Build a personal brand that works from anywhere in the world

8 tips to skilfully create a personal brand that gives you the freedom to work remotely

Years on from the pandemic, the desire to work remotely isn’t going anyway. In the US, Pew Research estimates that 35% of workers who can do their job remotely opt for this option.

There are rewards to working remotely - starting with saving time and money on your commute. The worldwide average commute time is 72 minutes per day. This is precious time that can be spent on other things - like more time with family, friends or pets, exercising or time for secondary sources of income. Working remotely can promote healthier food and lifestyle choices. You can whip up lunch at home, head to your preferred local, or go for a lunchtime run.

Except for select speaking opportunities, I work 100% remotely with personal brand clients across Australia. You, however, may have your sights set on more than working from home and want to work from anywhere worldwide.

In the book The 4-Hour Work Week, Timothy Ferriss proposes there is a ‘New Rich’ (NR) - defined by unrestricted mobility. The ‘mobile lifestyle’ is a systems-focused mindset of effectiveness over efficiency:

“The guard is changing. Being bound to one place will be the new defining feature of the middle class. The New Rich are defined by a more elusive power than simple cash - unrestricted mobility.”

So, let’s talk about some of the ways you can build a personal brand that works for you while you work from anywhere or take time off to travel.

1. Optimise your personal brand’s online key skills

Ask yourself, what skills does your professional personal brand encompass or you could develop that can work for you online? In personal branding, I choose to coach, consult, speak and write remotely. Years ago, I committed to supercharging the skills of my personal brand in each area. I did free work before I got paid for it. I give as much away as I can in my blogs, YouTube and podcast because I want to provide value while continuously upgrading my writing and speaking skills at the same time. And as I do this, I’m planting seeds for my personal brand.

2. Digitise your personal brand

Naval Ravikant as The Almanack of Naval Ravikant sums it up perfectly:

“You are waiting for your moment when something emerges in the world; they need a skill set, and you’re uniquely qualified. You build your brand in the meantime on Twitter, on YouTube, and by giving away free work. You make a name for yourself, and you take some risks in the process. When it is time to move on the opportunity, you can do so with leverage—the maximum leverage possible.”

3. Monetise your personal brand

Some of the ways you can monetise your personal brand include having a monetised YouTube channel or podcast. Building paid subscriptions to your newsletter or articles, such as those behind a pay wall on your website, Medium or Substack profile.

You may offer your own coaching, consulting, writing, freelancing or speaking services based on your unique expertise. Your online portfolio of proof for your personal brand does much of the marketing for you to attract these more premium-priced personal branding services. If you can attract the income you need at the peak period of the year, it may even mean you can switch off entirely while you take time to travel.

4. Automate everything you can

Get to know all the digital platforms your personal brand uses in detail. What automation and scheduling will help you build a personal brand that works for you while you work on other things, travel or even sleep?

Optimise the automation of your personal brand at every opportunity. By this, I don’t mean get AI to write all your content for you. At this stage, this still usually only leads to generic ideas and an obviously AI tone of voice. But do use every feature of technology to its full advantage. Schedule your social media posts, videos, podcasts, blogs, and automate your emails where you can.  Put in the work up front for automation to pay off later for your personal brand.

5. Sacrifice and say no

Deciding that you want to have a personal brand that works from anywhere is a lifestyle and career choice. Committing to your choice means making decisions that align with this. This means turning down the tempting high-paying corporate jobs that require an in-office or hybrid presence, and making short-term sacrifices for long-term gain. High salaries and security come with strings - literally - usually ones attached to your physical workplace.

To have a personal brand that works from anywhere, put in the long-term work to reap the rewards of working remotely.    

In my personal brand coaching and consulting, for even the clients who live in my home city, I stick to my online-only offering. This is what my business model is based on. It has no bricks-and-mortar presence.

6. Build systems

Build systems that standardise your work for you. One of the key takeaways from The ‘EMyth Revisited' Michael E Gerber is to work on your business, not in it. Create systems that streamline your process and standardise your quality. If you have staff, what distinguishes great leaders from micro-managers is that they want to make themselves redundant and for their teams to thrive without them.

7. Build digital relationships

There’s no shortage of employers screaming for workers to return to work. They believe the optimal way of working is under supervision. But not everyone feels that way. Remote work saves businesses money and reduces the risk that can come with office spaces. Find your remote-loving people. Set the appropriate filters online and search for ‘100% remote’ or similar, to find those looking for freelancers or contractors.

8. Think global

Wherever you live, understand global trends matter equally if not more than local trends. Global trends, environments, big businesses and mega personal brands shift markets worldwide. The beauty of an online personal brand is that it allows you to think bigger. To move beyond boundaries.

One of my favourite pieces of advice from The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone is that if you’re going to be spending any time following the trends of anyone, follow the biggest personal brand players in your space you can think of. Emulate them. Nothing attracts an ability to work anywhere in the world than a world-class personal brand.