Post: #26

Knowing what I know now at 32, if I had 20k ten years ago, I would absofuckinglutely go for it and buy the one way ticket. You're young, you have tons of time to recuperate if your business attempts fail. You have enough saved up to keep a good sized emergency fund if you have to move back to the states and find your footing again, and if that happens, you're no worse off then you are now and you've gained valuable experiences.

If you keep analyzing, the "right time" will never come. I know, because I've been analyzing my situation, my bank account for the last 3 years waiting for some magical number or idea where I feel comfortable quitting my day job and buying a one way ticket instead of a round trip. I think I've realized at this point its never going to feel comfortable unplugging from the system.

I live in New England too and can't wait to leave, its definitely not a place I want to put down permanent roots, too expensive, too much liberal progressive bullshit, people are fleeing this part of the country for a reason. The way I see it, if I don't find a way to sustain myself abroad and have to come back after a few months or years, I can explore other parts of the US that I've had on my mind.

Post: #27

(09-11-2018 08:35 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  Knowing what I know now at 32, if I had 20k ten years ago, I would absofuckinglutely go for it and buy the one way ticket. You're young, you have tons of time to recuperate if your business attempts fail. You have enough saved up to keep a good sized emergency fund if you have to move back to the states and find your footing again, and if that happens, you're no worse off then you are now and you've gained valuable experiences.

If you keep analyzing, the "right time" will never come. I know, because I've been analyzing my situation, my bank account for the last 3 years waiting for some magical number or idea where I feel comfortable quitting my day job and buying a one way ticket instead of a round trip. I think I've realized at this point its never going to feel comfortable unplugging from the system.

I live in New England too and can't wait to leave, its definitely not a place I want to put down permanent roots, too expensive, too much liberal progressive bullshit, people are fleeing this part of the country for a reason. The way I see it, if I don't find a way to sustain myself abroad and have to come back after a few months or years, I can explore other parts of the US that I've had on my mind.

I've seen guys here talk about a million, two million, three, four million as their target.

Those guys are dreamers, they're never going to make the move. Even if they get to the 1, 2, 3, or 4 million, they'll want 2, 3, 4, 5 million then in order to feel "safe," but once they get there, they'll want more. They're never going anywhere and they'll be living vicariously through those of us with the balls to take on the level of risk this entails. Meanwhile, every year they delay is one less year of priceless youth which they wasted sitting in a cubicle half the day, then watching netflix the other half.

Anyhow, different strokes for different folks, man.

Post: #28

(09-11-2018 09:09 PM)Spaniard88 Wrote:  Meanwhile, every year they delay is one less year of priceless youth which they wasted sitting in a cubicle half the day, then watching netflix the other half.

The other problem with this is that they usually come home too tired to work on their side business, and they never get it off the ground, further fueling their procrastination.

Besides having sufficient savings (at least 2 years worth of living expenses in the TARGET country or region, not the current location), it helps to set a firm deadline to get out. Say, it could be 3 months from now. Or 6 months. Whatever works.

The key is this.

Once the deadline is set, a mental transformation takes place. Instead of being in dream mode, you are now in action mode. You are now taking the steps to meet your own deadline, including building your business with whatever income goals you've set for yourself. You'll put more energy into your business than vegging out on the couch binge watching Netflix.

I'll say this, though. Because you'll be burning both ends of the candle for some time, I don't recommend setting that deadline too far into the future, like a year or more. If it's too far out, then it's easy to get discouraged and lose motivation, or worse, suffer burnout from working too much on both job and business.

I almost got burned out myself and that lead to a string of several months of non-productivity (and bleeding cash) once I did bail. I would not underestimate the seriousness of burnout -- it takes several months to recover and costs massive amounts of money in the meantime.

Post: #29

^ I'll second what CleanSlate wrote about burnout. I am in a similar situation, just made the move abroad but got burned out by the process of finishing up my previous work followed by dealing with the logistics of moving. I'm surrounded by by pussy but have no desire right now. I'll probably take some time off from work next year to recover, if I don't get back on track in the next month or so.

Three to six months sounds like the ideal amount of time based on my experience.

Post: #30

I've been making money online for 20 years now. But it's run its course really. I make a fraction of what I once did. To get something going now requires collosal effort. You'd be better doing something else.

