A Journey of Finding Purpose

My personal journey to living in South America

For 24 years, I built a solid career as a sales and operations manager in the United States. I was good at what I did—negotiating deals, managing teams, and driving business forward. But life has a way of throwing unexpected twists, and in 2009, I made a decision that would change everything. I sold my home, most of my possessions, and, along with my two loyal dogs, boarded a flight to Chile. This wasn't just a new adventure; it was a leap of faith for love.

The woman I loved had been denied a U.S. visa over a minor application issue. If she couldn’t come to me, I would go to her. At 45 years old, I found myself in a country where I didn't speak the language, but I had always believed that determination could overcome any obstacle. With that mindset, I threw myself into an intensive Spanish school—five hours a day, five days a week, for five months. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done, but I had no choice. To survive and succeed, I had to communicate. Fluency didn’t come overnight, but persistence paid off.

My first job in Chile was as a Parts Sales and Operations Manager for a small company. It was a challenging experience, but an invaluable one, helping me understand the cultural and business differences in my new home. When the owner retired, I moved on to a larger, more structured Chilean company. This was a world apart from the flatter hierarchies I was used to in the U.S. The strict formality and deeply ingrained classism grated against my nature, but I adapted and excelled. My boss became my mentor, and together, we grew the business. But when a new general manager—an authoritarian figure reminiscent of Augusto Pinochet—took over, everything changed. Despite record sales and profitability, I was let go in a round of cost-cutting measures.

Determined, I found another position, this time at an even larger company. However, my honeymoon period was short-lived. Just two weeks in, the general manager, a man with a classic case of Napoleon complex, berated me in front of my colleagues in the parking lot. I was stunned. The next morning, I walked into his office and confronted him directly: “This company has many problems, and you hired me to fix them. I’ve been here for two weeks, and you called me names in public. These problems existed before I arrived. I am not the issue—you are.” His eyes widened, and he offered a brief apology, but it wasn’t long before his true nature resurfaced. I endured a year in that toxic environment before finally walking away.

At 52, I was at a crossroads. No one wanted to hire a middle-aged foreigner. We struggled financially. I sold my house. I spent months searching for work before finally giving up on traditional employment. Instead, I tried to make a living through photography, then installing security cameras for small businesses and homes. Both ventures brought in money, but neither provided stability.

Then, my father-in-law made a simple suggestion: “Why not teach English?” It made sense. I was a native speaker, and business professionals needed English. I started small—just a few students a week, meeting them at coffee shops or their homes. It was difficult, not just in time but in cost. The constant travel made it hard to turn a real profit. But then, the pandemic changed everything.

Suddenly, remote work became the norm. Teaching online allowed me to eliminate travel time and take on more students. My reputation grew through word-of-mouth and social media. I built a structured syllabus, refining it over countless hours to ensure my students received the best instruction possible. LinkedIn became a powerful tool, connecting me with professionals across Latin America and even as far as the U.S.

Sixteen years after moving to Chile, I had found my true calling. Teaching isn’t just a job; it’s a purpose. Every lesson I give helps someone improve their career, their confidence, or their future.

Ironically, one of my greatest challenges today is maintaining my own English. After years of living in a Spanish-speaking country, I find myself forgetting words and phrases. To combat this, I follow my own advice: write. I’ve begun crafting short stories, blending reality with a twist of fate, and sharing them under the name pen name MundaneMarvels. Storytelling is essential in teaching, and it’s become essential in my own personal growth as well.

Losing my job multiple times once sent me into a dark period of uncertainty. But that same uncertainty forced me to forge a new path—one that led to independence and fulfillment. I may have left behind a stable corporate career, but I gained something far greater: the ability to make a real difference in the lives of others.

And in the end, isn’t that what success truly is?

The End… just kidding! The story continues, and what’s next is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned—as I hope to move my family to the coast of Chile, overlooking the vast Pacific, in the near future.