Have you ever dreamed of working from a remote location anywhere in the world? Well, if you have, then you should consider becoming a digital nomad. What is a digital nomad, you ask?
A digital nomad is a person who lives remotely and can work anywhere in the world. And women today can do anything that they set their minds to. And especially in this digital age where the only thing that a woman needs is a laptop and an internet connection.
Some women are currently living their best life by being digital nomads. These women are doing their business with just a laptop and their unwavering passion. These are the women who are paving the way for others to become digital nomads as well.
The stories of these women should inspire us to become digital nomads as well. So, let’s look at how these women started becoming digital nomads and what inspired them to become digital nomads.
Let’s also look at how their lives are now after becoming digital nomads. Come, let’s be inspired by the lives of these women digital nomads.
Tara Fischer, Creator of Lifestyle Brand Lavii®
Tara is an entrepreneur, mentor, and fulfillment & success coach specializing in life design, career development, and sports performance.
Her goal is to share the behind the scenes of achieving greatness and making dreams come true while driving high-performance and increasing quality of life and thus make the term “Dream Life” accessible for everyone, without the struggle of having to have it all figured out or spending years on trial and error. She thinks that with the right support and strategy, you can grow through anything and achieve everything you ever dreamed of. So, she provides her students with all-time access to her and her expertise and thus feels motivated and empowered to create a life they love.
She is also a travel coach & surf instructor and the founder of the fast-growing lifestyle brand Lavii®, where she shares her expertise in all things making your dreams come true and achieving greatness.
Through her high-value program, the DreamLife Project®, she mentors young, ambitious females who struggle with self-sabotage and prioritizing themselves and their dreams on what she calls 5 facets of change: Awareness, Mindset, Strategy, Heath (mentally and physically), and Mindfulness and thus help them to engage in ultimate life design, achieve career goals, drive high performance and increase personal growth and wellbeing.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
The first thing one has to do to become a digital nomad is to find a work that one can do online. That can be on a freelance basis or starting an online business, or discussing with the manager of your current company if part of your work can be done from home. Through COVID, remote work has become increasingly popular, so if you already did home office, it might be easier for you to negotiate a remote working deal.
Once one has figured out the work stuff, the road to becoming a digital nomad is fairly easy. You will have to set everything up the same way as you would travel long term. It all depends on one’s personal preferences, but things you want to consider are:
- Selling your home/canceling rent
- Selling your belongings
- Quitting bills and memberships
Whether you do this or not depends on how long you want to live the digital nomad life and your income and personal preferences.
Once you have taken care of your job and your life at home, you can book your ticket and go.
Starting a digital nomad lifestyle takes time, especially when you intend to start your own business or do freelance work since you need to first generate the income to travel. However, once you know what you need to sustain your living while traveling the world and have a job that provides that kind of money, you can take care of everything else that needs to be taken care of to leave home and hit the road.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
I manage my finances the same way everyone else would at home. I do have different spreads for my business expenses and income as well as for my private living expenses, which include traveling. I make sure that I make more than I spend and, if necessary, will travel on a budget for some time.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance. When you live the digital nomad lifestyle, it’s not like you would be on vacation all the time. You need to work, and especially as a business owner, that is sometimes a lot of work. But of course, you also want to enjoy where you are at and explore the world. So, the hardest for me has always been to balance them both, to make sure I put in enough work to grow my business but at the same time allow myself to enjoy the life I have created for myself.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- First, you stop living from weekend to weekend or vacation to vacation. If you master the art of balance (like I mentioned above), you can enjoy every day to the fullest while making the money you need to pay for your awesome life.
- Second, as a self-employed digital nomad, you really have the most freedom and independence you can ever get. You decide when to work, how much to work and where you want to work. You are the one controlling how time is spent, and since time is the most valuable resource on earth, this is my biggest benefit.
- You save money. I know that sounds controversial, but because you lower or cut your living costs at home, your traveling becomes your living costs, which means you save all the money you would usually spend on vacations.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting a Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- The first thing to consider is if you can and want to work in a job that allows you to go digital. If that’s not the case, it will be very unlikely you can build this lifestyle or enjoy it.
