Alex Salinsky on Digital Nomading, Remote Team Operations, & Medellín

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Date: February 28, 2022
Episode: WeNomad Episode 5
Title: Alex Salinsky on Digital Nomading, Remote Team Operations, & Medellín

If you’re looking to create a life of freedom and fulfillment, make sure to listen to this episode of the WeNomad podcast.

About Alex Salinksy

Alex Salinsky is the Founder and CEO of En Blazes, a company that helps businesses grow and scale. He’s pretty active on LinkedIn and frequently writes articles on scaling and growing businesses. He’s an expert in his field, and his advice is highly sought-after. If you’re looking to grow your business, Alex is a great person to listen to.

In This Episode…

Alex shares the story of how he became a freelancer and why he decided to become one. He also shares some advice for those considering freelancing, including the importance of being all-in and fully committed to the process. We also discuss digital nomad test runs, insights on how to grow a business, using Discord for remote teams, and living in Medellín as a digital nomad.

Key Takeaways

1. Do A Digital Nomad Test Run (Instead of Taking The Leap!)

Timestamp: 3:54 to 5:18

  • Doing a digital nomad test run can help you determine if remote work is a viable option for you, what your income needs are, and what your budget looks like for living expenses while living far from home. This information can be helpful when considering a full-time digital nomad lifestyle. A test run can also help you build your network of people who are also working remotely. This can be invaluable when starting as a digital nomad.
  • If you’re thinking about doing a digital nomad test run, the best way to do it is by picking a destination that’s affordable and has good internet. You can also try working from a different location for just a week to see how it goes. Make sure you have a backup plan in case things don’t go as planned.

2. Be Selective With Who You Get Advice From

Timestamp: 7:43 to 11:29

  • When it comes to giving advice, keep in mind the context of the conversation. In most cases, it’s better to just listen or ask questions before offering any input. This is especially true if the person asking for advice doesn’t seem to know what they’re talking about or where they’re trying to go. You should also consider your own biases and knowledge base before dispensing any advice.
  • Listen to advice, but be careful about who you take advice from. Find someone who has experience in what you’re trying to do and who has a similar vision for the future.

3. Using Discord For Remote Teams (Instead of Slack/Zoom)

Timestamp: 23:41 to 26:50

  • Discord is a great way to communicate with team members especially when there’s a need for quick and easy communication. Compared to Zoom, it allows for a more fluid conversation. This is because everyone’s already in the chatroom and can be pinged easily, which eliminates the need to wait for someone to join a call.

4. Consistency vs. Perfectionism When Business Building

Timestamp: 27:51 to 35:25

  • The concept of “showing up consistently with presence” means starting and continuing to do something, even if it’s done incorrectly and without knowing all the answers. This allows for growth and learning, which leads to eventual success.

5. Medellín, Colombia for Digital Nomads

Timestamp: 35:25 to 44:02

  • This section provides some insights on the best neighborhoods to live in for expats and digital nomads in Medellín. Alex recommends El Poblado as a good starting point because it’s foreigner-friendly with a lot of international cuisine options and English-speaking staff.

Resources & Notable Mentions:

I've been building digital businesses, wandering the world, and writing about optimizing life for freedom since early 2017. My mission is to lower the barrier for people who want to live with more freedom: whether that be as an entrepreneur, a digital nomad, an early retiree, or just as someone who wants to live a happiness-driven life.