Where my friends and relatives are around the world

We are nearly at the end of the 30 Day Blog Challenge, and the theme today is, "Living the Dream: What Does Yours Look Like?" and our question is,

"What does your blueprint for living the dream look like to you?"

Natalie gave us three prompts to help define our answers.

1 What do you want in your life beyond all certainty?
2 What’s a non-negotiable you are not prepared to give up for anything else?
3 What don’t you mind forsaking in return for having more of something else?

1 The thing I want in my life beyond all certainty is to have the freedom to travel, and the funds to sustain my lifestyle while doing it. I would like to continue this as long as possible. I have friends and relatives all over the world, who I try to visit as often as I can. I would like to continue this forever.

2 My non non-negotiable is my camera. It goes where I go, and, as photography is my passion, I cannot be without it.

3 I don't mind forsaking possessions and material things in the pursuit of my dream. I have already cast most of them aside, and I like the freedom of a minimalist lifestyle.

My blueprint for living my dream is simple. I want to build my location independent business so I can continue travelling. I am already constructing my website and adding content. My aim is to have it up and running by the end of September. This might be over ambitious, as I have two week-long photography workshops in September. And these will be full on. Wish me luck!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 28

Where will I go to next?

Today in the 30 Day Blog Challenge, we learned about, "Travel Tools and Accessories: All You Need to Get Moving and Go Mobile." So our question today is,

"What travel tools and services are most important to you when taking your business abroad?"

One of my most useful tools is my Ultimate Laptop Travel Kit. I have had it for some years now, so it is probably out of date. But I still  find it very useful. It has laptop plugs in every shape and size for everywhere in the world; a flight light; a phone charger with various fittings for different phones, including a USB charger; a surge protector; a voice and data cable; different kettle plug adapters; modem and TV cables (probably redundant now).It has all sorts of useful items, all neatly packed into a leather case, the size of a pencil case.

Another item I never travel without is a backup hard drive. I am a photographer, so I don't want to lose any images. I keep all my photos on their memory cards until I get back to base, where I save them onto the hard drive, but I don't erase them. Then, when I get home at the end of the trip, I back them up again onto another hard drive before erasing the cards.

And then there is my Kindle, with a whole library of books to keep me amused, or educate me, depending on my mood. As long as I have my Kindle, I don't stress about delays. I just quietly get on with my reading. Bliss!

One major problem I have is with travel Insurance. It is difficult when you are older, as many will not insure those over the age of 60, let alone those travellers over the age of 70! A major problem for nomads is, even those companies catering for the older traveller insist that the insurance is only valid if you begin and end your journey in your country of origin, even if you no longer live there.

However, I wouldn't change my life for anything. I really am a happy travelling nomad!

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 27

While we can't all afford a private plane, travelling in comfort is the 

next best thing. We all love an upgrade!

Today, in the 30 Day Blog Challenge, we learned, "What You Need to Know to Become a Travel Hacking Pro". And we were asked, "What’s your best travel hacking story to date (where you scored a free upgrade, used miles or just got a bonus perk)" OR "Name 2 ways in which you’re going to become a savvy travel hacker in the next 6 months."

As I am a frequent flyer, I try to keep my loyalty points for Star Alliance topped up. This enables me to use the Business Class lounges around the world, book in at the Business Class counter, use fast track emigration and immigration (which saves an enormous amount of time), and I occasionally use my points to upgrade. But serious travel hacking sounds a lot of fun.

However, my best story was when we, as a family, flew from Buenos Aires, via Rio and Cape Town,  to Johannesburg. Our flight from Buenos Aires to Rio was late, so all the onward passengers were taken to a special area to be checked in quickly, as the flight was about to leave. In front of us was a man on his own. The check-in clerk asked him if she could change his seat. He was furious, and shouted at her that he had booked his seat and that was the one he wanted. So she apologised, and gave him his original seat.

When my husband and I, with our three daughters, stepped up, she said, "Well, I suppose I will have to upgrade you instead, if you don't object!" The upgrade wasn't to business class, but to South African Airways First Class. So we all travelled in style from Rio to Jo'burg. Therefore, my travel tip is, always be patient and polite, you never know where it might lead.

Our upgrade was definitely meant to be, because a strange thing happened that day. My youngest daughter's earring popped out at some point while we were hurrying for the plane. Fortunately, she managed to retrieve the earring, but she lost the sleeper. When she went to take her seat on the aircraft, there was a gold sleeper in the middle of the cushion! How weird was that!

