Finding Outskirts: A Journey Through Life, Business, and Purpose

I’m not quite sure how I ended up here, but I’ve found myself on the outskirts. It’s a place that feels removed from the constant churn of the rat race. When you’re in it, the rat race can feel like the only thing in front of you. But at some point, if you pause and look up, you might find that you’ve wandered farther from it than you realized.  For me, the outskirts offer perspective. They let me see the rat race from above—its patterns, its players, and my own place in it. Whether we’ve arrived here through family, faith, financial freedom, or simply coming to peace with ourselves, the outskirts invite us to observe, reflect, and grow. Some of us stay in the race mentally, others break free entirely. Wherever you land, the outskirts offer something unique. 

Outskirts in Business & Investment

Out of school I found myself weary of roommate life and instead of attacking student loans, I took advantage of low interest rates and purchased my first home. As with most first home decisions, this proved both foolish and wise. I learned some valuable lessons about interest rates and investment principles, I learned what NOT to buy, and I learned later on that creating my own success in investing was the way I liked to play the game. Don’t get me wrong, I still dabble in the opportunities in the equities and securities market. But I’ve continually found that tangible assets and real estate opportunities I can improve through sheer will is a much more attractive investment strategy to me.

Relocating to Salt Lake City cemented this preference. Instead of selling our first home, we turned it into a rental property. Although minimal, the cash flow the property generates has continued to provide lessons and security.  We’ve continued our real estate journey, one I may elaborate on in posts, but through this journey I’ve found more folks that have real estate as a supplement, rather than a primary focus of their investment portfolio, so here I am on the outskirts.

Going into college with the 2008 recession only just in the rear view, there was overwhelming pressure among millennials in my cohort to pursue financially secure  career paths like medicine, law, business, finance etc. It seems like that’s still the case, especially with student loan issues worsening and students becoming “more mature” about their career path choices.

Regardless, my college journey led me into geology. When the outdoors is your office, it’s easy to picture yourself working for 40 years. I’ve been fortunate to capitalize on opportunities to advance through the environmental and mining industries, something that’s unique not just among my millennial peers, but my geology peers as well. Mining comes with its cycles. Choosing this path may not be the most financially secure on paper, but I’ve found that this outskirt has it’s share of opportunities. with less competition and great rewards for enthusiasm and strategic decisions, I’ve found myself continually growing in this industry.

Outskirts in life and family

Moving across the country and away from the family support system is not an easy decision. The security afforded by nearby extended family can be significant and unless there is commensurate security or peace awarded by moving away, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. We moved from the Midwest and family support in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois in 2020 to pursue some great financial and personal growth opportunities, and although difficult, it has proven extremely valuable. Not only did we jumpstart a more secure financial path, but we also ventured further into our love for outdoor recreation and the outdoor lifestyle. Finding ourselves and some great community out west has been a blessing. We even had some close friends follow us!

Since moving up from Salt lake Valley to to a mountain cabin at 8000 feet, we’ve only found more engagement and new community in the outskirts! Mountain life isn’t particularly easy. It demands intentionality and effort. Snow removal is a chore, the pellet stove is finicky, and the septic is constantly looming. But this hard life has also provided incredible reward. The people and community in our mountain neighborhood have been a refreshing new experience, and it was a lovely surprise that many of the folks we’ve met up here are also young couples just starting their families. What a life for our children to grow up in–connected, vibrant, and surrounded by nature.

Choose your Outskirts

Living on the outskirts—whether in business, family, or life—requires deliberate choices. It’s about carving your own path, even when it feels unconventional or counterintuitive. It’s about embracing the challenges that come with those choices and finding beauty in the results.  But the outskirts also invite exploration. There’s room here for curiosity, for new ideas, and for meeting people who’ve also stepped away from the traditional paths. Whether it’s swapping stories with neighbors at 8,000 feet or reflecting on my own journey through writing, I’ve come to realize that the outskirts are full of untapped potential. 

The outskirts don’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s about breaking free from a traditional career path. For others, it’s about finding peace in family, faith, or self-discovery. Whatever your journey, the outskirts are worth exploring.  Let’s share stories—because out here, we’re all figuring it out together.