A Revolution in Work Freedom – Becoming a digital nomad: Interview with Jacob Laukaitis.
Digital Nomadism is the new lifestyle with an adventurous attitude to the way of working, empowered by technology to eliminate our bondage to the physical workspace. This trend is rising and roughly 2/3 of those who make such change became freelancers while the rest create a virtual business or team. (Upwork)
The digital nomad Jacob Laukaitis, a member of Talent Garden is sharing his story of turning the worklife life upside down and running a fast-growing online business while traveling to more than a dozen countries a year.
1. Digital entrepreneur and nomad, passionate writer and adventurer. Making money while travelling – how? Tell us more about yourself: where, when and how it all started?
I established my first company at the age of 15 and have been running my own online ventures ever since. I became an active digital nomad about 2 years ago when I started a small, but very profitable social media marketing agency. Eventually I worked 3-5 hours a week and could travel anywhere, so I went to 12 countries that year. I’m currently a co-founder of an online coupons company ChameleonJohn.com. Even though this is a much bigger project, I’m still completely location independent, since I can complete all of my work tasks online.
2. What do you call your home and what do you name as office?
My perception of what is ‘a home’ has changed dramatically in the past 2 years. Right now home is nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Which, in my opinion, is awesome. Speaking of an office, it’s any table in the world as long as I have my computer and a Wi-Fi connection. I’m also a frequent user of co-working spaces. Currently, I am a member of Talent Garden network, which is very convenient for the travellers in Europe, especially the South, as with one membership you work from all of the campuses. Coworking is the best office, because I can meet so many interesting entrepreneurs, professionals and digital nomads. Hopefully, TAG will locate some campuses around Asia soon as it would make working travellers life easier there.
3. Any tips for those who are about to start their journey?
Of course! For every starting digital nomad, I’d recommend: never settle for too long, keep on moving and exploring cultures (if you have the time, start learning languages); always finish your work tasks before going diving, surfing, hiking or doing all the other super exciting stuff; whenever traveling, try to get hosted – that’s the best way to meet new friends and explore the place’s culture. For everyone who would like to become a digital nomad, I’ve just created a free newsletter “3 Tips To Become A Digital Nomad“.
4. What is your hottest recent work-life achievement?
In the past 2 years I’ve traveled to more than 30 countries, helped
grow ChameleonJohn.com from a startup to an established company and some of my digital nomad articles got super popular, such as “Why I Will Never Live 9 to 5” on Medium with 160,000+ views.
5. A little bit more on travelling and adventures: can you share any personal travelling stats and the biggest / craziest adventures you had?
I currently spend most of my time in Asia, since I’m really interested in the continent’s history, numerous cultures and online business opportunities. I’ve been to 11 thus far, some of them many times. I’ve spent a month traveling all around Japan; got my scuba diver’s license in the Gili Islands; trekked volcanoes in Bali; explored hundreds of temples in Myanmar and Cambodia; snorkeled with whale sharks in the Philippines; and motorbiked across dozens of islands, towns and cities.
I’ve also just finished motorbiking across the Balkan states. I drove 8,000 kilometers across 15 countries in just 4 weeks, completely alone.
6. Tell us more about your plans. Do you make any? What are the next destination points?
I don’t usually make fixed plans, but I have quite a few ideas where I want to go and what I want to do. Starting from the 1st of September I’ll spend a week relaxing in Thailand, a month having an awesome team get-away with my colleagues in Bali, a month traveling around Indonesia and learning their official language, two months traveling around India (which includes 1-2 weeks living in the slums of Mumbai), three months in Taiwan learning Mandarin and connecting with the local startup community and three month-long trip around China, among a few other potential destinations.
7. How would you describe your current life in 5 words?
Wouldn’t change it for anything.
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This is an absolutely awesome article Hector! I’ve been a digital nomad for several years off and on, from California to Cape Town and now here in Barcelona. I’ve met so many people from all over the world as a nomad here in Barca and one guy I met from canada needed help with a unique shoe concept that I got heavily involved in. Let’s just say once we pull this off hopefully by christmas, the world will have the first Reversible Shoes which we call “Reverisbles” . See http://www.reversibleshoe.com . The point is, I could have only met Max as a digital nomad! People think I’m crazy the way I work as a nomad on my startups and play. I even won a top European Startup award through Barcelona, all living and working as a nomad. I have learnt so much in this great city. This article shows there are plenty of people all over the world like us working on projects they love, albeit nomadically. Thanks Hector for presenting such an inspiring article and you guys at Barcinno really rock!