Migrationology: Living with Future Intentions

By Mark Wiens 40 Comments

This is Part 5 of the “Foundationology of Migrationology” series.

Rwandan Kids
Migrationology – The sustainable way to pursue your passion

Migrationology is about finding a sustainable way to turn your passion into your life.

Just as Wildebeest in the plains of the Serengeti make an annual migration to find necessary food, so migrationology is about migrating into a lifestyle that your’re excited about.

What are your passions and your goals?

Here are a few starting steps:

Keep your dreams at the front of your head (not in the back of your head), because when dream are at the front, you’ll make them a reality.

What are my goals?

As you can probably tell, I am highly passionate about 2 things: travel and food.

My goal is to take my passions and turn them into a sustainable way to live, learn and help others. Oh, I would also like to eventually be able to afford a family.

What does that mean for me?

What steps am I taking?Mark Wiens

I live well for less than $300 per month in Bangkok. This is a low enough cost for me, where I can afford to take time and push to develop my ideas that revolve around my passions.

My home base at the moment is in Bangkok, but it’s a home base because it’s a great link to the world. I can continue to travel and make trips during my migration.

I’m in the process of building Migrationology. At the moment I publish 2 articles and 1 photo favorite each week.

I do work hard, often sitting at the computer for 14 + hours a day (not everyday, but when I have no plans), but I enjoy it.

Aside from Migrationology, a friend and I have collaborated on a Thai street food blog at EatingThaiFood.com. Thai food is made to share, and it’s our goal to get that word out by publishing all sorts of media about Thai food.

I recently launched my first ever product, the Eating Thai Food Guide, a collaboration of my hobby, something we must do on a daily basis, and an opportunity to make some profit. It came at the cost of a lot of eating, some time, and a few computer frustrations. But it’s there, it’s a sustainable product, and it now costs me nothing to keep selling (apart from a $5 per month e-junkie fee that swiftly takes care of all sales and downloads of an e-product).

At the moment, I’m working on writing a couple of travel guides, keeping up with a number of blogs, and doing some freelance writing.

Conclusion:

I hope this Foundationology of Migrationology series has been beneficial.

If you have any questions, concerns, requests or anything else, feel free to leave a comment, send me a tweet, hit up the facebook fanpage, or send me a personal message here.

Many thanks for your help and support.

I’d love to hear your questions or comments below.

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This is Part 5 of the Foundationology of Migrationology series.

Click here to read the previous parts of the series.

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Check out the other articles in the series now!

40 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Pili Pili

    11 years ago

    Thanks for reminding me that the pursuit of the “American dream” is not a one-size-fits-all :o)

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Pili, thank you very much for taking a look at this, and that’s so true!

  • Lauren (PB&G)

    11 years ago

    This idea is fantastic! I’m in the very beginning stages of my plan to quit my desk job and traveling the world. I found your site via your posts on gobackpacking.com. I am so glad to have found this wealth of information! Thank you so much!

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Lauren, great to hear from you and awesome that you’re in the initial stages of starting traveling the world – I know that it will be rewarding for you! Thank you for checking out my site!

  • Luke

    13 years ago

    I will gladly take your steps, and tips and apply them all. It a good plan. Good and clear. Thanks!

  • Tours Of The Vatican

    13 years ago

    You have some great ideas, here, Mark! I will definitely be checking out the other parts of your series, and I wish you good luck on all of your travels! 🙂

    Sara

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thank you Sara! I really appreciate you stopping by and taking a look.

  • jade

    13 years ago

    Love this idea! I try to write down my goals every couple of weeks and I really feel like it has helped me.

  • Jim

    13 years ago

    Admire you Mark, your passion, your dreams, and your practicality which shows in how you map out steps and stages to achieve.

  • Nomadic Samuel

    13 years ago

    Congrats on pursuing your goals and dreams. I like how you’ve linked experiencing new things as one of the key ingredients to your success. I’ve lived abroad for 6 years (3 teaching and 3 backpacking) and I’m now intending to pursue traveling as a career. I’m wondering though if it will take the passion out of what I do. I’ve never been a digital nomad on the road before, so it’ll be quite a transition. Do you ever find your blog to be a burden at times?

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Hey Samuel,
      Similar to you, I wasn’t digital at all for a while and I barely even touched the internet before I started. That being said, blogging and keeping up with the website hasn’t been a burden for me at all. Sure it takes a lot of extra work and effort, but I’ve grown to really enjoy it. There are definitely occasions that I just don’t feel like writing or blogging at all – and that’s when I dig into my pile of saved posts and schedule some articles that I have previously written. Now blogging is just such a big part of my life that I barely even think twice about doing it. Keep it up Samuel!

  • Steve Wyman @ Cloud Ventures Group

    13 years ago

    Hi Mark

    Awesoem site dude ! (whay do i always start saying dude when i get to thailand :-))

    Some ideas for you if i may…

    1/ Guide to where to stay cheap in Bangkok. a simple ebook charge say $7. Ive been to thailand many times and stayed in 7 star in middle of BKK out in koh samui (2 star) and Pattaya 0-2 star. A guide to where to stay cheaply but with facilities would be excellent.

