Tattoo #14 – Colombia: Work Hard. Play Harder.

Almost a whole year passed between Tattoo #13 and Tattoo #14.

It wasn’t because I slowed down—quite the opposite.

During that year, everything changed. After one year and eight months with my company, I had been promoted twice, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the third promotion. Tattoo #14 wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for my third promotion.

Not only was it nearly a 100% raise—yeah, double my current salary. WILD. Life-changing already. But the new role was a perfect fusion of my past and future.

As a Network Care Expert at Toast, focused on restaurant network-related issues, I was promoted to a Trainer. But it’s not just any trainer role. This new role came with an INTERNATIONAL twist.

I was now responsible for training Toast’s newest employees around the world!

From the Military to the Classroom to the World

I couldn’t believe it. My whole life had prepared me for this.

I was an instructor at the Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School (MCCES) in Twentynine Palms, California. I was a world traveler. I knew how to navigate time zones, airports, and solo missions.

Now I was being paid to travel and teach.

My first assignment? Train a group of hardware agents to troubleshoot network systems in Monterrey, Mexico.

My real task? Teach others how to do my job while seeing the world. It is liiiiiiit!

The interview process was no joke. 3–4 hours. 5–6 different people. And I got it! I actually got the promotion!

The best part? I started the role on January 2nd. New year. New job. New life. I couldn't care less about New Year’s as a holiday this time around. The main highlight was beginning my new role.

From Mexico… to Colombia 🇨🇴

After leading a two-week class in Mexico as part of my first travel assignment, I boarded a flight straight to my next destination: Barranquilla, Colombia. This is an excellent example of how sacrifices can pay off huge. I spent practically 3 years grounded and living in little ol Omaha, Nebraska to being promoted, to my first assignment is a seven-week trip to Mexico and Colombia…and on top of that,

never in my wildest dreams did I think the first time I’d visit South America would be because of work—and not just a quick trip. I stayed for five weeks. All my work trips are several weeks long.

I had a beautiful hotel, an incredible team, and best of all, I wasn’t alone. Cindy and our best friend Jay flew down to join me. They stayed in my hotel room, turning this work trip into one of the most epic friend-cations I’ve ever had.

And my role? I was the secondary trainer. There to shadow, learn, and lead when needed. Low pressure. High reward.

I had officially stepped into my dream job.

A New Continent. A New Tattoo.

Before this, I had visited every continent except South America.

Yes—even Antarctica during my time in the military.

So, for my final continent to be checked off the bucket list because of my job? That blew my mind.

With Cindy and Jay by my side, I knew precisely what Tattoo #14 would be:

Balance.

A traditional scale design. One side holds a city skyline. On the other side, there is a pair of palm trees. The city skyline signifies traditional office-style W-2 work, and the palm trees signify living the laid-back Caribbean life that I love.

The palm trees weigh more. Because I believe in something simple:

Work to live. Don’t live to work.

I give my all to every project, every trip, every classroom. But when it’s time to play? I play harder.

That’s what this tattoo is about. And that’s what Colombia gave me.

Bonus Ink – Cindy’s First International Tattoo

We visited a lively resort on the coast just outside the city for a personal moment.

Cindy is a makeup artist but has been learning tattooing—not just makeup—and this would be her first international tattoo. She tattooed both Jay and me on the beach, in a cabana. This flexibility with having a traveling tattoo artist was key for the next tattoos. This beach tattoo wasn’t part of the core Mr. JetSetInk journey (since my arms are reserved for that), but it was special.

A friend tattoo. A memory inked by someone I love.

Weekends in Santa Marta – The Dream Life

Weekdays were for training. Weekends? For adventure.

We went to the rainforest in Santa Marta. Bathe in waterfalls, massaged red clay into our skin, hiked, and took boat tours. We ate, danced, and soaked in Colombian sites.

Jay and Cindy explored while I worked. But we always met back in the room, recapped our day, and laughed like life had never been better.

None of us could believe this was my life now.

But it is. And I earned it.

Final Thoughts – Tattoo #14: Balance Is Everything

I never imagined I’d find a job combining my military training experience and love of travel into one powerful role. But I did.

And this tattoo? It’s the proof.

The scale. The skyline. The palm trees. It all reminds me:

You weren’t born to clock in and clock out.
You were born to live.

So work hard.
But always, always — play harder.