I now make 3x more money from my investments than I do online. I'm invested in high yield stocks/bonds and rental property. I used to invest in P2P but the glory days are over on that as well. Investments are true passive income. Making websites or YT videos is NOT.

The most lucrative thing I do is teach at a Chinese university. I'm able to save a similar amount to what I did when I was working in London. But I only effectively work for 7 months of the year.

For the other 5 months I work on hopeless make money online schemes. Although I do seem to be having promising results starting a forum in the NSFW niche...

Post: #31

If you are good at writing, making videos and growing social media accounts then there are so many ways to make to make money. Pick a niche that you're somewhat knowledgeable about that people who are interested in it would be paying $100+ for things in that niche relatively often and become and authority in that niche, reviewing things, giving advice, keeping people updated with new products with a blog and YouTube channel.

Post: #32

TopPanda, I'd be fascinated to read a timeline of your online money making ventures over the past 20 years!

Post: #33

Thank you all for the helpful responses.

(09-11-2018 09:38 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  or worse, suffer burnout from working too much on both job and business.

I almost got burned out myself and that lead to a string of several months of non-productivity (and bleeding cash) once I did bail. I would not underestimate the seriousness of burnout -- it takes several months to recover and costs massive amounts of money in the meantime.

I currently am burnt out. I've tried for 2 years straight, of nonstop work and ventures to achieve the goal of location independence. Life is nothing more than going through the motions for me. Every day I imagine getting back to traveling and living once again.

The way you said that really changed my perspective on it all. I just need to go for it. At nothing else, I get away for a few months, fix my mental health, and come back to the states to earn. best case, I become an internet shitlord and upgrade from Asia to Eastern Europe, South America etc.

I don't even have the mental energy to work here anymore. No point going on like this.

Buying the ticket over the next 7 days (price watching). Aiming to leave in the next 1-3 months.

Post: #34

(09-11-2018 12:00 PM)Stickman Wrote:  Do you have a camera? if you don't I'd use part of that 20k and invest in one and start doing video content for Youtube, IG and possibly your own blog. You'll go as far as your imagination takes you.

(09-13-2018 09:41 PM)the-dream Wrote:  If you are good at writing, making videos and growing social media accounts then there are so many ways to make to make money. Pick a niche that you're somewhat knowledgeable about that person who are interested in it would be paying $100+ for things in that niche relatively often and become and authority in that niche, reviewing things, giving advice, keeping people updated with new products with a blog and YouTube channel.

I have thought about doing this exact thing. I actually enjoy making videos, and that's kind of a dream I've always had.

I already invested in a Sony FDR X 3000 4k for those exact purposes.

I think I will experiment more with it once I get into 'Action mode" or actually get over there and clear my mind.

Thanks for the helpful responses!

Post: #35

Keep us posted on your journey. Good luck!

Post: #36

(09-13-2018 08:43 PM)TopPanda Wrote:  I've been making money online for 20 years now. But it's run its course really. I make a fraction of what I once did. To get something going now requires collosal effort. You'd be better doing something else.

I now make 3x more money from my investments than I do online. I'm invested in high yield stocks/bonds and rental property. I used to invest in P2P but the glory days are over on that as well. Investments are true passive income. Making websites or YT videos is NOT.

The most lucrative thing I do is teach at a Chinese university. I'm able to save a similar amount to what I did when I was working in London. But I only effectively work for 7 months of the year.

For the other 5 months I work on hopeless make money online schemes. Although I do seem to be having promising results starting a forum in the NSFW niche...

I was making money online since 1999. Every other week sure enough someone on the IM forums someone would say Internet marketing is over or how the good ole day is gone. Truth is, there has never been an easier time to make money online.

Back then, you'd have to know html or use something like dreamweaver. Now people are making millions filming themselves eating. There is some kids in the states that makes 14 mil a year reviewing toys.

You can travel across the world easily and hire talent on the cheap to scale your business. Back then outsourcing was a foreign concept.

It's hard now if you don't adapt yourself and grow with the times. If you keep doing what you did 10-20 years ago, you obviously missed the boat. There are more tools now than ever before. Everything is more easily accessible. Websites are easier to build. There are more competition but there are also way more tools to scale. You have to learn what those tools are and grow with it

Post: #37

(09-16-2018 03:05 AM)Stickman Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 08:43 PM)TopPanda Wrote:  I've been making money online for 20 years now. But it's run its course really. I make a fraction of what I once did. To get something going now requires collosal effort. You'd be better doing something else.

