Hello Readers! I’m happy to host this month’s edition of the Digital Nomad Blog Carnival. The traveling online carnival that’s hosted at a new blog each month for readers interested in the live-anywhere, work-anywhere lifestyle.
Read the carnival posts, and then check out some more Location – Lifestyle – Nomadic posts below. These are posts that I really enjoyed this month, and that others liked too. Make sure you submit your posts for next month’s carnival by clicking here. Read on, and enjoy your life, business, and travels!
Carmen Bolanos from NuNomad explores the theory of abundance in our lives. Are we missing what’s right in front of us because we are looking for something else? Read this for insights on seeing the abundance that is in your life.
Sometimes we happen upon people just when we need to. Emily Gerson from Maiden Voyage had the opportunity to interview Sean Robinson who’s living the life of his dreams in a totally different way. Check out her account of his adventures in this interview.
Traveling across the country? Cherie Ve Ard presents an app that you might find helpful. Follow their adventures at Tales from Technomadia.
Eric from My 4 Hour Workweek explores the concept of aiming for a reduced workweek. Is this what we really want? Is this what we should really be working towards? Read more to find out…
Brought to us by Cath Duncun from Mine Your Resources. This is maybe one of the coolest videos I’ve ever seen, paired with an inspirational blog that really gets you to think about putting your creative self out there.
Chris Guillebeau from The Art of Nonconformity highlights some of the roller-coaster experiences of travel. Is there such a thing as ‘the perfect trip’? Read his opinion here.
Need some inspiration? Let’s face it, running a business remotely can be difficult. Rasheed from Present Day Nomads offers some great thoughts of encouragement.
Hope you have found these posts as fantastic as I have. Thoughts? Comments?? Leave ‘em if you’ve got ‘em!
21 May 2010
Most stories of enlightenment start out the same. Someone, somewhere is seeking the truth. They leave home, become detached from society, give up worldly pleasures, family and friends, contemplate life and death, and end up accepting, embracing, and warranting a slower, more meaningful representation of life.
One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the initial signs of this process are identical to the symptoms of depression. When one is going through this process, it is easy to feel left out, alone, and confused. I mean, let’s face it, not everyone is on a journey of truth, and sometimes it is worth questioning,
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One thing to notice is that the outcomes of depression and enlightenment are separate, even though the stages look nearly the same.
At the end of the depression cycle, we see people feeling helpless, separate, and faithless.
At the end of the enlightenment process, people feel contented, at peace, and fulfilled as they are.
One thing to consider though, is this: If we are feeling isolated, lonely, or withdrawn– maybe this is a call to change! Maybe we are feeling different because we ARE DIFFERENT. Maybe it is because we Want SOMETHING DIFFERENT. And maybe, that isn’t such a bad thing.
Many people that I have met on my travels have confided in me that before they left home, they were suffering from depression. A lot of these folks were on medication for it. Since following their dream, getting away from a reality they didn’t buy into, and taking daily steps towards a meaningful life, they’ve made the transition towards the path of the happy. The friends that I know have gotten off the meds, and on with their life.
My purpose in writing this article is to encourage you to take notice of your emotional state. It could be that if you are experiencing depression, you need to make some major changes in your life.
If you are on a spiritual path, know that there are times that you will feel isolated, lonely, and confused. While this has been the happiest time of my life, I’ve also broken down in tears and sobbed more times than ever! Part of this process is breaking down and falling apart, so recognize it for what it is… transformational change.
Facing yourself is hard! It’s uncomfortable, and it’s an emotional roller coaster. But, if you stay determined to stick through the uncomfortable-ness of it all, you will come out on the other side.
8 September 2009
I believe that we are a product of those that we surround ourselves with. In the past few months I have been BLOWN AWAY by you all. I wanted to take a moment to thank you so very much for your support and feedback. I feel, for the first time in my life like I am building a strong community of thought leaders, and connecting with new friends just like me. The most exciting part of my day is waking up and seeing what comments came in overnight from the blog and reading your emails!!
In the past, I’ve struggled with other people’s opinions (mostly because I’m always breaking the rules). I’ve also lived a very unconventional life, challenged by the concepts of fitting in with society, doing the work that I love, and feeling like I was contributing or changing the world in some way. I want to let you all know that for the first time EVER, I feel like all of that has changed.
From getting feedback from you all, I realized there are many others out there, feeling alone and confused wondering why they don’t fit into conventional society. We wonder why the nine to five feels like prison and why we can’t just make it happen and Keep up with the Jonses like everybody else. I think the best gift in creating this blog has been hearing your comments. I love connecting with you all and learning the trials and tribulations you are working through while you try to build a lifestyle and business that works for you.
I feel so fortunate to have a sense of understanding from you and realize something very important: I’m not the only one.
My hope is by reading this site and hearing other people’s stories, you will realize that you are not the only one. Just because you roll a little bit differently from the rest doesn’t mean there is anything wrong. In fact, what I’ve learned is this ability to be different and do something about it is one of the most empowering things in the world!
