A Leg Up (How I started my career as a professional paddler)

When I started my paddling career, it was hard to make the transition from full time contributor of society, to part time “surf bum” as my parents liked to call it. Why would anyone be allowed time off the grid just to paddle?

I had recently committed “career suicide” according to my boss at the time, and was ten years ahead of “The Great Resignation.” I didn’t like the way life was looking for me.

I was too young to be that unhealthy and I felt too young to be that trapped. I didn’t like the way I looked. I didn’t like the way work-life balance looked either. I detested what climbing the ladder of achievement looked like, and I certainly didn’t like the way each and every day of my life looked…which if you haven’t guessed by now, was miserable.

I decided it was time to change the view, so I left my “budding career.” To be more clear, I stopped staring at a computer screen in a concrete room without windows so that I could go play outside. In case you’re wondering, yes, it was a huge pay cut, but it was totally worth it.