wander vs wonder.
When I started traveling, I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t have a backup plan. I didn’t really know what I was doing. My whole life I did my best to plan as much as I could. This was the first time I wasn’t planning (at least more than a month in advance). It was uncomfortable and exciting at the same time. It was scary and thrilling.
After a year of simply traveling, hitting 25 countries in 12 months, I knew I needed to keep traveling. I knew the “why”, I knew the “when”, I knew the “where”. But what I was unsure of was the “HOW”? How can I keep traveling and earn money to support it? I didn’t know. But things happen for a reason and in their own time. I couldn’t have planned this life. It is everything I didn’t know I needed.
digital nomad lifestyle.
When people ask my occupation, I usually say I’m a backpacker. That felt true in my first year on the road, but now it doesn’t capture the full picture. I’ve built a lifestyle that blends travel with meaningful work, creating something more sustainable than just backpacking.
Turns out, you can work from anywhere. Thank you, technology! You do not need to be in an office. It doesn’t matter where you work, it’s how you work. I found a way to turn my skillset into a business. Now I can confidently reply that I am a digital nomad.
The next question I get is “what do you do?”. In simplest form, I write resumes. I help people that are looking for new roles to put their best foot forward. I optimize LinkedIn profiles to tell a story. I provide interview preparation to build confidence and formulate impactful interview responses. All my experience as a Corporate America recruiter has given me the tools and skills required to be an expert in this field. And after a year and a half of consulting, I have sharpened my skills and gained a positive reputation with past clients.
I have helped a wide range of clients with diverse backgrounds craft their resume in a way that gets them noticed, interviews, and new jobs. I cannot hide the smile on my face when a client sends me an email boasting about their new job and thanking me for helping them get there. I remind them that their experience and interview skills got them the job, I just helped craft the narrative. They did the rest.
While career outcomes are never guaranteed, I can provide a strong resume, tailored strategies, and interview coaching, but I can’t control whether someone lands a role. The results can be transformative when clients put in the work. Some have transitioned into industries they’d long aspired to join, like Victor, who secured five interviews in the first week and successfully moved into a new role. Others gained the confidence to start receiving interview invitations for positions that genuinely excited them. The reality is that many factors are outside my control: whether someone is actively applying, targeting roles that fit, or navigating a challenging job market. But even in uncertainty, investing in clarity, preparation, and confidence can make all the difference.
What I am most proud of is the success of my clients, as indicated in a recent survey I sent out. 85.7% of the active job seekers received interviews, 42.9% of the active applicants received job offers, and 94.1% of my clients would recommend my services to a friend or colleague. My client satisfaction rate is 4.7/5.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, please reach out directly. More information can be found on my website with this LINK or on LinkedIn found HERE. I would love to partner and help create a new career narrative.
the pros and the cons.
Like anything in life, being a digital nomad comes with its ups and downs. But the rewards are undeniable: I get to see the world, work from wherever I am, set my own schedule, and enjoy the flexibility to take time off when I choose. I am not counting the days until the weekend and waiting 4 months for a much needed one-week vacation. It’s a lifestyle defined by freedom and possibility.
On the flip side, the digital nomad lifestyle has its challenges. If I don’t work, I don’t earn. Consulting can be a grind, demanding constant adaptation to shifting markets and environments. Reliable Wi-Fi isn’t always guaranteed, private spaces for video calls can be hard to find, and many mornings are spent working in noisy cafés that test my focus.
Often, I must skip excursions or adventures with other backpackers to focus on work or take client calls. My days are shaped around client schedules, and the workload is unpredictable. Sometimes I’m juggling 10 clients, other times just 2. Balancing work with exploring a new city can be challenging, especially without a set routine or structure. For many, this lifestyle might sound overwhelming, and it’s certainly not for everyone.
However, for me, the pros outpace the cons. I can continue to see the world, practice other languages, and meet interesting people while earning money to support this lifestyle. I found a rhythm and the balance that works for me.
where in the world is jen.
A few Halloweens ago, I dressed up as Carmen Sandiego…before I knew I’d become a traveler without a set route or solid plan. Friends often text me, ‘Where in the world are you now?’ I don’t post my daily whereabouts because I’d rather be present than worry about likes on Instagram. Curious where I am? Just send me a text. And if you’re a close friend with my location, stop creeping!
After visiting six continents, I’ve realized I feel most at home in Latin America. I speak Spanish and am learning Portuguese, which makes everyday life like ordering food, picking up medicine, buying bus tickets, connecting with locals much easier. The lower cost of living also reduces financial stress. Hostel nights average $10, groceries are inexpensive, and while restaurants are generally cheaper than that of the U.S., I’m mindful of how often I eat out. I usually cook in shared kitchens and make a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (you can take me out of America, but you cannot take the American out of me!). I manage my budget closely and am very conscious about where I am spending my money, and Latin America allows me to live comfortably on a low budget.
