Thoreau

All good things are wild & free

-Henry David Thoreau

Resources To Create Your Own Freedom Business

As you may or may not know, I am currently reading and researching on how to make my own "freedom business" (as Colin Wright phrases it). It is essentially exactly what you think it is. A business that allows for more freedom, depending on your individual goals. Personally I'm planning on starting my own business to make money while being location independent. I plan on being able to fund my travels without having to sit in any one location for extended periods of time (or worse, have to hop from waitress job to waitress job).

I am in the middle of $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau and Start A Freedom Business by Colin Wright. Both of which have been proven to be packed full of resources, inspiration, and testimonials. I've also come across lots of different articles that discuss ways of making money abroad (either through your own business, or otherwise):

Nomadic Matt discusses primarily teaching english and different placement programs you can sign up for.
Wandering Earl outlines his income and travel since he went abroad indefinitely back in 1999. He made most of his money working cruise ships and even offers a link to purchase his ebook on how to go about landing a cruise ship job.
A Little Adrift covers things such as teaching english, WWOOFing, freelance work, databases, blogging, etc.
Almost Fearless just flat out makes a list of 67 things you could do for money while traveling abroad, some have links and some are just ideas.
Tim Ferriss, author of the critically acclaimed 4 Hour Work Week, had a guest writer write this amazing and clear cut article on making apps.
Sean Ogle has a lot of great articles about SEO writing & ways to start your own business:       
            -Build An Online Asset in 48 Hours       
            -The Easiest Lifestyle Business to Start Right This Second

I will continue to add to this post as I come across more books and articles on discussing different ways to make money while traveling. But as I said before, I am currently brainstorming specifically on building my own business so I can have my own project to work on and enjoy while living around the world.

When I first started telling people that I'm working on starting my own business so I can be location independent and travel freely around the world, one of my friends said, "Ha, well, that's the dream isn't it?". And yeah, it is my dream. But the way that came across I knew exactly what he meant. He meant, yeah that's what everyone wants, what makes you think you're going to get it if everyone is vying for that job?

Well, motherfucker, I'm going to get it because one, it's not as far out of an idea as it may seem on the surface. Through my research thus far I've realized there are TONS of people living the exact lifestyle I have always envisioned for myself. A ridiculous amount of people with freedom businesses. So it really isn't as rare of an idea as one may think. In fact, there is no limited slots notion that goes along with it - there's an infinite amount of slots open, it is completely up to your imagination and dedication.

And two, I'm not the kind of person that if I have a dream, that's all it ever stays: a dream. No, I act on it and make it happen through hard work and perseverance. Because whether you like it or not, that is the only way your dreams will ever come true; they are not some winning lottery ticket that lands in peoples laps once every hundred years. I'm going to make it happen because I'm not going to give myself a choice. So next time you're thinking about your dream, whatever it may be, just remember one thing: I choose.

If This Doesn't Prove I'm Serious About Traveling, Nothing Will

I've been dying my hair an array of colors with crazy haircuts for the last decade of my life. Constantly from one color/design to another, it has simply become a part of who I am. It became my identifier in every way. My hair made it easy for my friends to spot me in a crowd. It drew people to me, and served as a great talking point. I reveled in the stares. Above all else I loved proving the stereotypes that go along with crazy hair wrong. Having a blue and red mohawk, and proving to (especially) the elderly that I am helpful, generous, and kind was incredibly satisfying. Surprise, not everyone with punky hair believes in anarchy and destruction!

Anyway, my point in going into all this is that I made a massive decision to dye my hair back to my natural color. Why you ask? Because dying and bleaching my hair every month is expensive. Even though I'm the one doing it, it adds up. Not only that but moving back to Indiana and then Australia, it will make my job hunt that much easier if I'm not wearing a wig or have a brightly color "do" that makes me look like a parrot trying to find a mate (as much fun as that may be). Plus, do you know how much maintenance having red hair is? Dear lord. Shit is bananas. Not just having to bleach and dye it monthly, but also making sure not to use light colored towels....ever. Must make sure to warn any friends that if I take a shower in their tub it will probably look like I just murdered someone (yes, every time I shampoo it is bright pink/red everywhere which also dyes the tub itself). And getting my hair wet when in I'm in the pool? Forget it. Wearing a white/light shirt if I am bound to dance and sweat? Psh. Pink instantly. So no, I do not want to have to deal with that kind of maintenance and worry while I am abroad.

While it all logically made sense, that didn't stop me from freaking the fuck out leading up to it. So without further ado! I will post the process of what Aveda did to my hair, simply because I found it utterly fascinating. 

