119: Navigating Online Entrepreneurship and Overcoming Its Challenges with Digital Nomad Steve

“It’s difficult to do big things. But the consequence of not doing something is huge, and the reward of doing something is also much, much larger.”

Meet digital nomad entrepreneur, Steve

In this episode, Nienke Nina and returning guest, digital nomad Steve, have a delightful conversation about career, passions, and growth in the past year. Together, they explore a wide range of interesting topics, including the challenges that beginners face, the immense importance of joining supportive communities, and the common misconception about following one’s passion. 

This lighthearted and insightful conversation dives into the thrill of navigating the journey of entrepreneurship, finding passion through curiosity, and making well-informed decisions when it comes to one’s career choices. Get ready to gain priceless advice and unique perspectives on entrepreneurship and personal growth.

Key Takeaways from Steve’s Interview about Embracing Growth and Change

The Importance of Starting as a Beginner

Everyone starts as a beginner and no one will judge you for not knowing something. It’s crucial to remember this when feeling insecure about your knowledge or skills. The sooner you come to terms with this fact, the sooner you can get over that shame and start focusing on improving instead.

Overcoming Challenges and Taking Action

The only way to take on your challenges and face your fears is to take it head-on. Like what our guest, Steve believes, most obstacles may seem daunting but are actually shallow once you start tackling them. The key is to take that first step and keep going.

Surround Yourself with Inspiring People

As we always highlight in this podcast for the longest time, surrounding yourself with people who inspire and motivate you is CRUCIAL to your success. Being part of a supportive community can help you take action and grow, rather than feeling discouraged or judged. Being a one-man team can only take you so far, and it’s no fun at all (especially for digital nomads)! Find the people you trust, and grow with, and through them.

Building Your Business with Outsourcing

Build your business by outsourcing tasks that you don’t need to become an expert in. Think of it this way, time is money. If you’re spending so much time spreading yourself thin on even the smaller aspects of your business, instead of growing it you’re actually losing more money. By focusing on your own strengths and delegating other responsibilities, you get to avoid overworking yourself and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Hire people you actually enjoy working with and can trust your business with, and focus on growing your business!

The Myth of “Following Your Passion”

The advice “follow your passion” can sometimes lead to a wild goose chase and disappointment without considering realistic factors. Our guest, Steve, suggests that passions can be learned and can change over time. Instead, he encourages staying curious, following your competencies, and building new passions through exploration and effort. This way you get to create something you love and improve on it everyday.

Understanding Your Target Market’s Financial Capacity

We’ve all struggled with finding the right clients at one point, especially in the beginning. As entrepreneurs, it’s important that we always consider whether your target audience has the financial means to purchase your products or services. It’s essential to focus on customers who can afford what you offer and build a solid foundation before expanding to a broader market.

Creating Careers Through Effort and Curiosity

Careers can be created by cultivating new passions through effort, curiosity, and continuous learning. Rather than solely relying on pre-existing passions, keep yourself open and never stop pursuing new interests and the growth that comes with them.

Connect with our Nienke Nina and our guests

Your host Nienke Nina

More digital nomad tips and life advice via instagram @digitalnomadsdaily

Connect with Nienke Nina on LinkedIn @Nienke Nina Keizer

Find Nienke Nina on Instagram @nienkeninatravels

Meet digital nomad Steve

Check him out on Medium: https://medium.com/@SteveTsentserensky

Find him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-tsentserensky

Instagram: @finally.made.it

Other episodes you might like:

🎧  Episode #01: How to Thrive in your Digital Nomad Relationship with Anat & Orr

🎧  Episode #05: Dealing with High Anxiety While Building a Successful Online Business with The Remote Yogi

🎧  Episode #07: Overcoming Fears and Building Community with Digital Nomad Magali

🎧 Episode #21: 10 Years Of Traveling The World With Daisy

118: Fast Travel vs. Slow Travel For Digital Nomad Entrepreneurs

“This lifestyle is not like a product or something that you buy and then you just go for it. It’s a lot of things that you have to think about and reflect on.”

Key Takeaways From This Episode About Choosing the Right Travel Pace for Your Lifestyle 

Finding the Right Travel Pace

The episode discusses the importance of finding the right travel pace as a digital nomad. It explores the difference between fast travel and slow travel and how they can impact the overall experience. The key is to understand what works best for you and your priorities at any given moment.

The Pace of Exploration

The pace of exploration is another factor to consider when deciding between fast and slow travel. Fast travel allows for more destinations but may sacrifice the depth of experience, while slow travel allows for a more immersive experience of each destination. This is why setting your priorities is extremely important. What are you looking to achieve in your travels? What are you trying to balance? Is there a part of your current lifestyle that you will have to sacrifice or change in order to do this? If so, are you willing to make that adjustment? These are a few things you must consider when making your decision.

