Part 2: The Future of Unsettled

Part 2: The Future of Unsettled (A Plan)

By: Michael Youngblood, Co-founder, Unsettled.

This is the second article in a multi-part series about the future of Unsettled. 

In Part 1 of this series, I shared the story of how living Unsettled at sea for 30 days helped me ask big questions about what’s next for me and Unsettled.  

I hinted last month that it felt like it was time for a change. 

Well, it’s coming. We’ve always said Embrace the Unknown, and it’s time for us to be true to this standard we’ve held so high.

And we’re so damn excited.

The world has evolved, and it’s catching up with our original vision.

Unsettled was founded in 2016 to take advantage of the (then) early trend of remote work. We saw this shift towards more remote work as the biggest change in labor in 100 years.

For the better part of the last century, people have been deciding where to live based on a standard commute to and from their place of work. In other words, we’ve been deciding where to work based on about a 30-minute drive.

The office became the highest ring on the totem pole of our modern society. Not quality of life, nor family, nor community. You moved to where the office was.

But in 2020, everything changed. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of Americans working primarily from home tripled. You know the story. The changes have been profound. Everything has changed from where you can live to how you experience burnout to an unexpected increase in pregnancies among women who work from home (true story, even when the social scientists controlled for income, wealth, class, etc.).

It was time for us to go back to the drawing board. 

In the past 12 months, we’ve spoken with over a hundred companies, founders, and alumni about finding a new model, new home, or new ownership for Unsettled.

We’ve narrowed in on our final opportunities. 

Here’s our plan:

First, we’re not going to stop travel, but we’re not running at full capacity for the next few months. We have 3 upcoming trips that we are incredibly excited about. I’m planning to join each of these trips, as they feel incredibly important and exciting to us! Check them out:

12 Days in Thailand. 🇹🇭🤿

Sailing Ibiza with Unsettled. ⛵🏝

Hike the Camino De Santiago.  🇪🇸 🥾

Second, we’re in the final stages of making a decision on the future of Unsettled. If you want to raise your hand to hear more, send us an idea, or ask for a little more info than we can share on a blog, send us an email at future@beunsettled.co. 

Third, this summer (that’s about June for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere), we plan to reveal our new model, partnerships, leadership, and, importantly, our new locations, experiences, and ways to join Unsettled.

Why are we sharing all of this?

Honestly, it’s a really good time for us to hear from you. We will be reshaping a brand, community, and offering that we love in the coming months.  We want to hear alumni input as we shape our future! Here’s what we’d love to hear input on: 
– How might we make Unsettled more inclusive?
– How might Unsettled support home swapping or medium-term rental of your home while you travel?
– What social or environmental causes might Unsettled get behind?
– What new locations would you love to travel to? And for how long?

Email us about our future! future@beunsettled.co.

In the meantime, we’re out there. We’re working remotely in Thailand. We’re sailing Ibiza. And we’re going to be coworking in Spain and hiking the Camino de Santiago. 

Join us if you can!

I’ll say it one final time. Email us with input! You’d be surprised at how much we love it when we get input!

Unsettled is a global community for those who embrace the unknown and value meaningful human connection. Our mission is to inspire a lifelong pursuit of growth, meaning, and adventure through travel and shared experiences.