- The second thing to consider is if this is really the kind of lifestyle you want to live in the long run. If you just really want to see more of the world and go on a longer vacation, maybe a sabbatical or an unpaid leave might be your best option. Creating a digital nomad lifestyle is something you do for the long haul. You do it because you can’t identify with the normal 9-5 or other stationary jobs. There is a lot of effort, time, and money that goes into creating that lifestyle, so you want to make sure that you’re enjoying it, at least for the next 4-5 years.
Melissa Smith, An Author & CEO of the Association of Virtual Assistants
Melissa Smith is the Founder & CEO of the Association of Virtual Assistants and The PVA. She is also the best-selling author of two books, Hire The Right Virtual Assistant and Become a Successful Virtual Assistant. Additionally, Melissa also mentors for Remote-how Academy.
Drawing from her experience while working on five different continents, Melissa truly understands how to operate a successful virtual business.
Melissa has been quoted by ABC News, Forbes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. News & World Report. Most recently, Melissa was named a trailblazing female entrepreneur to watch in 2021.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
I’ve been working remotely since 2014, and I was actually traveling quite a bit in the States already, even though I was afraid to fly and had to take an over-the-counter medicine every time I flew. I went remote to spend more time with my children and family, and they happened to be spread out across the States. During this time, I would constantly tell people how I could work from anywhere in the world, but at that point, it was just an expression. Then in May of 2015, I got over my fear of flying and immediately went out and applied for my passport. I had always said if I ever got over my fear of flying, I was going to attend the Monaco Grand Prix. Well, I had just missed it by the time I received my passport in June of 2015, so I started making plans to attend in 2016. I did end up attending the following year (2016) and had the time of my life. In fact, I cried all the way home from Nice to JFK. The guy sitting next to me probably thought I was crazy! I was crying because I just had the best 10 days of my life and wondered how long I would have to wait again before leaving the country. For some reason, it didn’t occur to me that I didn’t have to. Then in October of 2016, I was turning 40 and making big plans for my business in 2017. I knew I was going to be working a lot, and if that was going to be the case, then I should at least do it while being able to walk outside my door and be in another country having the time of my life. The problem was that I didn’t feel totally comfortable planning it all out on my own yet, having been out of the States only twice (London, England December/January & Nice, France May 2016). So then I searched for digital nomad groups and joined one for the following year, January of 2017.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
It’s important to have a regular income and have savings in place in case of an emergency. I also have an accountant and a bookkeeper to have my taxes filed and someone else to pay bills in the event I could not. Also, very helpful should your ATM or credit cards be lost or stolen because most banks won’t send a new card to an address outside the States. There are some places I could not access certain sites to pay bills without a VPN, and there is always the occasional person or company that needs a check to be sent. Having money transfer apps already on my phone was imperative too. This can be a problem if you don’t do this beforehand because some apps won’t download in other countries, and verifying your bank accounts from another country is not easily done as banks red flag these for our own protection. Other than that, it wasn’t much different. I chalk it up to preparedness. When you are prepared, “emergencies” rarely happen.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
For me, in the beginning, it was the slow internet. I have become a lot more patient over the years. Even with having internet speeds checked out ahead of time, it’s a best practice to learn how many people are going to be accessing the same internet at the same time. When our group would arrive at a co-working space, we would often crash the systems. All of a sudden, 30 new people, with 30 new laptops and 30 new phones accessing the Wifi was more than any space could handle at a single time. Then there is the random monsoon or power outage that you have to deal with. Many of these issues we don’t think about in our everyday lives. However, in emerging countries, you have to account for this.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- Not having to choose between work and life. In 2017, I worked a lot by choice and also visited 16 countries by choice. It is a great way to integrate your work life without having to choose one over the other.
- Gained perspective and empathy. Having been to over 30 countries in five (5) years, I have had my perspective challenged in the most positive way. Travel challenges you, expands you, and makes you more creative even if you don’t identify as creative. Empathy is something talked about a lot in the workforce, and traveling as a digital nomad naturally provides this through shared experiences. As a digital nomad, you will no doubt face challenges, and it forces you to become more empathetic to others.
