Many times when I’m talking with someone about their business dreams and goals, they mention the desire to become location independent. This is becoming more and more common as technology improves and employers, employees, and entrepreneurs are all realizing it is both beneficial and possible.
photo by Joe Shlabotnik
So, what is location independent?
location independent: able to live and work from anywhere in the world
The mention of location independence often conjures up thoughts of a 20-something sitting on an exotic beach with a laptop and a martini.
While I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting that as an option, most of the people I talk with have reasons which are a little different from that. I hear things like, “I want to spend less time commuting and more time with my kids.” Or, “I want the freedom and flexibility to work when and where I want.”
I know for Claudia and me, this is something which is important to us and we’re working towards making it a reality.
Keep in mind, location independence is not just for entrepreneurs. Telecommuting is a growing trend as employers are understanding what’s in it for them as well. These are things like lower overhead and employees who are more productive and happy.
Here are just a few of the benefits of location independence:
1. Freedom. Work when and where you want. You decide.
2. Flexibility. Want to make it to your daughter’s after school recital? Now you can.
3. Travel and live anywhere you like. Want to travel and see the world more than 2 weeks out of the year? Spend three months in Costa Rica with the wife and kids. Wish you could stay longer? You can!
4. Spend more time with family and friends. Relatives in town for the week? Take a day or two off or push your work to the evening and spend time with them.
5. Better work/life balance. Make your work fit around your life, not the other way around.
6. Increased productivity. Setup a workspace in which you are most productive. If you work best in isolation, a cubicle with 50 other people around is not the best environment.
Question: Is location independence important to you?
I’d love to be location independent. It would give my wife and I the freedom to travel to more places, spend more time backpacking and hiking, and enjoying each others company.
Joe,
Have you and your wife taken lots of backpacking trips??
Not really. We just started last year.
We’ve done a few day trips with the thought of doing a major backpacking trip.
When we attempted the major one last fall. It was supposed to be a couple of days of the Appalachian Trail in Maine but we got rained out. Started to head back and decided to try a place in New Jersey. Beautiful destinations but we ended the trip early due to the rain.
It’s great to be location independent if you are disciplined enough to work in that environment. I really believe how you are wired plays a huge role in being able to do that. Some folks thrive giving them more freedom and flexibility while others seem to flounder.
Agreed, Cindy.
Trust me, needing to be disciplined is something I know full well with self employment. You also need to be more independently minded and be able to judge for yourself what is most important on your to do list.
Yes it is important to me. I currently work as an engineer in a factory. I’m in the factory 9 hours a day and don’t even know if it is raining or sunny outside b/c of no windows. I’m working to start a home-based, family business. It has been slow going but progress is being made. I’d like the freedom to travel and spend more time with family. My kids are young and my wife will begin homeschooling our oldest this fall. I want to able to be involved in their educational journey and be nearby and available throughout the day. The time with them will pass quickly and I want to make the most of it and not spend it each day away at a factory.
John,
That would be discouraging to not see the sky all day.
I think that is awesome that you are starting a business on the side! What type of business is it? Do you have a website up?
Spending more time with my family is my main motivation as well. It has been great already, since I quit my job and started my business… I thought of it just the other day when we took an afternoon walk together. It was amazing.
Most definitely! My family is always my first priority and being able to spend time with them and do those things I want to for them is my primary reason.
That’s great, Ann. Love the motive behind you wanting to have more flexibility and freedom!
The more I think about it, the more I believe that I’m not as interested in location independence as I am in setting up my workspace to be the correct place for me to work. I’m better suited to working in my workspace and playing in my playspace than trying to mix the two. My blog requires some overlap, but still when I’m editing video, or creating a recipe tutorial, I need to be in a quiet place without much distraction. Sitting on the beach wouldn’t afford me that luxury. Anyone else agree?
Good point, Raun. And I do agree.
I think for me being location independent would not mean sitting on the beach somewhere.
If I were location independent, probably not a whole lot would change in terms of where I work. My best work would probably still come from my setup workspace at home or an office.
That being said, I would love the flexibility to change that up sometimes. Not being tied down to one spot would allow me to take a spur of the moment road trip with the family and still get some work done if I needed to for example.
