7 Reasons To Run an Online Business While Traveling
Running an online business while traveling is a very practical way to earn a living that allows you enough time (and money!) to see the world.
Especially if you desire to travel far more than the short 1-2 week annual vacation allowance your 9-5 gives you, I encourage you to consider a digital nomad lifestyle, and more specifically, to consider starting an online business that gives you the flexibility you crave.
If you want to make money online - without sacrificing your passion for traveling as often as you want to - here are seven reasons to start an online business:
1. Doing Meaningful Work You Love Without Sacrificing Your Passion For Travel
Traditionally (especially before the abundant opportunities we have from the internet today) you would need to either 1) save up to travel on your vacation time off work, or 2) save up enough money to travel long-term, quit your job, travel until funds run out, then go home and repeat the process.
With more and more businesses hiring remote freelancers/contractors to do tasks that can be done online, there are more opportunities than ever to free up your location.
You can do meaningful work you love, without sacrificing your passion for travel.
And while working online isn’t for everyone, it can definitely be a smart route to take if you crave the freedom to travel the world and live where you want to, without needing to “clock in” at the office (or pretend to be online on Skype chat) day-in and day-out.
Five years ago I created an online work + travel lifestyle so I could live wherever and travel whenever. I was nervous to take this leap and thought it would only be temporary, but then things snowballed in the best way possible and I found myself able to do this full-time. Working an 8-5 job became a *choice,* not a necessity.
It wasn’t easy and there is SO much I wish I knew beforehand.
2. The Flexibility To Make Memories and Create Experiences Every Day
The magic is in the moment.
Seeing the world, having experiences, and choosing to surround yourself with positivity are a few of the benefits myself and other people say they are filled with because of traveling.
If you can do work you love 💛 and do it online 💻 then there really isn’t a reason why you can’t travel as much as you want to ✈️ as long as you can keep up with work and other commitments.
Working online? It changed my life.
I’ll be real with you though: Not every trip is a vacation. Life isn’t perfect. 🌿 However, I’ve chosen to run a service-based online business that is *flexible* so I can still provide quality work that means something to me…without having to be “present” or stuck to my laptop all day every day.
I can structure my days in a certain way that allows me to get work done, then go out and explore or simply enjoy the rest of my day.
When I’m traveling that means walking around neighborhoods, trying new foods, and meeting new people (and usually some beach time, since I gravitate toward warm-weather places, haha)!
More and more people are taking control of the life *they* desire, and structuring it in a way that works for them - which often includes travel.
If you are self-motivated enough to get s—t done when you need to so you can still have fun and explore new places…then there is no reason why you can’t work online while traveling as well.
I’d like to bet that when *travel* is your motivator, you’re someone who is more than capable of making it happen.
3. A Majority Of The Workforce Will Soon Be Freelancers (Which Also Means You Can Create Your Own Schedule)
Over half (!) of the US workforce will be freelancers 4-5 years from now, according to a study by Upwork!
The world has rapidly changed, especially over the past couple of years, and freelancing will soon become one of the “norms” as a career path. Businesses need people like YOU to help them….and, with the advances of the internet and technology - location and fancy advanced degrees aren’t always a factor.
Freelancing online (working independently for other companies) is how I replaced my old 8-5 job.
It freed up my location so I could live wherever and travel whenever, and allowed me to do meaningful creative work that helps other people.
Most importantly, it didn’t require me to create a brand new product from scratch or invest in anything upfront except my time.
That’s why when readers or friends ask me how they can get started on creating an online income quickly, I always always always recommend #freelancing.
YOU set your rates, hours, and are in control of who you work with - which is perfect for doing this on the side outside of work/school, while traveling the world, or working at home. Your choice.
4. To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone and Pursue Your Wildest Dreams
To push past the fear and live the life you’ve always dreamed of. “Fear is the brain’s way of saying there is something important for you to overcome.” 🌿 Action step: if you have fear about something - determine what the cause of your fear is, and what are you afraid of doing and write it down.
Then ask what is causing the fear, and if it is rooted in anything or if it is simply fearing change/the unknown.
