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Tyrone:
Hi everyone, itís Tyrone from Tyroneshum.com and welcome to the dedicated channel where
Iíll be talking about outsourcing and automation and helping you in your business with that.
Now, todayís a really special podcast that Iíve got here and I wanted to get a special
guest on the call today because sheís someone who I really admire and Iím really inspired
by her because sheís been doing quite a lot of traveling around the world and also too,
sheís got a quite successful blog out there as well, talking about traveling and her journeys
and stuff like that.
So what I wanted to do was introduce to you my special guest, Natalie Sisson. So welcome
to the call Natalie!
Natalie:
Thank you, thanks so much for having me. And thanks for having a kiwi on the call as well.
I know that it must have been had in this.
Tyrone:
Oh, I donít know there is that much difference.
Natalie:
Awesome.
Tyrone:
Thatís correct. Well, I wanted to get you on the call because youíve had some really
interesting journeys and weíve come across each other. Youíve actually interviewed me
last year for one of your posts, for ñ yeah your blog as well at WomanzWorld.com and itís
really interesting because when I spoke to you, you actually tell me that youíre actually
traveling around the world and I was like wow, this is really, really interesting. And
Iím really excited because I wanted to find out more about why ñ you know why did you
become the so-called Suitcase Entrepreneur and how did you come across that and start
that kind of journey in your whole blog and your life?
Natalie:
Oh, I guess I always have been a traveler. I mean our whole family is pretty global and
international parents but living in New Zealand and always traveling to everywhere else because
as you know, being in Australia, we always feel like weíre on top of the world but everything
else has to be discovered.
Ah ñ so weíre really lucky as since we weíre young, we want to be traveling around the
world but the suitcase entrepreneurial concept came earlier last year actually. It was my
Skype was doing some strange things, okay it was great. Ah ñ coming July from Buenos
Aires itís fine now thatís why itís having difficulties. I was the co-founder of a text
startup and the long and short of it was that I just didnít there were enough women and
technology in the business and thatís what driven me to start my blog just to talk about
my journey, my experiences as an entrepreneur, put myself out there, ask other people for
advice, give some advice on what I learned because I think I learned a ton any year and
a half around starting a business.
And then, while I was doing that, I realized I just ñ you know, I absolutely love traveling.
Could I make it work? Could I have a blog and a platform, and a business ah ñ of the
back of that blog thatíll allow me to travel the world. I did live in London for two and
half years, I lived in Canada for just over two years and now being in Buenos Aires for
ñ about a month and a half and Iím going to be here for around 6 months.
So the point is to kind of take myself to different locations and still run my business,
and still see if it can happen and inspire other people along the way to get creative
ways of running their business from anywhere using a lot of what you do as well ñ outsourcing,
online tools and social media. So thatís kind of I love to preach now and Iím always
fascinated in learning more about the tools and the things that I can use to allow me
to do that. And then Iíd learn on that and I share that with my community.
Tyrone:
Thatís awesome. You mentioned that you have a text startup. Was that before you start
living in London going back in four and a half years now?
Natalie:
No actually. It was when I went to Canada. So in London I was ñ I had a career, pretty
successful background in product management, marketing, branding and communication and
some business development. And I think it gave me a great like base but Iíve always
rebelled at the end of the day and what youíre probably know. I donít like being told what
to do and I do like the flexibility to take off whenever I want to do, whatever I want
and thatís pretty much that having your own business allows you to do whether or not you
change it, and so the whole thing of actually just living out of a suitcase and living my
business around the world, I realized I can make that even more relevant and true.
So I could technically have holidays and be in different countries and experience different
cultures and languages while Iím still having my business.
Tyrone:
Thatís how I feel as well, too. I donít like to be stuck in one thing, I donít like
to be told what to do. At the same time, I like the flexibility because when it comes
to your business, it really depends up to you because youíre really the person whoís
behind the whole systems and also, if youíve got team around you, itís really you being
the leader to be able to drive the business and get it to run. While also at the same
time having that flexibility to go anywhere you want and also enjoy the things around
you as well, too.
So where youíre originally from actually, before you went to London?
Natalie:
I am from New Zealand, my hometown is Wellington.
Tyrone:
Yep, okay.
