Of all of the newsletters I’ve subscribed to, yours is my favorite.  How do you do it?

I’ve found your Income Reports very helpful.  A sizable amount comes from iPhone applications.  Please share a bit more about that.

One of your keys to success has been multiple income streams.  What tips do you have for the readers who want to grow this area in their business?

How do you manage your time between sites, products, and building applications?

If you don’t believe it can happen, it never will.

Be in touch with Pat!

I’m really excited because I’m realizing my readership has Gone Global! I’m getting comments from all over the U.S. and I’m recently getting more comments from overseas…  Japan, South Africa, England, the Netherlands and Finland.

So, for FUN, I thought it would be great to start an Open Forum to get some of you newer readers, or new to commenting readers talking.  I want this site to be an informative place to connect, so it would be great if you could say hello so others could link to you!

I have a few questions that I’d love your feedback on, feel free to answer one, or all, but please comment away.  You may not feel your voice is heard in other parts of the world, but all of your thoughts count here!!!

Questions…

Where are you from, or where are you living?

What topics would you like to see on this site?

Are there any questions you have about living / working abroad?

Help!  I can’t Name My eBook!

And… I’m VERY EXCITED to ANNOUNCE the release of my first eBook…  BUT I NEED YOUR HELP! I am having a really hard time landing on a Title for the book.  This one last glitch is delaying my release, and maybe you could help me decide? The topics covered are an overview of the consulting I do with my clients.  It shows how you can make personal changes in your attitude and actions related to time, money, behaviors, and structuring your business to live the life of your dreams!  Very fun stuff!

Book title options…..

Here are a few I’ve come up with, let me know what you like , or add a new one of your own!

• Return on Life:  Reclaim Your Business and Your Life!
• Living Your Dream: a guidebook to lifestyle mastery
• Lifestyle Design 101
• Building the Life You’ve Always Dreamed of

I’m really excited to Get People Talking more on this site, so Please Comment on any of the topics above, I’d really like to meet you & learn more about you!

Click below to comment :0)

It’s funny, but I never thought about it as not fitting in, simply as following my dream. I knew that I wanted more from my life than staying in a job I wasn’t enjoying simply to earn money. Luckily, my husband also shares that vision, so it was simply a matter of planning our escape.

Oh, that’s a tough question. I’ve learned so much from everywhere I’ve been. But if I had to pick one, it would be Nimes, France, where I spent almost a full year at the age of 21. It was the farthest from home I’d been and I didn’t know anyone – a great way to find out what you’re made of. It wasn’t always easy, but I learned a lot, both about the value of stepping out of your comfort zone once in a while and the danger of stereotyping (I was on the receiving end, but it made me determined to avoid doing the same to others).

A lot of people are only too ready to say how crazy it is to leave friends and family behind and move halfway around the world. Ignore them. Make sure your business is portable and then choose the life you want – you only get one shot, so you might as well enjoy it. It’s always better to try something than to wonder what would have happened if you did.

http://www.slideshare.net/sharonhh/sharon-hurley-hall-intro

“It’s the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee, a sort of wager on my part.  And though you may call me a dreamer or a fool or any other thing, I believe that anything is possible.”

-Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

When I was younger, I didn’t know what to believe, or who to believe.  My mother and father had very different opinions and I did not grow up with a particular religion or faith to rely upon.  As I got older I became more confused by life, expectations, and societal norms.  But, after much trial and error, I learned the most valuable lesson:  to rely upon my intuition and move forward on Faith.

In this article, I am going to convey the steps that I have found that have led me to rely more upon my intuition and faith.  I am sharing this with you because my life has moved forward in miraculous ways that I completely attribute to this process.  In this process, we begin by overcoming logic, then increase trust  in our intuition and feelings.  Next, we take action and move forward (despite our fears!), and trust in the process while it is unfolding.  You have always been taken care of, and you always will be!

Strengthening your ability to trust in yourself and increasing your faith will move you to new levels; turning the impossible into the possible.

