A Portable Business gives the Expat Entrepreneur Freedom and Success Abroad

Many expats move alot. It may be because a spouse has a job requiring a move every several years, or they are just wanderers at heart. Some are still trying different countries on for size before deciding which one they will call home for the long term.

Given the challenges of having to repeatedly secure a work visa, language barriers, and your credentials potentially not being accepted locally, starting your own business is a real option for many expats who are on the move regularly. Technology has made it possible for us to live and work from wherever we want to call home.  A phone line, a computer with the right software and an internet connection may be all you need to get started building a portable career or business to support your international lifestyle.

There are a wide array of services you can offer to meet the demand out there in the global marketplace as a consultant or business owner. You could be a teacher, a writer, a translator or interpreter, a graphic/web designer, or a computer programmer or technician. You could become a personal chef or shopper, a photographer, a coach, a virtual assistant or an event planner. You could start an import/export company or sell products online. Now more and more companies are open to hiring consultants who are not local, so services like accounting and bookkeeping can be provided from anywhere in the world.

If you do decide to start your own business, a very common mistake that many expats make is choosing which products or services to offer based on their perception of market need alone. First and foremost, if you want to enjoy your life abroad you need to enjoy your work. For as much as we hear this, it bears repeating. Life is too short to spend time doing things we don't like to do. So choosing services, no matter how high the demand, that you have no interest in, is just not a good idea. Choosing products or services that will keep you motivated, energized and support your lifestyle requires really looking at your values, motivators, past experience and skill sets. When you make choices aligned with these things, chances that you are satisfied professionally increase exponentially.

Choosing a business that leverages your unique value or personal brand is also extremely important. The fastest, easiest and most satisfying way to business success is through leveraging what you enjoy and do well - in a way that no one else does - to meet a need of your target market. But in order to leverage your brand and connect with those you are best suited to serve, you must be able to identify and communicate this unique value in a differentiated, compelling way. So making sure your products, services and marketing materials clearly and consistently reinforce your brand message will insure you stand out, get noticed and secure the right customers and clients.

The other common mistake that expats make, once they've decided to start to provide or expand their services, is trying to do it all at once, without a plan to manage the work, their time or their resources. Successful careers and businesses, like my expat home town of Rome, were not built in a day. Once you have a clear vision of what you want for yourself, your life and your business, putting together a written plan of action to guide you through the process of making that vision a reality is essential. Studies have proven that people who actually write down a business plan (versus just having an plan in your head) have much higher chances of actually reaching their goals. And having made the right choices about what services will energize you, leverage your brand and support lifestyle will mean nothing if you can't make them actionable in a constructive and sustainable way.

Getting support for this journey is also important. There are those who have been where you are and have gotten beyond the challenges that you are facing. Take advantage of the great resources and networks on- and off-line that can help you with your journey. Should you decide to start your own business, finding a partner or someone with whom you can share the work and the success is another thing to consider. Finding someone with similar values and complementary skill sets to be your team mate could be the key to building a successful business abroad.  And there are also coaches that can provide structure, resources and guidance to help you through the exciting process of developing your career or business abroad.

It is natural for expats (particularly accompanying spouses who arrive in a new place without a job or business) to have to do a bit of "starting over" with each new move. Making the transition to a new country is not always easy, but there are many who have successfully made the transition both personally and professionally. These expats are a testament to the fact that it is possible to create a career or business that is just as portable as you are.

Your Expat Success Tip: If you are an expat looking to build your own portable business, make a list of your skills, strengths, values and passions, as well as what your current target market's needs are.

Where do they intersect?

Start here in the search for a portable business that fits you and your lifestyle.