Sounds like you’re also an introvert like me. Have you been able to structure you’re workspace to accommodate this?
I am an introvert and I have the luxury of working fairly independently (while still leading a crew of 6 other people). I also generally have the ability to take time off with minimal notice, so I guess I’m sitting pretty in that regard. As far as my side business is concerned, All I need for that is my laptop, wifi access, a post office, a small box of supplies and products, and an optional printer. Not too bad.
I have tried to work in “alternative locations” with minimal luck. I get caught up in experiencing what’s around me to the point where I can’t get anything done. (I’m also more of a woods guy than a beach guy. 🙂 )
Very cool, Raun! Sounds like you have the best of both worlds.
Is your side business what you’re doing at http://backyardlifeblog.com/?
Yep. It all goes back to BackyardLifeBlog.com. I’d love for that to be my full time job, but I’ve got a way to go before that makes sense. Working toward it, though.
Yep. It all goes back to BackyardLifeBlog.com. I’d love for that to be my full time job, but I’ve got a way to go before that makes sense. Working toward it, though.
I think I could do the beach 😉 But I love, love being close to water and in sunshine. It totally changes my creativity levels. Now, that I say that though, it would have to be an empty beach so the people wouldn’t be a distraction.
Love being location independent. It’s added so much to the Julian family history 🙂
Very cool, Kent. Glad to hear it!
How so Kent?? I’m always curious to hear these things 🙂
More “flex” time to invest in the lives of my family (don’t be fooled, I work MORE being self-employed, but I work when I want to…for instance, today I spent a couple hours with my son looking for cars). Also, all three of my kids sub-contract for me. Finally, my family is really learning the realities of “business” just because we live it together.
These are just a few!
Awesome, Kent. I enjoyed your recent post about how an unbalanced life is the key to your success. In it you talked about how, even though you’re busy, you’re around your family a lot.
Michael, I have been working from home since my daughter was born in 2005, so it has been a HUGE blessing from God. The flexibility has been extremely helpful for my family life from many aspects. Many of my coworkers have moved from Atlanta to different US cities to be closer to their relatives. It’s a great thing. The main downside it can inhibit is people interaction. Yes, I’m constantly emailing, IM’ing, on the phone with people, but face to face is so much better. And although I disliked the 5 day commute in the past, I used to listen to a lot more audiobooks and sermons than I do now.
That’s great that you have this flexibility, Michael. Do you need to put so many hours in or do you work until a project is done?
Michael, it is very much project driven. 40 hours are expected, however it is very project driven. Our industry is like a roller coaster – feast or famine. There were about 3 years straight when I seemed to never leave the computer. The Queen even said she never saw me – I was only 10 feet away with the office door closed – on the phone, computer, non-stop. That did get old, but afterwards it got really slow for over a year….it kinda evens out over time. But the timing always works out good somehow. Now we’re in a busy, but not too busy mode. I drove into the office today matter of fact to get my laptop fixed – didn’t get home until about an hour ago, so I sure like staying at home!
Wow, those busy times sound a little crazy! I sometimes find it difficult to be as productive at home compared to when I go into the library like I did today, for example.
I like the flexibility and convenience of working from, but it’s harder to focus with my current office setup.
Sometimes it’s harder for Claudia too knowing I’m right there working in my office when she might be dealing with an especially spirited Jude on a given day.
Great article! I’m currently an e-commerce entrepreneur here in Australia and never thought there was another way of doing business than earlier this year when I discovered what “digital nomads” and “location independent” entrepreneurs are. Now I’m systemising my current business so I don’t have to be there physically to manage it and hopefully by next year able to do the “location independent” entrepreneur thing 🙂
Thanks, Paul. The wonderful world of the internet changes everything. Best wishes as you move forward to location independence! What are your plans once you accomplish that goal?
I think I would want to move to South East Asia and start exploring the wonderful counties such as Thailand. I think enriched culturally can help someone.
I just watched a Ted talk by Pico Iyer where he talks about how traveling gives you better ideas, changes your perspective, and makes you a better person. So yes, I think you’re totally right.
Here’s the link if you want to check it out: http://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_where_is_home.html