Leaving It All Behind: Valerie Russell on Starting a Business Abroad

Valerie Russell spent a decade in criminal justice. She worked as a corrections officer, a narcotics investigator, even on the 9/11 Human Recovery Project. But one day, she realized she wanted something entirely different. She sold everything, moved to Guatemala with just a backpack, and built a thriving travel agency from scratch.

"I got rid of everything that I owned, basically sold it all on a weekend, my pajamas through Facebook marketplace. And I packed up and came just with a backpack."

Hear Valerie talk about:

• The book that inspired her to walk away from law enforcement to start a new life abroad
• What it was like to arrive in Guatemala alone, not knowing anyone
• How she grew Due South Travels into a successful business without advertising
• Why she feels like she lives in paradise
• The importance of resilience, community, and creativity in building a life abroad

Mentioned in this episode:

• Due South Travels, Valerie's travel agency in Guatemala
• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, the book that inspired her

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