Looking across the table at a four year old who has no idea her dad just changed everything — that is where this story begins.

Looking across the table at my little girl, Avilene its hard to believe she’s just turned 4. A milestone she’s very proud of 🙂

The passing of time with kids is a different animal than I recall at any other point of my life. They set a benchmark for all the happiest times and seeing them grow and move to new phases is so much more real. I guess its why as I am writing this, I can smile about that fact that I’m aware enough to appreciate the moment. Because, in a second its gone and just like that, a memory. 

For the past 7 and half years I was able to support my family financially as an executive for a company that allowed me, for the better part of my tenure to do the work remote and provide the flexibility our nomadic spirits craved. Working across 6 states and 4 countries at given points was quite a trip. I worked with some fantastic people and did some great work that i’m very proud of and honored to have been a part of.

However, like all great expeditions, this one had to come to an end. As of Tuesday this week, I made my departure official. I was ready to turn the page. The role provided me quite a bit, but like many folks who help build a successful brand, the process became as consuming as it was prosperous. Even through my best efforts, it was my family that was beginning to suffer. I was detached and sad because I knew the reason. My job was becoming too much and while I attempted to offload tasks, the core problems of being mentally engrossed in work related worry were too much.

With the support of my soul navigator, Nicole, I made the decision to exit and take my toolkit on new adventure, except this time, with a commitment to myself and family that the work would always take a backseat to my most important roles as a husband, father, son and friend. 

So here we are, 2 days into the transition and with a new story to mold into the journey. The Kaja Project, my newest venture will begin to take shape and evolve in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. With a core foundation built on making the “work”, less like work and more like the joys of working with good people who have tremendous ideas and need a little guidance to make them come to life.

Kaja…means “lets go!” in Hangeul (South Korean). Now that you are up to speed…KAJA! 🙂

More to come as inspiration loads….. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-kaja-project

Cheers!

Adam

Q: What is The Kaja Project? A: The Kaja Project is Adam’s newest professional venture built on a simple but powerful foundation — making work feel less like work and more like the joy of collaborating with good people who have great ideas and need guidance to bring them to life. Kaja means “let’s go” in Korean — a nod to the country that first inspired our family’s sense of adventure and the spirit that drives everything we do next.

Q: Why did Adam leave his executive career? A: After seven and a half years supporting his family as a remote executive — working across six states and four countries — the role that had once provided flexibility and fulfillment had become consuming in ways that were quietly taking a toll on what mattered most. The work was winning and the family was losing. With Nicole’s support Adam made the decision to leave and rebuild his professional life around a commitment that family would always come first.

Q: How do you know when it is time to make a major career change? A: When the thing that was supposed to give you freedom starts costing you the freedom you were trying to protect. Adam describes it as being detached and sad while knowing exactly why — and being unable to fix it from within the role itself. Sometimes the bravest professional decision is the one that looks like stepping back but is actually stepping toward everything that matters.

Q: What does it mean to build a career around family first? A: For us it means that no job title, salary or professional achievement justifies consistently missing the moments that make up a life. It means being present — not just physically in the same house but mentally and emotionally available to the people who need you most. It is a commitment that requires constant recalibration but one that we believe produces better work and infinitely better living.

Q: What is the meaning of Kaja in Korean? A: Kaja — 가자 in Hangul — means “let’s go” in Korean and perfectly captures the spirit of what comes next. It is an invitation, a call to action and a reminder that the best adventures begin the moment you decide to move. It also connects directly to our family’s deep love for South Korea where so much of who we are was shaped and discovered.