Thanks to the pandemic, many businesses have transitioned to full-time remote work. While some wish they were back in the office, others are finding new ways to get even further away from it. Instead of constructing a cubicle at home, they’ve packed their bags and hit the road. Each day, these digital nomads work from a new location and enjoy amazing adventures and a steady income.
Now, many business owners and entrepreneurs are looking to do the same. Rather than limit themselves to clients in their hometown, they’re crossing borders, expanding their network and taking their business to new heights.
If you want to follow in their footsteps, here are a few ways you can make that dream a reality.
1. Save Up First
Traveling is always more expensive than it seems, even if you choose all the cheapest options. From fixing flat tires to buying last-minute plane tickets, the unexpected costs of living the nomadic lifestyle can quickly drain your bank account. Therefore, it’s wise to save up before hitting the road.
Revisit your monthly budget and try to cut costs wherever possible. Reconsider your spending habits and siphon every penny you can spare into a savings account. This way, if you lose a client and run into trouble on the road, you’ll still have enough money to survive until you can replenish your savings.
2. Establish a Routine
Once you have enough money to finally head out, it can be easy to forget work and your professional responsibilities. However, you must prioritize work. After all, that paycheck is funding all of your adventures and you still have to work for it.
Learn how to be a digital nomad without sacrificing your career by establishing a routine. Sure, you might wake up in a new place every month — or even every day. However, you can still start your morning with a coffee and end your day with exercise or dinner. Creating these simple yet effective rituals will help you distinguish between work and play and foster a healthier work life balance.
3. Ensure a Stable Internet Connection
Of course, if you’re running a business from your laptop, you must make sure you have a stable internet connection no matter where you go. Unfortunately, there won’t always be a Starbucks nearby, so you’ll have to invest in your own router or hotspot that can travel with you.
Kiss spotty connections goodby and save money in the long run by investing in a wireless travel router. Most cost a few hundred dollars, plus a monthly fee, but are worth the money if you can keep your job on the road. You could also use a wi-fi hotspot without draining your smartphone and data plan with a standalone hotspot. Just make sure your internet speed is fast enough to host video calls and upload visual content.
4. Network on the Road
As an entrepreneur, you’re only as strong as your network. In other words, you’re only limited by the number of people you know and connect with, so get out there and meet new people. Join a Facebook group for local creatives and collaborate with fellow nomads in each city you visit. Meet a variety of influencers in multiple fields to diversify your network and your potential audience.
You can also use your travel experiences to build a network back home. Appeal to those with wanderlust by sharing your adventures through a blog or social media platform. Ultimately, your stories and personal experiences will help you form digital relationships with new peers, clients and even employees.
5. Be Transparent with Clients
Being transparent with clients is an integral part of learning how to run a business while traveling the world. Instead of keeping your vacation or full-time travel plans on the down-low, share them with your customers. This tip is especially important for online business owners who work with clients directly.
Communicate time zones differences, when you plan to be online and when you’ll ship products, along with estimated delivery dates. This way, everyone knows what to expect when they purchase a good or service. Work with any and all vendors and negotiate terms for 30 days or more, instead of upon delivery. This strategy will allow you to complete the work and receive payment before having to pay the vendor.
6. Track Your Productivity
Even professionals with the greatest routine and best intentions can fall victim to the vacation mindset as a digital nomad. If you’re your own boss or have flexible work hours, you might even skip work in the name of exploring your surroundings. However, if you want to continue to afford your travels, work must come first.
Reprioritize your job and get more done in less time with a productivity tool. Choose from apps and programs like StayFocused, Calendly, RescueTime and Trello to track your productivity so you can improve your performance and find more time to do the things you love instead of giving in to procrastination and laziness.
The Best of Both Worlds
Figuring out how to run an online business while traveling is no easy task. Luckily, you’re a business owner, so you know better than anyone how to persevere. After a few hiccups, road bumps and rookie mistakes, you’ll begin to get the hang of balancing work and travel. You just have to remain flexible and keep an open mind. More importantly, you must fully commit to the nomad lifestyle. Once you do, you’ll find that travel and work can happily coexist and, one day, you’ll wonder why you ever waste your time in a dingy old office to begin with.