Comments on: Home Business from Anywhere in the World: 5 Must Have Traits

By: Laura Espinosa

Laura Espinosa — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:50:52 +0000

Thank you for the encouragement, Kathleen! Traveling is definitely a perk of a home business. I think the challenge I have with this is not really wandering internet connections, but just having steady blocks of time to sit down, work, and manage clients. I’m not quick to settle in when I arrive at a new place, so the adjustment period can be devastating to my work flow.

I know you said being flexible is paramount to success, but how do you manage distractions when it’s not just the normal hiccups that come from managing a home business, but also moving your home all the time?

By: Kathleen O'Connor

Kathleen O'Connor — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:45:29 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Laura! Taking your home business on the road is definitely a challenge, no matter where you happen to be. But mix in non-functioning internet, power outages, and culture shock and you have yourself a potential meltdown, lol. I’d love to hear how working on the road in the US goes for you! As long as you can find some wi-fi hot spots along the way, I’m sure it’ll work out fabulously. Having the flexibility to travel and see the people you care about without worrying about whether or not you’ll get vacation time is definitely a perk of working at home.

By: Kathleen O'Connor

Kathleen O'Connor — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:31:19 +0000

I would LOVE to hear more about your experiences in Cartagena. That is so awesome that you ran your business from there! The exact same thing was taking place towards the end of my stay in Ecuador; they were rationing electricity because there was a shortage. It went out for 4–5 hours a day. It was hard to work around it, but in the end, I actually preferred it because before that, the electricity went out for hours at a time without warning. At least with the rationing, they had a schedule and I could prepare a little! lol

By: Pamela Wilson

Pamela Wilson — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:41:37 +0000

This is a great post, Kathleen, and a very realistic point of view. It brings back memories for me!

When I first took my business out of the country to Cartagena, Colombia, they were practicing electricity rationing. Every afternoon the electricity went out for 4-5 hours. Working wasn't an option during those times, and it forced me to quickly adapt to the "time is a relative concept" attitude that was prevalent in the culture.

But there were so many great things about the experience, too. I treasure the memories of the high points and the challenges. Thanks for the reminder!

By: Laura Espinosa

Laura Espinosa — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:29:20 +0000

I love this post. One: because it’s from an actual web copywriter currently touring around the world with her business. That’s awesome. And two: because it’s what I want to do.

Not to the same degree Katleen has done (go you!), but all the same, I want my business to be mobile with me. I’m a copywriter too, and I plan to move to Washington state sometime soon. But family’s in Cali, I have more in Houston, and I’ve been road tripping around the US every summer for the last 3–4 years. I’m on a plane most likely 6 times in a given year trying to visit everyone I care about. So I’m very much a mobile me, and I started a “home business” so I could stay a mobile me. Pick up and go wherever the wind and my nearest and dearest calls me next.

It’s hard though. Even if you’re not traveling to different countries, so I really appreciate this post. It gives me hope that I can do this too (even on the small scale of moving around the US). Thank you so much!