Work-Life Balance

For digital nomads who work remotely or run their own businesses, finding a balance between work and travel is crucial. Fast travel can be challenging when it comes to maintaining a consistent work schedule, and especially for business owners that require a significant amount of screen time to be constantly connected with their clients. However, if you’re planning for a trip away from work for a few weeks, fast travel may be a good idea to make the most of your holiday. While slow travel allows for better integration of work and exploration. This is why many digital nomad entrepreneurs and employees opt for this option, as it creates less overwhelm and urgency.

Cost of Living

Contrary to popular belief, the digital nomad lifestyle is not always cheaper. While it may seem like a cost-effective way to live and work remotely, there are certain aspects that can actually lead to higher expenses. For example, fast travel, which is a common practice among digital nomads, can result in frequent transportation costs and the need for shorter-term accommodation. These additional expenses can add up quickly and impact the overall budget. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the long-term budget and cost of living when planning for your travel arrangements.

Cultural Immersion

Slow travel is truly amazing because it provides you with ample opportunities to fully immerse yourself in the rich culture of your destination. It allows you to deeply connect with the local vibes, indulge in the mouth watering local cuisine, and gain a profound understanding of how the locals go about their daily lives. Unlike fast travel, which simply doesn’t offer the same level of cultural immersion, slow travel grants you the invaluable experience of truly living and breathing the local culture, which is truly unparalleled. So if you’re someone who travels for culture and in-depth experiences of every destination, slow travel might be something you should consider!

Carbon Footprint

Another thing we must consider when traveling, be it fast or slow is the environmental impact of travel. The sad reality is that fast travel, particularly when you take numerous flights, can significantly increase your carbon footprint. However, there are sustainable travel alternatives available, such as trains and buses, which you can explore and consider in order to effectively mitigate and minimize your impact on the environment. This is another pro of slow travel, when you stay in a location for over a month or longer, you get to have more eco-friendly options to get around such as walking and cycling (taking in the scenic locations is just another bonus when you do this!)

Entrepreneurship and Travel

Various challenges will always arise when combining entrepreneurship and travel. It happens to the best of us, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you come across this, especially in the beginning! A harmonious balance between pursuing business objectives and embracing the nomadic lifestyle is something that we get to learn as we go. Which is why it’s important to have a deep sense of self-understanding and constant reflection of your priorities to help you find that sense of fulfillment in both of your personal and professional affairs. By navigating these, you can truly embrace the best of both worlds – attaining success and satisfaction in your entrepreneurial endeavors while savoring the enriching experiences that travel has to offer (Yes, it’s possible!)

Connect with our Nienke Nina and our guests

Your host Nienke Nina

More digital nomad tips and life advice via instagram @digitalnomadsdaily

Connect with Nienke Nina on LinkedIn @Nienke Nina Keizer

Find Nienke Nina on Instagram @nienkeninatravels

Other episodes you might like:

🎧  Episode #01: How to Thrive in your Digital Nomad Relationship with Anat & Orr

🎧  Episode #05: Dealing with High Anxiety While Building a Successful Online Business with The Remote Yogi

🎧  Episode #07: Overcoming Fears and Building Community with Digital Nomad Magali

🎧 Episode #21: 10 Years Of Traveling The World With Daisy

117: How Outsourcing Boosted My Potential, Growth, and Freedom with Nienke Nina

“So embrace the change and then work towards more freedom, whatever that means to you.”

Key Takeaways from this Episode about The Power of Outsourcing

Working Less for More Fun and Growth

Outsourcing tasks allows for more free time, increased energy, and the potential for attracting more clients. By experiencing the positive impact of outsourcing, you can build a business for growth and achieve personal freedom!

Embracing Change and Letting Go of Control

Successful outsourcing requires a willingness to adapt to new ways of working and to delegate tasks. Digital nomads in our community, who are accustomed to constant change, can easily embrace this mindset and experience new stages of business growth.

Investing in Learning and Clear Communication

To ensure successful outsourcing, it is essential to invest in learning about best practices and effective communication. Providing clear task descriptions, along with screen recordings or videos, helps convey expectations and minimizes misunderstandings.

Developing Communication, Leadership, and Relationship Skills

Outsourcing tasks encourages the development of effective communication skills, leadership abilities, and relationship building. These skills not only benefit outsourcing processes but also enhance overall business success.