I now make 3x more money from my investments than I do online. I'm invested in high yield stocks/bonds and rental property. I used to invest in P2P but the glory days are over on that as well. Investments are true passive income. Making websites or YT videos is NOT.

The most lucrative thing I do is teach at a Chinese university. I'm able to save a similar amount to what I did when I was working in London. But I only effectively work for 7 months of the year.

For the other 5 months I work on hopeless make money online schemes. Although I do seem to be having promising results starting a forum in the NSFW niche...

I was making money online since 1999. Every other week sure enough someone on the IM forums someone would say Internet marketing is over or how the good ole day is gone. Truth is, there has never been an easier time to make money online.

Back then, you'd have to know html or use something like dreamweaver. Now people are making millions filming themselves eating. There is some kids in the states that makes 14 mil a year reviewing toys.

You can travel across the world easily and hire talent on the cheap to scale your business. Back then outsourcing was a foreign concept.

It's hard now if you don't adapt yourself and grow with the times. If you keep doing what you did 10-20 years ago, you obviously missed the boat. There are more tools now than ever before. Everything is more easily accessible. Websites are easier to build. There are more competition but there are also way more tools to scale. You have to learn what those tools are and grow with it

You bring up a lot of good points.

I think it's important to mention that while the opportunity is greater, so is the competition. Niches get saturated fast, And automation is growing rapidly. Outsourcing is good for the business owner but bad for the freelancer. You have to be willing to work at competitive India prices.

I think that's really what most people are talking about when they say its harder to make money online these days.

Post: #38

(09-09-2018 06:41 PM)zoom Wrote:  New England is not a hell-hole.

But the weather is only good for a few months during the summer. Unless you like freezing cold temperatures and being buried in snow

Post: #39

I did it!

I bought that one-way ticket to the Philippines, leaving this January!

I decided I'm going to break free from the trap of overplanning and dreaming about something vs. just going for it.

Roosh recently wrote a great article Comfort Will Not Give You Meaning In Life. After reading this, as well as much of your advice, I realized I'm being controlled by the pursuit of meaningless comfort. I'm obsessing about earning great money online, so I can seamlessly go from living and earning here, to living and earning in paradise. No more.

I don't care if I struggle financially for months, or years pursuing it. My basic needs will be getting met, and I will enjoy the process. If I fail and have to come back, What did I really lose?

Anyways, Thanks everyone for the advice. I hope this helps inspire some of the many young men who feel they are in the same boat.

Post: #40

That's great to hear! Keep us updated man.

Post: #41

About one month down, Chris, two to go!

You'll get there in no time, man.

Post: #42

UPDATE

Figured I'd post an update, for the folks that responded, and possibly guys considering doing the same.

I'm in the Philipines and its a real relief from the mundane sterile life in America.

I was very burnt out when I got here (hence the lack of posts) so I've really just been taking it easy to clear my head. Now I'm starting to stress about spending and not earning, and need to generate some real income.

I think English teaching will be my earner out here, but it looks like it will need a TEFL cert. I've applied to a few, and no luck. Anyone else doing this?

Any advice or shared experience is appreciated.

Post: #43

Hey mate, try to get for now on freelancer or fiverr. Also check reddit forhire or slavelabour (yes it exists). Of course you shouldn't be doing that as career, but if you are in need of some money, that's a route for you to go. Try to give private classes and spread flyers in the most posh areas of the city you are currently at. Pro-tip spread them also in parts which just recently became upper-middle class, the parents don't speak good English but will spend A LOT of money so that their children can have optimal English knowledge.

Post: #44

I do remote B2B sales. I use a voip phone and a laptop. I also utilize aps on my smartphone. My clients never know were I am. Ive closed deals in the darien gap of colombia, namibia, mexico and throughout europe. I sell digital marketing now but am currently looking into selling leveraged precious metals co tracts. There is always something for me to sell. Ive solv realestate, insurance, debt collection, tax resolution, marketing. It takes solid work ethic and the same fundamentals as game aplied to selling and influencing.

Im considering a move to the Canary Islands. I now have an estonian wife but dont much care for living in estonia anymore, although estonia is a great place to operate from as it has zero percent corporate tax...

