a little bit more. After two amazing months backpacking through Southeast Asia I’m back at home, still not having found my dream job,but having a little more of a clue about what I want to do with my life. I followed my intuition on this one and it hasn’t let me down. I had the most amazing time, met extraordinary people and realized that the worst-case scenarios we make up in our minds before committing to something are usually far worse than the reality turns out to be. LIFE IS SHORT. If you dearly want to do something, go out and do it without hesitation, and don’t worry too much about the consequences.

-Daniel Holl

I’ve lived in 20+ cities/towns in the past 4 years. I have a messenger bag full of clothes, a laptop, a bike, and now a food processer (to make my own hot sauce!).

Living light allows me to seize opportunities that come up. I can pack up my life in 30 minutes and be on a plane that evening. 

During my travels, I’ve met a lot of people. I found that the 5 minute interaction I had with a cashier can be just as life-changing as the 5 year relationship I had with a girlfriend. Everyone you meet leaves a mark on your soul.

When a new opportunity comes up, I ask myself:
Who will I meet there? 
What will I learn?
How will I grow as a person?

Thanks, HOLSTEE for letting me know I’m not along in this journey. 

Keep moving.

-Marc O’Brien

I had been suffering from a severe Quarter Life Crisis for the past year or so. I knew that nothing filled me with more inspiration or joy than traveling, and yet I hadn’t left the United States or its territories in three years. Obsessing over a spreadsheet detailing paid time off just wasn’t going to last for me.

I had the Manifesto hanging in my apartment for some time and have always felt taunted by the two words that stand out more than any others: “TRAVEL OFTEN.” However, now I am happy to say that I’m writing this story from a café in St. Petersburg.

A week ago was my last day in the office, and today I’m drinking tea in Russia. It may take a long time to line up your dominoes, but it is astounding how quickly things will change once you give your life that initial push toward what you need it to be. It isn’t easy, but the change can be drastic. This one trip accounts for more vacation days than I – or most Americans – would get off in an entire year.

I didn’t quit my job because I didn’t like it. In fact, I loved most of it, and I learned leagues about areas of profession I am going to continue pursuing. I had some of the greatest coworkers imaginable, but it wasn’t my dream to be where I was. With an opportunity to immerse myself in a country that isn’t terribly high on most people’s To Visit lists I decided to take my own leap, pack up my things, and leave the country. I’m living my dream and, in photos and blogging, sharing my passion.

I assure you this series of events sounds every bit as ludicrous to me as it might to you. There’s no shortage of looming questions about reliable income, insurance, student loan payments, and where to live. But this freedom that I have suddenly forced upon myself is also thrilling, and I have it because I was inspired to recognize that “THIS IS MY LIFE.”

I can’t say for certain that my travels will leave me anything more than jobless and destitute, but I know from past global excursions that I will return to the States wiser, happier, and more excited than ever to pursue my passions. Newfound direction like that is the entire reason we put ourselves through these life crises, after all. But. It takes a great deal of courage to push yourself into situations where those realizations occur.

-Matthew Straub

I’ve always been the kind of person to be moved by words. Emotionally, sure, but also physically. 

September 2010. I decided to quit my job in Paris after working 3 years for the same company. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do. I had a good job, made a good salary and enjoyed a good quality of life. How did I come up with such a decision? I wanted to live the dream of my life: being an entrepreneur. Running my own business has been obvious since I was 20. When I talk about my own project, I feel alive, I keep shivering, I feel like possessed. Yes, entrepreneurship is a real passion. This choice was a way to step out of my comfort zone.

At the beginning of 2011, I initiated a startup project. Later, I discovered the Holstee manifesto: “This is my life”. The first time I read it, I knew this was the one. This was the manifesto that would ever guide my life. Holstee has managed to put my philosophy of life down on paper. I immediately bought the poster and put it up on my wall. I would read it every morning when I woke up.

 Last September, I quit the project for various reasons. I was free again. I remember when I was standing in front of the poster in my small apartment in Paris. As I was reading it, I thought about the things that I loved in my life: my girlfriend, my family, entrepreneurship and traveling. So I followed my heart. I asked my love if she was willing to travel for 7 months around Asia with me in order to discover the world and look for business opportunities. Ten days later, I took down the poster and we booked our flight tickets from Paris to Beijing and from Jakarta to Paris.

