For years, Stephanie Conway labored in advertising for groups representing manufacturers like Samsung, Audi, and T-Mobile. On the surface, this #girlboss had everything: economic balance, an enviable Instagram feed, glamorous birthday celebration invitations. But finally, the sleepless nights caught up with her, and she burned out. So, at 28, she quit her strong profession and decided to change her table for a seashore and her tea-ingesting coworkers for barefoot cohorts.
This digital nomad is now using Bali as a home base and traveling around Southeast Asia with an Instagram feed that shouts #travelgoals. She has created a digital assistant studio, Symphony VA, helping businesses and marketers lower valuable time by outsourcing marketing and management obligations. The aim? “So they could get lower back to doing what they do satisfactorily,” says Conway, who is doing the same with her existence.
Here, Conway tells how she ended the nine-to-five and reinvented her profession and her lifestyle.
Criss-Crossing the Pond: I grew up in the U.K., then at 18, was given regularly into a college in Los Angeles. After commencement, I greatly cherished the weather and way of life and solidified a profession in brand advertising, marketing, and events. I spent several years operating in L.A. And living my best lifestyle. But a dying within the family introduced me again to the U.K. I managed to relax during the advertising process in the first week of coming home, but after residing in steady sunshine, the British winter weather slowed me down. I woke in the darkness to work, then got home as the solar changed into putting. I felt like a vampire.
Why Not Me? Through my task, I labored on campaigns with top influencers, securing brand partnership offers and helping them make a ton of money to tour and be suitable. I continuously looked at social feeds full of beautiful digital nomads dwelling in their high-quality lives. At the same time, I changed into being stuck in an office with unflattering fluorescent lighting and lost away. I constantly ask myself, “Why can’t I be where they are?”
Daydreams: Whenever I had a bad day at painting, I’d fantasize about moving to Bali. Eventually, living in constant darkness drove me over the threshold. So, I started out to learn how to translate my advertising and marketing ability into operating freelance for small agencies and marketers. This would allow me to live a laptop lifestyle and travel everywhere I desire.
Taking the Plunge: I knew that human beings could strive to talk me out of it, so I didn’t tell all of us I’d stop until I booked my one-manner price tag to Bali. From the outside looking in, I am concerned that my actions may appear crazy and irrational. I changed into the most frightened to inform my mum. However, she’d witnessed burnout and knew I wasn’t happy.
My Motivation: I moved to Asia because I wanted to be free. I desired to wake up every day in the sunshine. I tried to live on my terms with a network of supportive buddies from all around the world. I desired to swim in the ocean, try to surf, and dive deeper with all components of my existence. When you allow cross-societal limitations, there’s extra room to be who you are intended to be.
My Travels: Since putting my agency in place, I have even my manner roundaround-of-a-kind international locations within Southeast Asia. My non-public preferred is the Indonesian archipelago for the pristine beaches and simplicity of getting admission to fresh coconuts. Plus, this low value of residing has allowed me the time and area to develop my organization authentically and organically.
Finding Community: Traveling around Southeast Asia has taught me a lot about different cultures, and I’m continuously crushed by the hospitality and kindness of the people in the area that I meet here. There’s one of these stunning experiences of community that I’ve in no way skilled in earlier than that. I’ve begun weekly #girlboss meet-u.S.To assist fellow virtual nomads in setting goals, keeping one another accountable, and making new pals.
Risk Taking: When you leave something as stable as a normal paycheck, you are taking a risk. It’s horrifying, but you must believe in yourself and your potential to build your brand. I’ve also discovered to be a sensitive person, as I’ve realized that it takes hard work to create a brand, even as I seek to stay away from my passions of traveling and marketing.
The Appeal of Travel: Travel looks like magic. You never know where it will take you. This magic has taken me to awesome places worldwide and is addictive. But everybody who is addicted to the same magic will tell you: When your frame can’t tour, your mind wanders. You can’t always belong in a single region—your heart sincerely doesn’t assist you.
Diving In: One of my favorite things inside the international is head diving. However, like entrepreneurship, I didn’t realize what I was doing initially. I had a panic attack the first time I went down. I became terrified of the concept of trusting the device on my back to keep me alive, just like I became terrified to consider myself and that I should begin my very own business. But Chris, my scuba dad, pressured me to live underwater until I felt calm and serenity like nothing I had ever felt. I could theablehtotropical fish swim by using ge-getting by way of some large turtles and even spot a fespottingack tip sharks. Through diving, I discovered that you’ve got to push through and persevere to get something well worth having in existence.
On Failure and Success: Most importantly, I’ve discovered that I don’t have to follow in anybody else’s footsteps to consider myself a success. Trying to fail is better than spending your life thinking, “What if?” Our successes and disasters are all a part of the rich tapestry of life.
