Today I took another step toward spending more time outside of Canada. It’s not a full exit—but it is a full decision.
I connected with a lawyer in Spain through a mutual friend to begin the process of applying for a Digital Nomad Visa. If it works out, our family will be able to stay in Spain beyond December 2, the day our tourist visa runs out.
This could be a big shift.
Not just a few months abroad—but the ability to root ourselves in a second place, serve a purpose, and maybe even begin building a future across continents.
Why Spain?
It’s not the weather (though that helps).
It’s not just the lifestyle (though we love it).
It’s the opportunity to serve, to step into something generational.
There’s a Montessori preschool run by our church that we’ve been supporting for the past year. They’re growing, they’re doing meaningful work, and we’re ready to get involved at a deeper level.
This isn’t a vacation.
It’s an investment in legacy.
It’s stepping into a place where we can do good work—with our hands, our experience, our time.
Meanwhile, Back in Canada…
I spent this morning in the shop having one of the hardest conversations a business owner can have: resetting expectations.
We’ve built our own project management software—complete with a career path module. It outlines all the skills and responsibilities needed to move up in the company.
One of our team members got moved up prematurely—by me. I saw potential. I nudged him forward. But that last 15% of our defined skillset? It matters. And we had to walk it back.
I’ve now done this twice in two weeks.
It’s humbling.
And it’s a lesson I needed to relearn:
You can’t carry someone farther than they’re willing to walk.
Leadership Means Owning Everything
As a business owner, I’ve learned the hard way that if you want a team that takes full ownership—you have to model it first.
When I own my mistakes, my project managers do too.
When I take responsibility, my site supervisors follow.
When I admit I pushed someone too fast—they respond with grace, not blame.
This culture of servant leadership is one of the things I’m most proud of in our business. And it’s exactly why I believe this team will thrive—even when I’m not in the room.
The Transition Is Real. And It’s Working.
We’re in the process of moving our finance and controller responsibilities to a locally based team member from Mexicowho is building his own bookkeeping business with our support.
By the end of next week, most of what I used to do financially will be off my desk. And not just offloaded—done better than I ever did it.
This isn’t delegation.
It’s elevation.
I’m not removing myself to escape. I’m stepping aside to let better people step up.
Why This Move to Spain Matters
Because while Canada feels like it’s getting heavier, slower, more bureaucratic, more disincentivizing…
Spain feels like it’s on the rebuild.
The U.S. feels like it’s on the upswing.
And Canada, despite my love for it, feels like it’s drifting.
If I’m honest, I don’t want to spend the next decade just trying to hold ground here. I want to be somewhere where the wind is behind us.
Where we can serve, create, and build something that outlasts us.
The Bottom Line
✔️ We’re not abandoning Canada.
✔️ We’re not chasing an easier life.
✔️ We’re creating more life—in more places.
Because being a leader, husband, and father doesn’t mean staying stuck.
It means stepping out, taking risks, and going where you’re called.
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