Overcoming Logic

Overcoming logic can be very tricky for us because there is nothing concrete or tangible about intuition and faith.  You cannot see them, test them, or measure them.  They are an invisible force which defies our logic and rational mind.  Most of the time when we have an impulse or are drawn towards something, it is our intuition guiding us toward our next step in life.  We may have a ‘gut feeling’ or sense that we should go somewhere, talk to someone, or move into a new interest or field.  While these sensations cannot be seen, they can be felt.  It then becomes more important for us to rely on our feelings than our thoughts. 

Trusting Our Intuition and Feelings

While this process may seem scary, I have had the most amazing outcomes when I have trusted my feelings-and I have seen the results! When I have been prompted to move forward in a particular area of my life, and followed through with it, good things happened.  And, when I haven’t, bad things happened.  As simple as that sounds, you would think it would make it easier to trust our instincts and stop relying on Logic.  But, growing up the way we have in our society, we are taught to stay inside the safety of a system with predictable results.  This mode has little to no risk, and fairly guaranteed results.  The challenge with moving forward on instinct is that often times, our results are not guaranteed, the resources are not currently available, and we have no reason whatsoever to know it will work.  We now are going into a situation where the risk is extremely high, and the results are not guaranteed At All.  We are Going on Faith.

Taking Action and Moving Forward (Despite Your Fears!)

When I decided to go Location Independent with my business, there were no guarantees.  I had the signs, the intuition, and all of the promptings to do so.  But, I was scared!  I had no idea what was in store for me, how I would live in another country while running my business, or how I would be taken care of.  When I downsized all of my belongings, packed up and flew on a one-way ticket to Bangkok, I was going entirely on faith.

You may find yourself in situations where you ‘know’ you should move forward but you are oscillating back and forth about all of the “How to’s”.  What I recommend is to take action and move forward, despite your fears!  Try to break down the whole process into small steps and just focus on what is right in front of you.  Getting into gear and taking action will help you to see the next step, whereas not doing anything just keeps you stuck in your head.  One example I use with my clients is this:  a man can lay at the bottom of a mountain and go up and down the mountain several thousand times in his head.  But, at the end of the day, he is still at the bottom of the mountain!  It is better to just take the first step, and then see the next one, moving slowly forward and gaining higher ground as you go.  Just sort out what the first step is, do it, and then do the next one.  It really is just as simple as that!  

Trusting In The Process

Sometimes in order to move ahead, we need to renew our faith and trust that we will be taken care of.  We begin to doubt and worry when we don’t see immediate results.  When we have taken this risk and put our trust in faith, we often times want to rush the process and see instantaneous results. 

The only way to continue to move forward is to have patience and trust in the process.

We live in an abundant Universe that wants to provide for us.  And, if you are honest with yourself, I am sure you can look back at any point in your life and see the evidence that You Have Always Been Taken Care Of.  The right people, circumstances, and opportunities came through for you with absolute perfect timing.  In essence, there was never really any need to get so worked up and worried about your life.  Everything works out, and as we move forward and trust in the process, we can begin to relax.  A relaxed state brings in a higher consciousness where we can tap into our intuition and feelings even more.  By spending quiet time in whatever ways help bring you peace (nature, meditation, resting) you are allowing the answers, or the next steps to come in.  And slowly, over time, you can overcome logic, increase your intuition, trusting and taking action more quickly and letting the miracles unfold… one after another, time and time again.

“I realize the odds, and science, are against me.  But science is not the total answer; this I know, this I have learned in my lifetime.  And that leaves me with the belief that miracles, no matter how inexplicable or unbelievable, are real and can occur without regard to the natural order of things.  So once again, just as I do every day, I begin… in the hope that the miracle that has come to dominate my life will once again prevail.

And maybe, just maybe, it will.”

-Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Discussions & Comments:  Share an experience you’ve had where you went out on faith and were rewarded by the outcome!

I hope that by sharing this article I can help demystify some of the nuances that go along with being Location Independent. What is it really like? What are some of the concerns? What are some of the things I wish I would have known before I got started? And, how can you set your life and your business up to go LIP?

What is it really like to be Location Independent?

While it may be glamorous to fantasize about Location Independence and the freedom that goes with it, it’s also a little bit like living in an alternate reality. The freedom is amazing, and the opportunity to travel and see the world is incredible. As you move towards your new lifestyle, keep in mind that you will be changing not just where you live but how you live, how you do business, and how you conduct your personal relationships.