Taking Calculated Risks and Embracing Learning Opportunities

Those who outsource successfully are comfortable taking calculated risks and understand that setbacks may occur. By embracing learning opportunities and continuously improving outsourcing processes, individuals can overcome challenges and achieve better results.

Starting Small and Creating Processes

When starting to outsource, it is recommended to begin with small, repeatable tasks. This allows for the creation of effective processes and helps build confidence in outsourcing. Gradually expanding the scope of outsourced tasks can lead to better efficiency and scalability.

Choosing the Right Partner and Using Remote Collaboration Tools

Finding the right person or team to outsource tasks to is crucial for successful outcomes. Seeking recommendations, conducting interviews, and utilizing online platforms like Upwork can assist in finding the ideal partner. Additionally, using remote-friendly collaboration tools, such as project management platforms and cloud storage, enhances communication and productivity.

Connect with our Nienke Nina and our guests

Your host Nienke Nina

More digital nomad tips and life advice via instagram @digitalnomadsdaily

Connect with Nienke Nina on LinkedIn @Nienke Nina Keizer

Find Nienke Nina on Instagram @nienkeninatravels

Other episodes you might like:

🎧  Episode #01: How to Thrive in your Digital Nomad Relationship with Anat & Orr

🎧  Episode #05: Dealing with High Anxiety While Building a Successful Online Business with The Remote Yogi

🎧  Episode #07: Overcoming Fears and Building Community with Digital Nomad Magali

🎧 Episode #21: 10 Years Of Traveling The World With Daisy

116: Approaching Life with an Open Heart and Location Independent with Digital Nomad Maaria

“I’m just not gonna pretend to have a normal life anymore. I’m just not going to pretend that any of these rules, not even the location independence, not the openness, like none of these labels are relevant anymore.”

Meet digital nomad Maaria

Maaria is a digital nomad who approaches life with an open heart and a commitment to location independence. Maaria has been on her nomadic journey for several years, officially since 2018, embracing the freedom to explore different places and experiences.

Currently, Maaria has been enjoying a vibrant summer in Europe filled with new connections and adventures. For her, location independence means having the ability to design her life on her own terms, making decisions based on her desires and personal growth.

Maaria is a multi-talented entrepreneur who has founded several companies to support her nomadic lifestyle. One of her notable ventures is The Four Languages, a business that helps individuals explore and integrate different aspects of themselves through four languages: mind, heart, body, and soul. Through The Four Languages, Maaria empowers people to tap into their intuition, embrace intentional living, and find alignment in their personal and professional lives.

With her extensive experience and passion for personal growth, Maaria continues to inspire others to approach life with curiosity, authenticity, and an open heart. Her journey serves as a reminder that living a fulfilling and purposeful life is not about adhering to labels, but about embracing the freedom to make choices that resonate with one’s true self.

Key Takeaways from Maaria’s Interview about Being Vulnerable and Designing the Life that You Want

Embracing an Open Mindset

Being open isn’t always easy. But it’s very important when it comes to designing your own life. Most often than not, living on your own terms means challenging societal norms. Maaria shares her experience of feeling like she didn’t belong and how that led her to embrace an open lifestyle. When you decide to live a more open life, the ability to listen to your own intuition, create a deeper understanding of yourself through deep self-reflection is one of the first steps you should take. 

The Challenges of Living Openly

Living an open life can be challenging, especially when it goes against societal expectations. Maaria discusses the difficulties of finding a community that understands and accepts her lifestyle choices. She shares her experience of connecting with the local community in the places she stays, but also the need for a peer community that understands the nomadic lifestyle. Which is why finding like-minded individuals who can relate to the complexities of living openly makes this lifestyle a whole lot easier to navigate.

Authenticity and Surrender

Surrendering attachment to outcomes and preferences can be scary in the beginning, but trust us when we say that it allows for a more authentic experience. Deep connections and conversations that go beyond superficiality are what makes the relationships we create in this lifestyle so unique and profound. Sometimes, creating such big expectations and setting unrealistic goals can be draining and you can definitely lose yourself in the process. For Maaria, embracing the present moment and approaching life with an open heart has helped her become the best version of herself and enjoy this lifestyle more.

Redefining Labels

Maaria challenges traditional labels and encourages a redefinition of concepts such as polyamory and openness. She shares her preference for relationship anarchy, where she doesn’t limit herself to specific relationship structures. We often think about what other people might say when it comes to our personal choices and relationships, and that can be so limiting. Take a page out of Maaria’s book… personal exploration and breaking free from societal constructs might just give you a fresher outlook of yourself and the relationships you create with other people.

