{"id":569397,"date":"2023-09-01T10:58:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/?p=569397"},"modified":"2025-03-20T15:32:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T14:32:15","slug":"digital-nomad-inspiration-shot-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/en\/blog\/digital-nomad-inspiration-shot-september-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Nomad – Inspiration Shot September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Digital Nomad<\/h1>\n

Inspiration Shot September 2023<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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You can take a Digital Nomad off the plane but you can’t take the travel out of a Digital Nomad\u2026 I was planning to be in The Netherlands for the whole month of August, but\u2026 I wanted to go see my dad in Miami, and also to Puglia for a few days, to arrange everything there for the 3 Airbnbs. From September I will be ‘on the road’ all winter anyway, so this seemed like a perfect time for another Inspiration Shot with tips about location-independence and\u00a0entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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CONFESSION: I am not a digital nomad, I am a LIE!<\/h2>\n<\/div>

The term \u2018digital nomad\u2019 has become very popular in recent years; freedom has become more of a status symbol than money. Journalists often call me the first and\/or most famous \u2018digital nomad\u2019 of The Netherlands. But I have doubts about whether that is a compliment. There are two completely different groups of people who identify as Digital Nomads:<\/p>\n

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  1. \u2018Backpackers with a laptop\u2019 who want to travel the world, visit the highlights, party and sip cocktails while posing for Instagram pictures on an exotic beach. They do that for as long as they can stretch their budget and then return to a \u2018normal life\u2019.<\/li>\n
  2. Location-independent entrepreneurs who combine entrepreneurship and travel in a sustainable way, with the intention to maintain this lifestyle long-term.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    More experienced entrepreneurs often want to make an impact and give back to society, while many \u2018backpackers with a laptop\u2019 type digital nomads have no such aspirations.\u00a0So we need a different word to distinguish the two groups.\u00a0Unfortunately, \u2018Location Independent Entrepreneur\u2019 doesn\u2019t sound so \u2018sexy\u2019 and it is much too long. So why not abbreviate it? L.I.E.?\u00a0I am a LIE, and I am proud of it!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Where to get started with Remote Work
    \n(or where to find an assistant)?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

    For anyone who’s been asking\u00a0me how to become a Virtual Assistant or where to find a remote job, I have made a list of websites where you can start your online career. Whether you’re looking for a remote job, or someone who can work remotely for you or your company,\u00a0this is your starting point!<\/a><\/p>\n

    I also wrote\u00a0some general\u00a0tips for remote work.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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    How to travel on a budget<\/h2>\n<\/div>

    Travel does not have to be expensive. First of all;\u00a0choose your destination wisely.<\/strong> Scandinavia, Northern Europe, countries like Switzerland and cities like London are quite expensive, but southern Europe, parts of Asia and South America are very affordable.\u00a0Instead of staying in a hotel or Airbnb, try home-swapping<\/strong> (there are many home exchange websites, and I personally love this design one:\u00a0behomm.com<\/a>),\u00a0housesitting or petsitting<\/strong>\u00a0(many platforms connect people and houses),\u00a0co-living or a workation<\/a>.\u00a0Travel slow<\/strong>; the longer you stay in one place, the cheaper. If you move around a lot (like me), then it is more expensive.\u00a0The more flexible you are about when you travel or where<\/strong>, the better prices you can find. Join e.g.\u00a0‘Jack’s flight club’<\/a>\u00a0for cheap ticket alerts.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Where to go during the European winter?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

    I sometimes arrogantly say \u201cI don\u2019t \u2018do\u2019 winters\u201d. And why would you, if you don\u2019t like winter? There are so many places to go during the cold, grey, wet season in Europe. Normally I go to Thailand, for the Dynamite Circle conference. During Covid, when Asia was \u2018closed\u2019, I spent two winters in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

    Last year I spent my first winter in Europe in 15 years; in\u00a0my Tiny Trullo\u00a0in Puglia<\/a>. Because I had floor heating it was quite comfortable. I (re)discovered how a winter, with shorter days, and less activity, gave me the opportunity to restore, like a winter sleep.<\/p>\n

    This year I will go to Thailand again in Oct \/ Nov for my\u00a0writing retreat on Koh Phangan island<\/a> and after that, I have not made plans until my writing retreat in Cura\u00e7ao<\/a> in March. Maybe I\u2019ll go to Argentina to dance tango, maybe I\u2019ll spend some time in Puglia again, maybe I\u2019ll go skiing in France like I planned last year, but then my eye problem happened. Who knows, I may combine all these things\u2026<\/p>\n

    What are your favourite winter locations and activities?<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    How do you use ChatGPT?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

    The AI developments are going so fast right now, that if you haven\u2019t yet stepped on the\u2019 train\u2019 it is about time to do so. Even if you start now, you will still be ahead of many other entrepreneurs. It could even be a business model to help them get started. And of course, you can use AI in your own business. You need no technical knowledge.<\/p>\n

    I use\u00a0ChatGPT<\/a> to generate emails with instructions for guests in my Airbnbs, captions for social media (which inspired me to write a great post, in my own voice), edit blogs and even book chapters, translate text for my newsletter and website and much more. I also did some fun things: I asked ChatGPT to write poems for friends’ birthdays and to thank my VA, for example. Every day we discover new possibilities.<\/p>\n

    In my live online\u00a0Digital delegation workshop<\/a>\u00a0I show some examples. Every time participants are blown away and start using it themselves immediately.<\/p>\n

    PS. Upon registration for the workshop, you will receive a recording of the last one, so you can get started right away.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    More Digital Nomad tips?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

    You are now reading my monthly \u2018inspiration shot\u2019 which normally deals with a variety of topics. If you are specifically interested in the\u00a0location independent lifestyle<\/a>, you can subscribe to my\u00a0Digital Nomad newsflash<\/a>; with business & travel tips. There is also a specific newsflash about\u00a0book writing<\/a>\u00a0and one\u00a0about Tiny Trullo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The themed\u00a0news flashes\u00a0are\u00a0sent 2 times a year<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    Workshop alert<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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    Digital Nomad workshop<\/h3>\n

    Are you considering a location-independent lifestyle? Are you already on the road, or preparing to leave your home country behind?<\/p>\n

    During this live online workshop, you will receive answers to all your questions about remote work, registration and de-registration, insurance, tax, an international company and much more.<\/p>\n

    Save a lot of research and money, avoid common mistakes and meet like-minded people…<\/p>\n

    This Digital Nomad workshop could be the start of your new life!<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Count me in!<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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    Inspiration bites<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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    VIDEO
    \nWhere the hell is Matt?<\/a><\/h3>\n

    Matt dances around the world and has recorded his silly dance in many videos. He turned his hobby into a business. This video is my all-time favourite:<\/p>\n<\/div>