The Starter Pack: What You Need to Build a Global Life
The 5-part framework that took me from dreaming at a desk to thriving around the globe
I'll never forget, itβs 2017 and Iβm arriving at my office job. As I passed cubicles and spoke to my coworkers, I saw the same tired faces who'd been doing this for 10, 15, even 20 years. Their eyes told the whole story - that quiet resignation of dreams deferred, of "maybe someday" turning into "never."
I realized I'd been lying to myself, saying I'd wait until the time was right. But in that moment, I understood: the right time doesn't appear - you create it. I didn't have some grand master plan or big savings. What I had was far more powerful - the decision that my life would be different.
This Starter Pack wasn't born from some genius insight. It came from figuring things out as I went along. I made so many mistakes, learned through trial and error, and gradually built this framework that finally made global living possible.
Here's the truth no one tells you: You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.
That's how I developed the Starter Pack - five simple building blocks that transformed me from an office-bound dreamer to a confident global traveler. These fundamentals work whether you want to be a digital nomad, take a career break, or just experience more freedom.
Here's a quick preview of what we'll cover:
Remote Income - How to fund your travels without being tied to one place
Language - Communicate effectively without fluency
Systems - Set up your life to run smoothly from anywhere
Network - Build connections that make travel easier
Tools - The essential apps and gear that save time and stress
The best part? You don't need to master everything at once. I certainly didn't.
1. Remote Income: The Freedom Foundation
Let me be brutally honest - my journey to location independence began with saying βfuck it." I saved up a few thousands of dollars, quit my job with no real plan and booked a one-way ticket to Thailand. While this reckless freedom felt exhilarating at first, I don't recommend it. The lessons that followed were... educational, to say the least.
My Trial-by-Fire Remote Income Journey
Phase 1: The "What Was I Thinking?" Stage (Teaching English in China)
Earned $1,500/month teaching English - enough to survive but not thrive
Got trapped when COVID hit and schools closed
Learned the hard way about contract scams
Realized I needed skills that weren't tied to a physical location
Phase 2: The Freelance Hustle
Invested my salary and took out student loans to complete an online Masters program. (I took classes from 6am-9am then went to work from 10am-5pm Beijing Time)
Built a portfolio by creating sample work for imaginary clients
Landed my first remote client 4 months after I started the Masters program.
Phase 3: Remote Work Stability
Transitioned to higher-paying salaried roles
Created systems to find roles consistently (no more feast-or-famine)
Finally reached true location freedom after 1.5 years of experimentation
What I Wish I'd Done Differently
If I could start over, here's the smarter path I'd take:
1. Build Skills Before You Go
Spend 3-6 months developing one marketable skill (writing, design, coding, etc.)
Take advantage of free resources like Google Digital Garage and HubSpot Academy
Test skills locally through freelancing or side gigs
2. The Safe Transition Plan
βοΈ Start freelancing part-time while employed
βοΈ Replace 30% of your income before quitting
βοΈ Have 6+ months of living expenses saved
3. Best Beginner-Friendly Remote Options
Teaching English Online (VIPKid, iTalki) - $15-25/hr
Freelance Writing - Start at 20/article,scaleto20/article,scaleto100+
Virtual Assistant - $15-30/hr managing emails/social media
The Bottom Line
While my "jump and figure it out" method eventually worked and the stress was kind of exciting. Most people should develop one solid income stream before you leave, then expand from there.
2. Language: Your Passport to Cultural Fluency
I'll never forget my first night in China. I landed at 2am jetlagged and starving, stumbling into the only open place - a KFC. When I tried to order, the cashier stared blankly as I:
Pointed at menu pictures
Attempted charades to explain food items
Finally resorted to translating on my phone
Twenty minutes later, I walked away with two mystery sandwiches and a profound realization: English might be the world's language, but the local language is your lifeline.
