Laptop check, smartphone check, mobile signal check, wi-fi check. The open road, the sun, and endless epic views… check.
Wait a minute, this doesn’t sound like the average office set up to me, and rightly so, it isn’t.
Embracing the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
More and more of us, not just millennials, are accepting that business doesn’t have to be defined by four walls or a single location. As individuals, we seek more from our working experience and are often prepared to sacrifice an element of salary or revenue for the luxury that freedom and the ability to work from anywhere brings.
Advancements in Global Communications
This digital nomadic lifestyle has been made more and more possible through advances in global communications infrastructure the world over. Both mobile and wi-fi coverage are being enhanced and increased, with very few pockets where you can’t get a good signal or fast and free wi-fi unless you choose to be off-grid.
Starlink: Revolutionising Remote Connectivity
One of the key factors contributing to the rise of the digital nomad lifestyle is the advent of Elon Musk’s Starlink. Starlink is a satellite constellation that aims to provide global broadband coverage. By launching thousands of small satellites into low Earth orbit, Starlink is revolutionising global communications and connectivity.
Seamless Connectivity from Anywhere
Starlink’s satellite network offers high-speed internet access to even the most remote locations. This means that digital nomads can now work and stay connected from virtually anywhere on the planet, whether it’s a remote beach, a mountain cabin, or a nomadic journey through uncharted territories.
Enabling Remote Work Opportunities
With Starlink’s reliable and fast internet connection, digital nomads can access cloud services, collaborate with colleagues, and participate in virtual meetings seamlessly. This technology has opened up new possibilities for remote work, allowing individuals to pursue their careers while embracing a location-independent lifestyle.
Embracing Virtual Engagement
While I am a firm believer in building real human and personal connections, this does not preclude an awful lot of ‘virtual’ engagement too. You only have to look at how Covid-19 has turned the usual bricks and mortar working practices on their head and even tested the sternest of old-school CEOs to see the merit and necessity in adopting new working practices. Further supported no doubt by the CFO with a keen eye on cost savings.
Expanding Business Horizons
While the world won’t become wholly nomadic, and you can’t beat looking into the whites of a person’s eyes or the feel of a firm handshake, there is a direction of travel, meaning it is perfectly acceptable and utterly achievable to do so much more business and deliver results online, no matter where you are. Starlink and similar technological advancements are making this vision a reality for digital nomads around the globe.