Why he sold his house, and left Australia to change his life.

Summary

In this insightful conversation, David Kai, an Australian with Vietnamese roots, shares his journey of leaving a stable job and home in Melbourne to embrace a life of travel and content creation. David candidly discusses his experiences, from the initial motivation to sell his house and travel, to the challenges and rewards of solo traveling across 15 countries. He highlights the personal growth he's gained through his adventures, the importance of research, and the unexpected moments that have shaped his perspective on life and work.

Takeaways

• 🌍 David, originally from Melbourne, Australia, decided to sell his house and travel the world after feeling confined by his life and job in Australia.
• 🏠 Before traveling, David had a comfortable life with a six-figure salary and owned a house, which he sold to fund his travels.
• 📈 He worked as an Agile Coach in university education, helping to manage and improve various teams' performance.
• 🎥 David's initial foray into content creation was inspired by meeting travel vloggers in Thailand, which motivated him to start his own YouTube channel.
• 💡 His first earnings from YouTube came within 3-4 weeks of starting his channel, which was faster than he expected and gave him confidence in his decision.
• 📊 David's income from YouTube varies depending on the country he is in and the amount of content he produces, averaging around $3,000 to $4,000 AUD per month.
• 🚶‍♂️ As a solo traveler, David has experienced challenges, such as a tense encounter with a taxi driver in India, emphasizing the importance of caution and research when traveling.
• 🗺️ David has visited 15 different countries in the last year and a half, with Vietnam feeling like a second home due to his Vietnamese heritage.
• 🔄 Despite enjoying his travel lifestyle, David sees a potential future where he might return to a corporate job or settle down, but he would continue creating social media content.
• 📚 For those interested in traveling to Vietnam, David recommends watching travel guides and content creators on YouTube to learn about the country and culture.
• 🛣️ David's current travel plan includes finishing his motorbike series in Vietnam and potentially visiting China and South Korea in the future.

Q & A

Who is David, and what is his background before becoming a travel vlogger?

David is a former agile coach from Melbourne, Australia, who worked in the education sector, helping manage and improve various teams within universities.

What was David's official job title in his previous career?

David's official job title was Agile Coach, where he essentially acted as a team leader and helped manage smaller teams within universities.

What platform did David use for his work in the education sector?

David used Salesforce as the platform for his work in the education sector, particularly for CRM purposes.

How did David's lifestyle in Australia compare to his current lifestyle as a travel vlogger?

In Australia, David had a comfortable lifestyle with a six-figure salary, a mortgage, and savings. He was working from home and had a stable job. Now, as a travel vlogger, he experiences a more dynamic and adventurous lifestyle, visiting different countries and creating content.

What prompted David to quit his job and start traveling?

David felt a strong desire to experience a new world and life after meeting travel vloggers in Thailand. This encounter inspired him to sell his house, quit his job, and start traveling.

How much was David's house that he sold before traveling?

David's house, a double-story unit with two bedrooms, was sold for approximately 570,000 Australian dollars.

What was David's initial financial plan after selling his house?

David had over six figures in savings, which he planned to use to fund his travels and start a YouTube channel without worrying about immediate financial constraints.

How long did it take for David to start earning from his YouTube channel?

David started earning from his YouTube channel within three to four weeks after uploading his first video.

What was David's first significant income from YouTube, and how did it affect his perspective on traveling?

David's first significant income from YouTube was around 8,900 Australian dollars, which reassured him that he could potentially sustain his travels through his content creation.

What are some challenges David faced as a solo traveler, particularly in India?

In India, David faced challenges such as being misled by taxi drivers who tried to take him to travel agencies instead of his hotel, and overcharging him significantly for the service.

What is David's current monthly income from his YouTube channel, and how consistent is it?

David's monthly income from his YouTube channel varies depending on the content output and the country he is in, but on average, it is around $3,000 to $4,000 AUD per month.

What are David's future plans for his YouTube channel and personal life?

David plans to finish his motorbike series in Vietnam, travel to China, South Korea, or the Philippines, and possibly make Vietnam his base for a while to build relationships and create consistent content. He also considers the possibility of returning to a corporate job in the future.

What advice does David have for people who want to travel to Vietnam?

David suggests researching and watching content about Vietnam, such as his own YouTube channel, to learn about the country and prepare for travel. He also recommends being open to figuring things out as you go for a more authentic experience.