What we started off with, gorgeous right? I miss the red already!

So first they did a hair detox, which was pretty interesting. Since my natural hair (which you can see in my roots & eyebrows) has absolutely zero red tones in it, they had to get out as much red as possible so that it wouldn't give the black they put on top red undertones. This was the result! By FAR better than any of expected. They basically used bleach, shampoo, and a touch of developer to strip out my red dye without actually "bleaching" my hair.

Then they put on this heinous filler dye. The point is to even out my hair first before putting on the actual dye, so that when it goes on it doesn't take super differently to different parts of my hair. For example, the dye would take different to my roots (natural hair), compared to the yellow/bleached top of my head or the coppery/orange tips of my hair. So the filler dye filled in. You can't tell in this picture but the dye looked like mud. Not pretty. (For the record this is my I'm-not-sure-if-I'm-doing-the-right-thing-and-trying-not-to-freak-out face.)

Then they put on the actual dye. They purposely made it a half step darker than my natural hair because even though it's permanent hair dye, it will still fade a little bit. So they made it a little darker than my natural hair so that when it fades it will (hopefully) blend in perfectly. After the dye we did a deep conditioning treatment because my hair needed it so freaking bad.

The lady was like, "Well there's no going back to your red even if you wanted to. If you do, it will turn to MUSH." Made me laugh, because it is oh so true.

All in all the damage was $92 plus $20 for tip. It was so cheap because I went to the Aveda school, so it was technically a student working on my hair (since my case was so very very special and involved, the instructor actually did most of it and practically held her hand the whole time). The whole process took five hours. Five. Hours. So I'm looking forward to never doing that again. But even though it cost me a little over a hundred bucks, it was worth it. I would have spent that in the next three months on dye and bleach anyway. 

It's still weird to me. And Im getting used to it slowly. It's a little too dark for my taste, I've never cared for the solid black look, but I'm trusting that it will indeed fade to my natural color, not that I have much of a choice anyway. As you may have noticed I also decided to start parting it on the other side of my head so as to cover the shaved part, which I'm growing out. I find it particularly amusing because even though half my head is shaved it still can look like I have a full head of hair just because I have so much it. 

And just to reiterate:

If this doesn't prove I'm serious about traveling, nothing ever will. 

My Philosophy

I have yet to actually announce my plans to the masses via facebook yet, but most of my close friends and family know already. And, surprisingly, everyone has been very supportive. Granted my dad and his fiance answered me mostly with silence and why it'll be incredibly difficult to get a visa for Australia, but they didn't exactly NOT support me. So, you know, Im looking on the bright side. We will see how it continues to go the closer it gets.

I've been reading a lot of Nomadic Matt's blog recently (fantastic if anyone wants to check it out), and in two different articles he says things that I have thought my whole life and figured I would share.

Everyone Says Im Running Away

"People assume that we are simply running away from our problems; running away from “the real world.” And to all those people who say that, I say to you — you’re right. Completely right. I am running away. I am trying to avoid life — I’m avoiding your life. I’m running away from your idea of the “real” world. Because, really, I am running toward everything — toward the world, exotic places, new people, different cultures, and my own idea of freedom."


The Secret To Long Term Traveling

"I’m a big believer in the idea that we shouldn’t work our life away and that we should take short breaks from it to pursue our passions. Why should I spend my best years in an office, saving money for an age I may not even see or, if I do see, might be too sick to enjoy? Yeah, we long term travelers save a bit for a rainy day, but we don’t worry about the future. We enjoy now. Take care of your present and your future works out. When I stop traveling, I’ll figure out what is next."


I can not even describe how bizarre and uplifting it is to read my own words coming out of someone else's mouth (hands?). For the first time in my life I have come to the realization that my life long dream, the dream I have had since I can remember to travel indefinitely, is something a lot of people already do. They make it work. They make money abroad and live globally instead of confined to the city limits. I know now, more than ever, that my dream is no longer this fantastical idea that I will always fantasize about, it is actually very attainable. I just have to put in the effort to make it happen. I have to not be satisfied with being content. I dont want to be comfortable. Ever.

In Colin Wright's book How To Travel Full Time he says exactly that. Again, my own words coming from someone else is trippy,

"As a general rule, try to avoid comfort at all costs.

There's a big difference between comfort and happiness: being happy means that you are overjoyed about what you're doing, who you are, the people you're meeting and the things that you're doing. Being comfortable means that you're not feeling too bad or too good...you're neutral.

