Starting a business is not easy, and I’m sure we can all agree on this. If you want to make it a bit harder, you could decide to call yourself a business owner from overseas. Not challenging enough? What about starting a business from the back of a van?
To be honest, I had no idea this could be a “thing”, even after scrolling & stalking many #digitalnomad or #vanlife threads.
Truth is: if you are passionate about travelling and exploring, starting an online business could be the right choice for you.
So I did it. I started my business from the back of my van.
Starting an online business seemed like the doable part of my biggest dream: absolute freedom. Being able to work my own hours, with people I actually enjoy working with, focusing on my passions… I’m sure we could list another thousand reasons why starting an online business is worth it, and if you are now reading this, there’s a very high chance you can relate, too.
However, as I just said, it’s not all happy dancing and signing clients.
There are SO many challenges and road blocks that will make you wonder why you started in the first place. Especially if you’re travelling or living abroad with limited wifi. Those initial issues may seem like the end of the world, but I believe we get what we are capable of overcoming. Sometimes having a troubled and dreaded start can actually turn into a strength in business.
For example, figuring out what you want to do, what services you want to offer and how to structure your business is not everybody’s cup of tea. Juggling this new path and driving around a new place can be even more frustrating.
I remember starting my travel blog from a dorm in Laos, fully confident that documenting my travels would quickly earn some money back. It would have been sweet & easy. Soon after this though, reality set in. I was drowning in WordPress tutorials and wanted to throw my laptop out of the window.
Starting an online business as a virtual assistant:
Honestly, it felt pretty similar to my frustrations with WordPress in Laos. Figuring out your packages, pricing and trying to find clients comes with the same frustrations as building a website from scratch.
Living in a van is absolutely amazing. The freedom that you can gain from this lifestyle is priceless and travelling with a literal home-on-wheels has its perks. I can cook my meals everywhere I go and everything I need is always with me.
The downside of this lifestyle choice is that chasing Wi-Fi and power points to recharge my laptop is not always fun. Especially when all you want to do is focus on your work and you have deadlines to meet.
Adapting is key.
Lately, with the outbreak of Covid-19, most public places had to shut down, including libraries and cafes. After the initial discomfort, I was able to focus on healthier alternatives, such as co-working spaces. I am now considering getting a travel hotspot like KeepGo so I don’t have to always look for cafes.
I believe that laying the foundation of a business, deciding on what services are best to offer and overall figure out how the new business works, takes time. And it’s important to let your new business idea sit within you.
Starting sometimes is the hardest but necessary part. You can figure out the rest on the road! And the best part of getting started is that simply by working, you will understand your strengths and weaknesses. Work on what you do best and what lights you up!
In the beginning, when I first considered the service-provider industry, I had drafted a list of services I was sure I could have performed effortlessly. This included tasks that I wasn’t mastering myself but were “requested” by customers.
I can see how this was a mistake now.
By working closely with clients, I was able to identify what I like and what I don’t. Highlighting the skills in which I excel and those in which I’m average at. It’s obviously still a work in progress, but I am very confident and, honestly, I can’t wait to make my dreams come true.
I am a digital nomad in training.
Starting on online business gave me the confidence I needed to work on my skill set, growth, and future. I couldn’t have imagined that asking myself tough questions could be the key to personal development and growth in my own business!
I was a nomad way before deciding to get started online. It only seems fitting to make it my job description!
Being able to travel & work remotely is something I’ve been visualizing for years. It’s about time to make that dream into a reality!
This has been a guest post by Sonia from Silent Travel. She shares her why and a few challenges she’s faced on her journey to starting an online business.
If you’re interested in guest posting for fellyday.com, reach out today!
