Ep 63: Creating the "Perfect" Sabbaticals for Peak Experiences | DJ Didonna [Founder, the Sabbatical Project]

Have you ever thought about taking a sabbatical? Or have taken
one yourself?


If so, then this week’s STIMY guest will be of interest to
you. 


DJ DiDonna is the founder of the Sabbatical Project, which is the
first-of-its kind research into when and why sabbaticals are
being taken by professionals, and how they lead to positive
outcomes and an opportunity to tap into their inner self. 


DJ shares his personal story of first completing his MBA at
Harvard Business School before spending the next 7 years of his
life building Entrepreneurial Finance Lab: a microfinance startup
he founded because was deeply passionate about pursuing access to
finance and credit. It was a highly successful startup and they
succeeded in unlocking over $1 billion for entrepreneurs and
individuals that would otherwise not have access to such
funding. 


However, no one told him that you could burn out from doing the
job you loved.


And that’s exactly what happened.


In this episode, we dive deep into DJ’s experiences being burnt
out, what he did during his sabbaticals as well as the findings
that the Sabbatical Project has produced to date.


Highlights:


4:08 Doing an MBA at Harvard Business School

6:37 Launching a microfinance startup that would unlock over
$1 billion for entrepreneurs & be featured in the New York
Times

8:58 Burning out from doing a job you love

10:01 Burning out versus just needing a vacation

12:13 Guilt

12:49 Maximising productivity during his sabbatical as a Type
A

15:10 Completing the 900 mile (1200 km) Shikoku Pilgrimage in
Japan 

16:13 “Ossentai”

22:51 Collaborating with Professor Matt Bloom

24:00 Founding the Sabbatical Project

26:26 Defining what a “sabbatical” is

27:33 Is there such a thing as a sabbatical that’s gone on
for “too long”?

30:06 Travel doesn’t guarantee disconnection 

33:11 Getting in touch with your inner self 

34:20 Testing your assumptions with others

35:52 Has anyone ever regretted taking a sabbatical?

37:19 Sabbaticals help to fight FOMO

38:03 How to structure a sabbatical

40:08 Designing a system to capture your learnings from your
sabbatical

43:16 Employers who want to implement sabbatical policies in
their companies

45:24 Forced sabbaticals

46:56 When people should think about taking sabbaticals
(without waiting for burnouts or something bad to happen in life)

48:13 Best way to ask employers for sabbaticals

50:42 Functional workaholism 






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/63


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