Graham Brown is an author and adventurer who was born in the United Kingdom. In 2012, he chose to sell everything he had and travel the world. In this interview he talks about Fire Your Boss, Sell Your Car, Travel the World, his latest Kindle book in which he shows people how to create an online business which will allow them to live and travel anywhere in the world.
You’ve done something very few people have the guts to do… How did you reach the conclusion to “fire your boss” and start again in a different part of the world?
I think it’s a natural progression. You start out chasing success and building your career or business. Then, when you get to the top you look back and think “was that it?” Most people, however, keep on spinning the hamster wheel. I decided that life was too short and the time to go was now. So we sold everything and started traveling. It was the realization of a life long dream.
What were some of the challenges you encountered in the first few months abroad?
You have to remember this isn’t a vacation. You are not going back to somewhere. You’re living out of a suitcase. Simple things can be a challenge – like finding food for tonight’s dinner. Some days you wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where you are. For most people this is uncomfortable. But then life begins when you step out of your comfort zone. The highs are higher and the lows lower. I’ve felt like giving up on occasion but you have to keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this. You have to ask yourself if you really want to do this because it’s a rollercoaster ride of experience and emotion.
You took a great risk and now you advocate for other people to do the same. What would happen if they can’t succeed?
What is the greater risk? To go and follow your passions or to grow old with your music still inside you? People sometimes ask me “what if it goes wrong?” Well, it can go wrong just sitting in your house and watching TV tonight. Think of all the things that have gone wrong in your life in the last year. Many problems and a few crises, I bet. That’s life, it goes wrong. That’s going to happen whether you hit the road or stay at home. I’d rather think, “what would happen if it goes right?’
So, where are you right now and how do you earn a living?
We’re living on the beautiful subtropical island of Okinawa in Japan out in the East China Sea. It’s closer to Taiwan and China than it is mainland Japan. We moved last month from Lanzarote – a volcanic island off the west coast of Africa. I run a number of location independent businesses all of them online so as long as I have an internet connection I can make money. My businesses are mainly in publishing and real estate. This year we branched out to set up a new service provider aimed to help digital nomads and location independent entrepreneurs offshore their business and finances.
Give us three reasons why people should not only read your book, but also follow through with your advice.
a) Life is too short not to.
b) Think of the memories you will create.
c) Now is the time. There has never been a better time to live and travel the world. We have the internet, knowledge and business models. All you need is the willpower to take the first step.
You have written four other books on similar topics. Have you managed to practice what you preach and make enough money from royalties to secure your everyday expenses?
For me, writing is a marketing tool to help me build lists, credibility and relationships. The real money is in my other businesses which I can cross-sell through my books. It’s like the music business – artists make more money from touring, franchising and sponsorship these days but if they didn’t write songs they wouldn’t get those lucrative corporate contracts. I currently have 25 books on Amazon under different names for this purpose. Sure, you can make money from books alone but unless you’re JK Rowling or Malcolm Gladwell, you’ll do a lot better if you use books as a conversation starter, in the way I do.
What are your plans for the future?
I need to buy a new bike. I completed the Ironman triathlon this year in Lanzarote but sold my bikes after the race because I knew we had to travel. Now we are little more settled here in Japan, I hope to get back in the saddle and start pedaling again. I am on the wrong side of 40 now so it gets harder to stay in shape, especially when you’re like a kid in the candy store trying all the new foods you encounter traveling the world. Besides, when you’re not going to an office everyday you realize how much more of a challenge it can be to meet people while traveling. Joining a local club is a great way to connect with like-minded people regardless of culture or language.
Thank you for your time and inspirational words.
I really enjoyed your questions, thank you,
