Most of us humans want the same things.
We all want to travel the world and see beautiful sights and meet beautiful people. We all also want to work and make money to fund the travel. Some of us even want to make a difference in the world with our new business ideas.
photo credit: Avi Richards / Unsplash
There are also some things none of us want.
None of us want to make a 45-minute commute to work anymore. None of us want to be forced to buy $5 coffees in the office lobby. And absolutely none of us want to stop waking up just 10 minutes before the start of a Zoom call.
If there is one thing that the coronavirus pandemic has done is that it has moved hundreds of people out of the office and into the comfort of working remotely. Even companies and businesses which were deemed unfit to be run remotely have figured out successful ways to keep at it. And keep at it very well!
Looking back at how we previously worked, this new insight has changed our perceptions completely. And it begs the question, do we ever want to go back to the office? And then it begs an even more interesting follow-up question – can we operate a successful business remotely? While traveling the world?
More and more business owners have shown in recent times that that is, in fact, possible.
If this is, in fact, an aspiration of yours, here are some practical resources and ideas that can help you gauge the possibility of running your business successfully from all over the world:
Save Money by Traveling
You know what is cheaper than running an entire office on-site, paying for utilities and maintenance? Giving everyone good raises and continuing to work remotely.
If you wish to travel while running your business, you save up on house rent and utilities. One can argue that you will end up spending considerably on travel. But, that expenditure is something you can both rein in or splurge on, depending on your budget.
Planning for The Win
On the face of it, it may seem too good to be true. But planning ahead and using all possible resources you can to keep a check on work progress from any corner of the globe.
With more people working remotely than ever before, productivity management software and tools are taking center stage. You can set up a Slack channel to connect easily with your co-workers across time zones, arrange your documents on Google workspace, create Trello boards to highlight production issues and deadlines.
You can also ‘win’ by working with virtual service providers like https://www.ivyanswer.com that enables you through effective outsourcing. What to outsource? Phone answering service, document management, meeting scheduling… anything you can think of, actually.
There is nothing you can’t do when you are traveling that you would’ve done in the office.
Great for The Mind
One of the biggest mental health issues that one faces while working in a traditional office is burnout. All of our energies are constantly focused on that one-two week-vacation you will be able to take when you have saved up enough money and earned leaves. And what happens when things don’t pan out as you want them to? A feeling of hopelessness that can quickly spiral into “what is the point”?
If you are able to manage your business, stay on your growth targets and keep your clients happy remotely, then why not do it from a place that you have always dreamt of visiting?
Personal Development on The Go
It’s true what they say – traveling opens up your mind like nothing else. For some, it acts as therapy. Meeting new people, having great experiences, problem solving on the go, all these help develop your personality.
Interacting with people from different cultures helps you see things from different viewpoints. Embrace the opportunity and make the most of it.
Digital Nomad Groups are Everywhere
As the name suggests, digital nomads are those who travel the world while staying connected to their business and work online. All the secrets to running a successful business virtually can be found by just connecting with them.
Facebook and Reddit are full of digital nomad groups. Once you join the right group that has people with similar aspirations as you, you could learn loads of tricks of the trade in no time.
Create a Workable Schedule
You might be tempted to think that trying to run a business while traveling is going to be “sipping mimosas on a beach in Istanbul while you Slack chat with your colleagues”. Sadly, that isn’t the case.
Running a business is grueling work, whether you are doing it from your office, your home or an AirBnB halfway across the world. So as to not get too tempted to focus on the traveling part, create a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Days designated for work should only be used to work and nothing else.
Discipline is key to making this way of life. Now, this schedule needs to be not only per your convenience but also your employees.
Always Think of Your Employees’ Needs
This one is a no-brainer. Your employees make who you are. They are the ones working super hard to turn your vision into reality. Understand their needs and wants, their time zones, and their approach to work.
If you are jumping time zones left, right and center, remember that they might not have a similar lifestyle. Make room for them in your schedule. Setup meetings as per their convenience whenever possible.
Takeaway: Try Not to Show Off
Sure, you want to tell the world that you just visited the ruins of Pompeii or the gold souk in Dubai, but it’s best to keep your travel life and your work life separate.
When trying to make a business work, it’s always recommended to try and keep your employees in high spirits. That will not be the case if you are constantly showing off where you have been and where you want to go. Be professional, always.
