6 Ways To Work From Anywhere And Fund Location Independence

If you’re anything like me you may be dreaming of one day being able to live a location independent lifestyle – having the ability to work from anywhere, live where you please and be able see the world while you’re at it. This is something that I’m striving for in the next year or so, and having done a lot of research on the topic, I want to share with people some of the things I’ve learnt about becoming location independent – namely, that pretty much anyone can do it – you just have to decide which is the right path for you to reach this goal, and then do everything in your power to chase it down.

Personally, I’m maybe a quarter of the way there. I currently work in a home-based role in London, which theoretically gives me the freedom to be able to work anywhere in Western Europe, although I haven’t yet exercised this option yet. The only problem is I hate said job – but the thing that keeps me in it at the moment is the money, the extra time working from home gives me each day and the prospect of being able to move to Paris at the end of the year and still have a steady income coming in.

I’m hoping this will be my next major step, and in the meantime I will grow this blog to a point it’s monetized, continue building my Living In London Guide website, and save like crazy so that I can begin to see an end to the job I hate, and cease being limited to living in one city.

I understand that blogging, and websites aren’t for everyone however, so don’t let that fool you into thinking that you’ll never be able to be location independent – you can, and you will! There’s loads of other ways to fund this kind of life, so only your imagination can limit you on all of the possibilities. If you’re having trouble figuring out what might work best for you, here’s an overview of some of the ways that I’ve come across that allow you to work anywhere and give you the life you’ve always wanted.

Freelancing

The good news is that most ‘normal’ jobs can be turned into freelance jobs – from HR consulting to web design, and journalism to administration work – if you have the experience and confidence to go it alone, freelancing can be a great way to earn a good living while having the freedom to choose your post code. Becoming a freelancer is a relatively easy process too, so you could be up and running in a few months if you need to be!

Blogging

These days, there are millions of blogs out there, on pretty much every topic imaginable – but the truth is, not all blogs are making money. Blogging certainly isn’t a fast path to riches, but if you have the passion, dedication and the right idea, then it can grow into a global money-spinning business over time: through the selling of advertising, eBooks and affiliate links. Just be prepared to put in the hard yards to get there.

Start An Online (Or Offline) Business

Money-making online is definitely not limited to blogging – what about setting up an online eBay business or an informational website generating income from advertising and google adsense? There are millions of people out there making money online, and there are just as many ways to do it – but like blogging, make sure you are passionate enough to put in some long hours before you start seeing the money roll in each month.

Alternatively, if internet business isn’t for you but you still have a fabulous idea or service to offer, then setting up a company might still be the way to go.  You may choose to start out freelancing, then as your client base grows you can take on more and more staff until eventually you find yourself the CEO of a successful company – and whats even better is you can work from anywhere in the world running it!

Teach English Around The World

If the online world isn’t for you and you fancy bushing up on a foreign language, then teaching English abroad may be your key to going location independent. There are hundreds of programs to choose from these days and most include free accommodation and return airfares as well as an attractive salary. You will need to study for a short Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification before you apply, but once you pass you could be jet-setting off to countries like Thailand, Japan, China, Columbia or Brazil.

Work On A Cruise Ship

Fancy waking up every day to crystal blue waters and working literally while you travel? There are hundreds of cruise ship companies out there hiring for a wide range of roles – from food and beverage service, spa treatment assistants, tradespeople and lots more! There are also many recruitment agencies dedicated to cruise ship work, so this helps to simplify the process of finding and applying for jobs.

Find A Flexible Job

Don’t fancy any of the above? No problem, if you have a job at home, then you can get a job anywhere! You could either broach the subject of beginning to work remotely at your current company, or perhaps look at an inter-company transfer. You’ll need to look into visas to work in most countries, but if you want to continue to grow your career at your current company, then this is the way to go. If not, then speak to some recruitment companies in the countries you’re interested in moving to – you might be able to land yourself a short contract for a few months before you move on to your next destination. This is a great option if you love your current career but still want the flexibility of being able to work anywhere – the best of both worlds!

As I said, these are just some of the main ways people fund their location independence, and for each method I will be writing a more comprehensive guide over the coming weeks. Best of luck in your search for the right one for you!

Photo Credits – Thanks to soopahtoe.

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