Being a digital nomad is probably the best way to live, once you’re getting money. The only better way to live, is if you’re independently wealthy. I’ve been a digital nomad, and I’ve experienced how free one can feel when they’re living abroad and getting money. As a result, I highly recommend you figure out a way to earn “wifi money”, because in my experience, you’re getting about twice as much bang for your buck out of every aspect of life, simply by making the choice to go remote.
Why is being location independent so great?
We live in a globalized world, and people are kind of the same everywhere. That being said, some places are different from others, and those differences are often very vast. Some countries have high crime rates, others have low crime rates. Some countries experience civil wars, others don’t. Being location independent allows you to find what you like and don’t like. I’ve had the privilege of visiting multiple countries and cities in Latin America, and now I know that I enjoy cities with low crime rates, modern infrastructure, and that are reasonably walkable. By going remote, and reaching a certain level of income, I’m giving myself the option to basically pick a city to live in and enjoy to the fullest extent.
“But everybody can’t go remote”
True, but a lot of people can. Right now in the United States of America, fewer than half of all people who can go remote do. And in spite of this, about 14% of the US workforce works remotely. As the world becomes more technologically sophisticated, there will be more room for remote work. So basically, the choice is yours. You can get into a skilled trade and put your body at risk, you can get into healthcare, or you can go remote. This is if you want to enjoy freedom and job stability, at least. There’s a lot of room for you to go remote. If you pick up skills and work hard, you should be able to make it happen.
What skills do I need in order to go remote?
Well, there are a few. The first skill that will help you go remote is writing. If you can articulate your thoughts clearly, you can make money online. Another good skill is information technology. If you have IT certifications you can do anything from working at a help desk to network administration and hacking. I’m not an IT pro, but I am currently studying for my Comptia certification, and will likely also be studying to be a CCNA soon. This should bring my earning potential up to $20/hour, and that’s without the computer science degree I’m getting. Some other important skills include sales and video production. This last skill might be overtaken by AI, but it will always come in handy even if only for sales purposes.
Overall, going remote will probably be the best life choice that you make. Being remote gives you leverage and options, all while allowing you to strongly hedge your bets based on the fact that you have location independent skills. On an adjusted basis, you’re definitely safer going remote than you are working a regular office job. When you’re tethered to a city or a country, you’re basically at the mercies of geopolitics. Going remote does a lot to help solve that. Once you get your hands on multiple passports, you’re in a league of your own. You’ll have increased business abilities and agency over your life. This is as close to true freedom as one can get.
