Internet Lifestyle Video: Can You Work From Anywhere?
My wife Lynn and I are conducting a live “field experiment”.
Can you really run an Internet Business from anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection?
In theory it sounds good… but does it hold up under actual practice?
Only one way to find out… so we loaded up the Element and we’re off on a month-long trip to Arizona. During this trip I’ll continue to run my business, and I thought it might be interesting to document our findings here.
We begin with a little videolog of our first two days on the road. We drove because we’re bringing our faithful Pug companions with us… and a bunch of our stuff (already it seems like too much stuff, so that may be Lesson #1).
Here’s the unedited video (and I mean COMPLETELY unedited…sorry, but the truth is I’m tired and just want to hit the sack!).
I do welcome your comments below.
PS: Today’s the last day to get Web Copywriting Explained at the old price. Tonight when I get to our hotel, I’m taking down the order page and the only way to get it is to pay the new price (probably $1,997 — four times today’s price of just $497!).
Thank you.
A man of few words.
Thanks for stopping by.
-Ray
Great video Ray (funny too)…
One of my goals is to have the ability to work while traveling as well.
I think the key is going to be blocking out my most productive time -early morning- and making sure that I have a quiet, comfortable place to work for those 2-4 hours or whatever.
I sometimes work in the car and have Genhi drive (Verizon air card works remarkably well, most of the time) but with the distractions of changing scenery and traffic, I find it difficult to do serious work.
So I normally find myself doing email or tweaking one of my sites, but not doing important writing.
Hope you and Lynn have an enjoyable time in AZ
Thanks Darrel.
Yep, I have the VZ card too and have had the same experience. Tough to get real writing done in a moving vehicle (except for airplanes… I’ve written a lot of copy in seat 2B, which is the best seat on the plane. Other than the left front seat on the flight deck..)
-Ray
Hi Ray!
I’ve been wondering what you’re up to! Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.
I did try out the traveling “internet lifestyle” myself last March when I spent 3 weeks in India. That was a little more challenging because it’s hard to find a *reliable* internet connection.
You find yourself using internet cafes a lot. And then you have to watch for out for keystroke loggers who steal your passwords. For example, about a week after I got back, somebody started madly posting items on *MY* ebay account. These thieves had changed the paypal account associated with the items they were offering so they would get paid, but I would take the fall for the undelivered items.
I immediatly notified eBay, and they removed the items, so it worked out.
Anyway, was it worth all the hassles to take my business “on the road?”
Heck Yes! I’ve got videos of me in front of the Taj Mahal, of riding a camel and an elephant (not both at the same time), of Mt. Everest (I know, it’s in Nepal/Tibet), of monkeys, of insane traffic, of fortifications… temples and more temples.
… and the expression on my face in every shot? An ear to ear grin!!!
Mike
P.S. I’m planning to “do” central Europe this summer, but with the price of plane tickets, and Washington’s determination to make our beloved US Dollar the next peso, I’m going to need to write a LOT of great copy!
BRRRRRRRRRR!
Looks chilly as I lay here in my boxer shorts in
sunny San Diego.
Have fun in Arizona Ray!
J-Mo
Hey J-Mo…
Exactly why we’re vacating!
In Phoenix now, and the weather is considerably better.
I’m off to Atlanta for Matt Bacak’s event.
Then back to Phoenix tomorrow (Saturday) and we will settle into our new digs in Sedona on Sunday.
More video to come.
HILARIOUS!
And I haven’t even finished it yet
– Caleb
LOL… it’s my own “reality show”!
-Ray
Ray,
Thank you for validating a process we have all previously taken for granted–complete with dogs, no less!
I look forward to learning more of your INVenture (Internet Adventure).
Keep up the excellent work!
Paul
I love that term Paul! That’s cool.
Thanks for dropping by.
-Ray
Very cool Ray. Congrats on the FLF getaway. Hope your trip and stay in AZ is a a lot of fun.
Thanks Ed — much appreciated.
-Ray
Great little video, Ray. I enjoyed getting to be an “insider” for a few minutes of your life.
By the way, what do you use to stream your videos?
Thanks,
Ryan
Thanks Ryan…
You know, the reassurance is helpful. Because part of me feels like nobody is interested in this goody stuff. I hear the chorus of doubt in the back of my mind, saying, “C’mon Ray… stick to the professional posts. If you post all this personal crap on your blog, nobody’s going to want to read it. Worse.. THEY’LL LAUGH AT YOU.”
So it’s good to get message like yours.
If people start giving me feedback that they really DO prefer that I stick to the “professional stuff”… I’ll listen. Promise.
Meanwhile, in answer to your question, here’s how I made the video:
1. It was shot using a Flip Video camera, a Christmas gift from Armand Morin (thanks, Armand!).
2. I converted the AVI files into FLV using VisualHub (Mac software… I use a Macbook Pro notebook).
4. I uploaded the FLV file to my server.
5. Then I point to the FLV from my blog post, and a plugin called Anarchy Media creates the player. You can get the Anarchy Media Wordpress plugin here.
Ray,
You’d better call me when you get to Sedona… I come down there out of the mountains every couple days to thaw out.
I’ve got your Sedona restaurant recommendations all ready to go
Email me…
ROAD TRIPS!
Ya gotta love them road trips.
What’s the old saying
“It’s not the destiny but the journey”.
You certainly are better prepaired then that new Travolta road trip movie Wild Hogs.
I’ve been wondering what a person could do if they were out on the road and somehow lost their wallet/purse. No more credit cards, nothing.
If you had say $1000 in your Paypal balance and needed it to get home, how could a person get the cash money out of their paypal account and into their hand?
Pay someone that would cash a paypal payment?
Or, maybe a new Walmart cash card might work.
I would like to hear more ideas on getting emergency cash out of Paypal.
Thanks
Jeff Wells
Hey Ray,
I’m interested to see how you fare in this challenge. After reading the 4HWW, I was inspired to travel a bit, and have been attempting to live this ‘internet lifestyle’.
Not the easiest task for sure. Next step is to start another business that brings in more $ per month to fund longer-term travel.
Alex
Hi Ray, it´s my first time here.I found you on Mybloglog.
Interesting experiment.I´m also running an online business and have been looking for this kind of information.I´m curious to find out if it is possible to run a online business on the road.
Thanks,
Tom Lindstrom
Thanks for the video, Ray. I really need to be able working any place I am. Now with the help of internet and my laptop I can work from any place.
I couldn;t stop admiring your video. Thanks you!!
Again I would like to say you BIG THANKS for your greAT JOB!!