This chapter explores why having a contingency plan—whether for relocation, career shifts, or personal safety—is essential to maintaining control over your options.
Exit Strategy
Leaving is Not Just About Wanting to Go—It’s About Knowing How.
They assume you will stay. That you will wait too long. That you will hesitate until your choices are gone. That you will tell yourself it’s not that bad until it is too late. They count on people staying put, hoping things will improve. They want people to be unprepared, so when people finally realize they must go, the gates are already closing. If you wait until you need to leave to plan your exit, you may already be trapped.
You don’t have to leave. But you must know how to leave—because if the time comes, hesitation could cost you everything.
Why You Need an Exit Plan—Even If You Never Use It
An exit plan is not paranoia. It is an insurance policy for your freedom.
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You may not get a second chance. If things go bad quickly, delays could mean the difference between freedom and being stuck.
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Borders close fast. By the time people realize they need to leave, routes may already be shut down.
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If you prepare now, you can leave calmly. The difference between an escape and a relocation is planning.
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You are harder to control if you have options. Even if you never leave, knowing you can prevents desperation.
How to Build a Solid Exit Strategy
1. Know Your Triggers - What would have to happen for you to decide to leave? You must define this now, while you’re clear-headed.
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Would it be a law being passed?
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A specific event?
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Losing access to something critical?
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A worsening political climate?
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Direct threats to you or your family?
Write it down. If you don’t set your triggers in advance, you may rationalize staying longer than is safe.
2. Choose Your Destination in Advance - Leaving is not just about where you’re escaping from, it is about where you’re going.
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Where can you go without a visa?
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Where can you stay long-term if needed?
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Where do you have friends, family, or professional contacts?
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What countries have easy paths to work permits or residency?
If you have multiple options, rank them in order of preference and accessibility.
3. Prepare Your Finances for a Quick Escape - A lack of money can trap you just as effectively as a locked door. Even if you have an exit strategy, if you can’t access your money when you need it, you have no way out.
3a. A Bank Account Under Government Control Can Be Locked
Governments have the power to freeze, restrict, or seize bank accounts, especially in times of political instability, economic crisis, or legal action. If you become a target—or if broad financial crackdowns happen—your access to money could be cut off overnight. Here’s how it happens:
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Legal Freezes & Sanctions – Governments can legally freeze accounts of political dissidents, protesters, or those deemed a “threat.”
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Capital Controls – In financial crises, countries sometimes restrict how much money citizens can withdraw, transfer, or convert to foreign currency.
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Bank Failures – If a government seizes a failing bank, customer accounts can be frozen indefinitely.
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Tax & Debt Claims – Authorities can freeze accounts for unpaid taxes, debts, or investigations—sometimes without notice.
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Emergency Decrees – In authoritarian shifts, governments can take full control over financial institutions, restricting withdrawals or limiting transactions.
3b. To prevent being financially trapped:
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Have an account in a stable foreign country. If domestic accounts are frozen, a foreign account can keep you financially afloat.
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Keep cash reserves. Electronic funds can be blocked, but physical currency gives you immediate mobility.
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Diversify assets. If possible, hold value in multiple forms—cash, gold, cryptocurrency, or other assets that are hard to seize.
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Know the rules. Some countries require special permissions to move large sums abroad. Learn the legal limits before you need to move funds.
3c. Some Banking Systems Do Not Work the Same Across Borders—Have Multiple Options
Financial systems vary widely by country, and not every bank account, card, or payment method will work internationally. If you leave your home country without preparing, you may find yourself unable to access your own money. Key banking issues across borders are:
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Card & ATM Restrictions – Some debit/credit cards only work domestically or require activation for international use.
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Currency Exchange Limits – Some countries impose restrictions on how much local currency can be exchanged or taken out.
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Blocked Transactions – If a foreign country flags your transactions as suspicious, they may block your card, even if you are traveling legally.
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Banking System Incompatibility – Some countries have banking systems that do not accept transfers from certain nations.
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High Fees & Delays – International wire transfers can be costly and take days to process, leaving you stranded.
To avoid being locked out of your funds:
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Test your banking setup before you need it. Withdraw cash, make purchases, and transfer funds to ensure everything works.
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Use banks with global networks. Some international banks allow easier access across multiple countries.