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 26

When changing hemispheres, I can move from a bright, hot sunny day 

to this, in the space of  10 hours

The theme of today's 30 Day Blog Challenge, is "How to Pack Like an Expert and Adapt to a  Minimalist Lifestyle". So the question is "Could you live a minimalist lifestyle? Why or why not? OR What does minimalism mean to you in the context of your ideal lifestyle?

Our lifestyle is very minimalist, having given away most of everything we own, apart from a few precious personal items in storage. So I am used to moving around with the least possible possessions. My packing, however, is still not perfect.

I travel regularly, every year, and have done for most of my life. But I am still looking for that perfect set of travel items. I am constantly seeking non-wrinkle clothing, that serves multiple purposes, and the best way to carry my camera and all my equipment. Yes, I have the added burden of camera, lenses, and a tripod when I move from one place to another. At the moment, my camera, computer, Kindle, and all the paraphernalia associated with them, go in a wheelie cabin bag. And everything else packs into my trusty Eastpack Tranverz holdall, with its two separately zipped compartments

One aspect of packing for travel that I find very difficult to cope with is moving from one hemisphere to another, which I do regularly. When I am in summer, I find it almost impossible to imagine the cold of winter, and vice versa. I am forever under or over packing for my destination. In the space of only 10 hours, I can move from stifling heat to freezing temperatures. I have done this so often that you would think I would have cracked it by now. I know layers are the answer, but which layers?

I am searching for some lightweight, thermal underwear that doesn't have special care, but is suitable for arctic conditions. If you have any suggestions, I would be eternally grateful. I do, however think that a lightweight cashmere sweater would be invaluable, and I am currently going to add that to my wardrobe.

The number of pomodoros I will need when I start the Pomodoro Technique

Today's task in the 30 Day Blog Challenge is to examine the "4 Key Areas to Master to Truly Enjoy Being Location Independent." The 4 key areas are; productivity, staying healthy, keeping up with clients, and keeping in touch with your network. So our question is:

"What skills do you need to build or refine to be a happy Suitcase Entrepreneur?"

Productivity

The very first area I need to build on is productivity. I can find all sorts of excuses not to get down to work, and I know I spend too much time on Facebook and Twitter, as well as reading the day's news in various forms. I have been investigating the Pomodoro Technique that Natalie suggested in her article today, and I can see that is the way to go. I have a kitchen timer that I can press into use. This seems to me an excellent idea to help me focus.

I also found an app called Freedom that stops you from accessing the Internet while you have work to do. You just turn Freedom on, tell it how long you want to focus, and you are offline until your time is up.

Staying Healthy

For a while now, I have been sitting on an exercise ball when working at the computer. It has really helped in making me sit up straight, and enables me to fidget,, and sometimes bounce up and down (which is good for my blood flow). Also, when I sit in a chair for too long, it often hurts the backs of my legs. But now I have a new way of working. I put my computer on a box, and my mouse on a lower box, so that I can stand up while I work. If I am listening to a podcast, I also march up and down on the spot. All this helps me feel so much better and fitter.

The keeping up with clients, and networking, really do not apply to my yet, as I don't have my business up and running. However, I do find Linkedin and Facebook really useful for keeping up with friends, relatives, and like minded people, especially for letting them know when I will be in a different location. Although it doesn't always have the desired effect. As one friend remarked when I put as my Facebook status I was leaving for Crete said, "I'd be more impressed if you were staying in one place for a couple of months!" I just can't help travelling!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 24

One of my most favourite beaches in the world is the Koekohe Beach in New Zealand. 

It is the home of the mysterious Moeraki Boulders.

I can't believe we are already on to day 24 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge. Our topic today is, "Where in the World Should You Travel, and What Should You Prepare For? Our blog question is, "What are your travel essentials for your chosen destination(s)?"

We were given the opportunity to answer in one of two ways: either list out the actual physical packing list of your most essential items you couldn't live without, or you could focus on the destination, and the essential elements you’d want it to have (like history, sunshine, etc.)

My Ultimate Destination.

I do have a vision of my ultimate decision in life. I would like to live in a apartment by the sea, with a swimming pool and gymnasium in the complex. Why an apartment, and not a villa or a house? Because, in an apartment, you can always lock up and go whenever the fancy takes you. No matter how old or infirm I will be, my instinct to travel will never leave me. A house would seem too permanent, too much responsibility.

