You can travel the world and still stay on top of things. This is one of the biggest advantages of being an online entrepreneur. You’re location independent, which means you’re granted the freedom to become a “world explorer.” Isn’t that a wonderful thing?
If you’re a first-time solopreneur and don’t believe that you can strike a balance between changing locations and staying productive, this article is for you. There’ll always be ways to succeed and this is what we’re tackling here. So read on.
How to Run Your Online Business While Traveling
1. Have an internet backup plan.
Obviously, you can’t do accomplish anything in your online business without the internet! There are places with no internet access so you’ll need to provide it for yourself. Successful digital nomads solve this issue by buying a local sim card which they insert in a mobile pocket wifi. Another option would be to research the resort you’re planning to stay in to see if they have internet access.
2. Hire a virtual assistant.
The more you travel, the more likely you’re going to need someone to delegate business tasks to. It’s not an option but a must. A lot of virtual assistants nowadays manage their own small business and have websites, so they would understand how your business works. Some will go the extra mile to help when you are offline.
3. Learn to say no to new people you meet.
One of the perks of being a digital nomad is that you grow your social circle. You strike random conversations with people on the beach or road. Sometimes, you exchange info with strangers who might just invite you to lunch. Most people assume you’re on a vacation, and that’s a normal thing. However, learn to say no when you need to stay in. Better yet, set aside time for socialization. After all, making new friends contributes to your personal growth. But business first!
4. Rely on tools!
For an internet business to stay productive and effective, it needs help from tools. Tools may not fully automate tasks but they certainly reduce the number of hours needed to complete them. If you don’t have tools now, start researching them. There should be an online tool for scheduling your blog and social media posts, a tool for proofreading your work, collaboration, and more – depending on the nature of your business.
Suggested reading: 7 Best Project Management Tools For Effective Team Collaboration
5. Invest in a good business laptop.
What features and capabilities should your laptop have? A traveling solopreneur would need a laptop that has a long battery life, high RAM, CPU, and with a slim body. Good examples would be the Macbook Pro and Lenovo ThinkPad. Your choice of a laptop depends on the kind of work you do. You’ll need powerful ones if your business entails graphic design and video editing. Better yet, go for the latest models.
6. Plan your hours.
What hours of the day are you most productive? Stick to your best times to maximize productivity. I’m a morning person and also find that waking up at 4:00 a.m. for a morning run (at the beach or nearby park), and then completing one-fourth of my work before 8:00 a.m. works best for me. Knowing your productive hours gives you extra time to explore a new location and discover more attractions and amenities.
Why become a traveling entrepreneur? What’s the point?
Besides the joy of exploring and experiencing new things, becoming location-independent has many benefits. It helps you save (depends on where you’re going), get more creative inspiration, support your photography or travel blog, open your mind to new beliefs, and recharge!
It’s an amazing thing not to get stuck to your chair in the same room for the entire year. You left your 9-5 office work to achieve more flexibility, so make the most out of it.