With the economy changing, business is happening a bit differently than before. After I got over my initial self serving pity party, I realized that this is actually just an opportunity in disguise. The truth is, people need support in their life and business NOW more than ever!! The only problem has been that even though people want help, they simply can’t afford it.
I have had some time to think outside of the box and look at some more ways of reaching out and giving back more. Here is the thing: I LOVE what I do, and I want to do more of it. I am most happy when I am connecting with likeminded individuals and inspiring them to take action on their goals in life and business. I want to reach out more, and be available in more ways to you all. I want to be like one of those great restaurants that is PACKED full of happy customers because the service is great, the food is fantastic, and the price is right. So after a lot of soul searching, here is what I’ve come up with to be more available to YOU:
I’m going to release my New Book, Return on Life—with a Free Six Week Coaching Class on October 1st.
As an incentive to put your name in a box and get more cool stuff, I will send you my Free eBook Spiritually Rich, right now :0).
Continue reading...21 July 2009
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This leads them to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. This is not the way it’s supposed to be.
Join us for an enlightening discussion with the Biz backpacker Brooke Ferguson. She’s going to share tips, hints and strategies to run your business remotely and create more freedom than ever before.
Who Should Attend? Coaches, Entrepreneurs, Sales Professionals, Solopreneurs, and Professionals of all walks of life who want to generate prosperity and success in their business.
In this teleseminar you will learn:
About Brooke Ferguson:
After many years of research and trial and error, she has come up with a system that she now teaches others. Brooke started Lifestyle Design and Business Consulting in 2006 to show others how to build their business to have the lifestyle of their dreams. Brooke holds a BS in Education and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
She believes that business owners can have the lifestyle they want and can show you how to build your business to go global and work from anywhere in the world. Brooke has followed her own advice and is living her dream of traveling and working from around the globe. Brooke currently lives in Thailand and spends the bulk of her time doing activities she enjoys: snorkeling, diving, rock climbing and writing.
She enjoys helping small companies and entrepreneurs to streamline their business, find balance, and go location-independent. Her personal motto is Kaizen which means “continual change for the better”. Brooke Ferguson has led adventure travel groups across the U.S. and traveled the world, and she consults with small business owners to create the lifestyle of their dreams and work from anywhere.
Her website is http://www.businessbackpacker.com.
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Continue reading...1 April 2009
One day, as I was walking around Ao Nang, I found Utopia—well, the book, anyway. I was intrigued by the name and picked it up in a used bookstore for 140 Baht. I must say that this has been the best purchase that I have made in Thailand and is one of the most amazing reads I’ve come across in YEARS.
Thomas More published this book in 1516. Remarkably, he has produced such a timeless piece of work that we can learn even today from the society that he describes in Utopia (or, no-place). Because his ideas are outside of the box and very much in alignment with many factors I agree with wholeheartedly, I am going to describe briefly my favorite parts of Utopia….
More’s story begins when he and his friend Peter come across the most interesting worldly character: Raphael Nonsenso. After engaging in pleasantries, Raphael begins to go into a long account about his travels and experiences all around the world. Naturally, he had seen many cultures and could assimilate what worked in various societies and what did not. Many societies were based on money, power, and greed and because of this he saw a huge dichotomy between the rich and the poor. Countries focused on growing and taking over land and vast territories by force creating wars, death and economic hardship. These societies had many faults—all of them but one: Utopia.
Raphael had spent years in Utopia after discovering it. It was, in fact, the only sustainable culture and community he had ever seen. Not only were the people well educated and advanced, but they loved learning and seemed to be the happiest people he had ever encountered. How could a society be so fulfilled and the people so incredibly happy? Here are some of their secrets:
“They never force people to work unnecessarily, for the main purpose of their whole economy is to give each person as much time free from physical drudgery as the needs of the community will allow, so that he can cultivate his mind—which they regard as the secret of a happy life” (p. 59).
Since their basic needs are taken care of (food, shelter, water, community) one can focus more on serving others.
“Nobody owns anything, but everyone is rich—for what greater wealth can there be than cheerfulness, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety?” (p. 110).
The location of Utopia is unknown, or else I would surely try to find it. But, if you decide to take on some of the timeless lessons displayed in this book, such as: not putting money towards fashion or entertainment, letting go of some of your personal property, working towards the common good of society, reducing your spending thereby reducing your work, detaching from material goods and signs of wealth, cultivating joy, pleasure and happiness, and serving others—my guess is that you may find yourself in Utopia when you are not even looking for it.
Continue reading...23 November 2008
Welcome to BusinessBackpacker.com!! If you are excited about travel, business, and setting up your life to work anywhere in the world – this site is for you! Looking forward to your comments, questions, and travel stories…
… Brooke & Cody
Continue reading...
20 June 2010
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