The sea coast must be wild, and empty, with long, hot summers, and clean, vibrant air. And the sea, crystal clear, gently lapping the shore in summer, but with wild, lashing waves in winter. It would have to be near enough to civilization to have cutting edge WiFi connection, as I couldn't be without the Internet, but far enough away to deter too many day trippers.

I am working hard on making my dream a reality, and, given the direction my chidren seem to be gravitating, it is most likely to be in Australia.

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 23

Today's theme in the 30 Day Blog Challenge, is all about "The Key Qualities and Characteristics You will Need to be a Suitcase Entrepreneur". The question for today is, "What’s your level of location independence and your nomadic quotient?"

My levels of location independence and nomadic quotient are very high. When I think about it, I haven't really had a place to call my own home since I left for college, many, many years ago. My own family has been very lucky in its travels (see the previous post), as we have always arrived in a country, and been driven to the company apartment, which has been our home for the length of the contract. However, unlike many others in our situation, we have no home to go back to, always moving on to the next destination. So, for today's post, I would like to share with you what I believe are the key qualities and characteristics you need to follow a nomadic lifestyle, based on my own experiences.

Inner Happiness

Your most important asset when embarking on a nomadic lifestyle is inner happiness. You must have the ability to be happy everywhere, without thinking the next place will be better, or hankering after the place you just left. It's essential to be happy where you are, wherever that is.

You can't always be in control

You have to go with the flow, relax, and take what comes. You can't control every situation. When you travel, you are meeting other cultures, with other ideas from your own. What you think is acceptable or unacceptable, might not be the same as their's. Watch the locals, if they aren't concerned, you needn't be either. And always remember, a smile goes a long way.

Learn Some Words

If you learn nothing else, always learn to say please, thank you, and sorry, in whatever the language the locals speak. Those three words go a long way. Although, a little more effort will have you finding the bathroom, the shops, and the nearest restaurant.

De-clutter your life.

Although we do have some precious, irreplaceable family mementos in storage, we own nothing in the way of household goods. At the moment, living in Istanbul as we do, we don't even own a car, as taxis. and public transport are much easier than battling with the nightmare traffic. We tried, in the past, moving about with an ever growing pile of boxes as we traveled from country to country. Then we decided, "Enough! No more!", and threw everything out. It was a wonderful moment of release.

Carpe Diem

Seize the Day, every day. Look for every opportunity that presents itself. You never know when the next inspiration will strike. It could be a new acquaintance, a new business, a new country, or just a fun party; be open to everything, and you might be surprised where it leads. An essential part of this is the ability to meet people and quickly make contact. It's all very well being self-sufficient, and happy with your own company, but you must have the ability to reach out to other people too.

I must confess, I do have one dream of stability in my rootless life. I dream of a cupboard in each of my daughters' houses, where I can leave some clothes. My husband intends that when we leave Istanbul, we will leave as we arrived, with one suitcase each. That means an awful lot to get rid of before we move on again! I just don't know where it all came from!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 22

These are all the places I have lived and worked in the world for any length of time, 

beginning in England.

We have entered the third, and final, stage of the 30 Day Blog Challenge. The title is, "How to become a pro at being homeless." This is definitely my area of expertise. The question we have to answer today is, 

"If you chose to live anywhere in the world, where would that be and why?"

Although I have been rattling around the world for a very long time, it may surprise everyone to know that I still cannot make that choice. It's similar to another question I am always asked, "Which country do you like the best?" I can't choose because I made my mind up many years ago, that to be truly happy, you have to love where you are, and make the most of the situation you are in. My mantra has always been, "Home is wherever I happen to be."

My situation is even more complex, because, although my husband and I are in Turkey, at the moment, I have one daughter living in Italy, one in South Africa, and one in Australia; although it does mean I get to travel - a lot! We are contemplating moving to Chiang Mai, in Thailand in the not-too-distant future, as that would be, more or less, equidistant from all three. We could move near to one or the other of them, but they all had a nomadic childhood, so there's no guarantee they won't suddenly up sticks and go elsewhere.

This year alone, I have been to Australia, Crete, Bulgaria, Italy (twice), and England, and we plan to go to South Africa in October, so settling for one country is very hard to do. I think I am going to have to fail today's challenge, as this is a question I cannot answer. I am happy with my nomadic life-style, and I don't want to have to stop; although, at my age, I'm going to have to finally decide one day.

