This first-person narrative draws from an in-depth conversation with Carey Bentley, aged thirty-five, who serves as the CEO and cofounder of the Lifehack Method. The account has been refined and condensed for coherence, focus, and readability.
Roughly a decade in the past, I found myself entrenched in the relentless mechanisms of corporate life—specifically, the demanding world of brand management in Los Angeles. My days blurred into cycles of extended working hours, back-to-back meetings, and the sort of unremitting stress that seemed to define the very concept of professional success in that environment. Twelve-hour workdays became the norm as I chased approvals, managed client expectations, and sought to meet ever-rising business targets. Yet, beneath this façade of achievement, I felt profoundly disillusioned and empty, as though all my effort yielded neither meaning nor fulfillment.
My situation was further complicated by an autoimmune condition, one acutely sensitive to stress. Despite knowing that rest was medically essential, I continued pushing myself until a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, served as a moment of reckoning. What was meant to be a respite turned into a breaking point; my phone never ceased pinging with emails and notifications. There, amid the snow-covered landscape, I realized how thoroughly my career had consumed my life.
Determined to regain control, I began building what was initially intended to be a modest side project—a single productivity course developed while I still worked full-time for my employer. The course was designed to help people optimize their time and energy, and to my surprise, it quickly attracted significant interest. As the demand grew, I started to recognize that this endeavor carried the potential to become something far greater. My husband, Demir, and I discussed the possibility of transforming it into a full-time business if we fully devoted ourselves to it. Motivated by the vision of greater autonomy, we began deep research into how such a transition could be made sustainable.
What I discovered changed everything: the cost of living in certain destinations abroad, even in beautiful and inspiring settings, could actually be lower than our expenses in Los Angeles. Instead of quitting my position outright, I negotiated a remote consulting arrangement that allowed me to retain financial stability while gaining the freedom to relocate. In June of 2016, with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, Demir and I sold nearly all our possessions and departed Los Angeles with only three carry-on bags between us. Our destination was Ubud, Bali—a place known for its tranquil rice terraces, spiritual energy, and international community of wanderers and entrepreneurs.
Once settled in Bali, we immersed ourselves in an environment unlike any corporate office we had ever known. The slower, more deliberate rhythm of island life offered room to breathe and reflect. We launched what ultimately became our company, the Lifehack Method, drawing inspiration from local values of balance and presence. Ubud was filled with creative entrepreneurs and remote professionals who were experimenting with unconventional paths to work and success. Surrounded by this diverse community, we found both camaraderie and direction.
From the outset, our professional life in Bali was intense yet exhilarating. Demir would rise at four in the morning to conduct calls across multiple time zones while I focused on refining our digital marketing strategy. We spent countless hours testing new ideas, listening carefully to client feedback, and continuously iterating on our coaching model. Slowly, the life we had once imagined began to materialize. Our guiding philosophy—to help professionals accomplish more while avoiding burnout—was shaped profoundly by the Balinese approach to well-being. Here, people did not define themselves solely by work; they wove their careers harmoniously into family life, community engagement, and personal rejuvenation. That wisdom became the cornerstone of our business and our coaching methodology.
We began encouraging clients to design schedules that honored both productivity and joy, reminding them that success without health is an incomplete victory. The balance we observed in Bali informed every aspect of how we lived and worked. When the pressures of entrepreneurship mounted, we could step back and appreciate our surroundings—morning walks through lush gardens, shared meals at open-air cafés, or spontaneous weekend trips to neighboring countries like Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and India.
Life in Bali, however idyllic, was not without challenges. The adjustment required patience and adaptability. We quickly learned to navigate the chaotic flow of scooters crowding narrow streets. The tropical humidity was overwhelming, and daily rainstorms demanded keeping ponchos within easy reach. Yet each obstacle came with its own reward: astonishingly fresh food, a thriving café culture that delighted my love of coffee, and most importantly, a lifestyle that prioritized simplicity, connection, and peace over speed and excess.
As our company expanded and our clientele stabilized, new logistical difficulties emerged. Managing a growing number of clients in the United States meant grappling with frustrating time differences and late-night communications. By 2019, it became evident that our business operations would benefit from relocating closer to the Western Hemisphere. We began exploring options and chose Medellín, Colombia—a city we had never visited but had heard described as an emerging hub for digital entrepreneurs. That same year, filled with both nostalgia and anticipation, we left Bali behind and began a new chapter.
Departing from Bali was bittersweet; we were leaving behind close friends and a way of life that had nurtured us for years. Yet Medellín immediately welcomed us with its cosmopolitan energy and hospitable culture. We were impressed by its infrastructure, year-round springlike climate, and widespread appreciation for family values. Soon after settling, I gave birth to our first daughter, followed by two more children in 2022 and 2024. Each experience deepened our bond with the country. The Colombian healthcare system astonished us by its efficiency and affordability, and the compassionate at-home care we received far exceeded what we might have expected in the United States. Our children thrived, surrounded by two languages, two cultures, and a community composed of both locals and fellow expatriates.
Despite our satisfaction with life in Medellín, family obligations eventually called us back across continents. By late 2024, as our parents grew older and our family expanded, we felt an increasing desire to be closer to them. The practicalities of raising three young children while maintaining long-distance family ties convinced us that returning to the United States was the right decision. Last October, we resettled in a walkable rural community just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The contrast was immediate—the pace was noticeably faster, and yet it offered renewed closeness with extended family members. We are now focused on creating a supportive“village” for our children, believing that community is the heart of contentment.
While we have reestablished ourselves in America, the experiences we gained abroad permanently altered our worldview. Living in Indonesia and Colombia taught us to question assumptions we once held as self-evident—that the American approach to success was the ultimate model. Instead, we learned that fulfillment can emerge anywhere, provided that work, lifestyle, and values are aligned. One day, when our children are older, we hope to live again overseas, perhaps returning to Asia or discovering a new home somewhere in Europe.
For professionals contemplating a similar transition—leaving behind a traditional career path to start a venture abroad—my advice is both pragmatic and heartfelt. First, ensure that you have built a sufficient financial runway to sustain you during the inevitable uncertainties of entrepreneurship. Second, validate your business idea thoroughly and confirm that there is a genuine market need before committing all your resources. Lastly, be strategic about location. Choose a place where your cost of living allows room not just for survival, but for thriving—somewhere that supports both your ambition and your quality of life. That combination, as I have learned, is the essence of balance.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-bali-build-business-back-to-america-raise-family-2025-10
