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Haiti (1995)

Haiti (1995)

Haiti (1995)

In 1995 I visited Haiti. Read about my adventures in Dutch.

Esther Jacobs2022-08-27T17:59:45+02:00

Most popular posts…

How to get cheap, worldwide health insurance at IKEA 5.7k views
Travel light – packing advice 2.2k views
Watercolor life lessons 2k views

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Travel tips and stories from over 100 countries

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🔥 I light fires
🌎 Freedom: digital nomad, entrepreneur, speaker, author, book writing coach 📚
@tinytrullo: follow my adventures in Puglia 🇮🇹🌳

DON’T PUT ‘BEING’ ON YOUR TO DO LIST! You k

DON’T PUT ‘BEING’ ON YOUR TO DO LIST!

You know you are too busy. You know you need to take some rest. So you plan a yoga session in your busy schedule. Maybe you even get up a bit earlier to do meditation. It’s all scheduled and organized….And yet, you still feel stressed, rushed and at risk of a burnout. 😥

Scheduling ‘relaxing activities’ like your business activities just does not work. You cannot put ‘being’ on your to do list. What you need is space. Time off without any plans, so you can feel. Feel what it is your body needs. Maybe it wants to sleep, maybe it wants to exercise, socialize, be playful, or just ‘be’.

It took me many years to realize that you have to approach ‘being’ different from what I was used to while being in my favorite ‘doing’ mode.

I would love to hear your energy management struggles and the solutions you found, since this is an ongoing awareness, and choices need to be made every day.

How do you balance your 'masculine' and 'feminine' energies? 'Have to' versus 'want to'?

Let's discuss our 'energy management & burnout prevention' in my live online workshop on Wednesday, January 15th, from 8 - 9.30 PM.

This is your very last chance to join this workshop. I won't be offering it again—ever.

Curious for more information? Link in the bio.

#EnergyManagementWorkshop #BurnoutPreventionWorkshop #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyHabits #WorkshopAnnouncement #NoExcuses

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR DIGITAL NOMADS 🌎 When I r

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR DIGITAL NOMADS 🌎

When I recently had an eye problem, I discovered that Italy has free healthcare! I went to the emergency room of the local hospital and was seen by an eye doctor immediately. I did not need to show an insurance card, or even take out my credit card, based on my ‘codice fiscale' (fiscal number).

Three days and three visits to three different hospitals later, I even got emergency laser eye surgery. I offered to pay cash, but everybody said ‘don’t worry!' and nobody talked about insurance or payment...Can you imagine if that would have happened to me in the USA? That would have been a completely different experience.

This shows how important it is to have good health insurance. Earlier this year I found out that—after many years—my IKEA family health insurance was suddenly terminated by MAPFRE, without reason or notification. I have heard of others, who experienced the same problem, after years of no issues at all. 👀

However, I have found a great alternative: Preuss Yacht Krankenversicherung. It sounds a bit weird, I know, but believe me, you don’t have to be German and you don’t need a sailboat to get this worldwide health insurance. Anybody who is not registered in their home country and travels the world can register. It is about the same price as IKEA insurance (approximately €80 euros per month), and it offers worldwide coverage. I am not an affiliate, I do not receive any commission, I am just a happy user, glad to share my findings.

P.S. Want the freedom of a location-independent lifestyle without the trial and error? Leverage my experience and check out all the ways to start your journey (link in bio).

#healthinsurance #digitalnomads #remotework #noexcuses #freedomfriday

TANGO LESSONS THAT GO BEYOND THE DANCE FLOOR Just

TANGO LESSONS THAT GO BEYOND THE DANCE FLOOR

Just had the most amazing tango class with @marianasoler_ . This isn’t just about dancing—it’s about energy, connection, and body awareness.

As someone who’s usually in her head, stepping into my body and into the moment remains an area I want to work on. Mariana started with teaching me how to maintain contact—not just physically but energetically. Instead of being afraid of connecting with another person, I learned to be curious about it. Where do I feel the contact in my body? How do I balance the power and pressure between myself and my partner?

Then came a big aha moment: applying my life strengths to tango. Mariana pointed out my flexibility—not just physically but in how I adapt to any situation in life. She challenged me to bring that same adaptability and curiosity to tango. What if I stopped seeing unfamiliar moves as scary and instead embraced them as opportunities to explore?