Time zones are another practical consideration. With most of my clients in U.S. time zones, I can schedule my workday around meetings and tasks with more ease. Over the past year, I’ve explored Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, but I still have more to discover. Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru are still on my list, with Peru up next.
my other office.
I earned my 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate in 2023. Since then, I’ve taught hundreds of hours of yoga across six countries and in two languages. Teaching yoga brings me immense joy…it’s not about the money because my classes are free, but about sharing the practice I love. Yoga offers countless benefits, but above all, it teaches presence: the ability to focus on the breath, connect with the body, and cultivate awareness in each moment. To be here, in this exact moment.
Yoga has the power to profoundly transform your life. I speak from personal experience. Living with chronic pain, I discovered yoga five years ago and it changed not only my body, but also my mindset and my approach to life. When stress or anxiety arises, I turn to yoga, meditation, and mindful breathing. If I can help others experience that same sense of awareness and relief, then my work is complete.
I teach yoga wherever and whenever I can, often in a park, or really wherever people are open to practicing. I connect with travelers in hostels and invite them to join a class. I check with the hostels I stay at to see if they offer yoga to guests and if they are open to letting me teach. I also make it a point to take at least one class in each city I visit, learning from other teachers, observing different styles, and hearing how yoga is taught in other languages. These experiences help me deepen my own practice and continually grow as a teacher.
Teaching yoga is the most rewarding and fulfilling work I’ve ever done. It shouldn’t even be labeled as work or a job. It is a passion and a practice I will continue for years to come!!
new normal.
The past year and a half have been incredibly rewarding working as a nomad. I started The Career Essentials and successfully opened a corresponding LLC. I developed a business plan and goals to better define success. I created a brand, although still a work in progress, that reflects my business but stays true to who I am outside of work. I launched a business webpage within my blog for increased visibility and transparency. I don’t have it all figured out, but I am learning.
None of this early success came without risk. Yet every day brings a sense of accomplishment, especially when I learn something new – about myself, the country I’m in, the culture around me, or the business I am running. I take nothing for granted.
Since leaving corporate America and the U.S., I haven’t regretted a single decision. Every experience and step of my journey has led me to where I am today. I’ve discovered a way to combine my passions for travel and yoga with a supportive business model that pays the bills.
I am so fortunate to have found this new lifestyle that works for me. However, everyone’s story is different. There are varying obstacles that may prevent someone from trying something new or taking a risk. But what I hope my readers take from this blog post is that you have the power to change the course of your life. Whatever that might look like. I hope you find the courage to take a leap of faith. This is my new normal and I encourage you to find yours.
the jen essentials as a digital nomad.
- Good Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi has completely changed the nomadic game)
- Quietish place to focus (this is a challenge a lot of times)
- My laptop (Her name is Connie and without her I would be lost)
- Good headphones with a microphone (one that preferably blocks out the background noise)
- Adaptability & flexibility (My weeks are not planned, I do not have recurring meetings, clients can book time on my calendar anytime, any day)
- Networking skills (as an extrovert so this isn’t difficult, but it is essential for teaching yogis and finding new clients)
- Space for yoga (if the hostel doesn’t have a garden or terrace, the key is to find a nice park, beach, or open space)
- Resilience (this is an understatement! I have made MANY mistakes along the way and learning to accept it and move on)
- Self-motivation (This is especially tough when all I want to do is read a book on the beach)
- AN OPEN MIND (“Great things never came from comfort zones.” – Anonymous)
wrap it up jen.
I don’t want any more regrets in life. I don’t want to wonder what my life would be like if I did something. I want to live a life that is fulfilling and purposeful. For too many years I did what I thought was right. Until I realized, I was not happy with that life. I longed to experience more, to break out of the mold. So, I am rewriting my story. Literally and figuratively. I did not necessarily want to hit ctrl + alt + delete. My past life, both personal and professional, led me exactly to where I am today. But I wanted to start with a blank page, ready to write a new story. And I will continue to share my story in hopes of giving someone that encouragement or hope they need to make a change.
The risk that I took paid off in the best way possible. It was the scariest and the best thing I have ever done. I created a life that is full of adventure but balanced with a sense of purpose. I get to help people land new jobs or take their first yoga class.
I’m not sharing my story to brag, though it may sound that way. I’m writing to inspire others, to spark a flame that encourages readers to take a chance, to live the life they truly want, and to try something new (even if it feels uncomfortable). If you don’t try, you’ll never know. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to life. I’m not following a mold; I’m doing what works best for me, which may differ from what works for others. My hope is simply that everyone is creating a life worth living.
I no longer WONDER what my life could be. I WANDER through life in a way that brings me joy. I recently met a French guy that within 10 minutes of meeting me said I gave off this positive energy that exuded a profound happiness. In that moment, my eyes filled with tears and I just smiled, unable to respond.
Until next time,
Jennifer