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 20

 

This is an example of what I will put on my "About Me" page. The actual design might change, but I think this is the essence of what I will say. Any suggestions would be gratefully received (although not necessarily acted upon!)

Today, in the 30 Day Blog Challenge, Natalie named 7 of the resources she uses to build her business and asked us to choose just three that we would find most useful. Her question is, 

"State your top three tools that you will use (or already use) to save time and money 

and make your online world more seamless"

Here is Natalie's list:

1. Get Your Domain & Build Your Website on Hostgator

2. Build Your Audience List and Increase Your Sales With LeadPages

3. Sell Digital Products Online Quickly With e-Junkie

4. Start Selling Your Goods and Services Online with PayPal

5. Manage Your Social Media in One Place Easily With Hootsuite

6. Build Your Mailing List & Send Newsletters With MailChimp

7. Get Help From Professional Freelancers Online With Virtual Staff Finder

Numbers 1 and 4, I can dismiss straight away, as I already have a Hostgator account, a domain name, and I am in the middle of building my site. Added to which I already have a PayPal account, so a tick for all of these.

Number 5 is a little tricky, as I already have a Hootsuite account, and have had for some time. However, suddenly I was denied access and they claimed I didn't have an account. I decided to create a new account, and they said that I couldn't do that as I already had an account. However, I think I have managed to get back in again, but I don't know for how long!

That is already three of the seven out of they way, so I have four left to choose from. Probably I will use all four eventually, although perhaps getting help from professional freelancers is far in the future. So here is my list:

1 I have spent some time looking at the Leadpages site and I would definitely add some of their templates to my site eventually. I'm still in the middle of designing and building my new site, so  I will get to that when I can.

2 Another site I have investigated today is E-Junkie. This company helps with online sales. They offer some very useful tips, and I managed to download some interesting ebooks from their site, all to do with blogging. Once I have products to sell, I would definitely use this company to handle all my sales.

3 My third, must-have tool would be an email marketing service provider. I am torn between MailChimp and Aweber. MailChimp is tantalizing, as you can have a free account, although not with an autoresponder, which I think is essential if you want to automate the sending of a series of emails to your list. So that whenever people sign up, they always get the first email of the series. I need to look into this further before I commit.

Of course, all this in in the future. My first priority is to build my site, write content, and make it live. Watch this space, and I will let you know my launch date.

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 19

One way I will build my platform will be using social media

The question in today's 30 Day Blog Challenge is quite difficult when you can't imagine that anyone would be remotely interested in what you have to offer, but I will have a go anyway!

"Which methods do you want to use to build your platform and increase your influence?"

A Leading Learner

My first method would be to make myself a 'Leading Learner'. I have never stopped learning about all sorts of things related to my blog focus, and I would like to take others on my journey of discovery. This would give me lots of topics to write about, such as travel, photography, and health. I have a lifetime's experience of living and working in different countries around the world, so I can speak from experience too.

Build a Platform

When we talk about 'building a platform' on the Internet, we mean how do we intend to connect with existing and potential followers. How can we make ourselves visible, so we stand out from the millions of other bloggers out there?

Social media is the first thing that comes to mind. I would ensure that I was the face of my brand, and easily recognizable on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google +, YouTube, and Pinterest, due to my active involvement on all these platforms.

Eventually, I'd like to try public speaking, and reaching out to press organizations. But that is probably a long way down the line, as I am still building my site, and my vision.

This is all so amazing. I would never have got this far if it hadn't been for Natalie Sisson of The Suitcase Entrepreneur. What an inspiration she has been for me. I've been thinking about having a more professional blog for a long time, but I've been dithering about how to actually get started. Natalie was the spur.

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 18

Cookies work with web browsers, so sites can remember you and your preferences. 

For example, if you search for travel, you will see travel ads popping up.

In today's 30 Day Blog Challenge, we get down to how to make money with a blog. One way is to use affiliate marketing. So the question is, "What does your dream sales team look like and how will you ensure they help you build your business?"

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you advertise someone else's product, by writing an article or review about it, with a link to their page. When your customer goes to their page and takes some sort of action, you would earn a commission. In this way, you become part of their sales team, as you are advertising their product.

However, it is important to maintain the trust of your tribe, by only advertising products you know and trust yourself, otherwise you can lose your followers, as they will lose their faith in you.