Designing Your Own Life

Designing one’s own life is a deeply personal and transformative process. It involves self-reflection and introspection to understand our true desires and aspirations. Aligning our work, relationships, and community with our values, creates windows for better opportunities and makes way for a more positive outlook in life. By taking the time to reflect on what truly matters to us, we can create a life that brings fulfillment and purpose. It is an empowering journey that encourages us to take ownership of our lives and make choices that resonate with our authentic selves.

Finding Community and Connection

In today’s world, finding a community that embraces and appreciates an open lifestyle can be a daunting task. However, Maaria’s inspiring journey sheds light on a potential solution. By utilizing dating apps and establishing personal connections, she has successfully connected with like-minded individuals who share her values and beliefs. Through deep and meaningful conversations, Maaria has discovered the importance of engaging with others who are willing to explore profound topics and engage in genuine connections. Her experience serves as a reminder that by actively seeking out and fostering these connections, one can find a supportive and understanding community that embraces an open lifestyle.

Embracing Change and Uncertainty

In embracing change and uncertainty, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities. Surrendering to the unknown serves as a powerful reminder that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. By letting go of societal expectations and embracing the present moment, we can tap into our intuition and find joy in the journey. It is through these unpredictable experiences that we grow, learn, and truly live an open life.

Connect with our Nienke Nina and our guests

Your host Nienke Nina

More digital nomad tips and life advice via instagram @digitalnomadsdaily

Connect with Nienke Nina on LinkedIn @Nienke Nina Keizer

Find Nienke Nina on Instagram @nienkeninatravels

Meet digital nomad Maaria

Check out her websites: know-me.co / thefourlanguages.com

Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinriska-recruiter/ 

LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/know-me-navigator/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefourlanguages/

Other episodes you might like:

🎧  Episode #01: How to Thrive in your Digital Nomad Relationship with Anat & Orr

🎧  Episode #05: Dealing with High Anxiety While Building a Successful Online Business with The Remote Yogi

🎧  Episode #07: Overcoming Fears and Building Community with Digital Nomad Magali

🎧 Episode #21: 10 Years Of Traveling The World With Daisy

115: How to Choose a Marketing Strategy that Doesn’t Burn You Out with Digital Nomad Nienke Nina

“Create a marketing strategy that serves your desired lifestyle and fits your business goals.”

The 4 Most Important Things to Consider When Creating a Marketing Strategy for your Business

DON’T be online everywhere

Building a successful marketing strategy requires focusing on quality over quantity. Being present on every platform can be exhausting and undermine your confidence. Instead, choose specific platforms where you can find the leads that are important for your business. Concentrate on nurturing relationships and making connections in those chosen platforms to maximize your impact.

Know your audience and where they are

Marketing is about building connections and trust. Identify your ideal clients and determine where they congregate online. Make a list of the platforms where they are most active, particularly in groups where you can reach multiple people. By focusing on these platforms, you can better target your marketing efforts and engage with your intended audience.

Choose a platform that fits your personality

Select a platform that aligns with your natural strengths and interests. If you enjoy podcasting, leverage that medium as it comes more naturally to you. Avoid forcing yourself onto platforms that don’t feel authentic or enjoyable. By being true to yourself and using platforms that match your personality, you can show up with more positive energy and using platforms that match your personality, you can show up with more positive energy and attract the right audience.

Ensure a lifestyle fit

Consider your desired lifestyle and the type of business you want to build. Craft a marketing strategy that aligns with your lifestyle and doesn’t require you to be online all the time. Find a balance that allows you to show up consistently without compromising your energy or personal well-being. By choosing a marketing strategy that supports your lifestyle, you can maintain your motivation and create content that resonates with your audience.

Are you an entrepreneur and struggling to find your dream clients and build your freedom business?

Learn how Nienke Nina has build hundreds of successful marketing campaigns at the live workshop on Tuesday, October 24th at 6 pm CET/ It’s a free workshop and register for free via the button below!

Connect with our Nienke Nina and our guests

Your host Nienke Nina

More digital nomad tips and life advice via instagram @digitalnomadsdaily

Connect with Nienke Nina on LinkedIn @Nienke Nina Keizer

Find Nienke Nina on Instagram @nienkeninatravels

Other episodes you might like:

🎧  Episode #01: How to Thrive in your Digital Nomad Relationship with Anat & Orr

🎧  Episode #05: Dealing with High Anxiety While Building a Successful Online Business with The Remote Yogi

🎧  Episode #07: Overcoming Fears and Building Community with Digital Nomad Magali

🎧 Episode #21: 10 Years Of Traveling The World With Daisy