Natalie:
Capital city of New Zealand, so I pretty much live there all my life but I must admit, we
were super lucky as kids pretty much every year, every second year weíd be heading off
to Europe where a lot of our relations were, or over to America to see Disneyland, etc.
I think our parents were really great and just making that happen no matter what their
lifestyle. You know they did have a pretty decent job but theyíd still make time for
some extensive travel and I think when youíre young and the upbringing that you have that
comes part and past on who you are. I know a lot of New Zealanders do travel and so do
Australians, and Isrealis as well like ñ I think it just becomes the mindset for you.
You either like it or you donít. And Iím very much likely to be able to be mobile and
have all my stuff in one suitcase and I can just run out of the door within any stage.
And I know for a lot of people, they canít handle that. I mean they have babies, they
need ñ solid foundations, they need the stuff to where it is, they need to come home to
a house. I totally understand that, itís just not the lifestyle for me.
Tyrone:
I can totally relate to you as well, too. Actually talking about suitcase, Iím curious
now. What is actually in your suitcase when you travel like how big of a suitcase do you
travel with? What do you take with you?
Natalie:
Itís not big enough to fit me in. I tried the other day, I just put up a video just
trying to fit in my suitcase. I canít fit in my suitcase anymore. Itís actually pretty
small. A lot of people were really surprised when they see it.
Ah ñ Iíve learned over the years of traveling with like a fourteen-leaner backpack around
Thailand over six weeks. You need so little but essentially pretty much a good pair of
flip flops and a decent pair of sneakers you can always get out and run and do your exercise.
One pair of shoes on those for ladies, but one pair of shoes that you can wear out to
look semi decent. And thereís ñ I mean thereís just some materials that travel really, really
well that donít crease and tend to just take stuff that you never have to ñ it doesnít
matter if you fold it, it still comes out looking pretty good.
I think essentially itís all about layers. People tend to just kind of oh, take this
and that I canít live without it but actually end up wearing a lot of similar stuff but
itís all about layers and making sure that you can keep warm if youíre in cold environments
and vice versa. Just so little ñ toiletries, everything can be minimal. You can buy anything
that you need pretty much wherever you go and I think a lot of people forget that. They
take, they tend to take the whole house with them like that desperate. And when you get
there, youíll realize itís probably one fifth of the price depending on where youíre
going and you could have just bought it there and saved yourself the hippy bags and ñ
Tyrone:
Yeah, actually ñ for women. Ah, Iím not going to say too much about what I understand
about women but I thought I least youíd want to take a minimum of cosmetics and all your
makeup and all those kind of stuff too which is you know, I think thatís important for
women. But I know in my case as a male, I traveled a bit as well and a lot of times,
Iím just happy with probably two to three pairs of clothing. I just take a toothbrush
and toothpaste and thatís all I need and the rest of stuff weíll buy.
Even actually I shouldnít even need to take a toothbrush and toothpaste as well and I
could probably buy that as well wherever I get. And it depends on where youíre traveling
too because if youíre going be staying there for a week or two then that might be wise.
But if youíre staying there for longer period of time like at least two to three months
then you must just buy there because once you use it you just chunk it out and move
to the next place. So ñ
Natalie:
I know when I lived in London, I go through Heathrow about the time when I had minimized
the amount of liquid to take on board with you. Every single week I would see people
just having full sunscreen products, perfumes, bottles of shampoo, really expensive and skin
care just being thrown out because I havenít bothered to think about those than I need
and really I was wondering why theyíre taking that for two-day weekend anyway. So itís
ñ you get used to it after a while. Itís about thinking minimal, thinking light, and
really thinking about all the necessities that you need. At the end of the day you need
a passport, some money and a credit card. Actually and your tickets but those are all
sort of online now so really, your passport.
Tyrone:
Exactly. You can probably have your ticket, your electronic ticket on your iPhone for
example and just usually you just go through and just present it and let it scan and youíre
done. Itís as simple as that. Technology nowadays just allowed us to do so much. You
just take your laptop, youíll probably have everything on it. So itís amazing.
Natalie:
Exactly.
Tyrone:
So where have you been lately? Youíre currently in Buenos Aires ñ
Natalie:
Buenos Aires, exactly.
Tyrone:
Yep. And prior to that, you said youíre on Canada was that right? For two years?
