Where do you currently live?
Right outside of Washington DC.
What are some of your favorite countries so far?
I’m biased and love Turkey but some of the other places I’ve gone and really enjoyed are the Philippines and the south of India. Istanbul is a city that everyone should visit and Boracay in the Philippines has the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. The south of India has a great vibe to it and the people are great.
What have been your least favorite countries?
I don’t know that I have a least favorite, but I’m not a big fan of big cities really. I like them for a day or two to visit but feel more comfortable outside of them, closer to the countryside.
How long do you typically stay in one country?
It tends to go in bunches so I’ll have a lot of short trips followed by some longer ones. I kind of get a kick out of always moving and sleeping in a new place so even a trip of a few days is great and energizes me.
How many months of the year do you travel?
2009 has been a quiet year for me but on average I travel once or twice a month. It’s really the calm before the storm though, I plan on hitting the road in a major way early next year and I’m looking forward to it.
How do you earn an income?
I’ve got several income streams but the bulk of it comes from my experience with computer security in general. I’ve supplemented this by branching out to web design, translation, and with some travel blogs.
How does a new university graduate build a lifestyle like yours?
Turn your talents into skills. Much of what got me into programming (and security in general) is that I’ve always loved taking things apart. I’m good at breaking things so I found a way to make that work for me. I’d tell a new college graduate to focus what they know, be adaptable and never say you can’t do something. When asked, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know…but are willing to learn.
How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been seriously blogging for about 2 years – the year before that my primary blog had no direction. It’s really within the last year that I got serious about trying to make foXnoMad more readable and reach a wider audience.
Do you earn much money from your blog or travel writing?
Not enough and not much but I’m hoping to change that. I’ve just recently begun actively trying to monetize my primary site and I have my first eBook coming out next week. I’m also developing several other travel sites and blogs I hope to launch by the end of the year. Right now things look promising.
What is your background?
I’m a computer nerd with a degree in anthropology as well. I’m absolutely fascinated with human culture and evolution and it’s what drives me to write and travel.
What are your future plans?
I plan on doing more work in anthropology and have my websites make more for me than my active consulting and freelance work. My wife and I are planning to explore Central and South America before heading to Asia and settling in a Mediterranean island for a while. After that wherever the wind takes our sails!
Links
foXnoMad.com
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Cool interview. Sounds like Anil is living the good life! I hope to get to the point that he is at and travel as much as I want. Keep these interviews coming, John, I love learning from these great people.
Great interview! I’m looking forward to seeing your new blogs and ebook. 🙂
.-= Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..National Museum of American History With Kids =-.
I hope you get their too Nate. It just takes a lot of work upfront really – it does get easier though once you start to get some wheels turning.
.-= Anil´s last blog ..How I Got Robbed In Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades: Part 5 =-.
I really enjoyed this interview, especially as a web designer/developer myself. I’m not actively traveling yet but I’m working on it and this gives me hope that it’s possible. I think I might need to start branching out, too, and seriously consider trying to monetize other talents. Right now my focus has been on web design and development, but maybe I can supplement that with something else, who knows.
Ultimately my goal is the same Anil’s… to build a primary source of income from the blog while web design and development can be taken on in a more discretionary way so that I’m not dependent on it and that when I do take on work it can be projects that really interest me.
.-= J. D. Bentley´s last blog ..Fifty Things You And I Are Going To Do =-.
Hi J.D.
My goal is also to “take on projects that really interest me.” Many people seem to want to stop working, but I would go crazy if I wasn’t always working on new projects and business ideas.
Thanks for stopping by Amy!
Your blog sounds fascinating! I love the 1 year deadline to change careers and move country!
That interview was very motivating. Makes me want to visit Istanbul!
.-= Kaizan´s last blog ..How to Make Sure That Nothing Gets Between You and Your Good Habits =-.
Good stuff! I’ve been reading Anil’s site for a while, and it’s always nice to see blogs I like play well together.
I’ll be interested to see how the monetization of Anil’s blog goes, since this seems to be the silver bullet of passive income generation for people who don’t mind writing from time to time. Any real life stats and numbers would be greatly appreciated, too, since all to often people write in vague generalities, which tend to leave the reader wondering rather than enlightened.
Good luck on the eBook launch, Anil!
.-= Colin Wright´s last blog ..How To See Like A Traveler All The Time =-.
Really awesome interview, John and Anil! I really love hearing about lifestyle design and hearing about your travels is really inspiring. I’ll be a college graduate in three years so I’ll definitely take your advice to heart. Good luck on your travels!
.-= John´s last blog ..The REAL Secret to Being Patient =-.
Greetings John.
Thanks for stopping by. Make use of your summers while you are still in school. If you don’t have good internship opportunities, spend a few months traveling. There is no need to wait three more years. 🙂
Thanks Colin,
I agree! The greatest thing about blogging is connecting with like minded people. There is no other way to connect and build relationships like this. We live in fantastic times.
Heya John!
Another great interview!
A friend of mine just spent 5 months in Asia, and he too says Bocoray is one of the most beautiful places you can visit 🙂
It seems to me that with most blogs you need 2-4 years to have it be really successful and earning a good income?
cheers
.-= Diggy -Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..The Timing is Never Right =-.
Hi Diggy,
I think you are correct on the time line to build a decent blog income. I think that could also be applied to most businesses as well. There is no such thing as getting rich quick.
I also feel that a lot of bloggers seem to be just following the crowd. If you are not doing anything particularly interesting or valuable, then it is likely that you will never make a decent income online. Quality levels are constantly rising, you can’t be the 100th me-too blog in a popular niche, and still expect ongoing success.
I am still looking for the way I can stand out.