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Have backup payment methods. A second bank account, prepaid debit cards, or an alternative financial service can be a lifesaver.
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Use multi-currency accounts. Some banks offer accounts that hold multiple currencies, allowing smoother transactions without constant conversion fees.
4. Secure Your Travel Documents - A valid passport is only the beginning. You also need to address the following:
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Do you need a visa to enter your target country? Get one before you need it.
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If you have dual citizenship, are both passports current?
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Do you have international health insurance? Some countries require proof of coverage before entry.
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Are your legal documents digitized and backed up? Have secure physical and digital copies of your passport, birth certificate, and any critical paperwork.
5. Plan Your Exit Route - You must know how you will leave before you need to go.
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What airports, train stations, or border crossings are your best options?
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What backup routes exist if your first option is blocked?
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Do you have multiple ways to get to your departure point?
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If travel is restricted, how can you leave without drawing attention?
Identify weak points in your exit plan now, while you still have time to fix them.
6. Have a Cover Story - If you need to leave in a way that does not raise suspicion, have a reason that aligns with your normal life.
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A business trip. Have documents prepared that support this.
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Visiting family. Book a round-trip ticket—even if you don’t plan to return.
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A short vacation. Keep luggage light to avoid looking like you’re fleeing.
Your departure should seem unremarkable until you’re safely out.
7. Establish Emergency Contacts - Who will know where you’re going? Who can help you if you run into trouble?
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Have at least one person outside your home country who knows your plan.
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Memorize key phone numbers in case you lose access to your devices.
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Arrange a check-in system so someone knows you’re safe.
First Task: Start Building Your Exit Plan Today
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Define your triggers for leaving. What would have to happen?
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Identify at least one country where you could go. Research visa requirements.
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Ensure your passport is valid and up to date.
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Secure at least some emergency funds that are accessible outside your country.
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Plan your route: How would you leave if you needed to go tomorrow?
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Test your financial escape plan. Make an international withdrawal, transfer money, or try using your bank card abroad to ensure it works.
"He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious."
— Sun Tzu
Historical Reflection
Josephine Baker
By 1940, Nazi forces had overrun France, and the Gestapo was hunting down resistance fighters, spies, and anyone they deemed a threat. Josephine Baker, the glamorous American-born entertainer, was on their list—but she was already steps ahead of them. Unlike those who scrambled to flee at the last moment, Baker had been preparing for months. She understood that when oppressive regimes take over, mobility is power—and having an escape plan, complete with the right documents and cover story, can mean the difference between freedom and capture.
By the time war broke out, Baker was more than a singer and dancer—she was a spy for the French Resistance. Using her celebrity status, she gathered intelligence from Nazi officers at parties and passed it along to the Allies. But she also knew that, eventually, she would need to get out of France safely. She began preparing her exit well in advance, ensuring that when the time came, she could leave smoothly. She secured travel papers early, applying for exit visas before Nazi restrictions tightened. She mapped out her escape route, choosing Morocco as a neutral destination where she had connections. She planned a cover story: an “international concert tour” that would make her travel appear legitimate. She even protected sensitive information by writing it in invisible ink on her sheet music, smuggling intelligence without suspicion. When the Gestapo began arresting members of the Resistance, Baker didn’t wait—she executed her escape plan immediately.
Using the visas she had secured in advance, Baker left Paris under the guise of a performance tour. She traveled with a large entourage, allowing her to blend in and avoid suspicion. At border crossings, she used her celebrity status to distract guards from scrutinizing her papers too closely. Because her documents were perfectly in order, her passage was smooth—she never had to flee in panic. She carried hidden messages for the Allies in her luggage and sheet music, using secrecy and misdirection to move intelligence undetected. Her planning paid off—she crossed into neutral Morocco safely and continued to work for the Resistance.
From Morocco, Baker continued gathering intelligence, later relocating to London. Unlike many who fled at the last moment, she was never caught off guard. After the war, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Medal of Resistance for her espionage work, later becoming the first Black woman honored at France’s Panthéon.
Josephine Baker’s escape was not about luck—it was about preparation. Her story is a testament to the power of preemptive escape planning—proving that travel documents and a well-planned cover story are just as valuable as any physical escape route.