Financing a Life of Family Travel, Freedom, and Fulfillment
How did we finance this travel lifestyle of ours?
The short answer is that I own a 1-hour workweek business that has supported us on our travels since 2009 (yes, I work literally one hour per week on this business, as I recently hired a CEO. Back when we started traveling, I was spending 4 to 8 hours per week on it.) This has also enabled us to create more passion projects that we feel made a positive difference in the world, like the Family Adventure Summit, Family Adventure Academy, and At Home in the World Family Retreats.
But it didn't start out this way, and it's taken years to reach the point we're at now.
Below is a quick summary of how we got to where we are today, financially. For a more thorough version, check out some of the interviews linked below, or on our About page.
Becoming an Entrepreneur
When I was young, I dreamed of growing up to either be a music teacher like my dad, or a computer programmer. Eventually, I became both, and realized that I didn't want to do either one permanently. I started programming when I was 12 years old, and began teaching piano at age 16.
By the time I was 23, I had ten piano students and several web design clients. I was also struggling to make $10/hour doing Internet technical support, going to college part-time for a Computer Science degree, and taking care of a wife and new baby. This was around 2003.
Entrepreneurship never crossed my mind as a career path. But as a side project to be more efficient with my piano students, I created a website to help me track scheduling and payments.
In 2004, I made this available to other teachers, started charging a monthly fee, and called it Music Teacher's Helper. After four years of dedicated effort and 70-80 hour weeks, I was earning just enough to quit my job ($1,500/month) and focus full-time on my business.
By 2009, it had grown to the point where I could hire some help, live wherever I want, and enjoy a "4 hour work week" lifestyle with my family (around $10,000/month). Today, the business revenue is in the high six figures and employs an international team who work to serve our thousands of customers around the globe.
Building a Business
When I look back on how I did it, I didn't have a magic formula. And I can't guarantee that anyone could have the same success that I did. Yet through step by step, day by day focus and determination, along with a bit of luck and good timing, I've created a successful business. It feels good to know that the product I've created is helping so many music teachers be more organized, efficient, and communicate better with their students.
Of course, there are things I've learned in over 15 years as a business owner. I'm no longer a lone entrepreneur, no longer a manager or CEO, but the owner of a company with a fantastic team. My lifestyle didn't happen by accident.
I'd like to share with you some of the things I've learned to help you start your own business or create a career that enables you to live the life of your dreams, and enjoy the process every step of the way. You can download my free guide, Enjoying Life Now. Thanks for reading, and best wishes on your own entrepreneurial journey.
If you're interested in learning more about my story and my process, check out some of the interviews and blog posts below. (Sorry, some of these podcasts are no longer available online)
- Interview with ChooseFI Podcast: Into the Wind
- Interview with Saas Bootstrap: Traveling While Running an Upper 6-Figure Saas
- Interview with Arts Entrepreneurs Podcast: From Passion to Profits
- Interview with Paycheck Rebel: Music Teacher Turned Lifestyle Entrepreneur
- Interview with International Man: Living Abroad with Kids in Tow
- Interview with ConversionAid: Bootstrapping a Business from $0 to $70K/Month