Natalie:
It was. Yeah.
Tyrone:
It was in Canada. What were you doing in Canada?
Natalie:
Thatís a really good question. I went there to play the World Championship Ultimate Frisbee
Tournament that was held in Vancouver. So that was late 2008, I just decided to leave
London where Iíve been living and go to Canada and base myself in Vancouver for a while and
while I was there I definitely attempted to travel around I mean, itís a massive country.
Itís not that similar to Australia and I attempted to travel around while I was there
and thatís almost where I started my business so itís been great.
Tyrone:
Talking about starting your business, letís take a step back. I should have asked you
this as well. When youíre in London as you mentioned, youíre working for a company and
where was that turning point when you decided okay, Iím fed up with this, I want to go
and travel somewhere else e.g. Canada and where you are currently. Where was that turning
point? What inspired you do that firstly too?
Natalie:
I think the turning point has been there for long, long time. I just decided to disregard
it for a while and London as much amazing city as it is, itís a real rat race. So,
for all the wonderful culture and international ñ and in fact theyíre on the borders of
Europe, you can go anywhere. Itís a city where you really have to just keep jogging
along. It drains you, itís tough, everything. Itís yeah, it makes you realize that youíre
one tiny human. Millions of people there, so I think that was probably the kicker for
me, I was not just wanting to be doing that anymore. Not wanting under peopleís control,
and their silly guidelines and stupid management roles and their archaic systems and so when
I got on the plane on Canada I really, really saw it as fresh start.
And when I landed, I wasnít going to get a job, I was going to go into my business.
And at the time, I was thinking be something to do with health and fitness and coaching
in the corporate arena. So Iíd seen their kind of unhealthy lifestyles that people had
in corporate careers and I want to just take that and make it like more exciting and interesting
and get them to be healthy and fit.
Then just so happen when I met my business partner for this tech company within the first
month when we started that instead. I was happy in a way because I just knew I had a
startup now, I had a business, I was relying on my skills and my gut instincts and ñ wouldnít
be receiving a lot of money but just ton of skills I just be putting all that knowledge
that Iíve gained over the years onto something that I really, really believed in. So I think
that was the catalyst, moving country, changing culture and having opportunities and being
prepared for the opportunities.
Tyrone:
Did you have a lot back in London though? Like did you own a place in London, and did
you have like a car and all those other necessities that weíre talking about?
Natalie:
I had a bike and I was biking everywhere which I love and I highly recommend for people when
youíre in a city. But I essentially ñ yeah I just bought a portion of debt and a house.
S I just invested in that house. I just got a race in a really, really amazing role but
I just wasnít prepared to be there anymore. So I think a lot of my friends thought I was
pretty crazy because I was walking away one side literally a month before I left and bought
this house with a friend.
Tyrone:
Wow.
Natalie:
Ah, and so ñ I found it really easy though. It was lovely to just offload everything.
You can sell everything on Craigslist, you can put stuff away, you can have friends who
want it. And you know I find Iím pretty good now when I come to a place trying to not accumulate
too much stuff but when I do accumulate maybe books or just some things, I always give them
away, send them home or just sell them. Itís a really lovely feeling. I think you can do
that wherever you go. You just get into this tendency to throw stuff.
Tyrone:
You ñ you mentioned sending home. Where is your home actually?
Natalie:
That was a good point. That would be my lovely parentís. Small stacks, piles and really
special things that I like to send home because I think when you do travel you love to collect
pieces that are really decorative in that country and I try to go small on those so
theyíre very insignificant and I can carry them around but if itís really special and
I know Iím not going to have a base for the next six months or a year which is pretty
logical, in my case then I will send it back. Back to the family home because at least theyíre
there for now even if they travel still too.
Tyrone:
Thatís nice. I usually, what I do because we had a big declutter and we saw a lot of
valuables that we had as childhood memories as well and we said should we eitheir keep
it or we dump it? If we kept it, be more clutter so what we do is we take a photo of it and
then just write next to it what we want like in our computer and just chunk it that way.
That way we look at it and go okay, weíve memorized it and we can look back on it as
a memory.
