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If you have ever desired to live life to the fullest and are fed up with all the monotonous activity of staying in one place, one job and in one community then becoming a location independent is the right path for you. Okay, so what exactly is a location independent professional?
A location independent professional is someone that can travel the world living their life while still being able to pay their bills. These individuals or couples are using available resources such as the Internet and other passive income earning strategies to fund their lifestyle. It is easy and works out for them.
Of course, I am sure you are thinking that if this is true then how come you have not heard of this lifestyle or even know people who live it. The answer is hidden in plain sight. Location Independent professionals are out there in everyday life wandering through countries, visiting historical places, soaking up the sun on a beach in a tropical island and NOT working inside the cubicle or office space next to you. They are already living their life independent of any particular location.
Well, for many of us who are still stuck in the rut of going through an 8 to 5 job to pay bills and mortgages the idea of packing up all our things to travel and enjoy the world is not an option. And most would imagine that in order to travel and do whatever they love doing an individual has to constantly toil for a number of years to accumulate enough savings.
For some people, being a location independent professional means that they prefer to live life the way they want while enjoying their sense of freedom without having to join the rest of the population in postponing their dream job or lifestyle until after retirement.
Though a lot of people have already invested in putting money for their 401k’s for retirement benefits, why do most of us have to wait for 20 to 30 years until we live life the way we want? Because you choose it. That is how you have designed your lifestyle, either intentionally or, more likely, inadvertently.
Is the location independent lifestyle right for you?
Well, the first thing you need to do is to examine what you REAL goals and dreams in life are. This is harder than you may think. It is important for you to figure out what it is that really motivates your daily activities.
You have to block out all external factors that usually influence your decision making process. Only think about yourself. No pressure from bosses, spouses, parents and friends. This is your life so take a few moments to analyze and examine what is really worth the time. What is the philosophy that drives you? A shrink that charges by the hour will not really help you answer that question or HOW to LIVE your life.
KNOW YOURSELF
Now, if you have spent a considerable amount of time in finding your inner voice regarding your goals then here are couple questions to ask yourself to determine if being a location independent professional and its lifestyle is right for you:
1. Have you ever wanted to travel the world and experience different cultures?
2. Can you adapt to unfamiliar environments and communities?
3. Do you know other languages aside from your own?
4. Is living in one place boring?
5. Can you leave your ‘stuff’?
6. Do you welcome challenges and look forward to unexpected outcomes?
Now, if you have answered “yes” to question lined up, then you know that an independent location lifestyle is for you. This lifestyle is not for everyone. I know that some people prefer to have a daily routine and structure to their life.
This includes individuals that prefer to have their organizer next to them at all times, eat the same food at the same place all the time and must watch their favorite TV show daily at the same time. There is nothing wrong with that lifestyle and many people live and enjoy it. But some people are freer birds preferring to float like plankton through the ocean of life while experiencing the vast diversity of humanity.
I cannot stress the importance of living your ideal life. The idea of living elsewhere can really sound enticing and appealing to your adventurous side but if your personal long term goals do not coincide with what location independent offers then you may suddenly find yourself stuck in another country wondering why you started this journey. The real goal is to find joy in the journey of life whatever path you choose and lifestyle you design.
FINANCIAL SAFETY NET
Another important factor that dictates how you will go about this is money. Money is the main ingredient in making sure that you pay for what you want. We all want to have a financial safety net in case something happens that require our immediate attention, like hospital bills, travel insurance, dinner, etc.
Having entrepreneurial skills can help alleviate some of the financial pressures. If you have an operating business that can function without your constant physical attention at a specific location then you will not have a significant problem from this aspect in redesigning your lifestyle.
If you are working within a limited budget then try to save at least 6 to 12 months of expenses. You can find additional revenue generating activities. There are many online opportunities that can provide location independent income. This includes blogging, Internet marketing, affiliate marketing, selling stock photos, and etc.
PERKS OF LOCATION INDEPENDENCE
There are countless stories of individuals and couples that have uprooted their life for the open road or sea. They are living their dreams of learning to dance tango in Argentina, strolling through ancient cities in Europe or eating who-knows-what in Asia. They are experiencing different cultures and simply enjoying what their designed lifestyle has to offer. These individuals all had the notion that staying in one place would not satisfy them and that life was too short to miss experiencing the world.
As for you, the journey for this kind of life begins now. There are many resources available like The Four Hour Work Week that can get you started. Get started on actively designing your lifestyle. Remember, we do not beat the Reaper by living long but by living well.
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