Welcome to the 16th edition of “How to Make Money While Travelling” which features successful nomadic teams and interviews with location independent entrepreneurs.
This week I interviewed Chantell Glenville the founder of TravelforYourLife; which provides resources to help you quit your job and travel the world! From how to overcome the obstacles to travel, as detailed in Chantell’s new book Travel for Your Life, to routes around countries on her website.
Q1: So, how do you make money while travelling?
In a variety of ways. My primary source of income is from a flat I rent out back in England. I also have some clients I provide marketing consultancy services for which brings in additional income however I try to keep this work to a minimum as it is the most time intensive of any of my income streams. I also make money from my books (Travel for Your Life is my second book) and will hopefully start monetizing my website soon (it’s only been live a month at the moment but it is set up with affiliate links etc. ready to make money as I grow the traffic).
Q2: What were you doing before Travel for Your Life?
I worked in Marketing and Advertising back home.
Q3: What are your reasons for becoming location independent?
By the age of 27 I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown, working 70 hour weeks and had become so stressed out and insecure through all the pressure I was under that I would get nervous just talking to someone. Then suddenly it hit me that nothing was worth what I was doing to myself. So I packed it all in and took off to travel. The only income I had at that point was from the flat I rent out but the great thing about travel is it gives you time to discover the things you enjoy doing. For me that turned out to be writing and sharing my expertise. That’s therefore what I now spend all my time doing. Whether that’s through my books, my blog or even my marketing consultancy.
Q4: What challenges do you face in your career while both working and travelling?
Sometimes time differences can make certain projects painful! But for the most part I don’t think I really experience any more challenges than someone running their own business from their home country. Running your own business is hard. At least I get to do it in beautiful locations where if I’m super stressed out I can drive off to a remote beach for a weekend and surf or just chill out.
Q5: What is the biggest lesson you have learnt from becoming location independent?
The world is really small. Much smaller than I ever realized before. You can get anything done from anywhere it the world. It really doesn’t matter where you are.
Q6: How do you find work while travelling?
The marketing consultancy work I find through recommendations and personal connections. I’ve had a lot of enquiries since I launched my travel blog for website build and design as well simply from people seeing the sentence I put at the bottom of the website saying “ Website design and development by Chantell Glenville of JY Marketing Consultancy. If you’d like us to build your next website get in touch.”
Q7: Do you think businesses should offer more remote working opportunities? If so, why?
Absolutely. Even in my last marketing consultancy role back in the UK they offered their full-time staff remote working. The deal with them was, if you didn’t need to be in the office for a meeting then you didn’t have to be. Everyone had laptops and hot desked so there was no other reason to be there. It made a huge difference to morale. Having worked remotely doing marketing consultancy now, and launched books whilst away, I’d say even for meetings you don’t need to be there. That’s what Skype is for. I would recommend any company to offer their staff remote working. That way they will get happier staff who are living their life as they want to. And happy staff members have a tendency to produce better work.
Q8: What would your advice be to someone who wants to quit their desk job to become location independent?
Just do it. Even if you haven’t worked out how you’ll make money on the road yet, save up some money and go travel. Then once you have the headspace to think again, work out how you’ll start making money to allow you to continue your travels.
Q9: What is your favourite travel quote?
My favorite travel quote is actually one I included in my book which is
“‘I really wish I had never gone traveling.’ Said no one. Ever.”
