The new freedom is all around you. You can access the new freedom right now.
The new freedom starts with a single thought. You can find the new freedom by deciding to do more meaningful and fulfilling work. You can find the new freedom by resolving to lead a better and happier life.
It doesn’t matter if you’re married with kids or single; old or young; entrepreneur or employed. The online economy, the cloud, mobile computing and the Internet are already allowing more freedom into your life. I’ve written a bestselling book and its purpose is to help you gain yet more of the new freedom. Here’s the book: The New Freedom: Ordinary People Are Living Extraordinary Lives & So Can You! If you’ve read the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.
There are many ways to move more of your life online, to unshackle you from an inflexible and expensive homelife, and to live a more fulfilling life within the sharing economy.
The Internet has changed our views on traditional education, employment, accommodation, relationships, nationality, money and just about every part of our public lives. The new freedom is at the forefront of these changes.
What is the new freedom?
The new freedom can mean: owning less and sharing more, employing more and working less, traveling more, and learning more about other cultures as well as yourself. It’s an exciting world.
You can find the new freedom immediately by resolving to lead a better and happier life Share on XThe new freedom isn’t all hammocks and smiling Instagram updates. It’s about getting people out of their homes and into communities. It’s about building international teams based on talent rather than geographical location. It’s about freedom to work and travel during hours that suit you rather sticking to a rigid 9-5. It’s about creating a life on your terms through the convenience and collaboration of the online world.
How can we access the new freedom?
Your movement towards the new freedom starts with a single thought. The thought becomes a belief which becomes the realization of a dream.
We are all different. We have differing levels of freedom, change, or risk that we’re comfortable with initially.This new life is a process rather than a sudden event. Here are some ideas to help you towards your freedom.
Mindset shift
The new freedom can not be accessed by striving towards a future goal. The new freedom is all around us. The new freedom can be accessed in our minds right now.
The new freedom starts with a mindset shift. If you’ve made this mindset shift, the rest will fall into place.
Minimalism
Have you ever felt an excess of “stuff” around you? Ever felt an excess of material possessions? Too much clutter, too much to do, too much debt, too many distractions, and too much noise?
“Minimalism is a way of eschewing the non-essential in order to focus on what’s truly important, what gives our lives meaning, what gives us joy and value.” Leo Babauta
Iva Ursano was a hairdresser in Sudbury in Ontario, Canada. After coming back from a three-week volunteering stint in Costa Rica in 2015, Iva had a sudden realization: she was working to pay for an apartment and a car that she needed for work. She ditched the apartment, rented a room, sold the car, and left work. Iva is now a freelance writer living and volunteering in Guatemala.
Minimalism is not sacrifice. There has to be a paradigm shift in your thinking to desire minimalism. You live like a king for less money.
Freedom from employment
There are two sides to financial freedom: spending less and earning more (from a variety of income streams).
There is no freedom more liberating in new economy than the ability to earn extra money. Most of our self-esteem, identity and happiness come from what we do to make a living.
Minimalism shows us to concentrate on the most important things and discard everything else. So rather than suffering through hard work now in order to secure later enjoyment, we must continually remind ourselves to enjoy the work we are doing now.
Continually remind yourself to enjoy what you are doing right now! Share on XThere are many rags to riches stories in entrepreneurial broadcasts. It’s occasionally inspiring to hear how some guy “crushed it” and is now making millions from a yacht in the Bahamas. But real success is usually unspectacular, slow, and sustained. It’s about consistently providing value and being honest.
So, if you are tied to a 9-to-5 and a certain location, immediately try to get some freelance work on the side. The best way is to find freelance work independently. Otherwise, there are the freelance platforms: Fiverr, TaskRabbit, Freelancer.com, PeoplePerHour, Twago, Guru, People as a Service, etc.
The new location
After unshackling yourself from employment, you are free to live wherever you want in the world. There are a variety of locations where it is possible to live easily and cheaply – these are listed in my upcoming book.
Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world are, at this very second, earning income in a “strong” currency, such as the US dollar, and living in places in southeast Asia and latin America where US dollars can buy a higher standard of living.
This doesn’t just apply to highly skilled people with English as their first language from the west. When Polish undergraduate Jimmy Naraine was studying in a UK university, he spent 80% of his time abroad. All his lectures were online and he returned, sleeping on friend’s couches, for group projects and exams. During his final year, he’d traveled to more than ten countries, saved money, and got a solid degree. Jimmy is now a location independent coach and online course creator.
Unshackling can be permanent but it also can be temporary
- You could ask your firm to grant a sabbatical
- You could ask your company to sanction a short period of remote working
- You could just go on holiday for two weeks and try to earn money with your laptop
The new sharing
Fortunately, a plethora of platforms has sprung up to encourage peer-to-peer earning (and spending) online.
In the last few years sites and apps have sprung up to make it easy to earn online. You can work as a part-time taxi driver with Uber. You can rent out your apartment for days at a time with AirBnb. There are dozens of sites where you can get online work: copy-checking, copy-editing, graphic design, research, you name it.