- Work/life balance and/or integration. Taking care of yourself and practicing self-care takes energy. That’s what makes it so hard. When you are traveling to destinations that naturally give you the energy you get to be and become the best version of yourself. Not only in work but in life. It took me a long time to understand what makes a great city and country for me and where I nomad best. Now that I know I can create that environment anywhere in the world.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting a Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- Are you realistic with your expectations? I think many people think as a DN, my days are spent on the beach, and that is simply not true. In fact, when I’m at the beach, I have no interest in working. I want to disconnect! Don’t become a DN because you want to work less or because others make it seem glamourous. Know your “why,” which can be anything you want, but unmet expectations are the root of all disappointments, so don’t set yourself up for disappointment.
- What is your budget? Being a DN costs money. Yes, there are varying degrees, just like anything else. However, you’ll protect yourself by having a higher budget than a lower one. Also, don’t plan to make money while traveling that you are not currently making now. Treat that as a bonus.
Ali Rand, Web Designer
Ali Rand is a web designer for ambitious female coaches and has been a digital nomad since 2019. She’s traveled to almost all 50 states and 17 countries and enjoys architecture, meeting new people on walking tours, and visiting historical sites in her travels. During the pandemic, she has been living in Budapest, Hungary, and hopes to continue traveling Europe when restrictions lift.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
When I started my web design business, I realized pretty quickly that I could work from anywhere. And so I started preparing and researching everything! Once I had a plan (and a long to-do list), I started working towards it, making sure I had my debts paid off, emergency fund in place, and consistent income and clients. Then it became the time to plan and buy my supplies to live out of one backpack and handbag. That was a fun challenge to see what I could pack, and being a minimalist definitely helps here. The last thing was to book a flight and accommodation to my first destination, which was incredibly exciting! And I’ve been enjoying the journey ever since.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
I’m a bit old-school, so I just have an Excel spreadsheet and would keep track of categories like accommodation, transport, food, activities, etc., from my credit card statement. I knew if I stayed at a more expensive place, I would try to do more free and low-cost activities to keep to my monthly budget. As for my business, I already had clients paying me online-only, so my business really didn’t change a thing as a digital nomad except for client calls in the evenings.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
The hardest thing as a digital nomad is being away from a community of family and friends who know you well. Yes, you can make friendships with new people, but eventually, you leave for your next place and may not see them ever again in person…or for a long while. Of course, technology helps for keeping in touch with Zoom or WhatsApp calls, but it still isn’t the same as being in the same room as someone. So you definitely miss people!
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- I absolutely love that I don’t have to wait for 2 weeks of vacation time each year. Basically, every weekend is like a vacation! And it doesn’t cost as much as taking a vacation because you’re living out of the destination.
- I also love meeting people from all around the world! It’s so amazing to learn about new cultures, experiences, and history from someone, and it’s great to eventually have friends from all over. You realize that most of us from different countries have more similarities than differences.
- When working as a digital nomad, I found I have become more self-reliant and confident. To just arrive in a place where you don’t speak the local language and have to navigate to your accommodation with a heavy backpack can be challenging. But as you go to more and more unfamiliar places, you get more confident that you can manage new situations.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting a Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- Before you become a digital nomad, actually take a few months practicing what it would be like to run your business remotely. If you’re transitioning from a desktop to a laptop, you need time to adjust. Or you need a larger external hard drive now to replace your computer. Or from a dual monitor situation to one laptop screen. You might realize you need a laptop stand and Bluetooth mouse & keyboard to avoid neck and wrist strain. So best to get your supplies and setup nailed down before you leave.
- Another thing would be to decide what kind of digital nomad you want to be. Are you a slow traveler who wants to spend 1-3 months in a city at a time? Or a faster traveler who can be in a new city every few days or weeks? You’ll want to take into account how much planning this would take every week or month or so. I personally enjoy spending 3-4 weeks in a city, which gives me plenty of time to settle down, master the transit system, shop for groceries instead of eating out all the time, and see the sites on the weekends. Because I spend a longer period of time in a location, I don’t have to be constantly planning or buying bus or flight tickets, finding accommodation, looking for things to do, or events to go to.