Why Language Matters More Than You Think
In China, my broken Mandarin:
Got me apartments for 30% less than "foreigner prices"
Landed me private tutoring gigs that doubled my income
Helped me spot visa scams before they happened
In Latin America, Spanish:
Turned small talk into lifelong friendships
Unlocked doors invisible to tourists
Let me negotiate like a local at markets
Language Learning Journey (From Zero to Functional)
1. The 80/20 Language Method
Focus on the 20% of words used 80% of the time:
100 essential nouns (food, transport, money)
50 key verbs (want, need, go, buy)
10 magic phrases ("How much?" "Where is...?" "Help!")
2. Best Free/Cheap Tools:
Speechling (perfect pronunciation via voice recording)
Language Reactor (learn from Netflix shows)
Tandem (free language exchange)
3. Professional Boosters:
Industry-specific vocab lists (I learned "contract" and "invoice" in 5 languages)
Local business meetups (forces real-world practice)
3. Systems: The Invisible Scaffolding of Location Freedom
I learned the hard way that no amount of wanderlust can compensate for chaotic logistics. My wake-up call came when I missed a critical client deadline because:
My VPN failed during an outage
My "unlimited" data plan throttled unexpectedly
My files were scattered across multiple devices
That costly mistake birthed my system that now let me work reliably from anywhere in the world.
Why Systems Matter More Than You Think
Early in my journey, I discovered:
Every minute spent fixing preventable problems is stolen from adventure
Good systems create mental space for creativity and spontaneity
The right setup means you're never "on vacation" from your responsibilities
My 5 Essential Global Systems
1. The Unbreakable Work Kit
Always-on connectivity:
Primary VPN + backup VPN (different providers)
Local SIM card with data (purchased at airport)
Offline versions of critical documents
Gear that travels well:
Universal power adapter with surge protection
Lightweight second monitor
Noise-cancelling headphones
2. The Stress-Free Money System
Weekly 10-minute routine:
Review automatic transfers to savings
Log expenses in a simple app
Check upcoming bills and subscriptions
Tools I use:
Wise for multi-currency accounts
Google Sheets for tracking
Calendar alerts for tax deadlines
3. The Anywhere Productivity Engine
Daily anchors:
Morning planning session (15 min)
Deep work blocks (2-3 hours)
Evening shutdown ritual
My favorite tools:
Toggl for time tracking
Notion for project management
Focusmate for accountability
4. The Smarter Relocation Protocol
Before moving:
Research visa requirements
Book temporary housing (3-7 days)
Identify coworking spaces
First 48 hours in new location:
Get local SIM card
Set up transportation
Find grocery stores, gyms, malls and markets
5. The Digital Nomad Admin Vault
Must-have documents:
Scanned passport/visas
Vaccination records
Emergency contacts
Smart automations:
Cloud backups of important files
Password manager
Calendar reminders for renewals
3 Simple Systems to Start With
The Internet Safety Net
Set up two VPNs from different providers
Save offline maps of your area
Bookmark nearby cafes with reliable WiFi
The 30-Minute Weekly Money Check
Review account balances
Track upcoming bills
Log recent expenses
The Morning Anchor Routine
Check calendar
Set 1-3 priorities
Message clients/team
The Freedom You Gain
When I perfected these systems, I discovered:
I could relocate to a new country with just short notice
Client work continued seamlessly across time zones
I spent less time "managing my life" and more time living it
4. Network: Filtering for Quality Connections
The truth nobody tells you? Most digital nomad communities are full of:
Instagram "entrepreneurs" with zero revenue
Broke backpackers pretending to work remotely
Time-wasters who'll drag you into unproductive drama
I learned this the hard way during my first Chiang Mai meetup - a cringefest of MLM pitches and "life coaches" with 3 whole clients. Then I met an Icelandic software engineer actually building a real business. That connection alone:
β Open doors to learn how to attract high-value clients
β Taught me how to spot serious professionals
Why Your Network Determines Your Success
After filtering through lots of connections across all my travels, I've learned:
Your income will plateau at your network's average
Time vampires will destroy your productivity
The right 5 people can change your entire trajectory
How I Built a High-Value Network (Without the BS)
Phase 1: The Great Filter
Stopped attending generic "digital nomad" meetups
Created a 2-question vetting process:
"What are you working on?"