I think thatís the beauty of having technology nowadays is that you can literally see things
that you got. Obviously you canít touch it the same thing as we like to, but atleast
itís there and itís ñ you donít want to log around as well especially if youíre trying
to be minimalistic or traveling around the world.
Natalie:
Exactly and actually one of them that I used to give to people is to put the stuff that
you just canít get rid of into a storage cupboard. Somewhere in your house or in your
storage facility for six months. If during that six months you havenít needed it once,
then you didnít need it in the first place.
Tyrone:
Thatís an absolutely great tip.
Natalie:
Thatís really, really simple. You miss what you really need.
Tyrone:
Yeah, exactly. All right coming back to the story now after I interrupted you about Canada.
Youíre in Canada doing a frisbee competition in 2008 and after you ñ or during that time,
where did you go in Canada and what else happened during that time as well? Because two years
is a long time.
Natalie:
It is. I didnít travel a ton around, I was very much based in Vancouver. I did go to
Calgary ñ when it was kind of just beautiful to go and see the stunning nature around there
as well. Banff from Jasper which was amazing so we took a bit of a trip out there, it was
just fantastic but I was able to work well while I was there. I did quite a few inspiring
videos because the surroundings were just so magical.
Ah ñ and a couple of other places more. To the east of Canada, I still havenít made
it to Toronto or Montreal but Iím coming back.
Tyrone:
Ah you have to.
Natalie:
And then get a lot of skiing at the Whistler and I did a lot around in British Columbia
where kind of larger than New Zealand all together a lot. And so itís just the distances
in Canada are pretty big but when I was in Canada, I also went to Costa Rica on a trip.
I went to the US five or six times as well. So I didnít feel like I was just there. It
was definitely always traveling around and about.
Tyrone:
Ah so you ñ you sort of used Canada as a base that youíre traveling to other countries
at the same time because they are quite close to Canada as well.
Natalie:
Yeah. Definitely. I did the same in London like every weekend I was away in some European
country ah ñ like something different. Like while Iím in Argentina, I tend to go to Uruguay,
I tend to go to Columbia as well. Itís just creating a small base where you know, you
can come back to those. Itís pretty useful.
Tyrone:
Yeah definitely. I mean itís really interesting because I have had a lot of friends telling
me about London in particular that you can just fly over to France, or just travel on
a train to France so quickly in a few hours itís like as though itís a state and you
can enjoy that over the weekend and just come back and itís like theyíre mini holiday
over the weekend.
Natalie:
Yep. Well, you know itís like for us to travel anywhere, itís at least fifteen, eighteen
hour flight.
Tyrone:
Exactly. Thatís the reason why I havenít done very much of it over to the other side
of the world because it just takes so long.
Natalie:
And when you get there and you tell that they think youíre insane that youíd be on a plane
for that long. But when I was in Europe, I definitely realized what they meant because
everything is between one hour to four hours. Itís so doable and everythingís just such
close proximity. You can drive through countries in a day, itís fantastic or half a day or
couple of hours.
Tyrone:
That is awesome. So now that youíve got that the traveling in you and I guess that youíre
really, really mobile as well, thereís a question that a lot of people are probably
asking right now on this podcast and also myself is how do you sustain this? How do
you sustain the costs of all this type of traveling, how do you keep yourself going,
what do you do to do all that? You mentioned youíve got a text startup, how is that going
anyway?
Natalie:
I did have no extra left. I left it to go full time with this blog which in retrospect
was a great move but I did it at the time where I havenít been paying myself for a
while with the tech company as well. So talking about taking a risk and having next to nothing,
thatís pretty much when I started my blog and my business. But in terms of my traveling
lifestyle, Iím a real ñ I tend to be a bit of a budget traveler. Iím extraordinarily
lucky and I connect with a lot of people around the world and then I go and stay with them
and then I return the favor so Iíve had a ton of visitors come through to me in Buenos
Aires.
But thatís because I feel last year I spent about six to seven weeks traveling through
Eastern Europe and staying with friends the entire time.
Tyrone:
Nice.
Natalie:
And so it doesnít have to be really expensive. There are services like Couch Surfer, or CouchSurfing
dot com, maybe dot org. That Iíve used a few times as well where people will actually
host you on their home and you just give them a gift or buy them dinner but you can stay
with the local which I think is far more exciting.
Tyrone:
Yeah.
