We have all seen the thousands of photos which pop up after typing in “digital nomad” into Google images. Most involving a laptop, a beach and a cocktail.
I feel that Digital Nomads are in real danger of getting a bad name! The problem is, the greedy amongst us seem to rank much higher when people search in google and therefore there is a one-sided perspective being portrayed on the whole Digital Nomad movement.
If it’s not beach photos (with laptops) we first come across on google, it is sales talk about how to earn money online or constant comparisons with people who choose to work in cubicles. It is showing us as a greedy group of people who want nothing other than luxury circumstances and only want to rub our lives in the faces of everybody we know less fortunate.
Couldn’t be Further From the Truth
Luckily this image is obviously incorrect for the majority of us. Most of us don’t spend our spare time trying to show off to the rest of the world how big our hotel swimming pool is. Really, I find the only people who crave the ‘working on a beach’ instagram shots that we see too many of, are those who are yet to actually leave their 9-5 jobs and really do not have a clue about the world or their involvement in it.
The digital nomads we have met usually have more interesting things to do than trying to convince everybody that they have a great life.
This false image of the digital nomad movement has been swept across the media and it really is embarrassing to sometimes use the words ‘digital nomad’ when describing to somebody what we do in our lives.
It Should be a Label to be Proud Of!
Digital Nomads, as a collective, have some of the most creative minds there is. Also, together, we possibly know more about parts of the world than any other collective group of people.
Armed with vast culteral knowledge, technological knowledge, multiple languages and much more spare time than the average person, we really have the power to achieve anything we want and to help the world best we can.
It is a group that Erin and I are very proud to be a part of and we find it amazing to see what some people give back with the freedom their location independent life gives to them.
On the Hunt
As we don’t feel the internet represents both sides of this story very well, we are starting a type of unsung heros series (of the nomad variety of course). In other words, we are out searching for all the great things digital nomads are adding to the world and sharing some of the best people we can find (and their stories) with you all.
Artists, charity workers, speakers, writers and really anybody with the will to influence and inspire the world for the better is who we are interested in. We want to take a look into the life’s of those who use location independence as a tool, not a life goal and are who are working at trying to do some amazing things with that tool they have given themselves.
So, over the next few years, as well as living in all the digital nomad hotspots that we can find from around the world, we will be rallying up the troops, heading to all the digital nomad meetups and hopefully coming across more amazing people that will inspire us and we can share with all you lovely readers.
If you know somebody that you think we would like to meet, please please get in touch with us. We are more than happy to travel somewhere new if we need to 
About Dave Erin
Haha, I like those laptop beach photos!! Always wonder how they keep the screen from glaring
seriously though, there are some great people out there who are trying to make a difference – check jetsetcitizen if you haven’t already!
How have you come to equate excellent search engine marketing and SEO with greed? Some of us do that type of work, which allows us to hang out at nice resorts with lovely pools and beautiful beaches. Don’t hate – some of us actually live that way.
True, but there are some who do push it too far and post consistently about how great their life is. After a while it becomes tiresome reading about it. However, there are many people who do a lot more and I just want to make a point of letting them people be noticed. We all love beautiful beaches, just not taking pictures of ourselves holding a laptop and a “wish you were here?” sign in our hands and sending them out on twitter every 9 minutes.
While I am not guilty of the offending behavior, you, like everyone, have the option of unfollowing those who do. I really just want to know how you’ve come to call “greedy” those who dominate the search engines? Very few of us who actually make a great living while traveling fall into line with the hipsters and occupiers who think doing a proper job is somehow a negative or not OK.
Hi. Sorry, I understand now the point you were trying to make. I think it’s a case of me not being clear in what I meant in the post. I didn’t mean that people who rank high in the search engines are greedy. Just when I type in ‘digital nomad’, the first page of google was full of a one-sided opinion of what digital nomads are. The term ‘greed’ was referring to those who spend their time showing off with fancy hotels while rubbing it everybody else’s face.
It just happens that is the side of it that people who don’t know much about the lifestyle will see if they try and look it up. It’s a shame because, as you say, it is very few of us who are actually guilty of this. One example is the bbc page that shows up with a picture of somebody working on a surfboard! (see below)
I would much rather see a more rounded view and credit given to those who use lifestyle design to put themselves into a situation where they can do good for the world.
My husband and I do tend to visit a lot of beaches, and he does mostly web design and SEO (although we’re older, wiser, and have been in business since the mid-90′s, before anyone had even heard of SEO!). We always giggle a little at those photos, since neither of us can take our laptops to the beach (sand in everything!), and it’s really hard to see outside!
However, Justin does enjoy being able to work outside and smoke the occasional cigar (yuck), and even though you will find my personal Instagram and Twitter feeds full of images of beaches, tropical plants, fun places, etc., it’s not meant to show off, but because #1 – I enjoy taking those images and #2 – It gives family back home a chance to see what we’re seeing.
I can see how the view gets skewed, though. Our LI/nomadic lifestyle has enabled us to stay for extended periods in many of the United States ‘bucket list’ destinations – Las Vegas, Disney World (twice!), and currently the Florida Keys. We couldn’t come close to paying what the vacationers do!
