More tips for becoming location independent
Further to my extra travel blogging tips, I also found myself with an abundance of extra material for my location independent piece too – thanks to some great interviewees. Here they offer some more advice on "taking the leap" to being a digital nomad and how it needn’t be so daunting.
My favourite tip – which I already featured in the piece – was from Julie Gibbons:
"Don’t start out with grand exclamations of emigrations, and leaving the country for ever. It makes it sound less scary – for you and the people around you (friends, family and business contacts) if you treat it as a trip. Even if your trip is never-ending!"
This resonates as I am about to board a plane back to South America after a short holiday back at home in the UK. "Are you going to live there forever?" I have been asked countless times these past few weeks. Why be so dramatic? I haven’t got a clue. I’ve planned roughly as far as May and even that is flexible. And that’s just how I like it. Surely being a digital nomad is all about flexibility. We should be the last people to make huge statements of commitment.
From Ben Stokes of Dive Safari Asia
Buy your ticket: Setting a date will give you something to aim for. Consider your start destination carefully, cost of living/travelling, availability of internet access and where and when you’ll find time to get work done.
On the road: Don’t travel too hard. If you’re planning to be away for some time then take your time. Allow yourself to settle down, become familiar with the surrounding area, make friends and essentially live in the places you’re visiting.
From Adam Schofield of CouchsurfingTheWorld
Keep moving: I make it work by keeping it exciting and not letting that mundane feeling come over me. Once I feel I’ve had enough i move on to the next place. Before I do that though I try to have some contacts lined up for jobs and stay with friends initial to feel a place out. your intended destination may not be everything you imagined so you end up feeling down. Always have a back-up plan.
Julie Gibbons of People Maps:
Ignore the critics: Don’t get too hung up on the serious stuff. Whilst lots of serious planning will help smooth your way, do treat becoming location independent as the exciting, fun and intrepid adventure it is – it really will be one of the greatest adventures you’ll ever undertake, and the best fun. Don’t let the naysayers dampen your enthusiasm – because there will be naysayers, don’t doubt it.
Record your experiences: Don’t be lazy or shy about blogging, videoing and photographing every single moment. Make sure it’s an experience you can revisit and share – there’s so much I failed to capture as we became a little complacent about our lifestyle. You can’t be too self-indulgent with those memories, especially when you’re snowed in back home and need a little reminder – and your experiences will help inspire and motivate those who share your desire for the unconventional.
Glen Allsopp of ViperChill and PluginId
Go step by step: Instead of looking at a goal in full over a period of a year or so, just focus on the actions that you have to do each day. This will not only help you to stay more motivated on your journey, but also allow you to see you really can achieve your goals. Long-term projects can seem like a massive challenge until you simplify their steps and start crossing them off.
From Lea Woodward of Location Independent
Learn new skills: Learn the skills needed to make your business succeed; the most important one is marketing (online marketing). While you’re bootstrapping and trying to start your business with minimal costs, you’ll probably be the one doing everything so knowing how to find out how to do x, y and z on the internet is a vital skill.
Stay in touch: Use skype and other forms of online communication. I keep in touch with my 85 year old Grandma by text and with family members around the world by skype; things like Facebook are also excellent for sharing photos and videos with them and with Twitter, they can get up-to-the-minute updates of what we’re up to.
Photo by Giorgio Montersino on Flickr
I’m very surprised that no one has mentioned TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language). A four week Trinity or CELTA course costing about £1,000 and widely available both in the UK and around the world is a ticket to travelling and working anywhere in the world. I did my CELTA 10 years ago and have since worked in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. I have managed to make a good career out of teaching English and now teach English in a school in the UK to foreign students. With a British Council recognised TEFL qualification you will never be short of work, as long as you are willing and able to travel.
Cheers Jon. You are very right. I guess I didn’t focus on this because I was looking more at ways of making money via the internet, ie digital nomads, which is an interesting progression. I think until recently everyone thought they had just a handful of options for working around the world: fruit picking, hostel work, freelance writing or teaching. Now there’s much more. That’s not to undermine the usual options (well, maybe fruit picking – that’s hardly a career choice!) but I wanted to show an interesting development. Actually one of my Guardian case studies had found work as an English teacher (Adam in Vietnam) but the twist was he got his contact via Couchsurfing.
I think it’s great you’ve managed to travel so widely with TEFL. I got mine a few years ago and did a couple of months teaching. Maybe I’ll return to it one day.
My wife pointed out that I’d missed the point of the article.
However I feel strongly that if more people knew about TEFL it would get them out of ruts and unemployment. My regret is not finding out about it until my mid twenties.
Hi, Vicky,
Thanks very much for your story about the location independent on last Saturday’s Guaridan. It has opened whole new world to me. I always want the freedom of moving around yet worry about the job security. Now after reading your story, I know this is the way forward. I am in the process of lauching my business, and with the location independent idea in mind, I am more inspired than ever before.
Thanks for sharing, again, people don’t believe in miracle, but it’s around you, only need to go find it.
Wow! That’s great Angela. Best of luck!
Angela, there’s plenty of resources out there to learn all of the tools. Womanzworld.com comes to mind.
Great article, Vicky. I especially like Julie Gibbons’ advice. People have experiences based on how THEY see the world. You are different and can have a completely different experience–don’t listen to naysayers.