This is a REALLY good article on the “digital nomad” BS, that (once again) internet marketers are trying to cash in on in recent years on by preying on the fantasies of those living in La La Land.
And I say that as someone who is about to embark on some roadtripping where I will be a semi digital nomad, and also as someone who lived in Europe while continuing to run my business.
That shit was hard!
That is, since ours is an online business, it was relatively easy technologically, but difficult from a mental, logistical, and practical standpoint.
I work MUCH better running things from my home office in the U.S. where my regular set-up and all my stuff is located and I have a regular routine and things-in-place.
I wouldn’t trade the experience of living and working in Europe for the world, but I also wouldn’t advise anyone that it’s a good idea to try to escape your life under the misguided thinking that it’s going to solve whatever you are running from.
Let me tell you, it is not all it’s cracked up to be (no matter what kind of rainbows and puppy dog tail pictures the internet marketers try to paint).
Yes, there are lots of unique experiences you can have (maybe… depending on how intrepid you are).
But it can be very difficult trying to do ACTUAL WORK FOR REAL, ACTUAL CLIENTS on the road.
A lot of the work I see many of these so-called digital nomads doing is fluff (mixed with a lot of BS).
The article has what I consider to be a very realistic, no-nonsense list of what is needed for those who might be considering the “digital nomad” life (I even detest the term; so stupid).
I’m going to venture to say that most of us fare better in our lives and businesses when we have a home-base.
I will even say that for most people, you will have more chance of success in your business if you aren’t trying to start and grow it while being essentially home-less and without the structure and stability of a steady home-base.
And you don’t have to be a “digital nomad” to travel and have life experiences.
What might be better is to build a financially solvent and successful business with smart policies, procedures, and systems in place so that you CAN pick up and travel when the urge strikes you.
Ask any traveling business or salesperson. Living out of a suitcase and hotel room (no matter how adorable that AirBnB may be) gets real old and real inconvenient fairly quickly.
Instead, think about having the best of both worlds by setting up your business smartly and profitably so that you can live and travel when and where you fancy while always having a home and community to come back to.
Have you ever thought about living and working on the road? What would be the pros and cons for you?
I’m a homebody. The thought of being on the road for any stretch of time and still working at full capacity is not at all of interest. Yes, we’re in a world that is always connected, but I am a bit old school when it comes to my work. I need a dedicated space, my home office. Although I do often travel with my laptop and can get work done, it’s not efficient. I have three monitors on my desk (four if you count the PC that I have set up by itself) and when I travel, even using my portable monitor makes me feel very cramped. I’m wanting to be better about not taking work with me rather than making accommodations so that it comes with me.
Same, Latoya. I can totally be a homebody, especially because I LOVE the decor and space I’ve created for myself. Nothing wrong with that!
And you are absolutely right. I think most people in our industry need more support in learning to say “no” and upholding their own boundaries and putting work away firmly and definitively when they DO decide to take much needed rest and relaxation away from home.