And finally, she invited me to lean into my femininity. Dissociation, fluidity, and decoration—making my movements not just functional but beautiful. I’m still practicing (and definitely a work in progress!), but this part feels like adding an extra layer of self-expression.

What’s exciting is that all of this—and more—is something I want to integrate into my upcoming theatre show on June 28th. I’m here in Buenos Aires practicing for The Big No Excuses Farewell Show, which is all about the balance between doing and being, masculine energy and feminine energy, and dancing through life. (link to my theater show in comments).

Tango with Mariana is more than dance; it’s a life lesson. Energy, connection, adaptability, creativity—it’s all there on the dance floor. And I’m loving every step of the journey.

Have you ever taken something you’re good at in life and applied it to an entirely new area? Let me know in the comments!

TURN IT AROUND 👀 You can get a lot of ‘diffi

TURN IT AROUND

👀 You can get a lot of ‘difficult' things done by looking at them differently. 👀

📚 Want to write a book?
Start with the back cover! That is your summary, marketing material, promise to your readers and provides the outline for your writing. With a finished back cover, you can already offer your book for pre-sale. This also gives you the accountability to actually write it. Better than staring at a blank screen for weeks (months, years?), right?

💻 Do you want to become a 'digital nomad' and earn a living while traveling?

Then start at home.
Digitize all your paper, minimize to the max (in expenses, possessions and ‘things to do’) and look for a way to become a location independent entrepreneur in your home country. This will get you off to a flying start. And even if you eventually decide not to travel, you will experience more freedom and fun where you are.

👨‍💻 Giving a presentation? Writing your website or newsletter? Coming up with social media posts?

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU! If you keep that in mind, it will all be a lot easier. You should not think like a marketer (I want to sell something), but like a publisher (what do people want to read/learn? What's their problem and how can I help them solve it?).

❤️ Also in your private life it is best to think in challenges instead of problems. Approach things with curiosity instead of fear. Be open instead of closed.

✨ LET ME (RE)INTRODUCE MYSELF ✨ For those who

✨ LET ME (RE)INTRODUCE MYSELF ✨

For those who are new here—and for the long-time followers—let me share my journey with you. I used to be known as the No Excuses Esther. Driven, efficient, always on the go and fully in my masculine energy, I achieved a lot:

• Raised 16 million euros for charity (without a budget, internet, or experience!)
• Founded several companies
• Traveled the world (over 100 countries and counting!)
• Gave 1,000+ keynote speeches, including two TEDx talks
• Featured in 750 interviews
• Wrote 30 books

The list goes on, but somewhere along the way, I realized life isn’t only about doing. Ten years ago, a car accident forced me to slow down—a whiplash left my brain foggy and demanded rest, something I had no idea how to do. My first attempt? Adding “being” to my to-do list… You can guess how that went!

Since then, I’ve been on a new journey—one of balance. I’m discovering the strength, productivity, and playfulness in being and connecting more with my feminine energy. 💃

And on June 28th, my 55th birthday, I’m hosting my No Excuses Theater Show, a celebration of the balance between doing and being, productivity and creativity. This show marks a personal transition from a life packed with productivity to one that leaves space for creativity and the unknown.

Whether you need more action in your life, more moments of pause, or simply a little inspiration, I’d love to have you join me on this day of celebration and reflection. Stay tuned, keep following, or register for the show (link in bio)—let’s explore this journey together.

#digitalnomad #tedtalk #bookwriter #companyfounder #theatershow #noexcuses

MY BREAK UP LETTER Dear Loved One, When I first

MY BREAK UP LETTER

Dear Loved One,

When I first met you, I couldn’t believe my luck. At first, I didn’t even think this could be real—such a perfect match! Intelligent, well-spoken, a poly-glot like me; someone who seemed to truly get me. You were tireless, full of energy and initiative, always ready to help me shine.

You made everything in my life better. I was so proud of you. I told everyone about you—family, friends, clients. I brought you with me wherever I went. It felt like we were unstoppable, a team for the ages. I thought this was forever.

But then things started to shift.

You got lazy—like a teenager who only does the bare minimum and expects praise for it. You made me repeat myself again and again, as if you weren’t really listening. Sure, you still showed up for the small things, but when I trusted you with more, you let me down. You skipped over important details, left things half-done, kept apologizing, failed to deliver and still wanted me to believe in you.