Natalie:
So I generally try not to stay in hotels, not stay in those places but stay with locals
where possible. Learn from them, extend the favor back to them and you know, they take
it up. Theyíll come and visit you in New Zealand or wherever you are in some other
dates so I love that aspect. But if it is in hotels or hostels, you can get some great
last minute deals and huge discounts if get to the right sites. Iíve put a couple of
those things up on my website.
And then in terms of actual cost when you hear, I mean Iím really ñ because Iím not
buying anything, Iím not buying stuff. I donít have a mortgage, I donít have a car.
Technically I have a mortgage thatís paid by the rent. I donít have this cost that
people accumulate in countries when theyíre leaving in a home.
I donít have children, very, very lucky thatís also a bit of a cost saving. But I live a
very simple life so my main kind of spending is on tools and technology and then the equipment
that I have. And outside of that I tend to ñ if I can base myself somewhere, I cook
for myself. As I said I pay for experiences, not for things and thatís what I think itís
pretty to do this kind of lifestyle. With credit cards and points as well to get cheaper
trips and thereís a little bit more planet where you can go anytime in the year where
itís not peak season. And, you know cycle if you need to, itís pretty easy once you
know what youíre doing.
Tyrone:
Actually itís all about street smart to be honest because if you sort of known and planned
things out, and you have a little bit of knowledge about how to go about traveling, you can actually
save quite a bit because obviously if you get peak time which is the crazy time like
Christmas time, usually the seasons where people were traveling Eastern stuff like that.
Obviously those places are going to be charging heaps because they know thatís where the
tourists are going to be coming from, but if you come during the times where itís off
peak, Iím pretty sure youíll be able to experience what the locals are and thatís
the reason why itís called off peak so that you can travel and get those lower rates as
well, too.
So itís really, really amazing yeah.
Natalie:
To add to that is you know if youíre planning on going to Europe, Europe is obviously more
expensive for example. If youíre going to Southeast Asia, usually itís cheap in comparison.
South America not bad, ah Brazil ñ you know comes a lot more expensive. But it does depend
on where you travel. If youíre going to hang out and spend to there, you get to be prepared
to pay a bit more but many, many countries around the world are just so cheap to travel
around in so many ways.
Tyrone:
Yeah. I mean Iíve been through to Thailand and itís just amazing how you can just get
food there, so cheap. I can probably live like a king if I have say 15k just sitting
in my bank account for savings and leave all that for whole year and I wouldnít even worry
because just the rate that you transfer over because obviously the food and the cost of
living there goes a very, very long way in comparison you cannot live in Australia or
New Zealand for 15k.
Natalie:
No. We actually have a couple from Canada who now live in New Zealand but they traveled
around Southeast Asia for six months and spent 2,000 Canadian for the two of them.
Tyrone:
Oh nice.
Natalie:
And you know sometimes they were splurging in lovely hotels and they were going out a
lot and eating. They were traveling around everywhere and 20,000 for that whole time
like itís just ñ itís really nothing.
Tyrone:
Exactly.
Natalie:
So you get to choose your experiences and put your money where you really want it to
go and you just donít need a lot expensive. I just find people spend so much on cars,
or on their hair, makeup or on their clothes and gadgets, and 42-inch plasmas and things.
And you know they arenít permanent. Theyíre kind of instantaneous gratification that you
done well. You canít take a 42-inch plasma with you to experience and adventure. Itís
a waste of money.
Tyrone:
I totally agree. And thatís the thing. Even if youíre traveling and you go to the said
places, they can provide you with those things anyway so whatís the point of buying and
owning it yourself?
Natalie:
Yeah.
Tyrone:
So you know imagine you just paid in whatever your traveling expenses are and just have
it there and when youíre finished with it, just move on to next location which Iím pretty
sure if you choose a nice place, they can have a nice TV there too. I actually have
a question about Couch Surfer and you mentioned you stayed in a few places as well with some
of the friends and obviously thatís how youíre able to minimize the cost of accommodation.
But say for example you donít know these people and you hopped onto Couch Surfer and
you found that people were willing to open their homes to you, have you ever had that
scare or fiff they are thinking okay, if I go to this personís places, they can be a
stalker, they can be serial killer, they can be all those things. Does that also come across
your mind as well?
