Many organizations offer the chance to work in another market both locally and internationally. There are many benefits to this which include exposure to different cultures, expansion of professional networks and in many cases financial benefits.
When one takes on such an assignment they typically have a few goals in mind. This may include visiting certain places, travel frequency back home or even financial goals if there is a benefit in this regard. So my question for today is what if we approached 2 years of employment the same way we would approach a 2 year assignment to a different place? Let me explain how this can be achieved.
1. Accommodation and day to day living
For many of us this is a sunk cost with limited flexibility due to mortgages, commitment to schools or general inertia and reluctance to make a change. If you were to find yourself in a new town you would probably try and find that magical mix between affordability, social considerations and comfort. How many of us are sitting miserable in a location or home somewhere, but would make the necessary change of given a chance? Thinking about it in this way removes the shackles of sunk costs and allows one to make decisions that make sense for the future rather than the past.
2. Career aspirations
Typically in a short term assignment there are very specific skills and experiences being sought. As an example a former colleague of mine worked with a team in the Netherlands so she could learn more advanced techniques in product category management. The end goal was for her to bring that experience back to the South African market and be promoted into a job that leveraged that learning.
For many of us that are not physically going anywhere what if we identified the specific skills and experience we wished to gain over the next 2 years. One can then couple that with the career goal we want to achieve at the end of it? It takes away the anxiety one gets from always viewing their career through a long term lense of “Where exactly is my life going?”. It allows one to focus on very specific development and look to the future with optimism as the desired result is not too far away.
3. Personal experiences
One of the first things that someone going to work in a new location looks at is what is available in terms of leisure and experiences. Someone lucky enough to work in the US for example is likely to pencil in trips to all the key national attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and Disneyland.
While many of us will not be posted to America any time soon, we can also be very specific around our leisure goals over the next 2 years. I actually know of a group of people who collectively save every month to raise sufficient money to attend each football World Cup. The thinking is the same, is there somewhere you really wish to go in the next 2 years? Is there a way you can be more deliberate and plan for it?
4. Staying close to loved ones
Many people move to a new town temporarily and genuinely miss some of the people they are leaving behind. Some won’t be missed at all. You know who you are. However, typically there is a strategy to stay in touch with friends and family left behind. If only in our day to day lives we put as much effort into doing this. How many working adults can say they have a strategy currently of staying in touch with parents and siblings?
5. Learning new personal skills
A friend of mine moved temporarily to Belgium and is now fluent in Flemish. Not because she couldn’t get by, but because she couldn’t make any friends. Another friend’s spouse is Dutch and moved with him to Zimbabwe. Last time I saw her she gave me a comprehensive view of how to navigate the monetary policy and customs dynamics in the country. The truth, however, is that we don’t need to move anywhere to be learning something new.
Moving somewhere for an attachment provides opportunity to learn many new skills. As you can guess my challenge to you, therefore, is to look at which new personal skills you wish to acquire over the next 2 years. It can be as basic as how to bake a cake or mow your own lawn. Just as long as you are learning something new.
In summary, my point is that you don’t actually have to go anywhere in order to view your life from a different angle. The short term attachment lense is fun in that there is a escapist element of fantasy. There can be some adventure, some growth and something to look forward to in our present day circumstances. We don’t have to physically go anywhere to make this a reality.
All the best over the next 2 years! I hope your attachment is a success and you re-read this 2 years later grateful that you did.
300Paychecks 
This is actually another angle to look at things. I’m explore and just came back from an assignment so I can instantly relate to most of the things you mentioning in this article.
Because I know I want to be in SA to raise the last born and for the older kids to have foundation of Mzantsi roots – I have to find interesting things to explore around me … luckily I get to also work with the team outside SA therefore that gives me yet another opportunity to learn different cultures , people and places .