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By Jessica Padykula

What would you say if someone told you they wanted to sell everything they owned (save for what would fit in a carry-on bag), hit the road, and live and work in a different city around the world every few months? Some people would call this crazy, but it’s exactly what designer Colin Wright decided to do. In 2009 he reorganized his business and his lifestyle so he could operate from the road, and he thinks you can do it, too.

 If travel is something you’ve put off because of work, technology has made it possible to become location independent, or live and work from anywhere you want, i.e. a flat in Paris, house in Istanbul or loft in Buenos Aires. Of course, this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but it is possible.

Who can become location independent?

More and more people are waking up to the idea that working from anywhere is a real possibility. “Every single person in the world has the potential to become a business all on their own because we all have access to miniature factories: computers,” Wright explains. “It’s more likely than ever that someone with a good idea will be able to capitalize on it, on their terms.” Meaning in part, from anywhere they wish.

Wright cites an increased awareness of the world as a catalyst for this growing trend. “Why should we stay in one place?” he asks. “This kind of realization is leading more people to seek alternative lifestyles that will allow them to become global citizens, rather than someone limited to their immediate geographic region.”

Getting started

Becoming location independent isn’t easy, and there are many things to consider before you pack your bags.

1. Take a look at your profession. Can you do it from home? If the answer is yes then you can do it from anywhere with a wireless signal.
2. If you currently work in an office, your boss might not jump for joy when you suggest working from Barcelona for six months. This is to be expected. Start by proposing a trial period of working from home two days a week. If this goes well, work your way up to full-time. This may take a while as you will have to prove yourself.
3. Intermittently take long “working weekends” and actually do work while you are at the cottage or lying by the pool.
4. Once your boss knows he or she can trust you, broach the subject of working from abroad. Explain that you will have capabilities such as Skype or video chat and a webcam for conference calls, WiFi, lots of back-ups for your work and a schedule  you can both agree on (if there is a time difference).
5. If you already work at home on a freelance basis, start talking to your clients well before you even thing about booking a flight. Explain to them (as above) that you have all the capabilities to get in touch and submit work on time and at the quality they are used to. If you are reliable in your home town, you can be reliable elsewhere.

Location independent must-have tech tools
The following are Wright’s go-to pieces of technology:

• 13″ Macbook Pro (for branding work, blogging, managing businesses)
• External drives (2x 500 GB, 1x 1 TB)
• Cheap quad-band mobile phone (RAZR)
• Tiny point-and-shoot camera (that also shoots HD video)
• iPod touchto store music, eBooks and notes

Tips for taking life (and work) on the road

Set a firm deadline: If you don’t, you’ll keep putting it off and making other things your priority. Buy the ticket if you can, suggests Wright.

Have a money-making plan: This means working to prove yourself to your current clients (so they remain loyal to you when you go abroad) and working to gain new ones before you leave and while you are away. 

Do your research: Even though you’ve always wanted to live in Paris, does it fit your budget? If not, choose another destination. Look into cost of living, how easy it will be to find a place to stay, general safety of the area and how prevalent the WiFi is.

Network: Let your friends and colleagues know what you’re doing. See if they have contacts in the city you’re planning to work from. Even something as simple as recommendations for a good internet café or expat bar can be helpful in your transition.

Start slow: You don’t have to uproot yourself entirely. Start with one or two months. If that feels comfortable, consider subletting your apartment or renting out your home for a longer duration. The important thing is to do what feels right for you.

Once you break the initial barrier of fear that a 9-5 job is the only way to live, you’ll find that nothing could be further from the truth, says Wright. And he should know. “Those who are open to the possibility of a shift will generally grab onto the idea with gusto as soon as they’re shown that it’s possible.”

Looking for more?

• Research a family vacation online
• Simplify travel with technology
• Best technology for working from anywhere

Image: msadriano, stock.xchng

If you could work from anywhere, where would you go? Let us know by leaving a comment below.