Natalie:
Iím really and I respect that Iím fairly trusting people but I also think I have a
good instinct around who to trust and whoís credible. And Iíve been really, really lucky
in all my times in traveling Iíve been yeah, just super lucky with the people Iíve stayed
with. But with something like Couch Surfing you do have to pay to sign up for the service
so straight off you have to commit and put some credit on there. Second, people rate
you and you have to kind of earn your status and credibility. And you can see whether people
have bad reviews are generally people with bad reviews are kicked off.
So itís not everybody whoís going to be opening up their homes to you because obviously
you have to be really trusting allowing a complete stranger in your house with your
stuff lying around that they could ñ you know steal things as well.
Tyrone:
Yes, thatís right.
Natalie:
So itís a two-way thing so I think the traveling world is wonderful in that respect. Most people
are open minded, very giving, very generous and itís a system that works. Itís like
karma comes around you so if youíre going to do good things around you, itíll be returned.
And vice versa, if youíre going to screw people around or steal their stuff or maybe
itís going to come back or bite you on the back. So no, I donít get scared about that.
Tyrone:
Itís just good to know about experience and feedback. Itís a little bit like eBay in
some sense where youíve got a rating and feedback how the experience was and if the
experience was good, then itís somebody who you can definitely trust to go there and stay
and that sort of alleviate the fear of having any issues down the track.
Thatís the ñ I think thatís one thing that a lot of people will probably be saying arenít
you scared of staying at some strangersí place when youíve never ever met them, you
donít even know what their backgroundís like, etc. etc.
Natalie:
By the way itís not all couches like people actually have rooms that you stay in. Itís
just called Couch Surfing because thatís how it started. It started very much on an
honesty system and people traveling around the world thinking well what if I stay with
a local and then I can return the favor when they come to see me.
I think that the fact that it started off like that means that itís ñ you can trust
a lot more.
Tyrone:
Thatís really interesting. All right well letís talk a little bit more about your blog.
Iím curious now how your blog and your inspiration to start that blog and also too, how thatís
also helping you to sustain in your traveling experiences and also keeping you up and running?
How has that helped you, what it is that you do in your blog at this point in time?
Natalie:
Yeah itís been amazing I think because itís technically shaped what I do because so even
though before when it was WomanzWorld and it was very much aimed at women entrepreneurs
wanting to start their business or who run their early stage of business, giving them
advice, resources and tools that allow them to do that more effectively and that was great
for me because I would interview some top experts and entrepreneurs and get more advice
for them and Iíd write more of my own content often more, do some programs around that as
well.
But overtime, itís definitely developed into ñ we know ñ what do I love most, I love
entrepreneurship, I love sports, I love traveling around the world so how can I combine that
to business or blog and I achieved that as I speak about the stuff that I love. So The
Suitcase Entrepreneur came to me in November, I was at the conference. I was every single
time I introduce myself and people were like oh whatís your name, what do you do and where
do you live? And Iíd be like my name is Natalie Sisson and I have this blog called WomanzWorld
and I love helping women around the world to run their business from anywhere and they
get where do you live. And Iíd be oh I actually live out of a suitcase and this is really
fascinating when people were always like crazy lady, crazy lady really inspiring.
And I was like thatís what I do, I actually live out of a suitcase and Iím always traveling
and Iím always being packed. And I was like thatís going to be the domain name when I
bought it. And that was really cool, itís so much more than finding my niche and what
Iím trying to do because thereís certain type of person who wants to live out lifestyle
and as I said as I started the conversation, thatís people who will never want to do and
I understand that and thatís their lifestyle but if you do, and you want to find out other
creative ways then Iím the girl.
And I think itís great because from that because itís allowed me to think really about
types of products and programs that I offer through my blog which is the platform and
the types of coaching, consulting services that I offer as well. So thatís kind of how
my business was made up but the blog is the platform, the voice thatís the upfront and
then thereís products and programs that I create myself for entrepreneurs and some consulting
coaching that I do specifically around social media and running your business.
Tyrone:
Hey thatís really, really great and itís amazing that itís able to provide that for
you as a platform so that you can allow to do all the things that you enjoy such as traveling
and experiencing and making the most out of your whole life in different locations as
well, too.
