It’s time to dream up a life you never thought existed. It’s move over to the past and embrace the future with both hands! The digital Nomad is a recent development,wide ranging availability of internet connections, smaller laptops and smart phones have create an environment that will allow an enterprising person the ability to do a job from anywhere in the world.

Understanding The Life of a Modern Digital Nomad

It may just be my ego, but I like to think that I am one of the original Digital Nomads and with this in mind it’s a great idea to proceed with this article. This is a great way to succeed and see the world at the same time.

Back in 1996 the internet was just beginning to transform from the original military/educational system to one available to the public. Online companies were being formed providing online content and the ability to talk to other people, later evolving to add internet access . Getting online was by dialed up modems. For ten months, I worked on a special project that had me overseas while still maintaining control of four other projects I was responsible for. I was assigned to work directly for a Senior Vice President and only him and the corporation President knew of my where about. When the project was complete and I return to the main office I convinced the company to allow me to continue to work remotely. I had to attend three meeting a month in person but other than that I could work from anywhere that I could get online. My favorite meeting back then was a product launch review, I was sitting poolside in Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, while those at the office had 8 inches of new snow.

Today’s Digital Nomad is often a true nomad. They can travel just about anywhere in the world earning as they go with no place as home. While a small number are employed full time by a company, most are self employed. The source of the income can be varied but the common denominator is the use of the internet as a means of staying connected and earning.

Freelance Writing and Web Design – One of the most common way that a Nomad can earn is from creative talents such as writing or designing web pages. Many have their own websites or blogs that they started when they became Nomads. As the number of readers increase they may add advertisement or sell e-books. The next step is often making themselves available for assignments at a freelance site. While earning a basic living is not extremely difficult, it not really a road to riches. Some can of course become millionaires from it like Johnny Ward from Kilkeel, a fellow Northern Irishman.

If you visit some of these freelance sites you often see very low amounts for a job. However once a freelancer proves themselves they can often get higher earnings but also repeat clients. Many Digital Nomads spend time in parts of the world that have a lower cost of living and find ways to enjoy life on a lower budget. There are so many nomads out there, but lots are them are not digital. They can just about work out Facebook or Instagram.

House and Pet Sitting – Many people find that house sitting with or without pets as a part of the process. Simply a home owner, who needs to travel, has someone stay at their home to take care of it while they are away. At times this will include taking care of pets. This may be a arrangement with no money involved or if there are extended task a small amount may be paid. The dream is to earn enough money to keep yourself on the road and always be occupied while having a good wage. The homeowner knows someone is taking care of the property and the sitter has a comfortable place to live for free and maybe a little pocket money.

Online Teaching and Tutors – There are language schools popping up online everywhere. While some do require college degrees and some additional certifications many do not. A tutoring site may just have a online interview to test our verbal skills. The websites clients often just need a native speaker to practice with and give suggestion on pronunciations or to identify wrong word use. I recently reviewed a website that had small group classes. Each class was 45 minutes long with up to nine students per class. There is so much opportunity in this lifestyle these days! The teacher received $5 per student. Personally I think $45 a hour is a pretty decent pay rate. Besides being a native speaker, what do you need for many of these language jobs? Past the interview, have a computer with web cam and headset, a fast internet connection , and make a commitment of at least ten hours a month.

The options are vast and you could be forgiven for thinking it’s just a few people with their laptops out whipping up a travel blog. Day Trading and FOREX is not as common but if you are already doing it, take it on the road. I have a friend who is doing this. He had made some money young and started dabbling in day trading and also foreign exchange. His wife was a school teacher. They went on a week vacation and he “worked” while enjoying the sun. on the way home they decided that the wife would take a sabbatical for a year and they would travel. They would use his earnings and if necessary tap savings. They rented out their house for a year and hit the road. That was four years ago and they are still traveling.

Examine Your Strengths and Hit the Road. If the though of getting away for awhile has every crossed your mind, then being a Digital Nomad may be for you. Look at your current job, can you do it remotely? Can you develop other talents and made a living? Practice at home in your spare time to get a feel for it, then see if you can hit the road.

For sure, you can test this lifestyle and then decide if it is the way to proceed.