You can invest your money, sell your skills, rent your car out, coach, look after pets, get paid to take online surveys, get paid for naming ideas, share your household tools and devices – if there’s an activity or a secondhand product you can sell, you can get money from it online.
The sharing economy will be worth $300 billion by 2025, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, that’s up from $15 billion in 2013. For 200 (yes, 200) extra ways to earn money in the sharing economy read Buy Buttons by my friend Nick Loper.
The new online business
Our ability to earn money online outside the traditional 9-to-5 will, initially, be dependent on our skills. For example, I was lucky to have design skills (although not very good ones) back in 2005 when I first set up a website. I slowly learned about web design and Google, and I managed to get design work I could do from home. It took two or three years before I was able to leave employment.
Other people aren’t so lucky. They need new skills – or advance a subset of their existing skills – in order to earn money outside their traditional workplace.
But it’s not difficult. If you can write half-decent English, you can command hourly rates of $15-20 and above. If English isn’t your first language, then translation services can be as lucrative. Couple these earnings with savings in expenditure then living with more freedom is instantly achievable.
The new runway
The runway is the length of time you can survive without a job before you go broke. All ideas on earning more and spending less lengthen this period of time.
The runway, or “making the jump” may or may not be a useful analogy according to your situation.
Shayna Oliveira had been working full-time in New York City for about three years when she asked to work remotely from Brazil – her company agreed. Later, she wanted reduce her hours from full-time to quarter-time – and they agreed again. This freed up time for her to teach English online.
Shayna didn’t really have runway. She transformed her life to be less reliant on her salary. She then gave herself one year and an investment of around $2000 to see if she could grow the side-business. That side-business became EspressoEnglish where she sells English teaching e-books and video courses. She can run it from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.
Different people will have differing lengths of runway and amounts of risk they’re comfortable with. But generally, once you’ve unshackled yourself for the first time, there’s no turning back. The new freedom is irresistible.
You can do it
You can access the new freedom right now. If you believe it. You can do it.
It’s a process, not a sudden jump. But even the smallest freedom is going to be worthwhile. Earning a few extra dollars a week online could lead to a new business. Selling unneeded possessions could lead to extra headspace. Working remotely in a community could lead to new connections and friendships with others who are experiencing these new freedoms.
As Shayna Oliveira says: “Don’t ask ‘Can I do this?’ which is a yes or no question – instead, ask yourself ‘How can I do this?’”
What do you think?
The book is already a bestseller but I really want it to get in front of as many eyeballs as possible.
So, here’s the book: The New Freedom: Ordinary People Are Living Extraordinary Lives & So Can You!
If you’ve already bought it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.
Hi Rob, I was made redundant and thought it was an amazing opportunity to build my own business as a freelance IT consultant. I’ve had a few projects since then but am holding myself back due to fear of failure. Which is so stupid and is literally costing me money. I don’t know whether the scope of your book will cover self-sabotage but perhaps you can add that if other people mention it too? I’d be very happy to read your book early – it would be a great way to be ‘busy’ but not on my business .
Hi Kim, thank you for your suggestion and your honesty. Yes, I will be covering self-sabotage. I have been suffering from it as well. It came when I got into Amazon FBA. I didn’t enjoy the product sourcing part of Amazon FBA so I didn’t do that and got busy with other things instead. Self-sabotage happens when there’s some disconnect between what you want and what you have to do to get there. Or, more simply, when you don’t really want to do what you think you want to do. It’s a difficult one so all the answers won’t be there but it may help you. I’ll add you to the street team.
Hi Rob!
I can’t wait for your amazing book! Please, give me a sneak peek! 🙂
Thanks a lot!
Jan
Will do, Jan, added you to the street team, I’ll be in touch shortly. Thanks for your interest.
Hi Rob!
I’ve been following you for a long time, taken a few of your courses, and I’m happy to say that I’m currently on the runway myself and “very-slowly-but-surely” taxiing down it. I would love to get an advance copy of the new book whenever you think that it will be ready.
Thank you, Yardell, will do. I’ve added you to the list. Thank you for taking a few of my courses.
Thank you Rob.
I always enjoy your writings. I’m finding it a steep learning curve, so much to learn and lots of jargon on the Web. Looking forward to seeing your book.
Thanks
Alison
Thank you so much, Alison, you’ll be getting a free copy shortly! 🙂
Yes Rob thanks sounds great and the very type of lifestyle I’m interested in. Please give me a wee peak when ready, thanks
Jim
You’ll be getting a wee peak, Jim (omg that sounds rude!) 😉
Nice blog Rob and totally relevant today. I will get and read your book, not because I can use its wisdom as a semi retired (never retired artist) in Spain, but because I have a daughter chasing a mortgage and a granddaughter who will be taught to do the same. Im 64 and I launch my Membership site in January – brilliant. XH
Brilliant, indeed! Well done, Heather. I’ve added you to the list so there’ll be no need to get it! 🙂
Hey Rob,
Thanks for always being “real” and sharing the good stuff!