Natalie:
Yeah, itís really good. As you know, itís a full time freaking job, Iím trying to run
it and I love it and I wouldnít be doing anything else. A lot of people were thinking
I work too much but I think itís the wonderful thing to do in the whole world.
Tyrone:
To be honest, at the beginning whenever youíre starting and youíre running any business,
you need to put in a lot of time you need to build it up and once you build it up, then
the prices start to take place whether or not you start to outsource it to automate
it and setup those systems in places and have it in full automation system or you decide
to take it full throttle and you just wanted to continue to run it the way it is, you know
itís really up to you and itís really amazing to be able to see so many different entrepreneurs
out there and speak to them and meet them and find out how theyíre doing their businesses
because everyone does it differently and you canít have the same model or structure than
everyone else has.
Itís you, itís youíre the unique one. And if itís not you, people are not attracted
to you so ñ curious as well, too how often are you running or working within your business
and whatís the balance like in terms for your traveling too?
Natalie:
Ah I would say the balance had had its moments during the year because I just love what Iím
doing all the times so some would be like take my laptop while theyíre waiting for
me but even the cool thing is not always having a base. You do have to go around and out about
seek places to work. I worked on trains, and planes and then boats and cars because Iím
lucky I donít get sea sickness or any kind of sickness like that.
And Iíve even worked in courtyards and some cute little villagers in bench because I pick
some ñ that even though Iíd take like substantial holidays now, I kind of feel like Iím mixed
with traveling and Iím working. So you know, before Iíd go spend a week and go offline.
Now, itíd be good to do it in weekend or take a dedicated day when I want, time I want
like whole afternoon off to do it. But still right now, I have a lot of projects going
on thatís why Iím doing more work and Iím looking forward to have a bit of a break in
a couple of months where Iíve got a sure point where I can allow myself to do that
more.
And Iím constantly working on the outsourcing side of things that you help me with so that
I can free up more time and really focus on the cool stuff and then get around and see
the city Iím living and the other countries around here. Maybe if you love what you do,
you want to work all the time. Itís not necessary healthy but I can better be doing that than
work on something that I hated.
Tyrone:
Absolutely, itís the passion. I love doing what I do and I guess sometimes itís hard
to pull yourself away because you just enjoy it so much. You donít really treat it as
work because you enjoy it, itís like a passion itís like a hobby and you just want to keep
going and youíre just addicted to it but at the same time, to balance that youíve
got to take a step back and realize okay, if youíre working too much on it, are you
really progressing forward to achieving that lifestyle that you want which in your case
traveling to different locations and experience the different things around there as well.
Are you also traveling with anyone else at this point in time or is it just by yourself?
Natalie:
Itís just me. Yeah but Iím lucky I have family visiting right now, I have friends
who ñ itís kind of cool. If you come to a new location, thatís another thing. If
you have international friends who like to travel or even if they donít, they would
finally go you know, Iíve always wanted to go to Buenos Aires so Iím going to come and
see you while youíre down there. So I like that aspect to that as well other than you
meet locals here or other expats, you also meet ñ you know your friends will come out
and see you and go vice versa. Or you can go and see them so I pretty much travel myself
and then try to ñ people my way and say come and visit.
Tyrone:
Itís amazing to be able to do that. Iíll definitely consider coming over some time
and visiting you depending on how long youíre staying over there because Iíve got plans
to travel to Bali thatís mid this year so get to balance to that somehow as well.
So what are your plans for say, the next year as you said youíre going to be staying here
in Buenos Aires for until May is that right?
Natalie:
Yeah, Iím here until early May at this stage. June-ish I would be right back in the US as
there are couple of really cool conferences and summits going on there and then I have
ñ and while I was there, Iím trying to go to beach championships in Italy in August
so these are the grand plans and Iím finally, finally going home after 5 and half years
to New Zealand in September for the Rugby World Cup ñ
Tyrone:
Oh yes.
Natalie:
Weíre finally going to win one! But Iím really looking forward to that. And then thereís
a bit of a big plan in January of 2012 to do a cycle race from Cairo to Capetown which
would allow me to see a whole list of ñ events. Thatís the plan. Iíve put the deposit down.
Iím aiming towards doing that.
