Blog articles may contain affiliate links (marked with *). More details here.
Freedom vs. challenge
One form of freedom is to work where you want or where you are. In my generation, it was normal to have a permanent job at a company where you worked 9 to 5 and fulfilled your role. Working from home was a rarity and usually associated with scepticism and a lack of trust. Gradually, flexible working hours, mobile workplaces and the topic of New Work came into companies. And with the restrictions in the C-era, the home office was suddenly recognised and practised as a high-performance working model out of necessity.
My decision to become self-employed for the first time in 2007 was partly due to my desire to finally work freely, independently and for my own company. No more separation between my personality and my professional activities. Over the years as a sole trader, I learned how to organise, structure and discipline myself, first in my own small office in the city and later in my home office, in order to complete my projects professionally - at my own personal pace.
Home office on tour
As a long-standing entrepreneur, I can take all of this valuable experience with me on our lust-for-life adventure. Today, when I'm on tour, I see location-independent working while travelling as the highest level of entrepreneurship: a symbiosis of life and occasional work.
It's a wonderful feeling and a privilege to be in the most beautiful places on earth and to be able to work there - whether for my international network business, my Stuttgart architecture magazine, our global investment projects or for this website and blog. The digital world makes it possible!
My challenges and technical helpers
At the same time, this freedom to work from anywhere also brings its challenges. I am happy to share my personal challenges with you here and briefly explain what technical equipment can make working from different countries easier when it comes to the Internet:
- The climatic conditions sometimes make it difficult for me to concentrate on my work, e.g. extreme heat in the bush, frosty evenings in the desert or high humidity like in Mauritius.
- Thunderstorms, storms or heavy rain can also distract our focus from our work. Because we experience this up close in our Keiler trailer and often require special attention from us.
- Some beautiful places are simply uncomfortable and impractical with a laptop. Grains of sand in the keyboard or limbs falling asleep from sitting somewhere on the ground or a rock are not so much fun 😉
- Every day is different - as an overlander, it's not so easy to keep to fixed time slots for work. Things often turn out differently than planned. You have to be flexible and reschedule.
- And it requires more self-discipline to take the time for work despite the marvellous hiking and mountain bike trails, despite the giraffes, zebras, elephants and the like creeping around, despite the inviting farms and vineyards, despite the palm-fringed sandy beach.
Networked worldwide
Working in different countries in different places also requires a few technical things to be considered and purchased. I mainly work with a MacBook Air, which is the perfect size for me and so light that you can use it comfortably on your lap. An iPad and iPhone complete the set.
In this article, I will cover the most important thing - access to the Internet. For this I use:
Local SIM card
So I buy a SIM card from a local provider in the respective country as soon as I arrive. This is inexpensive and there are various tariffs to choose from with different data volumes, durations and with or without AirTime. The disadvantages are that you first have to find a suitable shop and in some countries you need to plan a lot of time there. Setting up can also be somewhat complicated. In addition, the data volume expires after a maximum of 30 days. So if, like us, you are in the country for longer, you should keep an eye on the expiry date so that you can get new data volume in good time. Unfortunately, online top-ups in South Africa only work with a domestic credit card. So we have to go to a shop to top up. The good thing is that once a SIM card has been purchased in the country, it can be reactivated at any time within 3 months.
SIM Card Vocher
Although the Vochers are only available with smaller data volumes, they are available in many supermarkets and kiosks and are only activated when the enclosed PIN is activated. We always have some in reserve so that we can top up our data volume in an emergency, even if we don't have a town with a shop nearby.
We also use Airalo, the world's first eSIM store, which gives you access to more than 200 digital SIM cards worldwide. I can select a mobile data tariff for my country via the app and am immediately online. This is practical if you can't or don't want to search for a local provider's shop after arriving at the airport or overland. However, the data tariffs are higher here.
With the small, handy *WLAN hotspot GlocalMe Duo Turbo 4G LTE we have an intelligent local network with us. Several devices can dial into it at the same time. The GlocalMe does not necessarily need a SIM card; data can be purchased directly via the app. However, we use a cheaper local SIM card.
The cheapest and most convenient is of course always free WiFi in public places, cafés, restaurants, shopping malls, campsites, farms, etc. 😊.
Work from anywhere: Is it really that easy?
My conclusion: location-independent work is the freest way to earn money and can give you plenty of time and space for your individuality. It offers you the chance to integrate your job into your best life according to the call of your soul - or to make it possible in the first place!
No, it's not always easy. But it is worth it: if you are prepared to organise your professional life on your own initiative, this can be the key to a free life. Because you are ONE person, you live this ONE life and not two, separated into private and professional. You are allowed and able to do this - it is a question of your mindset.
This freedom means more personal responsibility. But it is precisely this that gives you the freedom to decide when, where and how much you want to invest in your work.
Possible questions for your personal journey of discovery:
Can you imagine working from anywhere? Would that give you more time for yourself personally?
Does your current occupation give you the opportunity to do so? And does it offer you the space to live according to the call of your soul?
Would you also like to be free and self-determined in your professional life? Are you prepared to take personal responsibility for this?
Do you feel that your work prevents you from living according to your individual biorhythm? Do you know your chronotype?
Possible questions for your personal journey of discovery:
Can you imagine working from anywhere? Would that give you more time for yourself personally?
Does your current occupation give you the opportunity to do so? And does it offer you the space to live according to the call of your soul?
Would you also like to be free and self-determined in your professional life? Are you prepared to take personal responsibility for this?
Do you feel that your work prevents you from living according to your individual biorhythm? Do you know your chronotype?
4 responses
great!!!
🙂 Thanx Gerrit !!!
That sounds really exciting! I love my business with all my heart and I live it! I'm very grateful for that! I don't know if I'll be able to work from anywhere in my business. But I can already enjoy my freedom and that's great! It's a gift to be able to do what you're called to do.
Oh yes, that has always fascinated me about you: the love and power with which you live your business! And I'm delighted that you manage to enjoy your private life at the same time and make time for it, applause!