What are some of the concerns of an LIP?

What to Pack
Of course you know I am going to say to go as light as possible. I have been living abroad for the past six months and all I brought was a backpack and a laptop. The first real step is to downsize your life and your belongings…

Downsize your Stuff
Use Pareto’s Principle to start eliminating everything you don’t need (give yourself at least 3 months to do this). From The 4 Hour Workweek: “What is the 20% of my belongings that I use 80% of the time? Eliminate the other 80% in clothing, magazines, books, and all else. Be ruthless—you can always repurchase things you can’t live without. Which belongings create stress in my life?…” Sell what you don’t need on sites like Craigslist and eBay, and it might help finance your plane ticket outta here!

Internet Connections—Our Lifeline
When you are a working digital nomad, internet is the top priority on the road. Keep in mind when you are traveling in foreign countries, internet connectivity might not be what you are used to. Because internet is the lifeline of most of our businesses, it is really important to sort out where you can work. I would recommend starting your travel journeys at hotels or guesthouses that have wifi or DSL in the room, and then wander the city with your laptop to test the wifi speed at different internet cafes and other places to stay.

Border Runs
One very important facet of Location Independent life in many parts of the world is border runs. Most countries give you a stamp that allows you to stay only for a very limited time, and it will be important for you to learn how long you can stay in each place with different kinds of visas. Do some research to find out about the country you would like to live and find out roughly how much it costs to get your visa and how you can extend it. Remember: visa laws are always changing. (The best resource if you’re interested in spending some time in Thailand is ThaiVisa.com)

Other considerations

• Time Differences: What is the time difference between your clients and your new country? How will this affect your communication?
• Connection Speeds: Is there somewhere you can get high speed internet? Can you do your work without it? Do you want to set up a residence so you can ensure your internet connection?
• Setting a Schedule: How will living abroad change your current routine? What hours are you likely to keep so you can still be available for your clients?
• Know Your Numbers: What is your estimated cost of living? Have you set up your business to have predictive income? What are your plans to grow your business while abroad?

Some things I wish I’d known before I got started

Settling In
One of my biggest epiphanies came a couple of months after becoming Location Independent. Originally, I had planned on spending a few months in each destination bouncing around Asia. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I don’t ever have to go home. EVER!

While this may seem obvious, it is a very strange realization. It’s like summer vacation that will never end. I realized in that moment that I could spend a year or more in each place that I love. I don’t have to be on a schedule and I don’t necessarily need a return ticket.

With this in mind, I found it is actually far more productive to settle into a location in order to get to know an area and be more productive. This is totally opposite of what I thought originally and it has taken a bit of time to break free of the “traveler mentality” and move more towards living somewhere.

First off, it is cheaper to live somewhere. My friends and colleagues are amazed that I can live very well in Thailand for under $700 USD per month. This covers my bungalow, internet, energy bill, food and entertainment. Consider planning on a longer stay in your destinations. This will help you to feel more settled and establish deeper personal relationships with people you meet.

To Buy or Not to Buy
If you choose to settle into an area the question arises: to buy or not to buy? Do you invest in furnishings? Do you buy furniture, television, sheets, bedding, etc? How long do you want to stay? How settled do you need to feel in order to be productive?

My conclusion was to find something that is furnished, in order to stay a minimalist and still be mobile. You may decide the same, keeping in mind that you are still living the Location Independent Lifestyle and you don’t want to get too bogged down with stuff. I have only purchased the basics: a hot water boiler, tea pot, bowl, fork & spoon. This has been enough for me to have basic provisions for breakfast and snacks and yet keep the possessions down to a minimum.

Personal Relationships
Whether you are traveling or settling into an area, relationships are inevitable. There are some great people you can meet from the backpacker crowds, but the longer you stay, the more locals you get to know. The locals will be a combination of natives and expatriates (a citizen who has left his or her own country to live in another). Once you get in with the locals, your world will become much more entertaining and full. The community that I have found in Ao Nang has been an amazing mix of international friends that I know I will have for life. And I didn’t know a soul before coming here. If you are going it alone, check out this article: Traveling Solo, Going it Alone.

