CHRIS ON ... BECOMING A DIGITAL NOMAD (HE SHOULD KNOW, HE WROTE THE BOOK ON IT) Q: WHAT IS THE KEY TO BECOMING A DIGITAL NOMAD? A: It starts and ends with self-awareness. Understanding why we want something helps us avoid repeating mistakes we’ve already made. It helps us see which specific things we want to change. In my book, the first worksheet has you create a snapshot of where you are and what you want to change in your life. It’s the longest task in the book but also the most important. Whenever you feel like you’ve screwed up, wasted time or money, or just done something wrong, you mentally resolve to avoid making that mistake again. That mental resolution is a great thing, but not enough. Buying the wrong size of something pales in comparison to becoming a digital nomad. You are literally re-shaping your entire life as a nomad – where and how you work, who you work for, when you get up. “It’s almost like reformatting your brain. Your old patterns are based on your previous way of life. They need to be reprogrammed for your new life.” I am convinced that becoming a digital nomad can put you on the road to almost anything your heart desires. Just being a nomad won’t make those things happen, of course. It’s simply a way of freeing you from some of the obstacles making it harder. As they say, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” ● Chris ● From USA ● www.becomingadigitalnomad.com ● Tabletop game designer ● On the road since 2008 ● Currently in Istanbul, Turkey ✈ ✈ ✈ Chris first traveled to Seoul as a teacher, and then visited Thailand, North Africa, Western Europe, South America, North America and Eastern Europe. ✈ ✈ ✈ Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW DIGITAL NOMAD? A: Beyond buy my book? ( Laughs.) Digital nomads are on a journey with no end date, no destination and no place where they simply “end up.” In this case, it truly is about about the journey, not the destination. You define your own success. And when you achieve that, you get to choose something new to aim for. “Remember that there are nomads of all ages, shapes, nationalities, sexual orientations, ethnicities and situations.” If you’re about to say, “Oh, I couldn’t be a nomad, I’m …” and insert one of these identifiers, then consider this: Someone just like you is already out there living the nomadic life. It’s possible for everyone! BOOK REVIEW Read our review of Chris’s book “ Becoming a Digital Nomad ” on page 28. ✈ ✈ ✈ BEING A DIGITAL NOMAD MEANS ... “In a single word, freedom. As a sentence, the ability to live my life on my terms, without the encumberments of culture, family, society, etc.” 34
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