To travel the world and not have money problems. Nine short words that summarize what many people dream about. It is a lifestyle that is known only by billionaires, royals, and their families.
But there are people who do believe that having financial freedom and the ability to travel as one wishes is truly attainable. This is what many refer to as the Laptop Lifestyle, or having the ability to earn a living, manage a business, or grow investments just by being connected to the internet. This is very common among people who were able to set up active and passive means of income such as rental properties, automated e-commerce, and even brick-and-mortar businesses that are already run by professional staff.
Escaping the 9-to-5
Living the laptop lifestyle comes with certain responsibilities, of course. For example, if you plan to travel for an extended period and do not have a full-time caretaker for your rental property, getting the services of professionals in EICR testing might be needed. This would, at least, help reassure you and your tenants that the home is safe from faulty wiring and other potential fire hazards. Remaining online is also a responsibility since the jet-setting or beach-combing entrepreneur still runs a business even if he or she is across the oceans on a working vacation.
Using laptops and Wi-Fi for work or business also takes a lot of discipline since one controls the use of time, unlike a traditional office where one is surrounded by people, bombarded by meetings and other schedules, and a host of other things that demand one’s attention.
Tim Ferris is one of those who believe and have lived this life. He is perhaps one of the strongest voices listened to by Millennials in terms of life goals and money. He is neither a preacher nor a banker yet his words resonate with thousands of young people and professionals. In his bestselling book, ‘The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5 and Join the New Rich’, he says:
“Work wherever and whenever you want, but get your work done.”
Many have adopted the so-called Laptop Lifestyle of being able to travel but remaining on point when it comes to work or business goals. Ferris does remind his readers and followers that it is important to have discipline, a clear vision and a set of goals, and a drive to get things done.
He says that one can have fewer work hours, be out of the office and be on the beach somewhere, yet get to do more work. In short, he espouses a work ethic that is characterized by high productivity. On page 3 of his book, this is the summary of what Ferris wants to share:
“The objective is to create freedom of time and place and use both however you want.”
From Card Gamer to Millionaire Coach
Another entrepreneur-author named Yaro Starak also lives this unique way of life. Using only a computer, he was able to transform himself from a fresh graduate student with thousands of dollars in student loans, to a millionaire who coaches hundreds of people around the world and has sold products that made him more than a million dollars by the time he is 30 years old.
Yaro began by setting up his own website to post articles about his favorite card game called Magic: The Gathering which he describes as being like “poker with dragons and elves”. His website grew a following from other card game enthusiasts. He started earning money when he sold banner ads to card shops. Not long after, he also started selling cards online.
After some time, he opened another online business called BetterEdit.com which offered essay editing services to college students. This business gave him additional income streams.
Yaro’s big break came when he started a blogsite called Entreprenuers-Journey.com where he told stories about his ups and downs as an online entrepreneur. Not long after, he was able to develop a mentoring program that allowed him to coach other aspiring bloggers and online entrepreneurs. He became in-demand as a speaker in many online business summits. His blogsites also helped him sell many other products that have generated so much income over the years.
Getting Paid While on Vacation Around the World
In his earlier years, Yaro was already earning at least $50,000 a month which was more than enough to cover his daily needs while going from one country to another on vacation, only spending a few hours in a day to post blogs. Today, he still travels around the world giving seminars and enjoying top destinations. Like Ferris, he has won time and financial freedom by not following the mainstream and by going after his dreams.
Ferris and Yaro dared and have won. They inspire hundreds if not thousands of people from all walks of life to also aspire to escape the 9-to-5. They have shown by example that with creativity, discipline, and a desire to be highly productive, one can successfully transition from having the office job to building one’s own online business. As digital entrepreneurs, they have shown that people can choose to live a life of freedom, while being of service to others, and still have a grand time doing it from all corners of the globe.