Lisa Johnson, Philanthropist & Entrepreneur
Lisa Johnson, 43, is a 7-figure Passive Income Expert, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, that has been featured in international publications including The Guardian, Huffington Post, and Metro. She spends much of her time running her business from places all around the world as she travels monthly. Lisa is based in Bedfordshire, UK, where she lives happily with her husband and 9-year-old twin sons.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
It’s all about working out the business you want to match your life and not the other way around. Most people fall into a business model. I realised very early on that I wanted a business that allows me to travel with my kids as much as I wanted and work from anywhere.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
Just as I usually would. I use the profit first method with money, so I make sure there are accounts for all the things – travel, tax, upkeep of houses, etc. You can do anything from anywhere these days.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
I do sometimes miss the connection of seeing clients in person, but I’m going to make sure I start hosting events in different countries soon. I also sometimes resent paying for a really nice house at home when I’m barely ever in it, but the benefits far outweigh any negatives!
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- There are no constraints or rules around where I need to be in the country or the world in order to run my business and make money. I’m able to see much of the world in a way the average person wouldn’t be able to, as are my twins.
- I have been pushed to adopt the most effective ways to run an online business remotely. My systems and tools for operating a successful business have to be solid to ensure smooth running. I have a great business model, SOPs, and staffing in place, which means no matter where I am in the world, things work well.
- My business model and outputs pre-sell clients into my programs with ease. I don’t have to tell people how much money I’m making to convince them to work with me. They can see for themselves I’m living a nomadic lifestyle while running a successful business with a family, and they know that they can do it too.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting a Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- Consider that you have the right business model in place. I see lots of people taking on 1-1 clients that they can see over zoom, but that really doesn’t make the most of travel. Instead, consider opting for a more passive income model, such as putting out courses online. You’ll gain so much time back.
- Make sure you do think about wifi wherever you go. There’s nothing worse than being somewhere for a month with really bad wifi and trying to run a business!
Gabriela, A Bilingual Accredited Career Coach
Gabriela is a Bilingual Accredited Career Coach, a full-time digital nomad & a Certified Digital Wellness Educator who is passionate about helping new digital entrepreneurs build an aligned yet profitable business foundation so they can reach their personal version of success.
Before becoming a business mentor, her background as a Certified Health Coach and Fitness Instructor helped her study the online coaching/ service-based industry thoroughly to craft her methodology for taking ideas 100% online. Gabriela provides the strategies to launch a digital offer while always prioritizing your own mental and physical wellness incorporating digital minimalism.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
Becoming location FREE comes with remote work. However, as a Veterinary Technician, that seems a little far-fetched. So after getting my online coaching certificate, I launched my first beta trial online program. I became a full-time digital nomad after 2 years of launching my online business. It first started as a part-time hobby; then, it slowly became a full-time career. Consequently, I quit my veterinary technician job, sold all of my belongings, became a minimalist, and began traveling the world.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
Not having a home to come back to. Your bed, your scents, your food, crockery, pretty much that “homey” feel. It’s hard to feel like you belong somewhere. There is a lot of self-love and self-development that needs to be learned about and practiced.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
As an entrepreneur, there is no such thing as a steady paycheck, so it was a bit challenging to calculate whether or not I was going to be financially stable for such a lifestyle. However, having almost 2 years of online experience, I was able to see income patterns. For example, I made more money depending on my launch schedule, time of year, and automation in my business. This gave me enough data to understand my income flow. Being clear on my money influx + knowing how much I would save without the rent, car, and car insurance bill looked very doable. So without certainty, I went for it. Nothing is really guaranteed, so I thought, why not?
It turns out I ended up saving more while traveling. Not only by knowing my numbers but also by couch surfing, staying with family or friends, and collaborating for exchange of services.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- Brings you back to the fundamental basics of happiness (connection, love, being present)
- Equips you with empathy through different “norms.” Your “normal” is no longer applicable, especially when you travel internationally. You are more patient, open, and willing to accept change.
- Helps you heal. Traveling, detaching from what’s comfortable, and experimenting with new environments can be challenging yet very educating. It truly has helped me understand myself as a human being
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- Becoming a nomad won’t erase your problems. This is not a vacation; it’s a lifestyle. Meaning, you will still have to make an income, maintain relationships, prioritize your health and run errands. Become a nomad as a happy human.
- Be patient through uncertainty. If change is challenging for you, prepare yourself mentally before making the decision. Try out a month first, with no return flight, and see how you feel. There is a lot of “uncertainty” you’ll encounter in only a month. Not knowing where to stay, finding stable wifi or a quiet environment to work in, the people you’ll surround yourself with, etc.
