Why We Permanently Left Australia As Business Owners In 2026

Six months ago, we left Australia permanently. And the question we get asked more than anything is: was it actually worth it? This is the full story. The decision, the move, the guilt, the chaos, the $30,000 we're currently fighting to get back from a landlord lol, and what life actually looks like now that we're here. We're not holding anything back. The panic attacks on the couch in Perth, the weeks we questioned everything after landing, the moment Steph’s dad passed away three weeks after we decided to leave, and how we finally told our families we were going. We also get into the stuff no one talks about: what it's like being watched while you eat by your private chef, how we justified leaving our parents behind, why our dogs were rattled for a month, and the identity crisis that comes with cutting ties to your home country. You'll hear: 0:00 - Why we were having panic attacks on the couch in our million dollar home 8:14 - The moment in a Bali pool that changed everything 12:37 - How we convinced ourselves it was the right move (even when it felt insane) 18:42 - The guilt of leaving family behind and how we got over it 24:19 - What happened when Tim's dad passed away three weeks after we decided to move 29:51 - The first two weeks in Thailand: why we both thought we'd made a huge mistake 35:28 - How we burnt out in paradise (and what we did to fix it) 41:03 - The $30,000 bond we're fighting to get back from our landlord 46:17 - What life actually looks like now: housekeepers, private chefs, and being watched while we eat 52:44 - The numbers: visas, costs, taxes, and how we actually did it If you're a service business owner and you're tired of relying on referrals to keep your calendar full, go to startsuccessschool.com and book a free Scale Session with our team. We'll look at your business, show you exactly where the gaps are, and map out what a fully booked pipeline looks like for you specifically. No fluff, no pitch fest. Just a real conversation about what's actually holding you back. We'd love to help you build something that actually works. And if you got value from today's episode, make sure you hit follow wherever you're listening. It means the world to us and it helps more service business owners find the show. You can also follow Tim and Steph over on Instagram at @timfrey__ (https://www.instagram.com/timfrey__/) and @stephgorton__ (https://www.instagram.com/stephgorton__/) for more content every week. See you next Monday.