Heyman spent 2001 backpacking around the world. He climbed
mountains, scuba dived, studied Zen in
Japan, stayed at a Greek
Orthodox monastery, made a Catholic pilgrimage in
France. And
created his personal mission statement: "Maximizing my sphere of
positive influence."
He used his share of the proceeds from selling Beyond to become a
silent partner in more than a dozen small businesses. At the same
time, he started Project Pangea, a not-for-profit group that helps
arts organizations create fundraisers that build community as they
replenish the not-for-profit group coffers.
"I've created a positive legacy that will continue to serve the
world after I'm gone - and I'm not even halfway through with my
life," Heyman says.
The motivations of dot-com dropouts may not be so different from
those that drove the hippies away from commerce in the 1960s,
according to John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray &
Christmas, an outplacement consulting firm. "Both generations went
through some real highs and lows, leading to that sense of
disillusion with the corporate world or the establishment,"
Challenger says. "So people drop out to pursue alternative work and
lifestyles, often ones that are simpler or have more impact on
people."
* * * * *
But It's Not Always
A Bowl Of Cherries
Of course, those who've made the switch have faced some challenges.
First, their incomes often fall dramatically. Many ex-techies start
their own businesses, projects that can be slower to take off - and
pay off - than technology start-ups. The microbusinesses Heyman
financed surprised him with their lack of growth. Freeman reports
that, despite his research showing the multitude of horses in his
area, most of them wearing shoes, his first-year business was below
his projections. As the family breadwinner, Riley says, "We can
certainly get by - not nearly to the extent we've been used
to."