The way we work is changing. Over the past decade, we have seen a shift in the way people want to live and work. We’re no longer hyper-focused on the rat race and chasing success at all costs. Now, we’re a lot more conscious about finding the balance that works best for us. Because the thing is, no set way of living and working will work for us all. So much so that when you try and fit yourself into a set mold, you may find that it backfires. If you’ve always been unhappy trying to fit yourself into the corporate world, it may be time for a change. Not everyone wants to climb the corporate career ladder and work eighty-hour weeks. If you know that you want to put your life first and find a career that you can build around it and actually add to it, the digital nomad life could work for you.
The idea of becoming a digital nomad has become more attractive in recent years for this exact reason. But at the same time, it’s always going to be important to understand what one actually is and how you can make it work. Because that’s the thing – you need to ensure that you can nail the practical side of becoming a digital nomad and set yourself up for success. Even if you know you crave more flexibility and you’re looking forward to traveling more, if you don’t have the business side of things down, it may not work out for you. So in this blog post, we’re going to explore exactly what practical elements you need to focus on when you want to build a successful life as a digital entrepreneur.
Why the Practical Side is So Important
For many people, the allure of the digital nomad lifestyle is very much in the lifestyle itself. But the digital part is the most important. If you aren’t able to build up the business, you won’t be able to support yourself. But this doesn’t just mean having the business in the first place. When it comes to working from anywhere and traveling the world when you want, you need the business to be in a position to facilitate that. So, unless you have all of the practical elements set up, you may find to bring this all to life.
Giving Yourself a Headstart
If you know you want to get out there and explore the world as you work, you need to make sure that you’re set up to make that happen. This is where the idea of planning ahead is going to come in. If you want to sustain your business while you travel, it needs to be viable before you head off. So here, ensuring that you get everything set up and in place way before you want to start moving around is the way to go. With that head start in place, you can go ahead and just enjoy the journey.
10 Key Steps to Setting Up Successfully
When it comes to actually nailing the practical elements themselves, it’s all about you being able to take the right steps to get there. In some cases, this is going to mean you need to build things up for months or even years before you’re ready to take it full-time. But here’s what you can do.
1. Decide What You Want to Do
To begin with, if you’re not already an entrepreneur, you need to decide what you want to do. Do you want to become a freelance contractor or offer a service? Maybe you want to launch your own product or become a consultant? Deciding what you want to do is the first step. You then need to create a business plan that allows you to iron out how you’re going to make this work.
2. Register the Company
An important practical element here is to make sure that you register your company correctly. The way to do this can often depend on where you live. It may be that you want to register as a business, or you want to be a self-employed contractor. Either way, you need to get this ironed out early on so that you’re officially set up and ready to go.
3. Create Your Branding
The next step from here is for you to create your branding. If you want to create awareness for what you’re doing and grab the attention of your target audience, you need to stand out. Getting your branding right is a key part of setting yourself up for success. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing it yourself or if you get an agency in, it’s key that you’re able to create a visual identity that showcases what you do and builds personality.
4. Set Up Your Socials
The next thing you need to do here is make sure that you have your social media channels set up. Ideally, you’ll have chosen a business name that you can also secure the social handles for. This makes it easier for customers to find you and engage with you. You will also want to start marketing as early as possible. Even if you’re not officially trading yet, you can look at building up a presence and getting people interested in what you’re looking to create.
5. Build Your Website
As important as social is in getting you noticed, you also need to make sure that you have a good website behind you too. You don’t own your social media channels – but you do own your website. So make sure that you get yours set up ASAP. Bringing in professional web design is key here too. With a well-designed, user-friendly website, you’ll be able to boost your sales and drive more business.
6. Get Organized
A huge thing about being set up in the right way is that it makes running the business easier. This is certainly the case when it comes to being organized. As a digital entrepreneur traveling the world, the only way that you’ll be able to manage it all seamlessly without getting overwhelmed is by having everything organized. So, here, make sure that you bring in the right software and project management platforms to help you keep your business in shape.
7. Manage Your Finances
One of the most important things you need to manage in your business will always be your finances. If you want to make sure that you see success as an entrepreneur, managing your finances and cash flow is key. So, as much as you may want that relaxed lifestyle, you still need to have a way of running the money side of things that works for you. With the right software in place, this gets easier. You can also look to hire help here too.
8. Hire the Experts You Need
For many entrepreneurs, the first professional you will want to hire will be an accountant or bookkeeper. This will help you to ensure that your taxes and financial accounts are compliant and up-to-date. But you may also want other experts around you to help run the company. From hiring an assistant to bringing in contractors for support, you may find that this helps you to run your business like a well-oiled machine.
9. Find a Schedule That Works for You
Next, you then need to think about the schedule that works best for you. The benefit of being an entrepreneur and working for yourself is the control you have over your time. Yet, you still need to organize yourself as well as possible. This is why it’s key to create the ideal business schedule that works best for you. You can then stay on top of everything and schedule in work and deadlines around the rest of your lifestyle.
10. Get Good at Being Flexible
Lastly, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re okay with being flexible and working in a dynamic way. If there’s one thing that’s consistent with entrepreneurship, particularly as a digital nomad, it’s that change is normal. Being flexible with your work and when you’re able to work is huge here. When you’re traveling a lot and constantly moving from place to place, it’s important to adapt well and be comfortable with the dynamic nature of your career and lifestyle.
Final Thoughts: Building an Entrepreneurial Career That Lasts
As we have seen, the nomadic side of things can be pretty easy for you to hold down. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of having as much free time as they choose and traveling the world as they work? However, in order for this career choice to be sustainable, you absolutely have to nail every single area of the practical side of things.
So as long as you are set up correctly and know how you’re going to stay organized and manage your finances, you’ll be off to a good start. Here, it’s all about knowing what kind of schedule works for you and how you can best run the business from wherever you are. Then, when you’re in a rhythm, it’s all going to work out for you.
