Whose Ladder Are You Climbing?

What Living Abroad Taught Me About Work and Purpose

Living and working in different countries has given me more than just a collection of passport stamps and pretty photos. It’s given me a perspective I couldn’t have learned if I had stayed in one place — especially when it comes to how we work.

Right now, I’m based in Spain, and I find myself constantly comparing how work is viewed here versus back home.

In the U.S., we’re raised with a "climb the ladder" mentality. Work hard now, enjoy later. Ten-hour days? Totally normal. Hustle culture? Celebrated. But eventually, I started asking myself: will I even enjoy the “later” if I’m always fixated on the “work”?

Spain offers something completely different. Work is part of life, but it doesn’t define it. People take their 30 paid vacation days. Weekends are off-limits for work. Late nights at the office? That’s rare. It’s not about being lazy; it’s about understanding that life is meant to be lived, not just earned.

And somewhere in between these two approaches are a hundred other versions of work-life balance. Different countries, different values, different definitions of success.

What I’ve learned is that there isn’t a universal “right” way to work. There’s the way you were raised, and then there’s the way you decide to live.

Whose Ladder Are You Climbing?

This question has stuck with me.

So many people spend their best energy building someone else’s dream. Trading time for security. For some, that’s what they need. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But if you’re putting in that much time and effort, what would it look like to invest in something that’s fully yours?

That could mean starting a business. Or launching a creative side project. Or just shifting focus toward something that gives you purpose. The point isn’t to glamorize entrepreneurship. It’s to ask, honestly: are you building a future that feels like your own?

For me, working for myself has changed the way I think about time. I don’t mind working Saturdays. I’ll skip plans to finish a deliverable if it needs more attention. That kind of commitment doesn’t feel draining. It feels energizing.

Because when it’s your name, your client, and your standard, the motivation is different.

And Yes, This Comes With Privilege

I say all this while fully acknowledging the privilege I hold. Being born American, holding a strong passport, and being able to run a business from Spain while serving clients in other countries is not something I take for granted.

This isn’t about comparing who has it harder. It’s about noticing the systems we’re part of, and being willing to ask whether they still work for us.

Final Thought

You don’t have to quit your job or move across the world to rethink your relationship with work. But it’s worth asking:

Are you climbing your own ladder, or someone else’s?

And if it’s someone else’s, is that still where you want to be?

You get to decide.