How to set you and your business up to go LIP

There are several steps you will need to accomplish before you convert your lifestyle and business to Location Independence. Check out our comprehensive list of How To Go Location Independent.

If you need help, we are happy to move you along and get you global. Some things to keep in mind business wise are:

• Transitioning your clients online and meeting via webcam
• Creating monthly packages with automated billing
• Building online communities and increasing your market
• Having content rich blogs that explain “How To’s” to your niche market (see Notes From Chris Guillebeau’s 279 DAYS TO OVERNIGHT SUCCESS)
• And building information products to increase your readership and income

It is my hope that this article has inspired you to follow your passion and get your gears turning on how to go global. Please contact us if you have any questions or need any support in the process!!

Read other posts from the Location Independent Group Writing Project

“The cause of any and all stress in my life has largely been due to the belief that I was somehow responsible for other people or things outside of my control.”

Let’s face it: this world can be scary, unpredictable, and changes ALL THE TIME. This is why we have learned that “The only constant IS CHANGE”. So, living in a world of constant change and unending variables leads us to wanting to create a protected and predictable place to live. We find ourselves wanting to gain control of our situations and thereby make our environment safe. While this is a natural tendency, control can (and does) work against us. It affects our business, our relationships, but most importantly our stress level.

When we attempt to control (things, situations, or people), we begin to take ownership for the results. With ownership comes responsibility in which we turn into personal responsibility. By assuming personal responsibility, we take on the role of ownership; and if you own it, you must have to fix it. Our culture and society is one based on having a high level of personal responsibility for the things in our lives and we assume it is our duty to manage every aspect of our lives perfectly at all times. The result: massive stress.

Control -> Ownership -> Personal Responsibility -> The Need to Fix = STRESS

The Stress Relief that I am here to offer you is this concept:

“If you don’t OWN it, you don’t have to FIX it.”

The reality is that many things are outside of our control. For this reason, the only real responsibility we have is our reaction to what is happening around us. I discuss this quite frequently with my clients in the “Behavior” part of my program. If we have been conditioned to ‘Find Fault and Fix’ our whole lives, guess what? We are bound for unhappiness! We will never be satisfied with how things are, how people are, or where we are in our lives.

Many of us are so conditioned to ‘Find Fault and Fix’ other people because it gives us the excuse of not focusing on ourselves. We can easily waste energy and time analyzing and gossiping about the lives of others when we would be better served focusing on our own.

However, you may have already concluded that we also have a tendency to play the ‘Find Fault and Fix’ role in our own lives. I believe at a moderate level, this has been engrained in our personalities to move us towards evolution. However, as a society, we have taken it to the extreme resulting in the “Nothing Is Ever Good Enough” feeling. Have you ever felt this way? Do you think that you are good enough? Right now, without changing anything, do you feel good enough? Are you deserving? Do you feel worthy of success?

Many of us are stuck on the treadmill of “After I do/ achieve/ obtain __________, then I will be worthy. But it is that feeling that is keeping you from success, from happiness, from achieving your best life now. We need to recognize this pattern and take heed! Pay attention to the fact that we are trying to fix something that isn’t broken. We are much further today then we were yesterday. Stop for a moment and give yourself credit for that. You are evolving, and you are also right where you need to be.

By realizing that most of the stress that we put upon ourselves is imagined, we begin our journey to personal freedom. I love the title of a book I recently picked up entitled, “Relax, You’re Already Perfect”.

If we can give ourselves the gift of letting go, we can learn to relax. As stress goes down, we are exceedingly more creative, productive, and enthusiastic about life. This also pertains to our success at work and in relationships. If we can give others the gift of accepting them for who they are, right now, we let them relax. People tend to be more inclined to make change and share their gifts in a relaxed environment. The continual need to intervene in other’s lives is a form of caring, but it can also be seen as a form of control. I have had to learn this one the hard way—which is why I’m sharing this with you now.

Take a moment to reflect on your life and relationships and ask yourself the following questions:

Do I react emotionally when something doesn’t go ‘as planned’?

Do people often fail to meet my expectations?