 After being in China, Thailand, Myanmar, I’m now writing to you from Vietnam. Next steps: Cambodia, Malaysia then Indonesia. Some people want to do lots of things and do what they love but they don’t dare. They keep waiting for the train that would change their lives at the same station everyday. As far as I am concerned, I have decided to visit each railway station until I find the right train to jump on. And I am truly happy. Holstee, thank you for making my life better.

- Dimas Azis

The Holstee Manifesto encouraged me to make an immediate leap of faith and do more of what I love. Even still, the Holstee Story has inspired me to strive for a long-term fundamental shift in my lifestyle.

I love to travel and explore, and ever since I studied abroad in college I’ve made it a priority in my life. I’ve always had the dream of living on every major continent—not just visiting, but truly living and experiencing life as a local.  I’ve been fantasizing about taking my first long-term trip for years, but since I’m mostly calculated and logical, the timing was never perfect.  I kept setting mental deadlines for myself, but other people’s priorities seemed to keep it from being a reality.

My priorities changed on January 17, 2012.  That night, one of my close college friends passed away unexpectedly in a car accident.  Shannon was full of life, incredibly smart, inwardly driven, and just an all around amazing person.  Between college, studying abroad together in Europe, and traveling to Brazil in 2010, some of my best memories were spent with her.  Up until this point I had been extremely fortunate and was never forced to confront unexpected death with someone so close. 

The Holstee Manifesto articulated the feelings I had about Shannon’s death into a simple sentence: Life is short.  At the same time, the Manifesto represented the way Shannon lived her life: Do what you love and do it often.  The unfortunate truth is that the lesson never sinks in until you’ve learned it firsthand.  Our time is not guaranteed and every single day is a gift.  

I realized that while there may never be a perfect time to take a long-term trip, there may never be a better time than right now.  So on January 25, I booked a one-way flight to Iceland, departing on June 1.  I wasn’t exactly sure how I would make that date work with my job, my lease in Chicago, upcoming weddings, etc.  But I discovered that something magical happens when you actually decide to do something drastic. Mountains move and seas part. Things fall into place.

Instead of quitting my job, I asked for a 7-month leave of absence, which I was graciously granted.  I have been aggressively saving money and I even have friends and family who will be joining or visiting me.  So starting on June 1, I plan to live throughout Europe for the next 7 months.

In addition to this immediate trip, the story behind Holstee has inspired a more fundamental shift in how I want to live my life.  I’ve decided to start GiveLiveExplore, a lifestyle company based on my personal values and ideal way of life.  Although it’s a work in progress, I plan to use my upcoming trip to practice acting out the GiveLiveExplore lifestyle I intend to live.  I have some specific projects in mind and will be documenting my experiences along the way.  And I’m starting to craft my own manifesto as well.

The Holstee Manifesto encouraged me to take action NOW, and the Holstee Story inspired me to start articulating and acting out the life I intend to lead.  Thank you Holstee team for the inspiration!

-Matthew Trinetti

In 2011 I found myself in a job I wasn’t 100% heart and soul all about. The people I worked with were lovely and my job wasn’t bad, yet I found myself traveling every weekend to see friends and new places in an attempt to figure out what to do. My heart was desperately trying to pull me to something else. I knew what had to be done but wasn’t ready to admit to or make that decision nor had I garnered enough courage to make it happen.

Early on that year I came across the Holstee Manifesto. I printed it out, stuck it up at work and read it a time or two or possibly several times. One line stood out at that time: If you don’t like your job, quit. 

It was that simple. If you don’t like job, quit. Here I had been making it all quite complicated. 

In May I took a gigantic breath and took a leap: I resigned from my good and steady job in an uneasy economy to venture after where my heart had been fighting with me to go. I sold nearly all of my belongings, packed what was left in my car and started out on an adventure.

I planned a day at a time and went out to do things that I love… to meet new people, see new places, hear and share stories and take plenty of photos along the way. I left San Francisco and ventured around the Western United States and Canada. While in California I decided that I should go to Europe and five days later I woke up in London.  I spent the next while exploring England, Austria, and France.

