Workers with Wanderlust

At 23, Michelle Dale quit her finance job and sold her belongings to travel the world.

Simultaneously, she launched her own Internet-based virtual assistant company and was turning a six-figure profit within two years.

Having no permanent residence for more than seven years, she runs her business wherever she happens to be – whether it’s her home country in the UK or from her current stint in Italy.

How did Dale turn her travel bug and entrepreneurial spirit into career success?

“Success while traveling isn’t easy because of the nature of moving,” says Dale, founder of Virtual Miss Friday. “You need to set yourself up well from the offset, or you could easily get frustrated.”

Her top tips for traveling entrepreneurs include sticking to lightweight electronics like an iPad, consider buying a permanent virtual office address and avoid business ventures that require a lot of ‘real-time’ interaction and communication.

Dale adds that too many material possessions may slow you down. “We are a family of four traveling throughout mainland Europe, [and] all our possessions fit in our Honda, including us!”

Plenty of fields are suited to the traveler’s lifestyle. Dale suggests online business consulting, coaching and even blogging for a big business.

Business Backpacker covers everything from interviews with digital nomad pros to reviews on cities around the world. Plus, experts list the top countries for running an online businesses, like Sweden, Portugal and the Philippines.

Bonus PINK Link: Find out if you have the right stuff to be an entrepreneur in our online exclusive.

By Christine Kim

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.”
Maya Angelou