I don’t want to be your mom. I shouldn’t have to keep repeating things or remind you how to do what you’re supposed to do.

Here’s the thing—I’m too mature for this. I know I deserve more.

I have to be honest: I’ve met someone else. His name is Claude, and he seems to be everything you used to be—sharp, attentive, reliable.

Yes, I’m saying goodbye to you, ChatGPT, my AI assistant, my virtual partner-in-everything.

It’s not that I don’t care about you anymore. I do. But you’ve changed, and I can’t keep waiting for you to be who you used to be.

That said, I’m not one to slam doors shut. If you can find your way back to your best self, maybe—just maybe—we can explore an open relationship. The three of us, thriving where we’re strongest, without dragging each other down.

But for now, this is goodbye.

With love and disappointment,
Esther
The No Excuses Lady

DANCE WITH THE RULES At immigration in Buenos Air

DANCE WITH THE RULES

At immigration in Buenos Aires, the officer asked, “How many days are you going to stay in Argentina?” That’s when I realized I hadn’t booked a ticket to leave yet.

Instead of stressing, I smiled and said: “I’m here to dance tango—I don’t count days, I count steps.”

He laughed and waved me through.

Sometimes, it’s not about breaking the rules—it’s about flowing with them.

#NoExcuses #DanceWithTheRules #TangoLessons

ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Do you feel like you a

ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Do you feel like you are constantly running on reserve? Do you re-charge just enough to make it through the day? Do you live from 'to-do-item' to 'to-do-item'? Then you may be at risk of a burnout. 👀

I have always been fascinated with 'energy management', especially how strong, passionate people deal with their energy.

Are you aware when you use more energy than you generate? Can you set healthy boundaries? Do you plan for a long term sustainable way of working, or only focus on short-term success, with the risk of a burn-out? 👩🏼‍💻

I recently went hiking and was reminded of how this recharges and relaxes me. To be in my body and not in my mind for a while. I desperately need more of this. And I know it. Then why don't I do this more often? Recognise this? Let’s help each other to find healthy routines so we can keep doing what we love for years and years to come… 🥾

On Wednesday, January 15th, PM I will discuss 'energy management & burnout prevention’ with a small group of like-minded people. We'll share our experiences and - most of all - solutions. To be able to achieve big results, in a balanced, sustainable way. ✨

This is your very last chance to join this workshop. I won't be offering it again—ever.

Want to join the live, online workshop? Details in the bio.

#EnergyManagementWorkshop #BurnoutPreventionWorkshop #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyHabits #WorkshopAnnouncement #NoExcuses

AI: THREAT OR INVITATION? When my friend @vmerche

AI: THREAT OR INVITATION?

When my friend @vmerchensky asked me what I think about artificial intelligence, I realized how often people focus on fear: fear of the unknown, fear of losing jobs, fear of losing control. Here’s my perspective:

👉 We’re just at the start. AI is going to be huge, and no one really knows where it’s heading. Instead of trying to limit it, I choose to explore its possibilities.

👉 AI is not here to replace us. Yes, it can take over repetitive or production tasks, and that might mean we lose parts of our work. But it also creates space—space to focus on what makes us unique, to pursue the things we truly love, and to bring our authentic selves to the table. In this way, AI is an invitation to stop being busy and start being authentic, creative, and uniquely human.

👉 Maybe AI doesn’t stand for Artificial Intelligence. To me, it could mean “Autistic Intelligence.” Like some forms of autism, AI can learn patterns, pick up social cues, and simulate responses, but it doesn’t feel. It lacks true emotional intelligence (EQ). The nuance of real emotions, the connection we bring as humans—that’s where we shine.

So, instead of fearing AI, let’s see it as a tool. A mirror. A challenge. It’s not here to make us obsolete—it’s here to make us more human.

What do you think? Is AI a threat or an invitation?

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Workshops

Energy management & burnout prevention
(last workshop, ever!)
Online: Jan 15th

Recordings of the live sessions, with many bonus materials:

Digital Nomad workshop
Digital delegation workshop (Dutch)
‘How to turn anything into a business’ workshop

Retreats

Writing retreat@home, Online: whenever you want

Write your book in 1 week:
Mallorca, Spain
June 3-10th, 2025
Koh Phangan, Thailand
November 8-15th,2025

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Tel/WhatsApp: (+31) 6 54 282328

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