I Quit My Job During the Pandemic to Become a Digital Nomad

Here’s how I’m building a business that will give me my freedom

For the last two years, I’ve been building a side-hustle business. I slowly ventured into the blogging space, then podcasting, then virtual services.

I knew I eventually wanted to ditch the 9–5 so I could travel the world and live my life on my terms, so I put all the pieces into place to one day become a digital nomad.

Only, it’s happening much sooner than I anticipated.

The Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 sent my entire company into WFH mode, and with self-isolation came hours upon hours and days upon days of reflection.

Is this how I want to live my life?

Is this what I want to do for my career?

How I can check places and trips off my bucket list if I’m tethered to a desk (even during WFH?)

I thought long and hard about my current job and lifestyle, where I wanted to be, and what I wanted to get out of life. And I just knew in my gut that this wasn’t it.

And then my company began feeling the effects of the pandemic. Being in print publishing, the impact of the pandemic was so great they decided to consolidate offices, and my role was moving out of state.

And while I was offered relocation, I was still devastated. I moved to Los Angeles for the music industry and didn’t want to move to a city and state where the industry didn’t quite exist.

But then, I saw an opportunity.

Here was my chance to take this “side hustle” full time. Here was my chance to create a lifestyle that I wanted, to create a business on my own terms. One that I could do from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection (I’m a bit of a travel geek).

So after a weekend of thought, of analyzing my budget, and creating pro and con lists, I turned the offer down.

Am I crazy? Perhaps.

But am I read for this new challenge of freelance, entrepreneurship, and making my own way in the world?

Absolutely.

Budgeting for “Unemployment”

First things first, I knew I had to review my budget and my current debts. I took stock of loans, credit card debt, savings, and investments.

Then, I analyzed my bank statements and credit card transactions. What was I spending money on that I just didn’t need? Could I cut down my grocery bill and eliminate subscriptions?

After canceling subscriptions for apps I didn’t use and memberships that were a luxury (and not a necessity), I looked at my savings. I calculated my monthly living costs and estimated how much I needed in savings to be able to live comfortably for a few months until the money started coming in.

Luckily I still have my full-time job until the end of October, so I have time to bulk up my emergency and long term savings as much as possible while I build up my income streams

The most important piece of this though was to determine exactly how much I needed to make each month to make all my payments and have a little extra to save for emergencies.

Creating Multiple Income Streams

Once my budgeting was done and I knew how much I needed each month, I took stock of the different income streams I currently have in place and could put in place in the future.

Virtual Services

I launched virtual services as part of my business in late 2019. I offer virtual assistance packages and recently launched two new services: Podcast Launch and Podcast Management.

These three services will constitute the income stream I’ll rely on most, so it’s a priority to build these in the last few months of my corporate employment.

Affiliate Income

Let me preface this income stream with this: I really do only share affiliate links for products that I do genuinely use and enjoy or that my podcast guests truly use and enjoy. I’m not one of those people who writes blog posts filled with different affiliate links so I can get a click and a few pennies.

I’m part of a few affiliate programs for eCourses I love. I also refer clients and my audience to products I currently use in my business. I figure that if I’m sending them to these tools or services that make my life or business easier, and that tool or service offers a referral or affiliate program, then why the heck wouldn’t I try to earn a bit of income from it?

*Note: this post does not contain affiliate links*

Writing for Medium

Honestly, I write for fun. I write to get my thoughts out “on paper” and to share them with other like-minded individuals, or maybe those who are looking for a bit of motivation or inspiration. So heck, why not post it on sites like Medium or Vocal where I can earn a bit of money for my works?

I know, it might take a lot for me to earn money through these platforms, but I see it this way: if I’m writing and working on my craft anyway, why not try to make a little extra while I’m at it?

(and who knows, maybe this post will become a viral hit!)

Podcasts with Sponsors

I host two podcasts, one of which is a marketing tool for my virtual services business (noted above). The other podcast is for fun but is hosted on a platform that offers sponsor ads, and you better bet I recorded an ad already! As I wind down corporate employment, I’ll be on the search for advertisers and sponsors with products and services that fit well with my podcast and can serve my audience. While this might not be the bread and butter of my income streams, it has already added a few extra pennies to my account.

Honestly, I’m Terrified

Since graduating college I’ve always held some kind of steady job, relying on a corporate income to help me make my way in the world. So yes, venturing out on my own in the midst of a pandemic, a potential second wave of infections, and recession is absolutely terrifying.

But this was an opportunity that I just couldn’t let go. How often do you spend two years building a side hustle with hopes that it could be full time, and then you actually get that chance with a bit of a buffer behind you?

As Jen Sincero says:

Nobody who ever accomplished anything big or new or worth raising a celebratory fist in the air did it from their comfort zone.