The road can open your eyes to new ideas. For many, travel is where we
seek out global connections, talking and meeting with others to learn our
shared passions and how we can come together to further those passions.
Fortunately with mobile communication at our disposal we can use our
travels to create changes for ourselves back home – including the way we work.
New ideas come as a revelation when on the road, intensifying how small the
world is, yet how many bigger opportunities lay ahead – like living a National
Geographic lifestyle that allows you to document third world nations or
volunteering at an NGO. Today, we are all part of the global workforce, even
more digitally bound and knowledgeable to take our careers on the road with us,
or even creating new ones to share with audiences online through popular
content like downloadable books, journals, photographs, and short videos. Sometimes
in order to pursue our dream jobs, it means starting a new. Travel is what
inspires us to make this transformation and recharge – both personally and
professionally.
The tools of becoming location-independent through the influence of
travel are continually growing. You can now start a virtual office of your own
with just knowing a few tips and tricks. For example, making free calls and
booking meetings on Skype, connecting to open Wi-Fi through your smartphone to
communicate with your team, and downloading the latest tech apps for the web to
stay on top of trends in your niche. As we travel, the conversations we have
with others and the experiences we go through can become the driving force to
business (look at travel writers today). The key is to know how to work
remotely without losing touch, no matter where you are in the world.
Here are three real-life digital nomads who opened the doors to a
digital nomad life, and never looked back:
Akaisha and Billy of RetireEarlyLifestyle.com prepare for work on the road by
packing their digital equipment.
“We each
have our individual ASUS eee notebook computers, separate backup hard drives,
high powered Wi-Fi antenna, digital camera, MP3players, plug-in speakers, thumb
drives, Quad band cell phones, and ear buds, plus all the relevant power cords,
surge protectors and extra jacks.”
They’ve
developed a routine after traveling for more than 20 years together that allows
them to stay up to date on current events as well.
“We
receive all our news from online sources including streaming radio. We write
our books, travel articles, interviews, our newsletter which we publish weekly
and we do research either in person (taking photos, interviewing locals, etc.)
or online for checking historical or financial facts.”
For this couple, travel has led them to their dream
job.
“Travelling
as a lifestyle helps us keep a small footprint, keeps our lives simple, and our
bodies and minds flexible,” says Akaisha.
Michelle Page of NepalDog matched her experience in film
with her love of art to help struggling artists in Nepal where she has
commissioned over 2000 pieces of art, and “becoming a freer spirit in the
process.”
“The internet has made it possible to reach clients
through blogging,
social media, press releases and writing magazine
articles,” says Page. “I only need a cyber cafe to stay in
contact … the Internet has also made it easier to network with potential art
patrons through meetups, Facebook, and seminars. I am even getting
requests for public speaking in Nepal.
Marina Villatoro left her job as a fitness trainer in
New York to become a full-time travel agent in Latin America, sharing her
family adventures through her own blog, TravelExperta.com. She’s learned that exchanging
ads for sponsored posts and reviews can bring in the income she needs to travel
each month with her husband and two kids throughout the continent. She’s also
become multilingual which gives her a business advantage when talking to new
clients.
For me, I’ve learned that my writing and consulting
work is most successful when inspired by others around me on my travels. It’s
the people I meet that fuel the desire to contribute my talents to projects for
the greater good. I’ve been an ambassador to various communities through
co-working, social media, and hospitality exchange groups all while traveling. As
much as I love calling Brooklyn home, I’m also grateful to know that all I need
is my Mac and a good Internet connection to work anywhere I want.
Digital nomads are thriving amongst a new
movement of independent workers as we continue to travel the world. Location-independence is clearly catching on.
Related Articles:
Home vs. Abroad: Shedding your 'Role' while Travelling
Make a Local Connection, Change your Travel Experience
Are you a digital nomad or thinking of becoming one? Share your story.
About the Author
Alisha Miranda is a certified Travel Geek. Having worked
alongside a number of travel communities including Sosauce.com, NileGuide.com,
and Not For Tourists, she’s made travel a part of her lifestyle as a young
professional. Now a full-time freelance writer and social business consultant, Alisha
has driven her career towards location-independent opportunities, sharing her
tips and experiences with other young people in hopes of inspiring them to
discover new cultures and connect with locals around the world. Follow her
travel musings and next career moves on Tumblr.
WorldNomads.com keeps
you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for
the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with Travel Insurance you
can buy online, anytime, and the latest travel safety advice. Learn how
to flirt in over 25 languages with our free language guides and have
an experience of a lifetime on a travel scholarship.
We'll also help you share your journey with a free travel blog, get answers from
other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new 'Ask
A Nomad' iPad app) and donate to a local community development project through
our Footprints program.
WorldNomads.com -
an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.