    2/ Somehting i did in San francisco. How about a walking tour of the best street food in Bangkok.. If you did not physically lead it then you could do as an ebook guide or audio book. $9 has got to be cheap

    Apologise for my cheek but it s way to pay back.

    Love the blog and http://www.eatingthaifood.com will pas on to some of my friends out there.

    regards

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Hi Steve,
      Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog and for these great tips and suggestions. I think they are some good ideas and I will soon look into doing more projects. I have a Bangkok travel guide that I am writing and it will come out sometime around November, but it will be released on a different website. I will have the announcement launch on Migrationology when things are ready.
      Again, thanks for taking a looking and for sharing with your friends. I will put some of your ideas to work and let you know how things go!
      Mark

  • The Travel Chica

    13 years ago

    So great that you have set your goals and are actively pursuing them. Congrats on getting so far.

    I still find it amazing that you are living off of $300 a month. Maybe I need to leave Latin America and move to Bangkok 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Would be great to see you in Bangkok someday Steph!

  • inka

    13 years ago

    I have read all five parts. Your thoughts and ideas are certainly an inspiration. As you know, I’m a fan of your Thai food book and have mentioned it often. As you so rightly say: it’s there, it’s an achivement and will now take care of itself.Although I’m more than twice your age, I set myself fresh goals every single day, and they are not much different from yours (they do however include a facelift, ha,ha,ha).

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thanks Inka, and I really appreciate you mentioning my Thai food guide.
      Haha, that’s a great goal Inka and keep on pushing to pursue all of them!

  • Sailor

    13 years ago

    You have some wonderful ideas and plans. All the best with your Thai food Blog

  • Christy @ Ordinary Traveler

    13 years ago

    Great article! I’m hearing more stories everyday of people like us who are juggling a handful of projects. I love this idea. Do what we love. It’s hard work, but really fun and rewarding. You sound like you are on the right path, my friend. 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Awesome – thanks Christy!
      The great thing is that though we have so much to do and so many projects to do, it doesn’t carry that negative aspect of “work,” but instead is something I look forward to doing – even though it’s very time consuming. Good luck with all of your projects as well!

  • Cathy Sweeney

    13 years ago

    What a great series this has been. Practical and inspirational! Love what you said about keeping your dreams at the front of our heads — totally agree.

  • flipnomad

    13 years ago

    great tips man and i do hope and pray that all your effort and hardwork pays off so you could achieve your dreams…

    a lot of people wish to live their dreams and pursue their passion but often lack the determination and a sense of reality that it entails hardwork… but for those who brave this path… the rewards are great (may not be financially rewarding at times) but the experiences gained are priceless…

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thanks Flip!
      It definitely does involve a lot of hard work – for sure! Though the good thing is that if we pursue what we enjoy doing it’s more just always doing our hobby instead of doing something considered work. There are countless experiences and rewards to uncover. Keep working too man, you’re doing great!

  • Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    13 years ago

    I am sure a lot of people will find your series helpful especially the steps you have listed. The important part is taking action on your insights! You seem to be off to a great start taking actions to make your dreams reality.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thanks Debbie!
      Yes, when you have the urge to do something, you must take action to get it done and accomplish it!

  • Scott – Quirky Travel Guy

    13 years ago

    I like your list of starting steps, I think everyone can benefit from taking that approach. I’m at the same point, trying to make a career out of my passions. It’s taking some time but it’s a fun journey.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Great Scott! Glad that you are making steps to do your passions and good luck with everything!

  • Raymond @ Man On The Lam

    13 years ago

    Great series Mark! I’m going back to read the rest…now!

  • Caaanan @ No Vacation Required

    13 years ago

    Great article (and series) Mark. I am sure many people will find inspiration and motivation in hearing your story.

    Something that Kent and I are always talking about is the importance of knowing yourself. You say the same thing… “Map out your passions: What do you really love to do?” You can’t migrate to a more fulfilling life until you can answer this. However, not knowing the answer is not an excuse to do nothing. In fact, if you can’t answer this, you need to start trying new things (another great point you make). You have got to start experiencing and evaluating.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thanks Caanan (and Kent),
      Really appreciate you adding these extra insights. When I was growing up as a kid, there was nothing I wanted to do but be a professional soccer player – that obviously didn’t even come close to happening, but my priorities, goals and passions shifted to something else. In university I was in about 3 different programs before finally settling on Global Studies. Now, I’ve figured my passions out further, but they are still developing and evolving. You’re so right, one must keep trying new things and discovering, and eventually one’s passions will click and that’s when it’s time to get serious and take the migration!
      By the way, through reading NVR it’s great to learn about your personalities and I know for sure that your passions are coming through on your blog!