I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a digital nomad, I just knew I wanted to be a nomad.
I am lucky enough to be just a little bit younger than the Internet, which has given me the golden opportunity to travel the world while working anywhere as long as I have access to the web.
However, as wonderful as it may sound, it can be a daunting task to just leave and hope you can make it without ending up homeless on the streets of Brazil or Thailand.
I now work in Medellin, Colombia as a journalist, although my story is riddled with a lot of luck and hard work, my life here definitely did not come easily. I am happy with where I am and what I have achieved, however, in hindsight, there are so many times I learnt lessons the hard way, worked for less than I should have or generally wasted my time on pointless endeavours. Despite my success, it was definitely tough doing it all on my own.
Read More: Why You Should Make 2017 the Year of Your Remote Workforce
If you too love the idea of working anywhere in the world from just your laptop, the good news is you don’t have to go through the same struggles I did. Thanks to the growing popularity of working remotely, many companies are enabling millennials to explore the world, providing them with everything they need to hit the ground running. One such company that stands out from the rest is Embark.
Embark provides location independent professionals with a desk in a dependable workspace, transportation between its destination cities, and high-end accommodation in great neighbourhoods. Through the Embark program, members get involved in events, workshops, and immersive cultural experiences. Members also have the opportunity to take part in excursions, as well as to give back through volunteering. Furthermore, the Embark co-founders provide 24/7 support for those participating in the program, for those inevitable moments when things go wrong.
One of the unique features of Embark which separates itself from the rest is its focus on group size. Its limited number of participants means it stays small to offer a greater sense of community to participants. Embark has announced its inaugural travel program.
Over the course of three months, Embark participants have the opportunity to live and work in Medellin, Lima, or Buenos Aires, enabling them to explore the world without putting their careers on hold. Embark also recently held a European trip which featured the historic cities of Zagreb, Budapest, and Prague (also over the course of three months).
David Hansford, Co-Founder of Embark
“At Embark, we aim to create a network of interesting and collaborative people, and connect them with local cultures and business ecosystems,” said David Hansford, Co-Founder at Embark. “We want to help entrepreneurs and creatives develop professionally, make an impact, but most of all, have the experience of a lifetime.”
As our generation evolves into a more mobile workforce, companies like Embark are more than likely going to see a huge spike in interest. We know that millennials of today are less likely to invest their money into traditional areas such as purchasing a house or car and are far more likely to show an interest in travel. I personally fall bang into the centre of this category.
I love Bristol, my home city, however as the UK’s house prices continue to rise into unobtainable figures, I think my time and money is better invested in seeing the world, and in places where I can one day buy a home. I recognise that I am lucky and I have worked hard to get where I am. Nevertheless, if I could go back in time and give myself the knowledge, experience and help that a company like Embark can provide, my path to where I am now would have been a hell of a lot quicker and smoother.
Read More: How to embrace the increasingly remote and freelance workforce
So to any aspiring Digital nomads out there, I say to you go out there, have fun, see the world and make the most of the opportunities that technology and modern companies give us. Because we’re not getting any younger!