As my website will be about helping retirees to enjoy life, and make enough money to supplement their pension, my dream sales team would be the ones who will promote my products as I promote theirs. I would be looking at affiliates in health, travel, and small businesses that can be run location independently. Added to this would be affiliates who can help those interested in setting up their own blogs, like Natalie, The Suitcase Entrepreneur.

I am slowly building my new website, one brick at a time. Maybe I can make this vision my reality. I do hope so.

30 Day Blog challenge, Day 17

 

There is no point building up an amazing website, writing perfect copy, and giving away valuable content, if no one visits your site. It's important to have people wanting to engage with you, and keep coming back to see what you have to say next. So today's important topic on the 30 Day Blog Challenge is, "What three steps can you take to build trust and credibility online for you, your brand and your business?"

1 Be the Brand

It is important that you sell yourself as a person who has valuable information, and is honest and straight forward in dealings with your emerging tribe. Wherever you are seen on your blog, or social media platforms, you must be easily recognized. Your photo and videos should be everywhere, showing that you are the human face behind the business. So much so, that if you were to attend the World Domination Summit, people would come up to you and say, "Aren't you the (put you brand name here)?

2 Respond

Whenever you have someone contact you, on the blog or on through social media, answer them immediately. Try to keep them engaged and show that you care about them. In this way you start a conversation that they will want to continue. This is especially true on social media sites like Twitter or Facebook, where you can reach an even greater audience.

3 Be Consistent

Post regularly, and don't miss any planned events on your blog. In this way, people will come to know that you are reliable. Also your posts must be well  thought out, and to your best standard. Any hastily uploaded content, can damage your credibility.

These are my three main focus points for building trust. Can you think of others that are just as important that I might have missed?

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 16

Today, in our preparation for the 30 Day Blog Challenge, we learned about , "Why You Should Hire for Growth and Your Long Term Vision." This means that in order to build a business that can grow, it is important to outsource all those tasks that are time consuming, and prevent you from focusing on your core business. Which leads to today's question:

"How will you build a team around your vision and work smart instead of hard?"

One of the main benefits of outsourcing is the ability to hire experts to solve a particular task like research, website optimisation, editing podcasts and videos, or handling emails, as and when you need them to. I will certainly work towards this, but I doubt if I am anywhere near the stage of having to hire anyone (although, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, I do have some family members in mind!).

In my life's vision, however, I have an IT guru to manage my blog, researchers to find the information I seek, a video and podcast editor, plus a virtual assistant to help keep me organised. One can only dream!

I will keep in mind the words of Henry ford, of the Ford Motor Company when I build my team, "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. "

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 15

Today marks the halfway point of the 30 Day Blog Challenge, and the question today is, 

"How are you building your email list?"

We've come a long way from the time when direct mailing was the only way to market a product. Today, it's much easier to reach out to people using email. But just randomly emailing the world is seen as spam, and a big no no if you want your clients to take you seriously. This is why it is so important to have the "opt in" widget prominently displayed on your page. This is where people ask to receive your newsletter, and so your email list is born.

I am nowhere near ready to begin an email list for my new blog, as I still have to write some compelling content to make people want to sign up in the first place! My plan is to build up a sequence of email newsletters, and send them, once a week, to my list using an auto-responder, probably Aweber.

The purpose of my email newsletters would be to engage with my readers, and motivate them towards achieving a fulfilling retirement. At first, I would give free information, and perhaps a free eBook, to entice them into reading my blog regularly. Eventually I would want them to respond to my call for action, and buy my eBooks or coaching services, or click on affiliate links.

As you can see, there is much to do before I can implement any of this. What do you think? Is this the way forward?

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 13

So here is our conundrum for today in the 30 Day Blog Challenge!

"What three things would you most like your website to have 

and how will you go about getting them?"

This question in the 30 Day Blog Challenge has come at just the right time for me. At this moment I am in the middle of designing my new, more professional website on Wordpress.org. I must confess that I struggled with its beginnings. It has taken me two days to sign up to Hostgator and choose a webpage template that I think I can work with. Now I am researching plugins and widgets. My problem is that I have to check numerous articles on the best ones to install. This is not a necessity, checking numerous articles that is, but my typically endless search for information! I think this is the reason I have waited so long to make the leap from amateur to professional blogging. I have saved hundreds of webpages, and signed up to gazillions of eBooks, in my quest to find the perfect answer to all my questions. The answer so far might just as well be 42! Only Natalie has provided the spur I needed to take action.

