Rather, it fit into a larger game plan of mine to have a more flexible lifestyle that kept me from being chained to a desk all day.

It all started in the fall of 2011, when I took a month-long sabbatical from my job and life in Vermont to ride my bike from British Columbia into Washington State and along the Oregon coast.

At the time, I was working for a corporate tech-training company, creating online courses and aids that helped employees learn software. It was a good job and I worked with wonderful people. But I hated being stuck in a cubicle, and riding through such a scenic part of the country made me realize I needed more time to enjoy life.

On top of that, I'd always wanted to work for myself. I remember my manager once asked me where I saw myself in five years. She thought I was management material, but I honestly told her I wanted to start my own business.

So when I got back from my sabbatical, I knew it was time to speed up that five-year plan — but I needed to get my ducks in a row first.