Post: #45

(02-15-2019 08:40 AM)Obermarschall Wrote:  Hey mate, try to get for now on freelancer or fiverr. Also check reddit forhire or slavelabour (yes it exists). Of course you shouldn't be doing that as career, but if you are in need of some money, that's a route for you to go. Try to give private classes and spread flyers in the most posh areas of the city you are currently at. Pro-tip spread them also in parts which just recently became upper-middle class, the parents don't speak good English but will spend A LOT of money so that their children can have optimal English knowledge.

The flyer idea is brilliant. I don't think it would be of much value here in the Philippines, as almost everyone speaks English, but after traveling SEA, I could see this being a great idea. Are you in Asia?

Post: #46

(02-16-2019 06:06 PM)Iconoclast007 Wrote:  I do remote B2B sales. I use a voip phone and a laptop. I also utilize aps on my smartphone. My clients never know were I am. Ive closed deals in the darien gap of colombia, namibia, mexico and throughout europe. I sell digital marketing now but am currently looking into selling leveraged precious metals co tracts. There is always something for me to sell. Ive solv realestate, insurance, debt collection, tax resolution, marketing. It takes solid work ethic and the same fundamentals as game aplied to selling and influencing.

Im considering a move to the Canary Islands. I now have an estonian wife but dont much care for living in estonia anymore, although estonia is a great place to operate from as it has zero percent corporate tax...

I could definitely see myself doing that. How did you get into it? I assume you work for a company or are selling your own product/service?

Post: #47

Fiverr can be a decent earner, if you're smart about it.

It's not only low rates anymore, however as a new seller, you will likely not make top rates.

I won't get into which niches to sell, it can be everything. What is your skill? Sell it.

The key to Fiverr is getting to their Level 1, Level 2 seller status. Do this by replying fast (within hours), always delivering on time, and getting 5 stars. If you do this for two months, then you are upgraded and will get more traffic to your offer.

I don't need Fiverr, but I keep a profile there, as you often meet interesting people. It can be a lead in to more lucrative personalized offers. Overdeliver on the cheap offer and you'll often have clients coming back with a custom request. Then you can begin earning for real.

Fiverr also makes it easy to get paid. 10 days after completion and you can get your money directly to a Fiverr debit card or Paypal account.

Post: #48

I have worked for companies and also run my own. I started selling over the phone about 12 years ago in the USA. I was working at an office and realized I could just as easily work from home. Then I realized home could be anywhere I get broadband connection. You have to have the gift of gab and influence and have very good work ethic as a self starter. I usually bring home 5k and have had as high as 20k and months between projects of no income so savings are essential as the business is cyclical and initiative tend to have life cycles.

You need a laptop and a headset, and a smartphone . You need to all-ready have telesales experience closing B2B. It usaually takes 2 or 3 months to begin seeing cash flow every time I start a new initiative so being able to pay the bills as you start up is important.

Im getting on the phone after I write this post with my client in Minnesota, I will use my voip phone with a Michigan area code and he will never know that I am in Estonia for example.

Post: #49

Digital nomads should consider the E residency program in Estonia. You can open a business and a bank account in Estonia to operate from without actually having to travel to Estonia. This keeps your cash out of uncle sams hands and if you are outside US for majority of year you get foreign earned income exemtion. There is zero corporate tax in Estonia.

https://medium.com/e-residency-blog/a-lo...afd191f6a8

Post: #50

(02-18-2019 09:32 AM)chrisblackbeard Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 08:40 AM)Obermarschall Wrote:  Hey mate, try to get for now on freelancer or fiverr. Also check reddit forhire or slavelabour (yes it exists). Of course you shouldn't be doing that as career, but if you are in need of some money, that's a route for you to go. Try to give private classes and spread flyers in the most posh areas of the city you are currently at. Pro-tip spread them also in parts which just recently became upper-middle class, the parents don't speak good English but will spend A LOT of money so that their children can have optimal English knowledge.

The flyer idea is brilliant. I don't think it would be of much value here in the Philippines, as almost everyone speaks English, but after traveling SEA, I could see this being a great idea. Are you in Asia?

Thanks, it is something that always helped me to get a few clients, no matter where I was and it even once saved my ass from being totally bankrupt.
I am not in Asia, but as I know from my understanding, there are these areas of new rich people, who don't speak English and as result they want to ensure that their children will be able to do so. Plus, not everyone is always using the internet for such things and there is a risk that your posts/announces etc are not seen...at all. A flyer, if designed well, will draw a lot of attention AND people will take it.