More often than not, when we talk about paying for our tickets to far-off places, we’re talking about telecommuting or freelancing. It’s rare that we talk about building a full business that we can legitimately earn a full-time living with, no matter which nation we happen to be in this week. The idea of building a business, in a year or less, that will make at $50,000 or more, may seem out of reach.
One month can seem like forever… we’ve all said to ourselves, ‘a month from now, I want to have everything turned around.’ Whether it’s changing our habits, finishing a long-term project or even getting packed for a move, it’s hard to really do that much in just one month. David Damron, though, is ready to help you simplify everything in your life in thirty-one days. His ebook, Project M-31: Simplify Your Life in 31 Days, takes you from zero to sixty in such a way that, at the end of the month, you really can have an easier life.
Hands down, most of the people I know who want to travel for more than a few weeks here and there want to run their own businesses. They want to start their own business that allows them to support their traveling habit while still working on a schedule that is convenient for those same travels.
When you’re planning out your journeys, you have to have an idea of how you’re going to pay for a place to stay, the occasional transportation and the food it takes to keep you moving. But there are a lot of options: you can find a job that allows you to telecommute, freelance for various clients and even sell your own products. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Nomadesk is running a contest for the best digital nomad story with a ‘Digital Nomad Survival Kit.’ The kit contains a netbook and other gear, as well as a three year subscription to Nomadesk, valued at more than $2,000. There also seems to be an alternative prize of airfare for two to any destination (although there is some fine print).
It’s easy to become focused on the digital nomad phenomenon: there are amazing resources available for anyone who wants to create a business they can run wherever they can find an internet connection. Even jobs can be location independent — it’s just a matter of convincing your boss that you can telecommute and still stay focused. But those aren’t the only options when it comes to earning an income and traveling at the same time.
Lately, I’ve heard of more than a couple of people planning to take off for the unknown with the intention of earning all the money they need to live by blogging about their travels. I hate to say it, but this idea may be a little more than optimistic. I’m not saying it can’t (or hasn’t) been done, but travel blogging may not provide the income that a lot of new bloggers seem to expect from it. Those travel bloggers who make a full-time living from their blogs put in plenty of time — often more than the full-time hours required in an office.
Should I start my own business? Should I look for a job telecommuting? Should I freelance? Should I look for a job wherever I want to travel to?
There are an incredible number of ways to combine work and travel — but that makes choosing the right option that much harder. Not all of us do well telecommuting. Not all of us are interested in being entrepreneurs. It’s important to for each of us find our own fit when it comes to work.
Welcome to the fourth edition of the Digital Nomad Carnival. Each month the carnival is hosted by a different blog in the digital nomad community. The editor reviews the submissions and publishes the best of them in a roundup post. Submit your articles here for a chance to be featured in the next edition.
A friend from France came for a visit not too long ago. When she went back, there were a few extra items in her luggage — like a brand new laptop. She’d priced it out before she even made sure she had her passport: the laptop she wanted was almost double the price in France than it was in the U.S.
