Every month on our Profiles blog series, Coffee & Conversation showcases some of our most outstanding projects from our community members. This month we're talking to Victor from The Remote Lifestyle and May from Gardeneers! Victor has been infusing the C&C community with his knowledge and passion for making the side hustle a viable business. May has been a part of the C&C community from the beginning and it has been amazing to watch her nonprofit not only grow, but flourish.
Victor: website
The Remote Lifestyle: website
What is one major accomplishment you have had with your business recently?
I recently started recording online videos for my business and that's been a big challenge for me. It's not natural for me to think about recording myself, whether it's real-time (Snapchat, Instagram) or recorded (Facebook Video, YouTube). But as an online entrepreneur, you can't succeed without moving into video. Compared to written and audio content, video is by far the most engaging and with the most viral potential.
Video is also a beast of it's own. Different platforms have their own unique characteristics so it's a lot to take in. I'm proud of moving in that direction even though it's still not natural yet. For everyone out there, I've learned a ton about online videos from a course called Jumpcut Academy and I recommend checking that out if you're interested in diving into the world of video.
What is coming up for you and your business that we should be on the lookout for?
I'm releasing my podcast The Remote Podcast on November 7th! I'm very excited because the podcast series features one-on-one interviews with people living and working remotely.
To preface, my blog is all about location-independence and how you can break free of the conventional nine-to-five and to live as a digital nomad. The podcast will add to that by bringing together stories of people all over the world who are living this type of lifestyle.
What does collaboration and abundance mean to you?
We have all heard of the phrase, "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with". Unfortunately for many of us, the people we spend the most time with aren't the people who share our values, who push us out of our comfort zone and who challenge our assumptions. C&C members all share an entrepreneurial mindset and a can-do attitude. Being around these types of people give you that extra boost and motivation to follow through with your goals. Never underestimate the power of communities and networks. C&C is a wonderful way for you to meet new people and to get inspired so I always try and make it to the meetups when I can.
What is one tip you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Many people want to be entrepreneurs because it sounds sexy and trendy to want to live an unconventional lifestyle. But I would urge people to ask themselves the difficult questions. Not the generic, "what are you passionate about?" I'm talking about questions like: "what type of life do you want to live?" or "in 10 years, what kind of life do you want to have?" Asking these personal lifestyle questions can go a long way in helping you work backwards and figure out what you want to be doing now to live the lifestyle you want.
Entrepreneurship can mean a lot of things. It can be tech startups, blogging, freelancing, you name it. Entrepreneurship is an opportunity for you to carve out the lifestyle you want and that's what people often forget. It's not a get-rich quick scheme.
What is one person, place, or thing in Chicago you have your eye on right now?
The Crawlspace is a new non-profit in Chicago that is trying to create coworking spaces inside of high schools. I think it's an awesome concept that could create entrepreneurial hubs within youth communities.