Have I ever let myself be satisfied with my life- just because?

Does this pressure stress me out?

Do I have extremely high expectations for myself?

Sometimes, when you really want something in life, you have to go it alone. Traveling alone can be an overwhelming and scary adventure, especially if you are a female. With all of my travels in my life I have had somewhat of an itinerary, except now. This makes for an interesting scenario. First, I don’t know where I’m going, and then, I don’t know how long I will stay. While this is exciting and fun, it can feel like a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times, too! It also makes for some strange conversations. People don’t understand what I’m doing and I can’t tell them where I’m going. Hmmm. ‘We’ll just leave that girl alone!’

However, being alone is a very real part of life. Most of us avoid it like the plague because it means that we will have to feel uncomfortable, or scrutinized by others wondering why we are by ourselves. This becomes even more the truth when you don’t know the language others are speaking (so they must be talking about you). These were my initial worries going out to my mystery destination all alone. And, almost three weeks later, I am happy to say I am much more comfortable with my aloneness.

So far, I have come up with these tips for those traveling solo…

Make friends with the locals

Most of the people that live here are shop owners and run bungalows. The good news for me is that I know they will be there every day. Sometimes just seeing a familiar face is enough to get you out of a ‘travel funk’, and into higher spirits. My favorite friend here is Ploy, she runs the bungalow where I live and each day she teaches me a new word in Thai.

Take the time you need for introspection

It has been difficult for me to stop myself from running out and making friends with the whole town right away. I am inherently a “Chatty Kathy” and it is hard for me to be quiet, and even harder for me to sit still (school was a nightmare). When I arrived here I promptly got an eye infection and a cold. It was as if the Universe was telling me: stay put! Reluctantly I listened and spent the next several days just hanging out at the bungalow or going to the beach by myself. When you are quiet and no one else is talking to you, it is a great way to observe all of the chatting that is still going on in your head. I was amazed that I was still talking for weeks even though no one else could hear. The head voice hasn’t completely halted, but it has at least gotten off of the RedBull!

Find your natural rhythm

I was also able to get into a natural rhythm with myself. Not having to be anywhere on anyone else’s terms, I was able to really see what my patterns were and make up a new schedule that fit my needs. I now wake up and do Thai Chi and Chi Kung, read, and then go out for the day. I come back around five, nap and then go to dinner. I usually spend my evenings reading, writing or going to an internet café. I have found that this is a more productive use of my time and gives me the most enjoyment throughout the week.

Learn the language

One of my new favorite pastimes is learning how to speak in Thai. Because the language is tonal, I can work on learning the phonetics at night and then correct my tones during the day. I practice every chance I get. When someone tells me how much something is in English, I respond with how I think it might be said in Thai. This gives me the opportunity to hear it again with the correct tone. Then, I do the same thing with getting my change, or ordering my food. Everyone I have tried this with has been excited that I was trying to learn their language… and I can spend the bulk of my day interacting with the locals and taking in their culture.

People watching

…has become my new reality show. I now pick out chairs in restaurants that will give me the best view of the street. I watch bustling vendors, young couples on motorbikes, and farong (tourists) shuffling about with their sunburns. At most points in time there are several different languages going on all around me. I try to figure out where people are from: France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

Watching the Thai people interact has taught me more about their culture than any tour book could ever tell. If you are observant, you can pick up on what is going on in most situations. I really appreciate the Thai culture and their ability to be Mai Pen Rai or accepting and unbothered by life’s dramas.

Get a great book

Find a bookstore and get into a book. Having a fun read is essential when trying to relax and go with the flow. This can also be a great crutch to have with you as you go out for meals by yourself.

Connect with other travelers online

There are other cool people planning trips in your area. www.couchsurfing.com is a great tool for meeting others and coordinating travel with others. Go on, if you haven’t already, and create a profile for when and where you are travelling. This site is great because in your duller moments (i.e. when you are not travelling) you can host other travelers and invite them to meet up with or stay with you. Several of the wonderful new friends I’ve met here have been through www.facebook.com. Because I had communicated on there where I was and my latest updates, other friends of mine connected me with folks that either lived there or were passing through. This ‘friend of a friend’ acquaintance can make you feel much closer to home and help you to build your new network of friends.

