The Laptop lifestyle
The Laptop Lifestyle is a term thrown around quite loosely today and it is generally accompanied by a photo of someone lazing around a pool, but what really is the ‘Laptop Lifestyle’ and is it for everyone?
The ideology of a laptop lifestyle is freedom, being able to find a balance between work and play. To have the flexibility to work from anywhere, whether from home which can reduce overheads and enable you to possibly have more time with the family or whether it is travelling the world funding your trip by working remotely.
I have worked remotely both in traditional business, where I had an office but could work from home or travel and still operate and more recently a global online retail business, which I started when our family decided to travel (I still operate this today but it generally looks after itself now)
Whatever your reason unfortunately it is not all cocktails and swimsuits from the start, and it certainly is not for everyone. Here are some tips to ponder before diving in.
1. You will require a laptop or at the very least a phone and a good internet connection. There is nothing worse than trying to meet your deadlines with intermittent Wi-Fi, I have been there, in the early 2000’s in Bali trying to download files that took all morning.
2. Having all the best software your business may require ensuring efficiency, this includes finance software, for example MYOB as you will still need to submit tax returns regardless of what Country you are in.
3. Being confident in the use of various technology, for example Zoom is a popular way to have client meetings and Dropbox is a great way to share large files. Keeping yourself abreast of the latest and most updated forms of technology is all part of running an efficient remote business.
4. Knowing how to sell yourself, your skills, or your product, when you work for yourself, you will need to be continually selling your skills. Remember potential clients will not be able to drop into a store so you need to show that you are open for business every day. If you do not stay consistent with this then your sales will drop of. As the old saying goes ‘out of sight, out of mind’.
5. If you are travelling be prepared to work in the middle of the night if your clients are in a different time zone.
6. Like any new business be prepared to work hard and long hours to build your client base. Let’s just say you may have to decide to skip that cruise along the Rhine some days.
Living a laptop lifestyle can be harder than it first appears but get it right and it really can be the best decision you will ever make.