Lucy Johnson, Founder of SHiDO
After studying Politics at university, Lucy surprised everyone by embarking on her career as a chef. Her work took her to London and then the more exotic climes of Vietnam, where she started up a thriving vegan food business selling spring rolls to the Vietnamese. It was in Asia that Lucy discovered SEO and digital marketing, which led her to successfully build her own digital marketing agency and vegan editorial.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
My digital nomad story began when I was working in kitchens in London. I was tired and fed up, so I decided to buy a one-way ticket to an island in Vietnam. The goal was to set up a food business over there, which never quite happened. But it was where my digital nomad story began.
After the food business idea fell through, I knew I had to find a way to stay out there. It was during this time I set up my own website to document my adventures. And because of this, I then started to learn about digital marketing.
I carried on travelling around Asia, meeting other nomads and business owners, still blogging and building more websites, eventually starting up a digital marketing business with some fellow travellers. This is what then sparked the full-time digital nomad life, as I was finally able to sustain myself and continue doing what I was doing.
I know that I would never have gotten to this point had it not been for the fact that I was already out there living that lifestyle and meet like-minded people.
So, becoming a digital nomad is about going out there and doing it, even if it means figuring it out along the way – you can spend your life thinking ‘what if’ and then never actually do it, which is a real shame.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
I’m a very organised person, so I like to keep track of my spending using an organisational tool called Monday (I also use it for my business). It’s like having a funky spreadsheet that is easy to automate.
At first, it was difficult to separate business & lifestyle costs because the two were so intertwined. So you need to make decisions about whether things like flights and phone bills are business or personal costs. But once you’ve done that, it is much easier to organise.
For spending, I would recommend using a digital wallet like Wise; this has been a lifesaver for me. You can change currencies easily and use them pretty much anywhere (the only place I haven’t been able to use it is Cuba). It has also been really useful for my business as they have business accounts, making it easy for me to receive and pay out money in most currencies. Great for freelancers also!
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
I’ve found that being a digital nomad and living away from home can give you some of the highest highs but also some of the lowest lows. If you get sick or have something bad happen to you, you don’t have the safety net of family/friends around you. Plus, you may not understand the local healthcare system or maybe not even speak the language well enough. That can be difficult. But you soon find a community around you that can support you. And you’ll eventually build families and friendships around the world.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- Number one has to be that you can see the world. You don’t have to wait to go on holiday in order to get out and visit all those places on your bucket list.
- Number two is that I now actually enjoy my work. It has meaning and purpose; it allows me to have the lifestyle that I love and enjoy.
- Number three is the people. I have had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people from different cultures; I’ve learned a lot and laughed a lot.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- It’s not all play; you need to find a balance between your work and travelling. For me, I like to work in the morning, have lunch and then go out and explore. Other people prefer working in the evenings. It is about finding your balance and making sure it is sustainable.
- And the other thing to consider is that not all places you visit will be suitable for digital nomads, e.g., Cuba. The internet there isn’t great, so make sure you do your research before turning up. I learned the hard way!
Rachel Coleman, Co-Founder of College Essay Editor
Rachel Coleman is an IEC (independent education consultant) and Co-Founder of College Essay Editor who has worked for 6+ years as an independent business owner in the college admissions counseling field, helping high school students across all disciplines navigate their academics financial aid, and college applications. Rachel received her B.A. in Comparative Literature from Stanford University and her College Counseling Certificate from UCLA. She is now an active member of HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association).
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
I found that the financial cost of becoming a digital nomad is helping me save money. I had previously considered travel to be a kind of luxurious pursuit, available only to those who were already well-off. But I was surprised! The low cost of living in many countries allows me to not only earn a salary virtually and travel in a financially sustainable way but actually to invest the majority of my income in retirement. Compared to most countries in the world, it typically costs more to work in an American city or live in an American suburb. This type of “geographic arbitrage” gives people like me tremendous freedom to dictate our own futures and customize our spending habits. I’d also add that the digital nomad mentality itself teaches me to live with less and value things other than material possessions. This, too can play a cost-saving role.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
Simply put, to become a digital nomad, all you have to do is separate your employment from a specific location. In my case, I started an online business that allowed me to travel while working full-time.