I spent 6 months being unemployed and loving every minute of it. I met some of the most amazing people throughout five different countries that shared their inspiring stories with me along with a healthy dose of laughter. Many opened their homes to me and so many incredible friendships were made. 

I met people who love what they do and appreciate each moment of life. I’m an animator by trade and was able to attend an animation festival in Vienna, Austria. The people I met there were an incredible blessing and quite inspiring. They ignited an excitement within me as we talked about why we love what we do: the people, the art and the opportunities to share meaningful stories. All of this by sharing our own stories with one another. It started amazing conversations and brought ideas of how to create something truly meaningful.

There were many times I had conversations with people where we barely spoke each other’s languages and yet managed to connect and share adventures and our passion.

I played tour guide to two elderly German ladies while in Paris who then treated me to a cup of tea. One didn’t speak any English and the other very little and yet we spent the day together. I led them around and they offered up lots of advice and shared stories from their lives as we walked around the city.

In London I stopped in for tea at a local shop and had a waitress from Poland who was seemingly having a lousy day. After a bit of chatting and prodding I found out it was her birthday and she was alone in London working. I sang to her, she took a break to share a scone with me and we met up a few more times throughout my stay there to share a smile and a hug over a cup of tea. 

I met a man from Morocco who was alone in Vienna and feeling a bit homesick. We had lunch and shared our stories of adventure and offered tips to one another of places to go and things to do. We found we had a mutual love for art and went on to explore a museum.

So many stories. So many incredible moments of talking to people about their lives and seeing that magical moment that the spark comes alive in their eyes. I love pointing that out to people - noting how evident it is of what their passion is through that spark in their eye. 

The magical moment for me came when a friend noted how they saw that spark in my eye that they hadn’t seen in a while. 

With 20 Euros left to my name, I headed back to the States with no plan in place still. I quickly found I was coming to prefer it this way. As soon as the plane touched down my phone buzzed with a notice about a job offer at a studio working on a pretty exciting project. AKA: Things were working out without me tightly holding onto the reins. 

Each line of the Manifesto has it’s own impact and it’s own set of stories. I’m sure so many of us could share our stories relating to each line. For me, that one line gave me that final piece I needed to start an incredible adventure. Quitting my job was an incredibly scary thing in the moment — I felt as though I was running full speed into the dark, not knowing if I was about to hit a tree or run off of a cliff. As soon as I chose to make it a simple decision, it ended up being the best decision I’ve made. 

I shed everything that didn’t matter and focused back on people and taking time to appreciate my surroundings. I slowed down, stopped worrying and didn’t try to plan out the future. (Did I mention this freaked my family out a little bit?) All of this allowed me to think more clearly, see such beautiful things and connect with people on an amazing level. 

That has all fed back into my life and how I live now — how I approach a job, a move, a decision. I’m working with friends from around the world on projects to inspire and ignite that spark I love to see. Nothing is certain in my future and I couldn’t be more excited at the possibilities that brings. This is my life and there are far too many beautiful moments to be had and stories to be shared to waste any time. 

Thank you Holstee for that reminder.

-Alexiss Dawn Memmott

I discovered Holstee at a time in my life that I needed change, I needed some direction,  I wanted to have space and time for some self-discovery, but ultimately, I also wanted to travel. That’s why I wrote the piece for the Holstee blog. I love that the manifesto is written inaction words. That’s what I love the most. It provokes thought but keeps it in the present moment using actions: “This is your life. Do what you love and do it often.” Actions make things real and accessible. 

For me, the manifesto is a great reminder to stay present, and stay clear on what is most important in my life. It reminds me that my passions and interests should be part of my everyday experience. It reminds me that life is the experience you create by making a conscious choice to create it rather than letting things that happen in your life create you.

For the past one and a half years, I’ve been living on a volcanic island called Jeju-do, which is off the Southern coast of the Korean peninsula. Before I came here, I was working at home in Canada (shout out!) but wanted a change. I didn’t know what my next career choice would be, but I was ready for something new and I also wanted to travel.

I made the decision to move to South Korea to teach English and to travel. When I made this decision, I had been dating my girlfriend for only a few months, and we decided to go to South Korea together.  Because of both of these decisions, I faced some resistance from people close to me, who only wanted the best for me but didn’t understand why I was making these decisions. I also got a lot of support from friends, family, and even strangers who I met while working.

