In recent years, more and more people prefer to exchange office weekdays on life “digital nomad”. They work remotely or run their Internet business and in his spare time traveling the world, rarely staying somewhere longer than a month. “Ribbon.<url>” I talked to three digital nomads about their life, work and philosophy free lifestyle.
“I just spend a little”
“First business I had in 15 years. Oddly enough, it was a small book publishing house. Well, the online store for the sale of books,” says 22-year-old Lithuanian Jacob Laukaitis. He is considered one of the world’s most popular “digital nomads” — Internet entrepreneurs who have decided to abandon the standard office life for the sake of travel and self-knowledge.
However, Jacob himself cites the example of much more famous people. For example, Pavel Durov, who is forced to move from place to place for reasons of safety. “I just don’t like to sit in the office,” laughs Lithuanian.
His first business he opened with the help of one American who came up with the idea to publish in Lithuania different Western books. Under this deal, Jacob created and its website. A few years later the partners sold the business, and in the hands of young Lithuanian was more than 10 thousand euros.
He put them into his own company to promote different sites, but decided not to remove her to an office. Instead, he found workers network and promised them a percentage of the transaction with each client. “Some of the employees I have never seen it personally, but it does not prevent them to work effectively. So this option suits me,” said the businessman.
The company gave him 2-3 thousand euros per month and demanded a permanent seat in the office that, in principle, satisfied Jacob. On the other hand, to live on this money in Lithuania was not so easy, so he was constantly looking for opportunities to cut costs. “And one day it dawned on me — in the world as there are plenty of countries where life is much cheaper than in Europe. So I Packed my things and went to travel”, — says the Lithuanian.
Since then it’s been two years, and Jacob is not going to abandon the nomadic way of life. During this time he has traveled to over 40 countries and, by his own admission, fell in love with Asia. Surf in Bali, rode elephants in Thailand, and drove a jeep across the protected jungles of Myanmar. Wintered in Hainan and Singapore. Was amazed at the kindness and generosity of people in North Korea and grandeur of the monasteries of Tibet. And all this time continued to work.
“To manage his company I need only a laptop and wifi so I can work anywhere, even lying on the beach. But do not think that I’m lazy. Sometimes you have to sit behind a computer all day,” says the Lithuanian. According to him, the secret of the success of the Internet business in the choice of “non-sexual” areas. “Everyone wants to create a new Google or Facebook, because it’s so sexy. But really need to do boring and routine things like promoting websites in the search results or advertising sales. This is something that will always be in demand,” says Jacob.
More than a year ago he and two of the IT businesses have launched its own coupon service ChameleonJohn. Jacob invested in his funds, saved during the life in Asia. A simple scheme with the placement of information on group discounts and sales brought them more than a million dollars.
Lithuanian admits that many saves, because every month you spend on life not more than a thousand euros. “I fly cheap local airlines and rare book housing, preferring to look for it on the spot. Most spent in North Korea, almost two thousand Euro. Yes, and most had on international calls, because there is generally no Internet” — with a laugh he recalls.
Lifestyle “digital nomad” now seems to him the only true, he just talks about it on the net and really do not understand people who prefer to sit in the office. To the question about the family of Jacob, logically says that the future wife can also work remotely as children is to grow in a warm Asian climate. “In Lithuania is constantly cold and rain. As there is generally possible to live?! Although I’m telling you, you’re from Russia,” he sums up.
“This life is not all to the liking”
Designer and blogger Thomas Laurinavicius abandoned office life back in 2013. After studying in Denmark he was trying to work in a prestigious London company, but quickly realized that is too tired and feels miserable. Then he created a website Despreneur, where he began to talk about the lifehacks for web designers and entrepreneurs.
“The project suddenly began to make money, and still managed to cut down a little on advertising and sponsored posts in my blog on Medium. Well, I was constantly making all sorts of projects for a variety of studios and sites. Web design now do the thing in demand,” explains Thomas.
Since then, he managed to participate in the writing of a book on mobile application development and have released a few online courses, but decided to focus on the development of Despreneur. Really had a little to cut spending, because while the site does not bring stable profits, Thomas lives on average only $ 1,500 a month. That is why he, like Jacob, crazy about Asia with its rich cuisine, warm climate and low prices. The he monthly spends no more than 500-700 dollars.
“I constantly travel from Thailand to Bali, because for me the main thing — good Internet and good coffee. Constantly looking for some local coffee shops. If not, then go to work in coworking. In Asia are now many “digital nomads”, so that places a lot for work,” he notes.
In the job, Thomas tries to use various life hacks. For example, always assigns tasks and tracks the most productive hours in which he gets to do more. He gets up early and is always the plan for the day, lots of trains and meditates. And goes offline on the weekends, this is a mandatory rule. “The weekend I dedicate only myself: I like traveling, ride a scooter and try to learn something new. But never touch the Internet and gadgets. It really clears the mind,” says Thomas.
In the future he is not going to change the way of living the “digital nomad” work in the office. The truth admits that the constant travel is not for everyone, and many are afraid of uncertainty. “I started to notice that I didn’t want to break anywhere every two months. Sometimes six months can stay in one place. Apparently, getting old,” grins Thomas.
Paradise for hackers
Casey Rosengren is a true legend in the world of “digital nomads”. Successful startups a couple of years ago I suddenly realized that I’m dead tired, and went on permanent vacation to Costa Rica. There he met the owner of the hotel, which was empty almost all the rooms, and asked him to settle in to a bunch of web developers and designers.
So the idea of a Hacker Paradise — a single platform for all “digital nomads”, where they can mark on the map the best places to stay, food and entertainment. The website quickly turned into a kind of online guide for all fans around the world, and Casey, meanwhile, has opened a chain of coworking and collaborated with more and more hotel owners.
“I was different from other “digital nomads”, because I, in fact, arrange travel. Yes I work a lot, but a considerable part of this work — a trip to the bar with very nice people, or dinner in the restaurant. So I rather enjoy my work,” he said.
Sometimes, however, Casey still thinks about the family and realizes that eventually he will have to settle down. When he will have children, travel will remain an integral part of family life, but most of the time they will still live in the same place.
“This way of life for people who love extreme and constant stress in life. And some, conversely, prefer not to go out of your comfort zone. In any case, I think every year is “digital nomads” will be more, says Thomas. After all, no matter where and in what conditions you work. The main thing is your productivity.
