From 9-to-5 to Worldwide: How to Become a Digital Nomad
The promise of remote work sounds perfect: work from anywhere, set your own schedule, design your ideal life. But if you've tried it, you know the reality often includes surprise RTO mandates, timezone constraints, and geographical restrictions that can leave you feeling just as tied down as a traditional office job.
I've run my business from twelve countries and counting over the past five+ years - from client meetings in Istanbul to project launches in Budapest. And I've learned something along the way: building your own business might actually be the most reliable path to true location independence.
I've run my business from twelve countries over the past few years - from client meetings in Istanbul to project launches in Budapest. What I've learned along the way: the key isn't just replacing your office job with laptop life. It's about creating systems that let you deliver exceptional work from anywhere, building relationships that thrive across time zones, and structuring your business around your definition of freedom.
Want to explore what freedom means for you? Check out "Work/Life Balance for Solopreneurs: What Does ‘Freedom and Flexibility’ Actually Mean?"
When you build systems that work from anywhere, create services that align with your expertise, and maintain control over your work structure, you're not at the mercy of changing company policies or international work restrictions.
You're building something that can adapt and grow with you, wherever you decide to go.
Why Consider the Digital Nomad Entrepreneurship Route?
When you work for someone else remotely:
You might face unexpected return-to-office mandates (RTO is becoming more common)
You could be limited to working from your home country due to tax laws
Your schedule often stays tied to specific time zones or company requirements
Building your own business, on the other hand, might let you:
Design systems that work from anywhere
Choose your working hours and locations
Create services that align with your skills and values
Build something that grows with you
Want to learn more about building a business for yourself? Read: What is a Solopreneur, Anyway?
Setting the Foundations
So you wanna be a digital nomad? First, you’ll need to reflect on your own personal path and the driving forces behind your desire to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle.
WHY do you want this lifestyle? Getting clear on your goals will help you stay committed to making it happen, even on those days of discouragement (we all have ‘em!).
For me, it was a desire for freedom and flexibility, the opportunity to blend my love of connection and service, and my passion for travel.
Identify your own motivations and clarify your vision before getting started.
This will save a lot of time and energy down the line!
As a member of tons of different digital nomad online communities, I see a lot of questions like:
What are some remote jobs I can do with no experience?
As digital nomads, what do you think are the ‘easiest’ remote jobs to get?
Should I find a remote job or work for myself to be a digital nomad?
What do digital nomads do for a living?
Within the digital nomad entrepreneur lifestyle, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue.
Below are a few roles that, depending on your unique skills, interests, and background, could be viable options for you to pursue on your path to becoming a digital nomad.
What are some good roles for a digital nomad?
Here is a list of ideas to get you started!
Creative Services
Web Design & Development
Graphic Design
UX/UI Design
Brand Strategy
Video Editing
Animation
Photography
Illustration
Writing & Content
Copywriting
Content Strategy
Technical Writing
Grant Writing
Translation Services
Editing & Proofreading
Ghostwriting
Journalism
Digital Marketing
Social Media Management
SEO Strategy
Email Marketing
PPC Advertising
Content Marketing
Analytics Consulting
Influencer Marketing
Marketing Automation
Business Services
Business Strategy
Virtual Assistant
Project Management
Operations Consulting
Bookkeeping
HR Consulting
Legal Services
Tax Preparation
Education & Coaching
Online Course Creation
Language Teaching
Business Coaching
Life Coaching
Wellness Coaching
Career Coaching
Test Prep Tutoring
Skills Training
Tech & Development
Software Development
App Development
Website Maintenance
IT Consulting
Systems Administration
Database Management
Cybersecurity
Tech Support
So you know you want to be a digital nomad. And you know a path you want to pursue.
But how to actually, you know, get started?
Here are a couple ideas for ya to get your gears turning:
Explore specialized courses in your field of interest to enhance your knowledge and skills. Check out platforms like Udemy, which offer a wide range of valuable courses. If feasible, consider investing in learning from industry experts rather than relying solely on fragmented strategies.
Build connections with professionals who share your passion and goals. Utilize online platforms such as Facebook groups, Reddit, Threads, or TikTok to connect with like-minded individuals in your industry.
Consistency is key. I wholeheartedly believe that maintaining consistency is vital for success. Even during moments of imposter syndrome, discouragement, or confusion, staying consistent can make a significant difference.
Keep working on your projects, big or small. Here's a secret: the most successful individuals often achieve their goals not because they are the smartest or most talented (though there are exceptions), but because they exhibit unwavering consistency.
(Consistency is something I struggle with and have to make a concerted effort to always keep top of mind. If you also struggle, I feel your pain! And I also know that you can do it.)
Embrace the Work (and the Journey)
Before you begin your empire building dream-making digital nomad adventure, it's important to acknowledge that no matter which path you choose, building a successful self-employed business requires dedication, hard work, and continuous learning.
Read that again:
Building a successful self-employed business requires dedication, hard work, and continuous learning.
Sorry.
There are not get-rich-quick schemes for extremely lucrative passive income streams.
Sure, there’s the occasional luck, or an amazing story. But but most people who succeed in becoming successful entrepreneurial digital nomads do so through qualities like:
Dedication
Resilience
Consistency
Risk-taking
Passion for your chosen field
Commitment to learning
Growth mindset
And I’m gonna be totally honest with you: there’s also the survivorship bias factor. You’re only hearing from people who got successful, usually through a combination of the above qualities, luck, privilege, and maybe a little neurotypical advantage.
Take what you can from the leaders you look up to, and keep going when it’s hard, but know that just because someone carved out a successful path in 2018 doesn’t mean what worked for them will work for you now, today, in a different landscape with different skills, talents and abilities.
Working ON the Business
Okay, sorry for the downer. Moving on to the next step!
As a digital entrepreneur, you'll not only be working IN your business, but also working ON your business.
This means investing time and effort into building your brand, developing a solid online presence, and honing your skills. You'll need to strategize, create systems, and constantly adapt to the online business landscape to ensure your own business grows and thrives. What does that mean? To work for yourself, you’ll have to do a bit of everything - sales, marketing, content, business strategy - oh, and actually produce the work.
It’s a lot, which is why it isn’t for everybody, but it’s worth it if you really crave the location independent lifestyle.
Finding Your Zone of Genius
Check out the concept of ‘Zone of Genius’—the intersection of your passions, skills, and what the market demands.
Identify the unique value you bring to the table and carve out a niche that allows you to stand out. This self-discovery process may be long, and requires experimentation, continuous learning, and embracing (or at least accepting) both successes and failures along the way. Zone of Genius is a book written by and term coined by Gay Hendricks (who I love!) — here is his book.
How to Find Clients as a Digital Nomad
While the allure of exotic locations may be tempting, don't forget that finding clients is a vital aspect of sustaining your digital nomad lifestyle. Cultivating a solid client base requires active networking, effective marketing, and building strong relationships with your target audience.
Don't shy away from putting yourself out there!
Where to Find Clients As A Digital Nomad
Here’s a list of freelance digital nomad job opportunity resources to help you get started on your journey:
Success as a self-employed digital nomad is friggin’ hard. It requires hard work, determination, ability to adapt, and sometimes a bit of luck or privilege.
It’s not for the faint of heart. But if you know it’s something you want to pursue, I really encourage you to go for it.
Shoot me an email if you want encouragement, support, or, hey, a website!
