Are you thinking about becoming a digital nomad? Working from the road? Taking business calls under beach umbrellas while sipping Mai Tais? The good news is, it’s becoming more and more accessible to work from home, which means that soon enough, working from “home” will turn into working from “today’s home.”

But it’s not always sunshine and daisies, so here are some tips on living the digital nomad life.

After a long winter in Seattle, I was so excited to head to LA to soak up some sunshine and spend some time with my BFF, Kristine. 

Every year Kristine and I do a #friendmoon together where we travel to an exotic location for a few weeks of rest, food, and fun. COVID shot down our vacation plans for 2020, but after getting fully vaccinated, it felt like a good time to get out and start safely exploring. 

We’re excited to head out on the official #friendmoon2021 this fall (more on that later…), but in the meantime, we decided to enjoy a stateside adventure in Southern California.

While in The Golden State, we had the chance to stay at the gorgeous Palm Mountain Resort, nestled between the San Jacinto Mountains in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. Our friend Mary, who designed the cover art for the Financial Feminist podcast, joined us for this two-night stay, and it was the perfect mini girls weekend.

After checking in, we immediately hit the pool for some poolside work time, and that’s when it really hit me:

I built a business I can do from anywhere.

I can create content and provide valuable financial education poolside in Palm Springs, on staycations in Seattle, or even from my favorite coffee shop.

It wasn’t always like this. In fact, when I started Her First $100K, I actually had to turn down travel because I was juggling both a side hustle and a traditional day job. A major turning point was when I had to say no to flying to New York City for Good Morning America because I was so worried that my job would be angry that I got the opportunity instead of them.

Even the best business owners struggle with the digital nomad life. Switching time zones, working from someone else’s wifi, and managing your time can all be challenging factors when you’re running a company from the road.

Fortunately, I have some incredible people and amazing systems in place to help me make the most out of my travels and still keep Her First $100K running like clockwork.

You Don’t Have to Do it All

I cannot even begin to tell you how many coaching clients and other business owner friends I talk to who are terrified to even take a few hours off in fear of their whole organization going up in flames. Unfortunately, the anxiety of managing it all is not uncommon with entrepreneurs, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

In 2019, when Her First $100K was really taking off, I was everything: admin, sales, social media, marketing, writer, speaker, John Mulaney superfan –– you name a hat, and I wore it. But, of course, if you own a business, you already know this is a recipe for burnout.

I made my first hire in the spring of 2019, and it was like the world suddenly had color again. I now employ 8 incredible women, all of who have more than paid for themselves over and over again in more ways than one.

So while we took poolside work breaks to brunch at the nearby Juniper Table or grabbed drinks at The Parker, I happily left my phone in my purse and truly enjoyed our meal (and absolutely killer mojito), knowing that my team had everything handled.

A simple exercise to figure out where to start with outsourcing:

1. Grab a deck of index cards and write out everything you do daily as a business owner.

2. Put aside the cards that literally only you can do (for example, only I can give a speech as Tori Dunlap).

3. Section them into three groups –– life-giving, neutral, or draining.

4. The cards you’ve sorted into the draining section? You guessed it –– that’s where you need to start when considering hiring or outsourcing.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once! Start small with a few tasks a week handed off to a contractor or virtual assistant, and then check in a few months later with your cards again.

Meet your new BFF: Systems

In July 2020, I had my first video go viral on TikTok. Her First $100K was already taking off in other ways, but this brought a whole new audience to my front door. 

Tons of businesses go viral on social media, but not every business has the systems in place you need to make sure that likes and comments turn into actual revenue.

While Kristine, Mary, and I lounged on our courtyard balcony to watch the sunset at the Palm Mountain Resort, I gained a few thousand new email subscribers who were already getting valuable content hitting their inboxes. I didn’t have to do a damn thing for this to happen –– the system was already in place and chugging along without me.

I used to get 100’s of messages a week asking me, “where do I start?” or “what HYSA do you recommend?” –– and back when the HFK community was small, I had time to answer. Now, I have systems in place that make sure my community’s needs are met without me (or my team) giving away free labor.

A few starting points for creating better systems:

1. Build a website to direct your clients and community with resources specifically centered around your frequently asked questions (and yes, these can be paid!).

2. Start an email list. Like yesterday. Direct people to it like your business depends on it. Because it does.

All You Need Is…Boundaries

Besides the stunning grounds, superb amenities, and plenty of dogs to pet (did I mention that Palm Mountain Resort is pet friendly?!), I truly enjoyed my girl’s weekend because I set clear boundaries before checking in.

My calendar was marked as “out of office,” and my team really made sure to make that happen for me. I happily logged on to Instagram approximately two times the entire weekend simply to share my favorite views from the resort.

Being a digital nomad has been one of the best parts about owning Her First $100K, second only to the fact that I get to help millions of women gain financial confidence and get rich.

If you’re a fellow business owner hoping to make the work from anywhere life possible, check out my favorite tools here!

A very special thanks to Palm Mountain Resort, who gifted this stay. I cannot recommend their resort highly enough. From their pet-friendly stays to their perfectly chilled pool, I cannot wait to take another girls weekend basking in the California sun in the Coachella Valley.