Going travelling is often seen as a career break. But… what if you could go travelling while not just continuing work, you could better you career while doing it?

If it sounds to good to be true, I’m constantly speaking to people who have done just that.

Our issues are filled with success stories of people who tentatively quit their jobs and started their own gigs, only to end up advancing their careers.

You probably know by now, at Remote Squad, we’re all about living a life that you truly love. That’s why we try to jam every issue with advice, info and inspiration so that you can go off and live your dreams. 🌴🤙

🙌 In this issue:

Let me explain. I’m not here to talk conspiracy theories, nor imply that the government is anyway rigged against us. I’m also not here to argue against any enshrined laws––for the most part, it’s not laws nor the government that holds us back.

Society lies in much more subtle ways. It lies when it says: ‘You can’t make any money that way.’ ‘You’re not talented enough.’ ‘They don’t need more singers.’ ‘You’ll never make it.’

You see, society is fine in the sense that it’s developed and designed entirely for a very specific type of mediocrity. But for those who want to live a creative life, start a business, or doing something that isn’t a 9–5 job––society tells us all kinds of things that aren’t true.

A child wants to be an artist, a musician, a writer, a company founder, or the best player in the NBA. The child is full of hope and wonder. Anything is possible, thinks the child. For a while, society is happy to pander to the child. You can do anything, it says. Nice. But society takes a dark turn when the child hits adolescence.
‘A painter?’ says society. ‘You won’t make any money doing that.’

The adolescent agrees. They fall in line. They find themselves working in a box factory. Twenty years later the person is confused. They start wondering what this thing called ‘life’ is all about. They’ve fallen victim to society’s lies about money, worthiness, and success. I know it because it almost happened to me.

It doesn’t have to happen this way. The winners are those who don’t believe in society’s lies and go live a life they want. They become photographers, company founders, writers––ultimately they do what their heart desires. How? By rejecting the lies and embracing truths.

Let’s break down the lies.

File this under Do what the heck you want.

Sure, some find the job of their dreams through conventional ways. There are many, however, who work office jobs for the majority of their lives in a state of deep unhappiness.

When I graduated law school nothing filled me with more horror than the idea of applying to law firms. I’d be climbing a ladder I didn’t even want to be on.

It didn’t fit. That’s why I moved to New York and worked for a design firm. Then to London, Hong Kong, and Melbourne. I’ve worked some jobs I didn’t like so much, but at least I did it on my terms, whilst travelling the world.

Here’s a little secret: everyone goes for the smaller goals. That’s precisely why some companies get hundreds of applications for entry to mid-level roles. And why everyone wants to garner a medium-sized Instagram following. And why most will settle for earning six figures rather than seven.

Very few are applying to be CEO’s, or founding their own companies.

When you go for harder to reach goals, you find yourself in a smaller pool of people.

It might take persistence. It might take the right timing. You might need to gain all the right skills. You might even fail the first ten times, but you CAN do anything.

Sometimes when people say ‘you can’t do that’ what they mean is, ‘I wish I could, but I’m not brave enough.’

When my husband and I quit our office jobs and ran a remote business in Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, and The Philippines some people found it inspiring. Others found it quite triggering.

They eyed us suspiciously whilst asking pointed questions about the worthiness of such a pursuit. ‘How can you run a business AND travel?’ they asked. Society had lied to them. And they had believed it.

Before starting my business, I worked in seven different office jobs in four different countries. I’ve never gotten a new job before leaving the old one. My average time for finding a job: two weeks.

In that time I’ve worked with many people who spent six months or more looking for new jobs whilst working their current ones. They were unhappy. They wanted change. But they’d bought society’s lie. They had no fire under them, so life stood still.

If there’s one lie to stop believing, it’s this one.

Eleanor was on to something. People do judge others: that’s a given. But they only really do so in the context of where they are at in life.

Will content and fulfilled people judge you? It’s unlikely. Will those who wish they could too? Probably. Good luck to them.

Quit your job. Start painting for a living. Get drunk on Wednesdays.

Just kidding.

It doesn’t have to be drastic. But gradually living life on your terms is essential if you want to be truly fulfilled. Live your happy life, the one you were supposed to live, not the one society imposed upon you. That might mean getting up an hour early before work to paint. It might mean becoming an art teacher. It might mean having an exhibit at MOMA.

Let go of limiting beliefs. Start asking yourself what you really want. Then move towards it. No, that’s too passive. Run towards it with open arms.

Have suggestions? Or want to feature as a success story? Feel free to email me: [email protected]

Until next time,
Chloe 👋

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