"How is it going?"
Immediately ended conversations with vague answers
Phase 2: Targeted Relationship Building
Engaged with people who:
Are executing real tangible plans
Could introduce me to their clients/vendors
Shared measurable results
Phase 3: The Global Inner Circle
Now have trusted contacts
Get personal introductions to professionals in new cities
5 Rules for Building an Elite Network
1. The "No Time Wasters" Policy
Immediately disengage from people who:
Can't clearly explain anything
Habitually complain about "haters" or "the system"
Prioritize partying over productivity
2. Give Strategic Value
Make targeted introductions between your best contacts
Share specific opportunities (not generic advice)
Exchange real resources
3. Only Join These Quality Communities:
Paid professional groups (the fee filters out tourists)
Industry-specific groups
Private coworking spaces
4. The High-Value Follow Up
After meeting someone promising:
Share a specific opportunity relevant to them
Introduce them to one quality contact
Why This Matters
My filtered network has:
Saved me from bad partnerships (through insider knowledge)
Provided emergency support in 3 continents
5. Tools: The Only Gear That Actually Earns Its Space
I started my journey with:
A 65L backpack bursting with "essentials"
1 pair of shoes (for "different occasions")
A laptop
After 8 years of travel here's what most beginners get wrong:
Mistake 1: Packing for "what ifs"
Dumped after 6 months:
Formal shoes (never used)
Backup hard drives (cloud exists)
Travel iron (laughable in hindsight)
Mistake 2: Over-optimizing
Tried 17 task managers before realizing:
Simple beats "perfect"
Tools should serve you, not vice versa
Mistake 3: Gear FOMO
My most used items cost <$100:
Anker 735 Charger (Nano II)
Nitecore NB10000 power bank
Sea to Summit clothesline
The Minimalist Starter Kit
For your first year, only invest in:
One great backpack
Reliable connectivity
3 core apps:
Google Workspace (Docs/Drive)
Airtable (client tracking)
Revolut (no-FX spending)
Pro Tip: Before buying anything, ask:
"Has this prevented a crisis 3+ times?"
"Does it earn/save me >$100/year?"
"Could I replace it locally in 2 hours?"
The Unexpected MVP
My most valuable "tool"? A cheap plastic document sleeve holding:
Color copies of my passport
Important records
Emergency documents
Backup credit card
It's saved me at borders, hospitals, and police checks across multiple countries.
Your Starter Stack Awaits β But Only If You're Built Differently
Let's cut the inspirational BS. I'm writing this from a MedellΓn cafΓ© where the coffee costs less than my old office's parking feeβbecause I'm special. Not "lucky" special. "Willing-to-do-what-95%-won't" special.
Here's How You Prove You're Special Too:
Today's Test (Right Now)
Open a new browser tab and:
β Secure your first $5 online (Fiverr gig, sell a photo, something)
β Message someone in your target country on Nomad List
β Cancel one pointless subscription (fund your escape)
The AM Protocol (Starting Tomorrow)
Skill-building (freeCodeCamp, Google Certifications)
Apply to 1 remote job (We Work Remotely)
Learn survival phrases (Memrise app)
The Special Person's Reality Check:
My first "desk" was a dirty Chinese apartment
I cold-emailed over 70 clients before getting my first "yes"
The wifi here is slower than your excuses
The world doesn't need more dreamers. It needs doers who refuse to be ordinary.
Call to Action: Letβs Build Your Stack Together
Youβve just absorbed 8 years of trial, error and hard-won freedom. Now itβs your turn. Whatβs one element of your Starter Stack youβll commit to this week?
Remember: The worldβs most interesting people donβt just watchβthey engage. Hit reply. Letβs get you unstuck.