Becoming a digital nomad these days is less of a pipe dream and more of an expectation. Every man and his dog seem to be roaming the world while making money in their sleep (or so it seems). But after 6 months of trying (and failing at) a whole lot of things, although I am yet to make dollareedoos while catching Z’s. I have inched myself closer to a path that feels right for me and have learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way.

This article aims to give you an overview of some lessons that I took 6 months to learn. But hopefully, will only take you 7 minutes.

But First….Let’s be Honest.

If you’re like me and also seeking a way “out of the rat race” but with no clue how to do it. Your search history is probably chocker-block with a whole bunch of “How To’s”.

Your Instagram feed has likely caught on and now you are inundated with content from accounts trying to teach people how to earn a living from their phone. Maybe I’m being pessimistic, but these people make it seem like financial freedom is as easy as creating an affiliate link and Bob’s your uncle! Or sell an MRR course at no cost to make complete passive income…

Well, news flash it’s actually not that easy unless you have an existing following of 10k+ people and a clear idea of what your niche is. I have found this quite deflating at times because it seems like everyone has it figured out except me. But the truth is, everyone is on a different path and there’s also just a lot of, dare I say, fake news out there.

So, in an attempt to throw a little reality into the mix and hopefully share some encouragement. I am going to start documenting my own journey and the lessons I learn as I go……enjoy 🙂

Lesson 1: Find Your Why

It’s easy to say, “I want to get rich and live how I want to”, but you need a fuel source for your fire, so it doesn’t fizzle out when the winds get strong. I have found my motivation and discipline levels have been a lot more consistent since clarifying my reason for being on this (seemingly arduous) journey.

Without freaking anyone out, I do also want to add that the pursuit of money for money’s sake is not what will give you a sense of freedom. I haven’t figured the independent income thing out yet, but I’ve never felt as free and optimistic as I have since leaning into my faith and surrendering it all to Jesus (but don’t worry, that’s all I’ll say on that for today).

Lesson 2: Iteration, Iteration, Iteration

You know those cliche sayings like “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”, well they exist for a reason. I used to really (like really) struggle with not knowing what I should do. I didn’t know what I was good at or passionate about and would often feel like I was floundering. But in persevering, and trying different things out anyway, I’ve found that trial and error has been my best friend. Giving things a go with no expectation can also leave space to allow ideas to evolve.

Let your journey to finding your freedom be an iterative one. When you get an idea or are inspired by something, give it a go! You never know where it might lead you (hindsight is a funny thing).

Lesson 3: Mindset is 100% the Key to Success

Don’t let anyone tell you that the only way to be successful (in anything) is to work yourself to the ground. Granted, there is a certain level of effort and consistency required but the key to staying consistent and finding the right opportunities for you is all in your mindset.

For every protagonist there is an equal and opposite antagonist. That niggly voice in your head that tries to tell you “You won’t make it”, “You’re not that lucky”, “You don’t have it in you”, “It’s just not going to happen for you, quit dreaming”. This voice needs to be evicted.

But, before you can send an eviction notice, you need to first identify the address of those thoughts so they can be dispelled. My advice here: practice being mindful and grateful. Get used to having quiet time, disconnect from digital devices as much as possible. Go out for a walk with empty pockets and spend time taking in the little blessings around you. Build a habit of finding things to be grateful for and switch up your self-talk from things like “I don’t know” to “I’ll figure it out”.

Slowly but surely, your mindset will shift from that of scarcity to that of abundance — now ideas and opportunities will flow more naturally because you’re attracting more positive energy.

Although rosy, this positive can-do attitude is only 50% of the ingredients, the rest is discipline. You have to build a better mindset as well as self-discipline. Being grateful might get you out of bed in the morning but discipline is what will keep you at your desk in the evening. If you need help keeping yourself accountable, try setting hard deadlines for a taks/milestone.

Lesson 4: Talk Less, Do More

Don’t do what I did and go round telling everyone what you’re going to do and then not following through. Instead, talk less, do the thing and then (if appropriate) let certain people know (if that’s what floats your boat). Sometimes the excitement over something is overwhelming and we can’t help but let it bubble over and spill onto everyone else. But your energy is much better spent on action instead.

I used to spend a lot of time writing goals. Goals are important (essential even), they give you clarity on what you’re working towards. But if you spend too much time planning, you end up not progressing. If you’re using your goal writing as a source of procrastination, then your goals aren’t getting you anywhere.

If you talk less and do more, you’ll get more done. It’s simple maths, really.

Lesson 5: Loneliness is a Sign of Growth

If you’ve never heard of the “lonely era”, I encourage you to listen to this podcast episode. Basically, there will come a point in your journey where you’ve outgrown your current circle but aren’t quite ready for your new circle and so you find yourself alone, feeling like a black sheep with no one to relate to.

Don’t be discouraged by this! It means you’re outgrowing what was and walking into what will be. In this time, I suggest leaning into books and podcasts by people who inspire you/have something valuable to teach you. There are also apps like Meetup which are a great way to find like-minded people. (Just don’t become a hermit because there’s only one place that will lead you and that is, lonely town — population: 1).

Lesson 6: Exercise Your Ideas Muscle

This is my most recent discovery and one that has brought me great encouragement. The premise is simple, practice coming up with business/technology/product ideas and write them all down.

Get yourself a lil wee A5 notebook and let the ideas flow. I like to use business/technology magazines for inspiration too. The more you do it, the better you’ll get and eventually (at least, this is what I’m expecting anyway lol) the Entrepeneur in you will be unleashed.

I used to think I was this super left-brained person who was missing all my creative bones. But since implementing this I have come to realise, that is a silly notion. I believe, in everyone, there is a creative flare for something and this is a great way of finding it……Who knows, maybe you’re idea will be the next big thing!

Lesson 7: A Little Bit of R&R Goes a Long Way

Once upon a time there was a girl, we’ll call her Luisa, and she became so obsessed with productivity that she scheduled every minute of her every day to the point of complete, and utter burn out.

Thankfully, the powers that be descended their wisdom upon her and reminded her of a very simple but grossly overlooked fact: she is, indeed, a human.

Take it from me: being militant about your time is not going to make you a productivity master (it will more than likely wind up doing the opposite). Since taking time out to just…be, I have found my motivation is at an all-time high and (more importantly) has not waned.

The best thing to do is get busy with your hands. When we engage in activities that require use of our hands, like baking, painting, knitting, playing music etc., we can easily enter a state of flow. This is great for relaxing the mind and will reward you with mental and emotional space to focus on your other pursuits.

I have recently taken up baking as my form of switching “off”. If you like watching people flounder around in the kitchen, I’ve been sharing my creations and cooking tips on Instagram.

Final Remarks

Although I haven’t yet made a single dollar that hasn’t come from full-time employment, I feel more prepared for my future now, than ever before. The short journey so far has taught me to stop chasing the “get rich quick” schemes and instead focus my attention on the slower burns. Afterall, I’m seeking a lifestyle that is sustainable (for both me and my future family). So, I’m holding onto the notion that good things take time.

By sharing what I’m learning, as I learn it, instead of once I’ve made it, I hope this can be uplifting for someone on a similar journey. If you didn’t gain any wisdom from this then at least you can say: “I’m doing better than her” 😛

Until next time…

Luisa