The Three Things My Website Must Have

1  There must be many others like me out there, who keep searching and searching, but never take that first step. So the most important item on my new blog must be a call to action. Something that makes them say, "Yes, I'm going to do this!" Just like I did with Natalie's challenge.

2  I will have a strong, attractive design, as it will make people want to stay and explore my site.

3  An inspirational message at the head of my blog, that resonates with the type of people I am going to target.

Can I do it? Yes, I can!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 12

 

Photography makes me happy

A difficult question in today's 30 Day Blog Challenge, involves putting one's self out there, and highlighting why you think you are special enough to succeed in the global market. We are asked, "What is your USP, Unique Special Proposition, that sets you apart from the crowd?"

What are you better at than anyone else?

My strength lies in being happy, and making those around me laugh.  I am a 70 year-old woman who thinks that 70 is a ridiculous number, so I just ignore it, and carry on regardless. I love life, and I am forever throwing myself into all sort of situations and activities that many women of my age, and younger, raise their eyebrows at. Fortunately, I have no time for their negativity and just continue on my own path!

What do you enjoy doing the most?

I travel a lot, and enjoy connecting with people through activity, and adventure. When I retired, I decided I had to find something to do with my life, so I bought a camera, and went on residential photography workshops; one in Seville, Spain; one in Venice, Italy; and one in Paris, France. I kept all my friends and relatives up to date with my journeys through my personal blog. Now I am a stock photographer, and my work is selling!

What do (or could) you provide that no one else is providing?

I could be an example to other older people, and show them that retirement is a new beginning, rather than an end. And help them to love their life, and perhaps make some money to support it.

What annoys people the most about your industry or blog area?

I think the thing that annoys people about trying to get them to find a new purpose in life, is that many bloggers reaching out to retirees try to make their clients jump too soon, so when they reach the first hurdle they give up. "I don't want to be told I need a passion!", is the remark I hear the most, usually from a grumpy old man! So perhaps a less in-your-face, and a more gradual persuasion is needed to help older people find their happiness.

What is remarkable about you?

I don't think I am particularly remarkable, but I love life and adventure, and I want to share that with others.

Do you have an unusual combination of elements?

My unusual combination of elements lie in my youthful outlook on life, while piling on the years, and the fact that I have been nomadic for most of my working life. To me, age really is just a number, so, although I technically fall into the geriatric age group, the very thought of that makes me laugh so much that I include the term in my blog name.

Do you have a big personality?

Oh, yes! I am often too loud, and I make facetious comments, that people really shouldn't take too seriously. I also have a tendency to organise people, as a result of 40 years in education!

I am unique and different because I provide living proof that a nomadic lifestyle is possible at any age. No one else will provide exactly what I can, because they haven't had my life experience.

Ultimately, we are all unique individuals making our own journey in life. But, if you think of all the glitterati out there, famous for their beauty, their money, their style, or just because they are famous for being famous, it's hard to imagine that anyone can pop up from nowhere, and become a well-known blogging personality. But I am going to try.

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 10

At last, I can see my path forward!

In today's challenge, we are asked to respond to the following: 

"What are the key ways in which you want to make money online in your chosen business?" 

OR "Which are the key online revenue streams you want to focus on in your existing business?"

Obviously, my answer is to the first of these two questions as I don't have my business up and running yet. At the moment, I am looking at three key areas to make money online.

1. Affiliate marketing.

This is where I will advertise other people's sites and products, for a commission when someone clicks through onto their site. I would choose affiliates in my line of expertise too, so that I would become the 'go to' person for information, and where to look for more ideas in my field.

2 eBooks and public speaking.

I have put these together as they depend on my own words. What I write about, I can speak about, and I would be looking to selling eBooks, and being paid to attend conferences and workshops.

3 Counseling and coaching.

I will offer to give one on one coaching to help subscribers to find their way forward in making money through a variety of different business models. I will help them to decide on a model that suits them, and their lifestyle in particular. And then give them the tools  they would need to begin their new life.

Of course, I won't limit myself to just these three, as I am sure other ways are out there. But with these three, at last, I can see a way forward!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 9

 

I was confused, I couldn't see the wood for the trees!

 

Today, we have to answer, "Whose online business do you admire most and why?"

