I hope you’re enjoying some downtime as the year draws to a close.
Today’s newsletter is a personal one, as I didn’t want to bombard you with an information-heavy email as a lot of people take this time of the year to relax and reflect.
So if you aren’t a fan of more personal emails, feel free to skip this one, I’ll be back to more informative content next week.
For those of you still here…
If you haven’t heard yet, I recently packed my bags and left the UK for a new adventure in the UAE.
It’s been a whirlwind of excitement, stress, and countless learning curves.
And to be honest, the whole experience has been uncomfortable.
But that’s exactly the point.
One of the main reasons Jack and I took this leap was to push myself to do more uncomfortable things.
So in today’s newsletter, I’ll tell you more about the move (and why I made this decision, as I know many of you are curious).
Reason #1
Let’s first address the elephant in the room… taxes.
The UAE is known for its very favourable business and personal income tax rates, and I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a factor in our decision to move to the UAE.
Now, I have no problem with paying taxes (I know they’re essential for a well-run society), but the UK’s tax system is pretty extreme at the moment. We found ourselves paying just under 50% of our income to the government.
Not to dive too deep into it, but we weren’t getting much value in return for such high tax rates. For example, we could never get a doctor’s appointment, while the cost of living continues to rise.
Also, while I’m young and free of commitments, I want to work hard and build wealth.
While some might view pursuing money as wrong, I see it differently, it’s a chance to create something meaningful while I have the energy, and ultimately to have the resources to help others along the way.
Reason #2
The weather.
If you’ve ever kept up with my Instagram stories during the winter months, you know I don’t deal with the cold well (let alone only getting a few hours of light a day).
This tends to have a negative effect on my motivation to work, to eat healthy, and pretty much everything else in between (I just want to stay in bed and watch Netflix with a hot chocolate).
Here in the UAE, the autumn/winter time is perfect, with the weather normally anywhere between 25-30 degrees. I’ve already felt the positive impact of waking up to the sunrise and blue skies.
And while summer gets a bit too hot, that’s where reason number 3 comes in…
Reason #3
I want to see more of the world.
Us Brits tend to travel only as far as Europe, and while Europe has some great places, I want to experience different cultures, meet new people and explore more of the world, especially Southeast Asia. (I’m in Da Nang, Vietnam this summer, so if any of you are from there, send me an email!)
With that in mind, having a hub in the UAE makes perfect sense since you can get a direct flight to pretty much anywhere.
Reason #4
I’m a hermit who needs to be pushed.
Now, it might not always seem like it, but I’m someone who loves their comfort zone. I find my safe space and like to stay in it.
While this is fine for a while, there comes a point where I know I need to change something if I want to continue growing as a person.
Luckily, this is where I have Jack. He tends to push me to do things I never would have considered on my own, and we were both in agreement that we should try something new while we can (just so we can say we did it and don’t have any regrets).
We did look at a few other places, with Cyprus and Australia being high on the list, but the UAE came out on top because of how easy it was to move here, secure our visas, and set up the business.
Reason #5
The urge to surround myself with like-minded people.
I have always found it difficult to build connections and find like-minded people in the UK.
While I could have tried harder to build these connections, there’s a certain mindset that’s hard to shake. (It’s called tall poppy syndrome)
People tend to root for you when you’re struggling or haven’t made it yet, but once you start finding success, that support often fades.
It’s as if there’s an unspoken rule against getting too far ahead. And honestly, that held me back.
What both Jack and I wanted (and what we still want) is to be around people who are striving for more, who support each other’s ambitions, and who are excited to grow.
And we think we can find that here.
Also on a personal level, I’m an introverted extrovert. (I know, I know, it sounds like a contradiction!)
On the outside, I can seem extroverted, especially online, but in reality, I struggle in some situations. I don’t think I’ve spoken about this before but I’ve always been a bit hesitant to put myself out there in new places, to take risks that feel intimidating (I really struggle with going to new places on my own).
This move will hopefully push me to face those fears head-on.
So, over the next year, I’m challenging myself.
I’m saying yes to things I’d normally shy away from. Whether it’s meeting new people, going to new places on my own, public speaking, or simply putting myself out there more, I’m going to face those fears and become the person I’m meant to be. And I know it’s not going to be easy (I’ve already had a few cries), but I’m ready.
An Update
We’ve finally secured an apartment here. Here’s a pic of the lounge area we’ve turned into our very own studio.
Feels surreal to look back at where I started, working from a tiny corner of my bedroom in 2019…
So excited for this upcoming year, we have some really cool stuff planned!
Chat soon,
Abi.
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