As humans, we naturally are afraid of and are uncomfortable with CHANGE, which is why we tend to repeat old habits or assume the same from others.
Our brains like normalcy and routine because it’s easier for it to process.
That’s why the first time you do something is never easy, but then you get the hang of it and it feels normal.
Your brain can naturally try to prevent you from trying new things because it means it has to get off “autopilot”…this happens all the time without us realizing it!
This keeps us stuck in a “safe” routine…until it becomes boring and we lack growth...which means what we REALLY need to do is take control and wake up our brain by doing something NEW.
Now that you know this, there really is no excuse for you to NOT go after your dreams.
The unknown could feel scary. Or you could look at it as EXCITING :)
If you’re looking for a sign, this is it.
5. If Working Online Is Something You Desire, It’s Meant For You. Period.
If working online is something positive you desire, it is meant for you. Period.
Okay. I wrote “period” but you know I’m chatty so I’m going to expand on this. :)
Here’s the thing: if you want something, you need to take ACTION to put it in motion.
Believe it’s meant for you, get into the mindset and visualize it becoming your reality, and then take the first step (and the next, and so on) until it happens.
A few years ago I was feeling burnt out. I did not want to have to choose between my old 8-5 job and travel any longer.
At that time in my life, I did not want to feel stuck in a single location. I decided I would do *whatever it took* to side hustle and learn as much as I could about marketing and working online, so one day I could do meaningful work without being tied to a desk for nine hours a day, five days a week.
It wasn’t much longer that I had the opportunity to move to California, so I took a leap of faith and landed my first client. And the next.
I traveled to Southeast Asia & Australia while working online, doing client work while building my blog on the side, and when I got home I realized…I did it. I didn’t have to look for a new 8-5 job out of necessity. It was a breath of fresh air.
It’s time to stop putting your desires on hold.
Let 2022 year be the one you create a flexible, online income in the way that best supports your travel goals.
6. To Remove The Restrictions of “Time” and “Money” Preventing You From Traveling
If you know that time and money are the only two restrictions that keep you from traveling, it’s time to change that.
For those of us who have the urge to travel the world, we can only go so long before the itch becomes unbearable.
To live my best life, I knew I had to push myself to do something NEW.
I’ve had to take risks and make investments in myself and business. This has undoubtedly been for the better and I can’t even *imagine* if I had played small, stayed home, and ignored the pull from my intuition to go see the world, what my life would look like.
Travel isn’t this frivolous, random thing we have to put off until we retire.
Now, are you going to fulfill your desires or continue to repress them?
In order to do new things, you must be committed to change. You must be willing to give up the good to go for the great.
Think about your life one year from now…will you be living your dreams and change for the better? Or will it look the same as it is now?
You have the power to choose your path in life.
Today could be the day you make the choice to make the change. I can’t wait to celebrate how far you’ve come one year from today.
“Every morning you have two choices. Continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.” - Carmelo Anthony
7. Because The Best Things In Life Are Experiences
"The most beautiful things in life are not things. They're people, places, memories, and pictures. They're feelings and moments, and smiles, and laughter."
As much as I love making my home beautiful or finding a nice outfit to wear, I'm often reminded how the best things in life aren't things.
They're experiences.
They're people.
They're the moments you feel happy, amazing, fresh, and on top of the world.
The more you decide to incorporate that into your life, the more chances you have to experience the best parts of life.
If for you that includes traveling the world, whether it's once a year or every day, then I urge you to come up with a plan, look up the information, sign up for the course or mentorship program.
Put things in motion to make your work + travel lifestyle a reality.
Our time here on this planet is finite. But our potential for opportunities, income, experiences, and changes are Limitless.
You can either waste time, your most precious resource, by sitting on the fence and looking over at everyone else living the lifestyle you want but are too afraid to put into action.
Or you can take that first step, that leap of faith, and trust that you will tap into your Limitless potential as you build or grow your Limitless Nomad lifestyle.
The choice is always yours.
Which sounds more appealing?
