- How did you get started on this current path? Was it difficult overcoming your fears to just take off and become a digital nomad?
Getting to where I am today has not been a straightforward path, but I’ve always had a destination in mind.
I quit my job as a project manager in Vancouver, BC in 2015. It wasn’t an easy choice. I had a comfortable life with a good job there. But, I was also a bit complacent. A comfortable lifestyle will do that. I’ve always had an adventurous spirit. I need to feel challenged. Sometimes, if you want to find out what life has to offer, you have to go out and seek it yourself. So, I quit my job, put all my possessions into storage and headed to Europe with a single suitcase to see what I could make of myself. I definitely had more than one, “Oh no, what have I done!?” moment of self-doubt before I left. It’s been both an incredibly amazing and incredibly difficult journey.
While I was traveling I found great projects to get involved with. Things took off from there in terms of doing consulting. Around that time, I also founded Thinkstr.co, where a community of founders and thought leaders share their knowledge about business, innovation and smart cities. Through this, I got involved with the group of individuals involved with Smart Cities Investments. I now manage the media presence of Smart Cities Investments.
This is an incredibly exciting area to be involved with. Despite the critical importance of building resilient and sustainable urban environments, smart cities projects, have up until now been stymied by lack of financing and adequate policy solutions. I am very fortunate to get an insider’s view of the key people and players building and transforming the smart cities industry.
- Do you have any quotes or books that have shaped your daily routine?
Many of us suffer from what could be described as “failure to launch”- overthinking to the point of inaction. I came across a quote from a book by Yumi Sakugawa several months ago that really spoke to me: “Find a strange seed. You will have no idea what this seed will grow into. Trust the seed completely and plant it. Give up all rigid expectations of how these seeds will grow and what they will grow into.” We often hold back on doing the things we want to do or create the things we want to create because we are afraid they won’t turn out well. I try to accept that some of the things I do may not amount to much, while other things will turn into something amazing! The key is to do it.
- What is your typical work schedule like?
One thing I’ve learned from being somewhat location independent is the importance of using tools and building frameworks to structure your time to stay focused. I start my day off with a workout, breakfast and goal setting and then get down to work. There’s actually a great method I use as often as possible to increase my productivity during the day. It’s called the ‘Pomodoro Technique.’ Basically, you break your work down into short, timed interval sprints and take regular short breaks to make sure you are consistently productive.
- Given your social media and marketing expertise what are some tips that you could share for millennial start up and nonprofit leaders to help take their mission and overall awareness to the next level.
Growing your presence takes a combination of patience and persistence. It takes time to grow your reach and build a loyal audience. It might seem slow in the beginning, but eventually, it does build momentum. I also require persistence. Be out there making a presence for yourself every day. Be active in online communities on social media. Collaborate with others to leverage their networks. Ask people to guest contribute an article, interview other people who will share those stories across their own network.
- What would you recommend to millennials who are at a crossroads or have not had the opportunity to broaden their horizons
I have two recommendations for other millennials who are at a crossroads in their life. First, have confidence in yourself! Don’t doubt what you are capable of if you put your mind to it. There is a big world out there to experience, don’t be afraid to explore it.
Second, while making a big life change does require a degree of comfort with uncertainty, don’t be reckless. If you are planning on doing something like quitting a job, starting a company, traveling- have things planned out well enough so that if there is catastrophic failure in your plans (and there probably will be!), you still have a financial safety net to fall back on.
Brief Bio:
My interests lie at the intersection of innovation and societal impact. I manage the media presence of Smart Cities Investments, Smart Cities Group and am the Principal of Oppfinn Consulting. I also run Thinkstr.co, a website for entrepreneurs and digital nomads.
The initiatives I have led include business plan development, corporate strategy creation, operational efficiency improvements and software implementations. I specialize in projects focused on technology and building innovative ecosystems.
First Home Purchase Guide: Establishing, Maintaining, and Repairing Your Credit;...
Getting to where I am today has not been a straightforward path, but I’ve always had a destination in mind.
I quit my job as a project manager in Vancouver, BC in 2015. It wasn’t an easy choice. I had a comfortable life with a good job there. But, I was also a bit complacent. A comfortable lifestyle will do that. I’ve always had an adventurous spirit. I need to feel challenged. Sometimes, if you want to find out what life has to offer, you have to go out and seek it yourself. So, I quit my job, put all my possessions into storage and headed to Europe with a single suitcase to see what I could make of myself. I definitely had more than one, “Oh no, what have I done!?” moment of self-doubt before I left. It’s been both an incredibly amazing and incredibly difficult journey.
While I was traveling I found great projects to get involved with. Things took off from there in terms of doing consulting. Around that time, I also founded Thinkstr.co, where a community of founders and thought leaders share their knowledge about business, innovation and smart cities. Through this, I got involved with the group of individuals involved with Smart Cities Investments. I now manage the media presence of Smart Cities Investments.
This is an incredibly exciting area to be involved with. Despite the critical importance of building resilient and sustainable urban environments, smart cities projects, have up until now been stymied by lack of financing and adequate policy solutions. I am very fortunate to get an insider’s view of the key people and players building and transforming the smart cities industry.
Many of us suffer from what could be described as “failure to launch”- overthinking to the point of inaction. I came across a quote from a book by Yumi Sakugawa several months ago that really spoke to me: “Find a strange seed. You will have no idea what this seed will grow into. Trust the seed completely and plant it. Give up all rigid expectations of how these seeds will grow and what they will grow into.” We often hold back on doing the things we want to do or create the things we want to create because we are afraid they won’t turn out well. I try to accept that some of the things I do may not amount to much, while other things will turn into something amazing! The key is to do it.
One thing I’ve learned from being somewhat location independent is the importance of using tools and building frameworks to structure your time to stay focused. I start my day off with a workout, breakfast and goal setting and then get down to work. There’s actually a great method I use as often as possible to increase my productivity during the day. It’s called the ‘Pomodoro Technique.’ Basically, you break your work down into short, timed interval sprints and take regular short breaks to make sure you are consistently productive.
Growing your presence takes a combination of patience and persistence. It takes time to grow your reach and build a loyal audience. It might seem slow in the beginning, but eventually, it does build momentum. I also require persistence. Be out there making a presence for yourself every day. Be active in online communities on social media. Collaborate with others to leverage their networks. Ask people to guest contribute an article, interview other people who will share those stories across their own network.
I have two recommendations for other millennials who are at a crossroads in their life. First, have confidence in yourself! Don’t doubt what you are capable of if you put your mind to it. There is a big world out there to experience, don’t be afraid to explore it.
Second, while making a big life change does require a degree of comfort with uncertainty, don’t be reckless. If you are planning on doing something like quitting a job, starting a company, traveling- have things planned out well enough so that if there is catastrophic failure in your plans (and there probably will be!), you still have a financial safety net to fall back on.
Brief Bio:
My interests lie at the intersection of innovation and societal impact. I manage the media presence of Smart Cities Investments, Smart Cities Group and am the Principal of Oppfinn Consulting. I also run Thinkstr.co, a website for entrepreneurs and digital nomads.
The initiatives I have led include business plan development, corporate strategy creation, operational efficiency improvements and software implementations. I specialize in projects focused on technology and building innovative ecosystems.