Send mail

Send postcards. Sending mail back home can make you feel more connected. Sharing your experiences can motivate friends and family and make them feel like they are a part of your journey.

Spend time emailing friends and family and letting them know how and why you appreciate them. Often times when we are home, we fail to realize the full depth and appreciation we have for others in our lives. Maybe now is the time to reach out and let people know how special they are to you.

Go out on your own

Bars? I put a question mark after this one because it could go either way. After arriving in a new town, I spent the first week quite sick. I finally pulled myself together, more out of boredom than recovery and walked down to a local Irish pub. Feigning interest in the football game on TV, I was joined by a nice couple at the bar. Shortly thereafter we were talking about US politics (a subject I feel woefully uninterested and undereducated to represent) with a gentleman from Sweden and his new Thai girlfriend. About thirty minutes into our dialog he is up and starts walking out. I turned around and he said, “I’m sorry, but we have to go now, my girlfriend HATES you.” Oops.

Fast forward two weeks and I stopped in another lovely restaurant/ bar and met a fantastic group of people who have been instrumental in helping me to find a place to rent, invited me to parties, and have generally been nothing short of lifesavers. When at first you don’t succeed (at a bar)… try, try again!

Adventuring solo. Try booking a group activity where you are sure to meet other people. Rock climbing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and touring are some activities that are popular here. You are bound to have opportunities to talk to others on the trips and hopefully have folks to hang with afterwards.

When all else fails, go to a franchise. As I was guiltily breaking my budget and healthy diet at Starbucks, I looked up at a board where passer-byers had scribbled notes. The one that caught my eye was, “Starbucks: You Saved My Life!” and I knew exactly what they meant. Sometimes there is nothing more that you need when you are travelling than something grounding and familiar. Since I have been away, I have frequented places I never used to eat like McDonalds and Subway. It is really more about having something familiar and comforting. Having an iced chai latte with a double chocolate brownie really can fix any problem in the world!

And in the end, you can fall back on the advice of my mother who simply put it, “Honey, you’re never really alone.”

