How To Quit Your Job and Start Traveling
Do you dream about quitting your 9 to 5 and traveling the world? Then this newsletter issue is for you.
I.
When I tell people that I am a long-term traveler, I often get reactions like, “Oh, you are so lucky. I wish I could do what you do.”
The truth is, you can. It is fairly easy, at least on a technical level.
The real problem is fear.
II.
The first kind of fear is about financial instability.
People want to know how exactly they are going to earn while on the road. They want to have a master plan that removes all financial uncertainties.
But this is not how it works.
The reality is — you start traveling. Then you figure out the details.
And yes, during the first few years, it will be messy. You will work long hours as a freelancer, barely getting paid, while having to take on terrible projects.
But if you keep at it, better projects will come your way. Your financial situation will improve. You will even be able to build a financial cushion.
I've seen it hundreds of times — those who take the plunge get rewarded. Those who insist on the perfect plan never do it.
III.
The second kind of fear is about social status.
When you quit your job and become a digital nomad, you have, to an extent, dropped out of the system.
You are saying "No" to climbing the corporate ladder.
This idea is both exciting and scary. It's exciting because we all hate our soul-sucking 9 to 5s. But at the same time, it is scary, because it's the only model you know.
From an early age, you were conditioned to find a "good job." That's what your parents told you, that's what all your friends did.
Now you are deviating from this standard path and that feels like you are throwing it all away. What if you don't like being a long-term traveler? What if it turns out to be a crackpot idea?
I say don't sweat it.
First, you have some wriggle room. If after a year of traveling, you decide that this is not your thing, just go back to the rat race. Sell it to your next employer as a sabbatical. If anything, it will make you stand out.
Second, adopt a broader perspective. You might be worried about looking like a dropout in the eyes of the world now. But give it a few more decades, and the roles will be reversed. At the end of their lives, everybody regrets not having had enough adventures.
IV.
I said earlier that you cannot exactly plan your life as a long-term traveler. However, there are a couple of learnings I had from 8 years of almost nonstop traveling. Here they are:
To make money on the road, start with a service. Think copywriting, graphic design, online marketing, or development.
Service businesses offer almost instant cash flow. You could apply to a job ad on a freelancer board today, and start earning tomorrow.
Do not try to master your "craft" first. Take on a crappy, underpaid project, then figure out what you need to know as you go.
Once you know a little bit more, you'll score better, more well-paid projects. But now the projects will be more demanding. So, you need to study up again.
Initially, you will work mostly for amateur entrepreneurs and agencies. These don't pay great. To make real money, you need to eventually transition to direct clients.
With a direct client, you can realistically charge $ 80–150 per hour. At this stage, you'll be likely making as much or more as you did in your corporate career.
How do you find direct clients? By doing cold outreach. You send out 100–200 initial emails and then follow up 3–4 times per client. A typical conversion rate is 2 percent.
Business models you should initially stay away from: Content creation (blogging, vlogging). E-commerce. Coaching.
Don't get me wrong — these can be great models. They are just not good business models for beginner travelers, as cash flow takes too long. Save them for later.
If you want to learn more — I offer free 30-minute coaching sessions.
Even if you have no plan to continue, I'll be happy to help with all your long-term travel questions.
And as always, let me know what you thought about this newsletter.
Niels