Sarah and I met online, and as she notes below, it’s such an amazing thing to see women connect on social media and help each other out. She has an incredible story, and I am in awe of how she has built her dream life. Read on to see why she quit her 9-5 job!
Tell us a little about yourself and your career
Hey there! I am Sarah, or better known as the Wandering Publicist. I was born in Chicago, raised in New Jersey, and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where I lived for about 6 years before deciding to quit my job and become a digital nomad. I worked at two PR agencies after graduation and it was during the second job, which I was very unhappy at, that I was introduced to the concept of a digital nomad – someone who travels the world while working online. I already had an online job and sat behind a computer all day long, I just needed to find my own clients.
Motivated, I began networking like crazy on LinkedIn and through word of mouth and after a few months, I landed my first client, an Israeli winery. I was lucky enough to have them pay me 6 months upfront, which really helped me say adios to my job in August 2017. Since then, I have been working for a variety of clients as a publicist. I work with clients in the wine industry, non-profits, fashion, blockchain, and a dating app! I have built a booming business all while traveling throughout Central America, the Caribbean, Bali, and Australia. I am currently residing on the lovely island of Maui.
How does your community of women you surround yourself with support you?
Aside from my amazing mom and friends who cheer me on (and I gotta give credit to my boyfriend too), I have found so much support from women who learn about my lifestyle when meeting me. Instagram has been a powerful tool for connecting with other women who are entrepreneurs/digital nomads. I have received so many messages from women telling me to keep on killing it and living life on my terms. I have also received messages from women asking for advice on how to live this sort of life, and, of course, I always answer and do my best to support them.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as a traveling entrepreneur?
Learning when to say “no”. When I started out, I was traveling solo and staying in hostels. In the process of making friends, I had to learn to say no when invited to go on an adventure if I had deadlines to meet. This can be difficult when you are solo and craving some social time, but I had to remember that if I wanted to keep living like this, I need to recognize when work needs to come first. It’s truly a balancing act being an entrepreneur, and especially being a traveling one. What works for me is doing most of my work in the morning (I get up at 5am!) and then having the afternoons for myself.
What do you wish you could go back and tell your younger self re: your career aspirations?
The job title and fancy office aren’t all it’s cracked up to be. Success comes in many forms, not just the ones set by the corporate world.
What is your career-related mantra?
Work Hard, Play Hard. By play hard, I mean to enjoy life by making sure I take time to do the things I love, even when it seems my to-do list never ends.