Going Global Countdown

1. Do the research on your destination. Check out the current political affairs in the region and find out where the nearest US Embassy is in case of complications. You might also register your travel dates with the State Department in case of emergency or political turmoil. Check the Centers for Disease Control to determine if immunizations are required for your country of choice and get your hands on a copy of your immunization record (sometimes required at foreign customs).
2. Make sure you have at least 6 months left on your valid passport or else renew your passport with the State Department. Apply for a visa for the duration of your stay in your target country and any other countries you may be traveling through for more than a layover.
3. Downsize your stuff. Use Pareto Principle to start eliminating everything you don’t need (give yourself 3 months for this). From The 4 Hour Workweek: “What is the 20% of my belongings that I use 80% of the time? Eliminate the other 80% in clothing, magazines, books, and all else. Be ruthless—you can always repurchase things you can’t live without. Which belongings create stress in my life?…” Sell what you don’t need on sites like Craigslist and eBay, and it might help finance your plane ticket outta here!
4. Look at adding extended overseas travel coverage to your existing health insurance plan, or else opt for an international plan and nix your current insurance when you leave (check out World Nomads). If you’ll be gone for a significant time, visit your doctor, dentist, eye doctor & so on and make sure to get prescriptions for the duration of your stay.
5. Purchase your ticket, starting with a search on Kayak.com or Priceline. You’ll typically get the best rates when you book more than 3 months in advance, OR wait for the last 2 weeks before your departure. Look for a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday (also typically the cheapest days of the week to fly) and then search up to 3 days in either direction to find the lowest price. Always get the flight insurance in case your plans change last minute. If you plan on traveling for a year, also consider a round-the-world (RTW) ticket.
6. Automate your finances. Contact organizations that bill you regularly and let them know you’ll be abroad and need to set up automatic payments. Otherwise set up online banking and auto bill-pay to send scheduled payments (at least $15-20 more than you anticipate to cover the unexpected) to your vendors, utilities, or credit card companies, etc. Cancel paper statements and have your banks & credit cards start sending you online statements to your email inbox.
7. At least 2 months in advance, give a trusted family member and/or your CPA power-of-attorney to sign important documents like tax filings and checks for you in your absence (sometimes they won’t accept a fax signature).
8. Have the post office forward your mail to a trusted friend or assistant who can sort through the junk and scan/summarize the important mail for you. Or set up EarthClassMail or another mail forwarding service (see more good tips from Rolph Potts).
9. Now is the time to take a technology dry run. If you need to be on the phone a lot, set up a free Skype account to make voice calls to other computer users around the world, and purchase SkypeOut credit to place direct calls to any cell phone or hard line around the globe for just 3 cents per minute (most locations). If you need remote access to your computer, try out GoToMyPC. Otherwise, consider setting up a portable office on your USB thumb drive that you can pop into any computer at the local internet café.
10. Prepare your financial accounts. Depending on the nature of your work, you might want to set up a PayPal account if you don’t already have one, to accept payments from around the globe via credit card or direct bank transfer. If people still send you paper checks, it’s convenient to have an account with a large bank like Bank of America, with branches near the person assisting you with deposits. For international travel, most vagabonds recommend a reliable international bank like HSBC (which has locations in most major international cities around the globe).
11. Consider hiring a virtual personal assistant (VA) if you don’t already have one. TimeSvr is a low-cost provider we use for many simple tasks during the month, such as phone calls, making reservations, quick travel searches, small research projects and article summaries. Also try AskSunday, Brickwork India, GetFriday, etc.
12. Scan your passport, visas, identification, health insurance & credit/debit cards into a computer. Carry a few copies in separate bags with you and leave a few copies with a trusted family member. Email the scanned files to yourself so that you can access them from abroad if you lose the hard copies. If you plan on moving from country-to-country, it’s a wise idea to bring several photocopies of your passport and several 2×4 passport photos for your visa applications on the road.
13. Downgrade to the cheapest cell phone plan or kill it altogether. Change your voicemail greeting to direct people to your email or Skype account. For instance, “Thanks for your call. I’m currently overseas on extended business travel. Please do not leave a voicemail message as I will not have access to check it while I am gone. If your message important, please contact me by email at ___@___.com. Thanks for your cooperation.” Then set up an email autoresponder to indicate your response could take several days (whatever your desired frequency) due to international travel.
14. If you really feel the need to be reachable, then consider a quad-band or GSM-compatible cell phone with an international calling plan (most of these plans are horrible though). Alternatively, purchase a SkypeIn number so that your clients/family can dial a traditional phone # that will call your Skype account or forward to your foreign cell phone. (Also look at Vonage and GrandCentral.)
15. Reserve a low cost hostel for your first few days abroad. For free accommodations check out GlobalFreeloaders or Couchsurfing. Hostel staff, fellow backpackers, and locals will be a helpful source of information for the best places to stay. Once you are in-country, check out the local Craigslist listings or do a Google search for apartments for rent (this is by far the most fun and cost-effective way to stay abroad). Additionally, Hospitality Club is a great site that lists locals who are willing to show you around, and Home Exchange is useful for those who want to swap homes with someone abroad for a few months!
16. One week out, Tim Ferriss recommends setting a self-imposed schedule “for routine batched tasks such as email, online banking, etc. to eliminate excuses for senseless pseudo-work procrasterbating. I suggest Monday mornings for checking email and online banking. The first & third Mondays of the month can be used for checking credit cards and making other online payments such as affiliates.”
17. Rent out or sell your home, or else end your apartment lease. If you don’t sell your car, follow Tim’s advice: “Put remaining automobiles into storage or a friend’s garage. Put fuel stabilizer in the gas tanks, disconnect the negative leads from batteries to prevent drain, and put the vehicles on jack stands to prevent tire and shock damage. Cancel all auto insurance except for theft coverage.”
18. Put all the rest of your stuff you didn’t eliminate into storage. Pack a single backpack or carry-on bag and move in temporarily with family or friends for the last few days before departure. To pack light, it’s best to set aside a small “settling-in fund”—maybe $300 to purchase clothes and necessities at your destination. Here is Tim’s great pack-list from the 4 Hour Workweek blog.

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