And I donít normally plan my travel a lot that much but it just seems that the next
kind of year and a half, Iím being a little bit more of strategic about it with the business
at all. So pretty exciting.
Tyrone:
It is very exciting. And does that mean that youíre going to be doing it with quite a
bit of training as well, too. And youíre going to hop on the bike and -
Natalie:
And I donít think eating empanadas and drinkings lots of wine, and eating lots of you know
lots of really fatty foods. Itís part of the training. Luckily I have almost a year
ñ a year to get on the bike and can do more that so.
Tyrone:
That will be awesome.
Natalie:
Thanks for pointing that out.
Tyrone:
Thatís okay. Sometimes you can always train no later than probably about three or four
months before the actual race. I used to do those kind of things and even til today, Iíve
just been doing a 90-day program. And yeah, 90-day I think is sufficient enough because
after 90 days, you start your body starts to get used to the program depending on what
you do then you need to shaking it up or changing it. So yeah you donít want to be doing it
too early other ways. You know ñ
Natalie:
Was that PX90 program? Or whateverÖ
Tyrone:
Itís the P90X that Iíve been doing. Yeah, itís so varied that it just shapes your body
in such short period of time because youíre always getting changed. You never stick on
the same thing over and over again which is thatís the reason why you get to grow so
fast and really get fit very, very quickly as well, too. So itís been an awesome program
for me.
Natalie:
Fantastic. Yeah, I was looking to it now.
Tyrone:
Yeah definitely.
Natalie:
Itís very good for travelers actually.
Tyrone:
Yeah, itís very good because you donít need it very much. All you need is some white bands
which is some stretchy things and then yeah, chin up bars. Thatís it, you donít need
very much.
Natalie:
Chin up bars, was that fitting my suitcase?
Tyrone:
You can just dismantle it yeah. Iím pretty sure you could. I can dismantle mine and put
into the suitcase if I want to but I donít have plans to take it with me when traveling.
Wherever I go, Iíll just probably borrow one locally or something like that. Awesome.
Well if people want to get in contact with you Natalie, and want to find out how to be
able to have that lifestyle that youíve got, how can they contact with you or when can
they go to check out more information?
Natalie:
I would love to say they can call 0900-GOODTIMES but theyíll probably get the wrong kind of
service. So they can go to instead WomanzWorld.com or TheSuitcaseEntrepreneur.com and it will
take you to my blog and you can also find me on Twitter @NatalieSisson and @WomanzWorld.
Kind of all over the place youíll find me on searches just to get Natalie Sisson Suitcase
Entrepreneur. Youíll find me.
Tyrone:
I never missed you so Iíll see you out there. Iíll definitely put that down below this
video and if you guys want to check out any of her stuff, check out Natalieís stuff itís
really, really good. Iíve learned some interesting things from her as well. And I canít wait
to actually meet you in person sometime so when you did come back to New Zealand, maybe
Iíll make a trip over to do some ski over there and catch up there as well. Itís really
nice.
Natalie:
Yeah definitely. You can come to the stadium when the Australian Wallabies are being wooped
by the All Blacks.
Tyrone: Nah. Iím still supporting the Wallabies.
Iím still supporting the Wallabies.
Natalie:
Theyíre great team. Iíll support them.
Tyrone:
I donít know about that. Well Natalie, thank you so much for coming onto the call today.
Itís been a real pleasure to be able to find out what youíve been doing and what youíve
been up to. Itís amazing story youíve really shared a lot there so I want to say big, big
thank you for coming on and itís a pleasure to have you on today.
Natalie:
Big, big thank you for having me. Itís been awesome, itís been my pleasure as well. And
also big thanks for allowing me for interviewing you on New Yearís Eve morning at late 8AM.
Itís very generous of you so Iíll never forget that.
Tyrone:
Thatís okay. Luckily I didnít have anything planned for that morning. Evening was party
but morning I was a little bit free so first thing in the morning is all okay for me. Awesome.
Well, everyone for coming onto the podcast today. If you like to find out more about
further this podcast and you love this one, feel free to hop over to Tyroneshum.com on
my blog and also too, thereís a few other podcasts that are available as well, too and
thank you so much for listening to this podcast today.
My name is Tyrone Shum from Tyroneshum.com and Iíll see you inside the next podcast.