Neutral is what suburbs are for. Comfort is for people who are looking to relax, not to grow and learn and experience new things. you may save yourself from potential lows by keeping yourself comfortable, in an easy-chair, watching reality TV and eating Doritos, but you won't experience any truly happy moments either. You need the bad (or even just the possibility of bad) to truly experience the good, and to fully appreciate the difference between the two."


My apologies for so many quotes in this post, but I really couldn't have said it better myself. These are the things I believe, I have always believed. And if you know me at all, you know it to be true. Now that I can finally see my goal in sight, I can allow myself to research and delve into all the information the internet, books, and people have to offer. It's happening. And knowing there are people out there right now living the life I always dreamt about (and felt it was so strange that no one else around me had the same awe-inspiring dream) is an incredible feeling. It feels more real now than it ever has before. And I can not wait.

The Great Purge

Wow I have been a busy bee lately. Constant research and organizing/selling/giving away/cataloging all of my belongings. I have put up most of my collection of Black Milk items up for sale on Ebay, having sold two items so far I have already made 200 bucks. I also went through all of my clothes and odds and ends to see what I will donate to Goodwill. And lastly have taken the nicer items I want to sell for instant cash over to Plato's Closet. Who knew getting rid of clothes could be so profitable?

Working with Ebay was actually far easier than I had imagined it would be. Everything is very clear and easy about what steps you need to take, they even have the option to print out your shipping label on your computer so you dont have to go to the post office and wait in line forever. Only problem is since Im a new seller on Ebay they are holding the funds for up to 21 days on Paypal before releasing it to me. I suppose it's as a precaution, to make sure the buyer gets the items they bought and whatnot.

A good friend of mine suggested I catalogue all the items I take to Goodwill and use it as a tax write off at the end of the year. I thought it would be kind of a hassle to do so, but since I was getting rid of so much stuff I decided to go ahead and do it. I found on AmazingGoodwill an awesome "Donation Receipt Builder", so instead of having to guess what each item is worth I just type it in and it gives the average price for each and then makes your list for you that you can print out later for your records. And you can change the amount its worth if you think it is more or less valuable. My first trip to Goodwill was worth $650 as a tax write off! Say what?! And thats just the first load, I will definitely be going back several more times this year before I move in October/November back to Indy.

I also took a load of nicer clothes to Plato's Closet to try and sell for immediate cash back. They ended up taking only a pair of tore up jean shorts and a wallet for a whopping 3.75! That was so not worth my time. I feel like I can actually get some money back from the items they didnt take, so I dont want to just take them to Goodwill. Maybe Ill sell them on Ebay too? Just haven't decided yet.

Suddenly everything I see in my room (where all my belongings are) is constantly being weighed in my mind, "Will I really use this in the next year? When was the last time I used this? Why am I still holding on to this?". It feels good. I have an ever growing pile of things for sale in my room - its always amusing to me that when we clean/organize/purge our belongings we always have to make an even bigger mess before it actually gets to our goal.

As Colin Wright says in his book How To Travel Full Time (a book I highly highly recommend for anyone who wants to travel, absolutely chock-full of resources), "It's cliche at this point to say clearing out the clutter in your home clears out the clutter in your mind, but it's repeated so frequently for a reason. When you don't have so much stuff, you have less to protect and worry over. You also have fewer options, so it takes less time to decide what to cook or what to wear in the morning."

Phew!

It's happening. It's finally happening. I am starting to research and plan for my life living abroad (permanently?).

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN and am currently residing in Atlanta, GA. I recently found out my sister is pregnant (so exciting), so I am going to move back to Indy at the end of the year before Thanksgiving sometime to help her with the end of the pregnancy and beginning of having a little one. This just so happened to work out PERFECTLY. I was already planning on hopping over to Australia next year, so I knew my time in Atlanta was limited. But Cheyenne being pregnant now means I'll actually be able to be there for my big sister while she goes through one of the most exciting transformations of her life. Not only that, but since I'm moving back home I will be able to save that much more for my trip since I wont be paying rent. Ha!

I have had the last three days off and have basically been glued to my kindle and computer doing research on everything I need to know for/about my travels and what options are out there. I had a day long scare where I thought I had misread visa information a couple months ago, and suddenly thought that I was only able to go for three months instead of a year like I had been planning. But I had been looking at the work visa instead of the work and holiday visa (only for 18-30 year olds). Phew! I had kinda slightly panicked for a minute there.

I have discovered so many wonderful websites thus far and I plan on discussing which ones I find most useful and such as the time goes on. It's pretty cool seeing all the different people traveling abroad for years on end (some who have been doing so for 10+ years!). It's rather inspirational and is really getting me worked up inside myself, as I do. And I know, now more than ever before, that my life long dream is going to become my reality so very very soon.