What they don’t see, though, is me pouring over accommodation websites, negotiating deals, squashing the occasional bug, swearing at my computer when the wi-fi connection is the same or less than a 56k dial-up, living in 300 sq. ft motel rooms for weeks on end, washing dishes in a bathroom sink, sleeping with one eye open when we’ve unknowingly booked a less-than-desirable location, and sobbing for hours when I do find myself suffering from a serious bout of homesickness.
)
I actually try and do the opposite of bragging and defend my lifestyle, especially with family…it may LOOK like I’m living a life of luxury, but mostly it’s just a life of independence, and far less glamorous than my lovely Instagram feed may lead them to believe. But honestly, I do it with all the best intentions, not meaning to show off, just to share. Most of the time, I love our lifestyle
In reality – those beautiful shots are usually the most ‘real’ and ‘genuine’ moments we have as a couple, on a beach, watching the water, birds, etc., and not spending a dime. It’s the BEST type of break for us.
Just for fun, here is where we took our break yesterday….
I agree. These ‘genuine moments’ are really what we all do it for. Otherwise what would be the point? I do enjoy reading about some people’s experiences as it adds excitement and motivation to be able to do similar things. I think though, others get a thrill from showing off and this is true in any profession, but in the case of digital nomads.. the showing off is what gets portrayed the most.
Imagine typing ‘surgeon’ into google and the majority of the first search results were just people showing off how big their car,house and salary is, instead of focusing on how they save people’s lives. It doesn’t seem to exist in any other choice of income.
I couldn’t agree less, sorry guys! I think if you are doing something you love you should be shouting it from the rooftops! My partner and I have been nomadic for 18 months and we are living our dream life. And yes, we spend a LOT of time on the beach! Because thats what we enjoy.
I am not a ‘show off’ but I constantly talk about how happy I am and how awesome our life of travel is. And why not?? Isn’t it better to hear that than to hear about how miserable someone is? I don’t understand why you wouldn’t WANT to hear how great someones life is. I find it inspiring when I hear people talk about how great their life is and how happy they are.
Perhaps if you do not like hearing about how great life is you may look at changing careers because as far as I know digital nomads are just that because they love it and want to tell the world about it!
And those pictures you mention… Its just metaphorical! Everyone knows you can’t actually take a laptop to the beach or on a surf board. Its what they represent. The freedom to work wherever you want. Thats what being a digital nomad is all about after all!
Im not even going to touch the ‘greed’ and SEO thing.
I am 100% proud to be a DN and I am in great company in this industry and I hope we are all proud enough of what we are doing to shout it from the roof tops and show the word just how awesome our lives are… to inspire, not to ‘show off’
The point I was trying to make is that there is MORE to digital nomads than what people read. I understand many people (including digital nomads) enjoy luxury accommodations and spending their days trying to darken their skin in the sun, but the people I am interested in writing about are the DN’s who are doing a lot more than simply celebrating their own achievements everyday and relaxing on beaches.
For eg.. Some DN’s are visiting different developing countries and teaching young people advanced internet skills that will hopefully give them the opportunity to become DNs themselves and see some more of the world, which wouldn’t have been possible for them otherwise. Some DNs are offering courses to teach entrepreneurs how to become location independent.
I see these people as such an inspiration. For me, inspiration is hearing about people giving valuable information to those who need it or offering important skills which can lead people on to a better path. They are using their skills to make the world better, not just for personal gain. Giving people the opportunity to live a life outside of what they have always known is surely the best gift you can ever give somebody and it is heart warming to see Digital Nomads doing this.
The problem is when we hear somebody shouting about how great their life is while they lie on a beach with a mojito.. this is not inspiring, it is boring! We know digital nomads can live anywhere they want, we’ve been reading these types of comments for the last five years. It’s even on wikipedia now. Really, it is no better than somebody with a $500k house standing on his roof and shouting how big his house is. People have every right to do as they wish with their lives, obviously. I’m just aware google seems to pick up a one sided argument on it, which isn’t fair on the other people. I just intend on showing more on the other side, that is all.
PS: You said you are proud of what you do and you LOVE what you do. Then why is the only thing you didn’t mention in your comment what it actually is that you do? You’re hardly shouting it from the roof tops. You didn’t leave a link to your website, instead all you did is gloat about how you spend a LOT (yes, in capitals) of time on the beach??
I stopped using mainstream search engines like Google and Yahoo months ago. They use sneaky algorythms and cookie spying to bring you targeted “money related” adverts disguised as legitimate websites. I now use “duck duck go” (Sorry, I hate including links as it feels spammy, but i’m sure you can figure out the address). As for the digital side of my nomadic journey, that’ll be a tiny netbook and a digital camera, doubt I’ll get any photos like this though haha! They’ll mostly be of me soaked to my bones standing next to a flooded tent, trying to look chipper about it all
Great blog btw, hope mine is this informative and interesting one day
Nomadic Hayward recently posted..May 18th, 2013 (Day 624)