DENISE ON ... FINDING REMOTE WORK AND NOT SELLING YOURSELF SHORT Q: WHAT 3 THINGS DO NOVICE NOMADS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REMOTE WORK? ● If you want to freelance, make sure you work only with reputable clients or ask for an upfront payment. It’s super frustrating (and not even that uncommon) having to chase your money because clients suddenly disappear or simply keep “forgetting” to pay. ● Take your remote work as seriously as you would a normal office job. If you sleep late, don’t shower, and stay on the couch all day, you probably won’t get much work done. ● Don’t sell yourself short. Employers often think that remote employees are cheaper, but your effort and performance stay the same, anywhere in the world. Make sure you get paid what your skills and experience are really worth. Q: WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING THE SWITCH FROM 9–5 TO FREELANCE LIFE? A: I did not consciously decide to become a freelancer. It just happened along the way. I decided to quit my corporate job because it didn’t make me happy. I took my savings and went traveling, thinking I’d figure it out as I went along. On Facebook I saw a contact looking for a remote content writer on a freelance basis. After a while, I realized that I love this kind of working style and the independence and freedom that come with it. “There’s no reason to look for a ‘normal’ job ever again if a remote job pays the bills just as well and makes me so much happier.” My advice? As a freelancer you need to be mentally and financially prepared for the fact that it can be difficult to find good paying clients when you don’t have a reputation or portfolio yet. It can be depressing to realize that you don’t have enough skills, that you aren’t good enough at selling your service or that there are competitors working at a fraction of your rates. You need to be confident and positive to face that. And you need the savings to get you through because you probably won’t earn enough to cover your expenses at first. Q: WHAT UPSKILLING OR CROSS-SKILLING TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR NOMADS? A: If you’re just starting out and don’t have much budget, YouTube channels and Facebook groups are brilliant platforms for learning. If you want to invest in courses, Udemy is great. You also learn by doing. Want to offer social media management? Create social media accounts and test different strategies. Future online retailers can set up their own Shopify site and use it as a playground for improving skills and learning what works best. ● Denise ● From Germany ● www.digitalnomadsoul.com ● Content creator, translator and blogger ● On the road since 2012 ● Currently in Lisbon, Portugal ✈ ✈ ✈ A DAY IN THE LIFE 1. Go for a run, do yoga or meditate 2. Shower and check my private email & social media 3. Work for clients for a few hours 4. Break up the day with a long walk on the beach or through the city 5. Work until the evening 6. Eat out with friends 7. Work on various projects (for myself or clients) ✈ ✈ ✈ GOOD ADVICE Not used to work outside the office? Check out what Denise says about h ow to stay productive while working from home . 36
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