Now that I’ve been here for 18 months, I can confidently tell you that living abroad has been the most educational and life-changing experience I’ve ever had. My adventure has taught me many things as I’ve dealt with the many challenges that you face while you are in a country other than your own. But I’m not writing this to tell you about my own learnings. There have been many, but that’s not the point.

Just as the inspiring quote on the Holstee manifesto suggests, traveling will push you to your edge and allow you to grow in such a way that you feel clearer about your values and more confident with your interests and passions. It has a profound effect on you, if you let it.

-Brady Paron

This is a story of a journey still in motion. Two girls — Annalisa and Tanja met while working at break-neck speed at a start-up in Boston, MA. They struck up a friendship based on mutual admiration for each other’s style and their love for the band Over the Rhine. They also both (at different times) owned orange VW Beetles. Uncanny, no?

Fast-forward 2 years. Tanja is tuckered out from the break-neck-ness of the daily grind, hungering to do something “bigger” that feels purposeful, giving back to the greater good. She shares this gnawing empty feeling with Annalisa, and they both start talking about what their dreams, their passions and what they really wish they could be doing in the every-day. Tanja hatches a plan to head to South Asia for a chunk of months to spend time talking, listening, and researching women’s co-ops that are strategically employing at-risk women in a parts of the world where most women are traditionally marginalized, often trafficked for sex, and therefore robbed of very little opportunity for education and dignified employment. What Tanja finds in her travels is both heart-breaking, mind-blowing and totally, completely humbling. It was equally exciting and hope-giving both in the exploration of solutions applied by non-profits and for-profit co-ops and in the revelation of possibly opportunity of providing creative work for talented, capable women in the developing world.

Tanja returns home to the U.S., a little shell-shocked, a lot overwhelmed but with a head and heart full of the something “bigger”. Several months pass and she meets up with old friend Annalisa who meanwhile has also left the break-neck-ness for a less crazed environment but is (more than ever) determined to figure out a way to do something “bigger”. And Tanja all the while is hoping and praying for a business partner to buckle-up alongside her in figuring out the answer to, “What can 2 girls with graphic and web-design backgrounds do to create sustainable, opportunity-giving jobs for women in the developing world?”

We start talking, dreaming, “what-iffing” and before we know it, we have started a company called GIVE | GIVE. Our manifesto being based on something that Jesus said about “GIVE and it will be GIVEN unto you.” We loved this idea of giving being a two-fold experience. Giving of yourself and your  talents is a reward in itself. But really, our core mission was to design products that could be created and produced in partnership with women’s co-ops in places where women really need dignifying work— giving them employment, and giving us beautiful products that carry their story.

Our first project will be in Nepal. We currently have 4 felt bags designed that we are planning to market to small-batch, design-focused boutiques stateside. Each bag will be hand-crafted by a Nepali woman. So, every bag purchased will be a gift not only to the person that buys it, but it will giving a fair-wage income to a woman in Nepal.  GIVE | GIVE.

We are thrilled (and a bit nervous) to be headed to Nepal to begin the partnership process. We know there will be A LOT of learning in this process. Holstee has been a great motivator on many levels. Yes, we love your aesthetic, but we are mostly just inspired by companies like yours that are going for it! Against the odds, you’re an example of living with courage and passion. And, we raise our glass to that! Thanks for letting us share our story.

- Tanja Cesh & Annalisa Oswald  GIVE | GIVE

I’m on a plane. There’s a 14-hour flight ahead of me. A month ago, I didn’t know anything else except that I will loose my apartment in couple of weeks and my boyfriend had just broken up with me after 3 years together. For the past years I had forgotten how to live my own life and was just living for the other. I forgot that I have ambitions and dreams.

Someone posts the Holstee manifesto on Facebook. The word “Life” strokes my attention. I start to read and I realize that I need to stop. Stop worrying and crying for the things I have lost, but cherish the possibilities I have. I felt great; I am free to go wherever I want to and do whatever I feel like doing. No one is stopping me.

The plane arrived to South East Asia where I volunteered and traveled for 6 months. That was the most amazing time of my life and that was just the beginning of it.

- Ennisofia Salmela