I wanted to share with you all some exciting news and also fill you in on some changes around here in the coming months. As you know, it has been my goal for the past year or so to build a new career for myself and find a way out of a job that I feel absolutely no passion for. The reason I started this blog was to explore exactly what it was that I wanted to do with my life, and also to share my passion for exploring the world and finding something that would allow me to earn living while doing exactly that.
Over the past few months I’ve been sharing with you ways in which you can become location independent and earn a living from anywhere in the world, and in doing this research I’ve finally found that thing that I believe I’ve been looking for all along – a career path that will make me happy, give me flexibility, and challenge, inspire and scare me all at once. Initially I felt like I wanted to be a career travel blogger, but I believe this site has evolved into something different – I’m beyond the days of wanting to spend my life living out of a suitcase and on the road 365 days a year, but I still want the freedom of being able to pop over to the US or back to Australia for the summer while still having all the creature comforts of home wherever I choose that to be (at the moment London is it). And I believe this site has evolved into being a lot more than a travel blog – Hopefully it is a resource for others on the same path as myself looking for a career that will give them everything they are looking for and more. I hope that through exploring these topics myself I have been able to provide useful information to budding location independent entrepreneurs and travel bloggers.
So, in saying that, I’m excited to share with you all that I soon will be entering the exciting and terrifying terrain of starting my own business. I don’t want to share too much at this stage but I can tell you that it will be a UK online store specialising in an area of interest and passion for me, and I hope to launch it sometime in the next 6-9 months. Coming to the realisation that starting a business is going to be the only thing that will truly make me career-happy in the long run has been extremely nerve-racking, but I’m so excited for the time ahead – and to be honest, it’s also a relief after two years of searching and yearning for a ‘sign’. They say that ‘when the student is ready the teacher will appear’ and this has certainly been true for me – the concept of setting up a business has always been an option, but for some reason (perhaps it’s the fact I turn 30 in a few months) recently I’ve felt like it’s make or break time and honestly put some thought into it.
So what is changing around here? Not too much, I’m happy to say – I’ll still very much be blogging and running this site, but as of now I’m not going to stick to a certain post schedule. This is mainly due to the lack of hours in the day for me right now while I still continue to work full time for another couple of months while setting up my business and getting things ready for launch. My plan is to work until the store goes live, and from that day on I will be officially self-employed! I really look forward to that day and the ride I’m about to willingly put myself on.
As I navigate my way through the set up process I’m sure there is going to be so many things to share with you guys, so I’ll be posting regularly about how things are going, and sharing my lessons learnt and other bits and pieces that I think will help anyone thinking of also taking the plunge. I’ll still be continuing with my blog updates on income and stats, but these will be 6 monthly moving forward – that way there will be lots to report while still being frequent. I still have a few trips planned here and there, so I’ll be sharing these with you also. My hope is that within a year or two of starting the business I’ll have a lot of freedom in where I base myself, and I’m hoping my dream of moving to New York will be happening sooner rather than later too!
If you guys have any questions, please feel free to shout out, and as always I’ll be replying to comments and emails as much as I can so please continue to say hello every now and then!
Congratulations! Your path is really inspirational and I wish you all the luck in the new venture. I’m a fellow entrepreneur and know it can be tough and scary at times… but I believe everything will turn out well for us for having had the guts to take a risk! -Lauren
Much like yourself, I’ve searched for the right way to build a location independent income for myself to enjoy more of the world and living. I’m realizing now at 37, I don’t necessarily want to live out of a suitcase either.
I think having a small homebase somewhere and being able to work from any place in town is fulfilling. To also be able to travel for a couple months out of the year, backpack style, but still have a homebase is ideal.
My initial entry into ecommerce with a shop started in 2004 didn’t necessarily provide the level of income I expected, however it did provide me the skills to get a career in the web/seo/ppc industry, with a much higher pay.
In turn this higher pay provides a bigger cushion for eventual long term exploration.
If you have any questions about stating your online shop let me know, I’d be glad to volunteer to answer any questions.
Good luck on the new venture! I a sure it will be wildly successful.
I have been where you are now (just a bit later in life) – and I wish you all the best with the new business. I am sure you will enjoy it… 🙂
Congratulations on discovering and progressing with your idea. It is always hard to get past the initial fear of your idea but it will be worth it no matter the outcome!
I have just finished my university classes and now I am left with having to find my way. I want to be a writer and I will always write. I have had poems published in a Canadian Literary Magazine coming out in May so things are happening for me in this regard. However, I find that it takes a while to get paid in the writing industry as most of it is just getting your work out there.
I am working for my parents which provides a lot of freedom, but like you, I want to be more independent so I can’t travel and have extra money for whatever I need, potentially developing my blog to a website (hopefully as nice as yours).
I have also come up with an idea but it is in the very beginnings of an idea. I want to do a food tour in the city as there are none. I am also trying to develop my Etsy shop and generate income this way which is easier said than done. If you know anyone who wants to purchase travel photography direct them my way!
Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your store! Will Canadians be able to purchase your products?
The Wanderfull Traveler
Thanks so much Mia! : )
Thank you!
Hi Jeff, thank you so much – sounds like you’ve had a great journey so far! I will definitely get in touch, and all the best with your plans too!
Thanks so much Lauren – I wish you all the best too – I have total respect for entrepreneurs at the moment, as I see how tough it can be!
Thanks Murissa! And congrats on all of your ventures and getting your work published – very inspiring! Im sure with all the hard work you’re putting in you are going to be wildly successful very soon! Keep going! My store is going to be UK only, purely for the fact that it’s going to be based around products people need regularly, so postage could get quite expensive! There are people doing similar things to what Im going to do in the US/Canada, so Ive taken a lot of inspiration from that. I will announce what Im doing as soon as its ready to launch – eeek! PS. Great idea with the tour – I love it, you should totally do it!
Congrats on the new start up! Seriously, me, you, and Jeff should hang out as our stories are pretty much the same. I have a job that’s OK but I don’t want to do the rest of my life. However, I don’t want to be a career traveler either. I started my blog as a way to discover my passions and explore my interests to see where this would take me. I am still working on things but am very pleased with the clarity this has given me for my life.
I wish you the best in your new business and hope you can achieve the dreams you want and continue to live with passion for the things that you enjoy!
Hi there. Wishing you all the best toward your new journey. I wish it’ll be a great success. You have the confidence & capability exist in you. Best of luck!
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Thanks so much Michael!
You are most welcome my friend. Eagerly waiting to hear more from you. Take care.
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I am joining in wishing you all the best in your new undertakings,as I am more than sure you will accomplish everything you set for yourself and even exceed it! The name you chose to call your blog has such a powerful vibes, that are reflecting on the success you will have in putting forward your intentions! Great blog and posts! Looking forward hearing for your new achievements!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much Celia!
How exciting! I can’t wait to follow your new steps towards this goal. I’m sure you’ll do really well at it 🙂
Thanks Izy! Stay tuned – Im giving the blog a little makeover this week, so there’ll be lots more about business/career/followng your passions as well as travel – hope you like it : )
Nicole,
Hi again! You’ve been on quite a journey, one that really resonates with me and to hear about your new direction in life makes me really happy for you, you deserve it! Listen, I’m going to e-mail you soon, i’ll be in London for work from the 25th to the 11th and I’m hoping to meet up with you. I would love to pick your brain. Look out for it!
best
reene
Hi Reene, awww thanks! Yes, do email, would love to meet up! Looking forward to hearing from you!