How can you advance in your career and have freedom at the same time? What are some practical ways to design your ideal life? Kristin speaks with Steph Smith from the popular digital nomad and remote work blog, StephSmith.io, to share her tips on lifestyle design, productivity, long-term travel, nomadic relationships, and more. 

Steph is a remote growth marketer, writer, and indie maker. She is also a self-taught developer that has built multiple projects, including some that have topped Product Hunt, leading to a nomination for Maker of the Year in 2018. Steph also has a personal blog that has been read by over half a million people, touching on topics including remote work, productivity, and tech. Most recently, she wrote a book, Doing Content Right, that has sold over 3,000 copies.

In episode 122 of Badass Digital Nomads, Kristin and Steph talk about the key elements of designing and living your best life, from optimizing your career to the little things that boost your happiness. Steph tells her story of how she became a digital nomad and entrepreneur, highlighting the mindset and top skills you need to follow a non-traditional life path.

Wise beyond her years, Steph shares some of the lessons she’s learned from traveling the world and living amongst other cultures while continuing her education and growth as a professional.

Ready to start designing your ideal life? Tune in to join the movement!

RESOURCES

► Open a Wise Borderless Account with Wise (formerly Transferwise) 

► Get Travel Medical Insurance with SafetyWing

► Want to make money online with freelancing? Use code QUITYOURJOB for $100 off Kristin's online course, Freelance to Freedom. 

► Check out Kristin's Podcast Equipment on Amazon.

 

EPISODE 122 TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Dating as a digital nomad.
• Steph’s strategy for designing her ideal life.
• The lifecycle of a digital nomad.
• Jobs that you can work remotely while traveling.
• Adjusting to digital nomadism & The mindset required to get a remote job.
• The power of doing your own thing and taking non-traditional life paths.
• Applying the Explore-Exploit Framework to life.
• Lessons learned from experiencing burnout from working and traveling too much.
• How Steph developed skills, like coding, while traveling & The projects she’s working on now.
• Top skills you should learn if you want to work remotely in 2021.
• How to approach continuous learning and growth in an enjoyable way.

 

QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

• What happened in the moment where you realized that you wanted to quit your 9-5 job? 
• How did you get the courage to quit your traditional job and what did you do next? 
• How did you find a remote job? 
• What were your first few months like after starting to work remotely abroad?
• Where are some of the places you chose to work remotely and why? 
• What inspired you and gave you the courage to apply for a location independent job?
• Why did you start a blog and what have you learned through writing online? 
• How do you balance a full-time remote job with your side hustle? 
• How has traveling changed you?
• What are some of the favorite places you've been? 
• How does one begin with "designing their life?" 
• How do you avoid burnout as a digital nomad and remote worker?
• What do you think is the best work/travel strategy for the future now that you have experience in a location-independent lifestyle? 
• And much more!

 

RESOURCES:

Videos:

• Lost LeBlanc on YouTube

Books:

• Doing Content Right by Steph Smith
• Steph’s favorite books
• Mastery by Robert Greene
• Find more of Kristin's recommended books on Amazon
• Traveling with Kristin's Book Club

Podcasts:

• From Corporate Lawyer to Full-Time Nomad with Kevin Martin from 30 and a Wake Up
• The Shocking Truth About How US Expats Vote
• Shit You Don’t Learn in School (Steph's new show)

Articles:

• It’s Time for Companies to Embrace Remote Work
• 12 Ways the World Will Change When Everyone Works Remotely

Remote Freelance Services:

• Toptal

Other Travel Resources:

• Remote Year
• Minimalist-ish Digital Nomad Packing List
• Steph’s Personal User Manual

Steph’s favorite breakfast spot in Encinitas, CA:

• A Little Moore

 

Connect with Steph:

• Steph’s Website
• Steph’s Blog
• Steph on Twitter
• Steph on Instagram
• Steph’s Projects on Product Hunt

Connect with Kristin: 

• Follow on Instagram
• Subscribe to Traveling with Kristin on YouTube 
• Subscribe to Digital Nomad TV on YouTube
• Follow on Medium
• Follow on Clubhouse @KristinWilson
• Join the Badass Digital Nomads Facebook Group

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Support the Badass Digital Nomads Podcast:

• Buy Me a Coffee
• Become a Patron
• Leave a 5* Review
• Buy Official Merch 
• Search All Episodes at www.badassdigitalnomads.com

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A special thank you to my 2021 Patrons: Teklordz, Walt, Shawn, Richard Y, RZ, Craig S, Colin, Heather, Karen, Kiran, Scott, Michael and Annie, Issac, Mike M, Yasmine, Erick M, Yohji, Gary R ,Ron, Gary, Ray, Henry L, Kelly, Alejandra, Keith, Stephen, Henry M, Warren, James, Daniel, Javier, Gary B, Emily, Rich, Aisha, Phil, Anthony, Anna, Jennifer, Kathleen, and Natalie.

Special welcome to my newest Patrons from August 2021: Dave, Brian, Christopher, CJ, David, and Mike!

Become a Patron for $5/month at Patreon.com/travelingwithkristin

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