I have to confess, I have been looking at starting a professional blog for ages. But I have always been hesitant about taking that first step. I have followed many successful bloggers, who teach about blogging: John Chow, Darren Rouse of Problogger,  Yaro Starak of the entrepreneurs-journey,  Gideon Shalwick,  to name but a few. I read voraciously, as they spoke about marketing, and making money with blogging, and how easy it all was. But I didn't have any clear idea of  what niche I would choose, or whether I actually knew anything I could blog about. What could I sell, that anyone would want to pay for? So to me, none of it sounded that easy. Added to which, although they are all lovely people, and genuinely providing a service, I somehow couldn't identify with them. I even downloaded some of their ebooks, many of which, to my shame, remain unread in folders on my computer.

Then Natalie came along with her 30 day blog challenge. "Go for it", said the little voice in my head. "You have to take the plunge sometime. It's now or never!" So I have to say that Natalie Sisson, The Suitcase Entrepreneur, is the one I admire most. She was the first online blogging expert who actually spoke to me, an older woman who couldn't make up her mind how to achieve her goal.

I find that Natalie's daily blogging prompts are invaluable in clarifying my thoughts. At last, I have a way forward. I now know my niche, and I can even visualise how I want my home page to look. Why, I even know who I can outsource work to, as I have an amazing family who will join me in my journey. I know who my Business Manager, my Virtual Assistant, my Accountant, my Business Planning Adviser, and my Legal Adviser will be. I won't name you all now, but I am sure you can guess who you are!

My path will diverge from Natalie's in that I will be speaking to a different audience. But I will follow her in urging my tribe to cut loose and enjoy life, with the freedom to live anywhere they choose. Bring on the challenge for Day 10, I say!

30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 8

 

Woohoo! I won a prize!

It's Day 8 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge, and we've been given a day off from blogging. But I can't let it pass without telling you about my small success.

This is what Natalie of The Suitcase Entrepreneur wrote on her blog today.

Welcome to the new world of digital nomads!

Yep it’s time to celebrate your progress so far and welcome you to my world.

It’s been amazing to look all the blog posts being written for this 30 Day Blog Challenge (which I link to at the end of each daily post).

Congratulations to these winners:

 

I’d like to personally congratulate the following three people who really wrote some compelling and thought provoking posts consistently all week.

    Dharmesh Barot
    Elizabeth Coughlan
    Kirk Sylvester

You’ve each won a digital version of the The Suitcase Entrepreneur book to read alongside this 30 Day Challenge where the core messages have come from!

How wonderful is that? Thank you, Natalie!

The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 7

My husband, David  runs wherever we are in the world. Here, he is running

 beside the Marmara Sea in Istanbul, Turkey

Today's question in the 30 Day Blog Challenge is, "Which key tools will you turn to regularly

 to maintain your mindset and how will you use them effectively?"

Clarity of mind and focus are essential for a location independent entrepreneur. How will you keep your vision alive? How can you stay on target in order to achieve your goals? The right mindset is a vital part of the entrepreneur's armoury. Very few people have the inner strength to achieve their dream lifestyle without assistance. Many of us need tools to help us maintain our path. But what is helpful to one person, might not suit another. Fortunately, the Internet is awash with every kind of tool that can help. If you want to meditate; keep a journal; do yoga; follow an exercise programme; whatever you need, it is there.

My husband runs, wherever we are in the world. He finds it clears his mind and allows him to focus on any problems, or tasks, he needs to complete. For my part, as a photographer I walk a lot, although I really could do with losing some weight and becoming fitter. That would help me to sleep better, and feel a lot healthier within myself, so that I can focus more on what I need to accomplish. To this end, I have signed up to Vic Magary's Fat Loss For Free program, as a tool to help me. I was inspired by a podcast he made with Natalie Sisson, of The Suitcase Entrepreneur, where Natalie tells Vic how she manages to keep fit while travelling.

A frequent tool I use when writing is the Focus@Will music channel. Living on a very busy boulevard in Istanbul, as I do, I can easily be distracted or annoyed by street noises, especially in summer when the windows are open. To enable me to focus and be more productive, I plug in my earphones and type away, while listening to music that has been scientifically proven to aid concentration. You can read about the science behind it on their blog. The site can be accessed through Lifehacker.

I really look forward to hearing from other bloggers just what it is that keeps them on the path to success. Even an old dog can learn new tricks!