As a bit of backstory, after I graduated from Stanford, I worked in the U.S. Senate for a year. Throughout high school and college, however, I had worked consistently as a writing tutor, culminating in leading Stanford’s Hume Center for Writing and Speaking my senior year. I chose to quit my job in the Senate because I missed working with students on their writing and specifically empowering students to be effective communicators in the college application process. After completing the requisite education to prepare me to become an IEC – I took a one-year course to earn my college counseling certification from UCLA – I made a choice to start my business 100% virtually.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
Although not that unexpected, finding reliable wi-fi is the perennial challenge of a digital nomad. Another hurdle that, as an independent college counselor, I must especially be cognizant of is the more complicated scheduling of virtual appointments, particularly when in different time zones or when application deadlines are approaching. I’ve found that a combination of Airbnb wi-fi (I always ask them to do a speed test in advance), cafe wi-fi, T-mobile’s unlimited international phone plan, and a wi-fi device like the Skyrim Solis is usually enough to meet these challenges.
You also have to be your own travel agent and make sure you’re on top of all countries’ regulations and visa requirements, i.e., how many days do you have left in the Schengen zone (it’s harder to calculate than it sounds) or finding pre-existing bilateral treaties between countries that let certain nationalities stay longer in a given country (fun fact: France gives Americans an extra 3 months on top of the Schengen 3 months).
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
Self-determination, independence, and exploration are the three main benefits of this lifestyle. Part of what makes being a digital nomad so appealing is the freedom to choose how you spend your time. But with that freedom comes responsibility, namely the responsibility to use your time wisely and the drive to make things happen even when there isn’t a pre-existing structure to help you.
To me, being a digital nomad is a fundamental part of my identity, in the same way, that being my own boss and running my own company is integral to my character: they both represent how I value autonomy and my willingness to walk untrodden paths.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting Journey as A Digital Nomad?
1) Evaluate your financial situation and aim for sustainability
It’s crucial not to live beyond your means, even before deciding on this kind of lifestyle. Saving, limiting excessive spending, and working towards paying off any debt or financial obligations will give you more freedom and room for error when you do eventually decide to try out the lifestyle, thus helping you avoid early stumbling blocks and being forced to – rather than choosing to – return to a location-dependent life.
2) Make a plan to stay connected.
A challenge to be aware of as a digital nomad is that it’s more difficult to form “work connections” or a community as passively as traditional employees. We digital nomads must actively take it on ourselves to form such communities and seek out such connections. So, once again, the success of the lifestyle relies on each individual’s own initiative and creativity in discovering the many unique options for community building that are available to digital nomads, be it ex-pat groups, co-working spaces, innovation hubs, book exchanges, and clubs, and more.
And to those who struggle with meeting people: I made an effort to take part in whatever local community I found myself in. Since our “slow travel” approach allows us to spend up to 3-6 months in a new place, we’re able to delve deeper. Throughout this time, it’s key not to simply act like a tourist. Instead, I try to go to events locally, including lectures given by a local professor on a country’s history and culture or various food and wine festivals that take place seasonally throughout the year. I also try to find the local English-speaking or ex-pat community, which has a ton of great information and resources, as well as events like quiz nights.
Kennette J. Burgess, CEO of FOCUS Marketing & Development Solutions
Kennette runs her company from the beautiful island of Bermuda. Travelling is her love. Her marketing business is 100% online-based, and she manages her clients by email, WhatsApp, and Facebook meetings. Her passion is to help women, small businesses, and minority clients, which she can do from anywhere in the world, as long as Kennette has her laptop and internet connection.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
While I understand some seek out this option as an ideal work environment based on their life goals and dreams to travel, some just so happen to become a digital nomad because of life circumstances. If you would have asked me 2 years ago would I be one, then I would have probably said no. No, not because I didn’t want to be but because I didn’t see or know the possibility and benefits and wasn’t’ then given the opportunity. However, with the Covid pandemic, globally, many have realized and optimized virtual businesses, and even though for 4 years back then I meet with most of my clients online, many were hesitant and may have preferred a face-to-face meeting, but due to Covid their views changed, and it has been easier as a Global strategic marketer to get more clients. That’s how I become a Digital Nomad! My life goal to travel more has become a reality because I can do so while working. I just need to ensure I have my laptop, phone devices, and a great internet connection.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
That was easy! I am not a very high maintenance person, the most cost for me is food, yes I love to eat. Since I can work while travelling, then I am making money while I travel. In my millennial generation, these are the typical company benefits we seek, so owning my own business and travelling as my own digital boss is amazing. Staying and travelling with family and friends to share expenses is always ideal. Finding out the best deals and promotions to save money is great too.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
Balancing when it’s time for work and play! That’s it! Travelling to these beautiful and lively destinations can make it hard to focus on business, but I do quite well as I have always been a very FOCUSed individual and able to balance and multi-task.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- Freedom to travel when you want to and see great places.