Glad to hear you’re doing so well. I feel like “I knew you then” LOL
Carry on!
Same, same with you, Louise. You’re doing so well! 🙂
Hello Rob
I would love to have preview of your book. Please add me in too. You’re very inspiring!
Thank you, Jacus, I love to be called ‘inspiring’!
Hi Rob,
Would love to read your new book.
Being a freelancer, whilst travelling, would be my dream job.
Would love to know your secret.
Michael, thank you so much. There are no secrets, really. Just common sense stuff. But it may help you.
Hi Rob,
It’s an interesting project. I look forward to learning from the book. We have a sense of this new freedom but to some people, they don’t know where to start.
Let me know if I can be useful in some way. I am more than happy to get involved with this project.
Cheers
Hey Santel, so good to have you onboard! I will send you an advance early copy for your valued feedback! 🙂
Hi Rob – yes I would love a preview of your new book. Thanks for sharing such enlightening, life -changing information.
Wow, I’m glad to have shared life-changing info – if that’s what I’ve done. Thank you so much. You’re added to the list, Patricia, I’ll be in touch shortly. 🙂
Hi Rob,
Always enjoy reading your books and have taken many of your courses. Would love to read your new book! Keep sharing your knowledge Rob and all my best to you.
Glenn
Hey Glenn, thank you so much for your kind words. All the best to you as well. I’ll be in touch soon!
I am spending a lot of my time – weekends and nights – learning how to use the internet and the various marketing platforms, creating a quality digital product(s), learning to blog, wordpress etc. etc. because I hate working someone else’s systems and being paid what THEY think I am worth. My goal is to live an abundant, globe roaming, laptop lifestyle where I am free to do, be and think as I choose.
I am really looking forward to reading your book when it comes out Rob! Best wishes with it Rob. Hurry up!!
Sure, I’ll hurry up, Gene. Would you like an advanced free copy? It does take time to figure out this stuff and, as long as you’re enjoying it, that’s the main thing. Best of luck! 🙂
What about volunteering online?
Good idea!
Dear Rob,
I’ve been following your blog for a while now. and I’d love to read your new book. So please, count me in 🙂
Really need some inspiration at the moment.
I’m in between jobs, and wondering if it’s not the perfect time to experiment this new freedom.
I would also like to see something about self sabotage (how to overcome it), and more details about the mindset shift you’ re mentioning.
Voila
Wishing you a ton of success for this new book,
Mimi
Hello Mimi, thank you so much for your support. Your name and email are down on the list and I’ll be in touch shortly. Yes, there’ll be something about self-sabotage. You’re not the first to ask!
Hi Rob,
I have followed you for some time and have found it useful and helpful. Thank you.
I would be interested to learn more about your new book.
Kind regards,
David.
Thank you, David, you should already have your copy.
Hi Rob-
I have been doing online courses for years and do fairly well but am very interested in learning new ideas.
Thanks for sharing.
Charliecharlieborland
Thanks for your comment, Charlie
hi Rob
I certainly like to take a peek at your new book too.
In terms of things that would be good to see it in, I’d certainly say Adaptability (if somethings not working change it ). And positivity and loving what you do, the best way to make a living is do what you love, when you have a passion for something it’s so much easier todo ( I know I preaching to the converted).
Hello Louie, certainly you’re preaching to the converted. And I think I’ve got those points in there somewhere in the book! I’ve sent you an email, Louie, I hope you like the book.
Hey Rob,
I’ve been a silent reader of your blog for two years now. I’m so looking forward to this book as well. I enjoy your content and your transparency in your online journey.
I wonder if you will be talking about having blind faith and confidence in the very beginning of your online business. I remember starting projects in the past not knowing if they will be profitable or successful because I didn’t have anything to measure it by. I would get a few sales from an online asset and think it was a failure when in fact it meant I needed to push harder. I was comparing my results to others when I shouldn’t and if I hung in there longer I would have seen a lot more success with my projects. Will you cover a topic like this? Not sure how to articulate what this topic would be called.
I also have 2 digital nomads you can interview. One I communicate with often. I will reach out to you to give you their info or perhaps make the introductions to see if they are a fit for your book.
hey Samuel,
definitely keep going with your projects, getting a few online sales is a great starting point. Some people make it big quickly ( but many more get there gradually).
True, Louie. Great advice for Samuel.
Hello Samuel, Thank you for your kind words and for following me for so long. I’m not going into too much detail about business models and knowing when to keep going and knowing when to pull out. that’s kind of basic business advise and separate from the location independent side of it. However, I do talk a lot about purpose: to do something you love, not what makes the most money. And I think that will help with some people who are having difficulty with direction.
I don’t think I’ve heard from you yet and the books coming out soon!
Hi Rob
I have been following your work and articles for a long time now and find them really helpful.
How can I get in to get a copy of this free book?
Allan
OK, Allan, I’ll send you one. I would appreciate a review on Amazon
http://myBook.to/TheNewFreedom
Hi
I love how you did the titles and paragraphs, it was easy to read. Looking forward to seeing your new book.
Thomas
thank you, Thomas