- Save money, lower overhead costs with digital vs. store or office front.
- Able to stay relevant. When we are online, the knowledge is endless, and we can stay up to date on what’s going on, tips, trends, deals, and the latest news. With this, as a marketer, I am able to assess industry trends more frequently with this focus and capitalize on that to be at my best.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- A strong Internet Connection and backup are essential. This is something I had to learn the hard way as my first 2020 journey as a digital nomad. I had travelled back home to Bermuda from North Carolina, where I had resided, and I was on a virtual client meeting, and we had a power outage, so of course, I had to reschedule my meeting. This happened about 2 or 3 times, so after the first, I made sure to secure other locations I can quickly go to as a backup to host my meetings. Also, a strong internet connection is ideal whether you are like me on business and/or are the biggest social influencer. There are many technology options out there to strengthen internet signals.
- Also secondly, with the pandemic we just experienced (and maybe still experiencing), I would strongly recommend seeking travel insurance or seeing if your insurance allows for that. When I was in Bermuda, I enjoyed the insurance there and even saw the doctor while I was there on it.
Stasha Washburn, Founder of Period Coaching School
Stasha is the founder of Period Coaching School and author of The Revolution Will Be Bloody. When she’s not certifying coaches to incorporate menstrual cycles in their work, Stasha is also a dancer, cook, sword fighter, tai chi practicing, speaker, author, skateboarder, INTJ, foul-mouthed, football-loving, digital nomad. Basically, pinning her down is nearly impossible. She’ll go anywhere as long as there’s a tea kettle and WiFi.
What’s the hardest thing you feel about being a digital nomad?
Being a good guest. Sometimes you just want to be lazy, or messy, or just not speak to another human, and you can’t.
How Do You Become a Digital Nomad?
I’ve never really felt like anywhere was really home, at least nowhere I wanted to pay rent or buy! I was frustrated with being stuck in one place, and when my last apartment had the worst neighbors, I decided to travel full time. I got rid of 75% of my stuff, but what was left in a storage unit and hit the road! It’s been years, and I still love it. I have friends all over the world, and this seemed like a great way to travel, work, and visit friends. The first time I was asked to speak internationally, I asked my friends and business communities in that country, Australia, about speaking events near them and set up seaside retreats, workshops, red tents, all sorts of fun events along the way.
How did you manage your finances while traveling and the business?
Knowing my budget and making bookkeeping/money tracking a daily event kept it really easy to stay on track. Apps and banks with no foreign transaction fees are also fantastic at keeping things really easy on the go. If you’re running a business, you have to keep your books, so adding in travel isn’t really hard. Find out what things cost where you want to go, that way you can plan how long to stay and where to go after. I try to alternate countries where the dollar is stronger and weaker so I can stay within my budget and never have to feel like I’m missing out.
What are the three main benefits of working as a digital nomad?
- Freedom, I love nothing more than being able to go where ever the journey takes me!
- Learning. I’m an eternal student, and I love to see different perspectives, learn new things, hear new stories.
- The incredible people you meet along the way. If you want a business that spans the globe, there’s no better way than spanning the globe yourself.
What are the 2 Things to Consider Before Starting a Journey as A Digital Nomad?
- You have to get rid of a lot of your stuff and learn to travel light. This is not ’normal’ travel where you can check luggage and put your bags on trollies. There’s going to be tiny planes, boats, stairs, rainstorms, mud, no A/C; you don’t want to be dragging suitcases around.
- How much do security or routine do you need? Some people are just not made to travel; the unknown is really stressful. You can prepare for a lot, but not everything. Flights will be delayed, the weather will change plans, and you’ll have to be adaptable. Can you be a flexible, creative solver? Then you’ll love being on the road!
