#20 What's Up With 'Work From Anywhere' in 2024?

When Shree mentioned he was traveling to Dharamkot to record a podcast, I found it a bit strange.

Who travels nearly 1,801 km from Mumbai just to record an episode?

But then again, I totally see why speaking to the OG digital nomad and perhaps the biggest proponent of 'work from anywhere' would be worth the hike. Quite literally.

I'm Farheen btw!

I work with Shree as an Editorial Producer on a few of his projects. You might have seen my work on Thousand Faces Club, with more to come soon. ;)

Besides that, I am a crypto nerd.

I have worked with some of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the country (CoinSwitch & Mudrex) in their content and product marketing teams.

Right now, I'm also working with EquityList as a Content Marketer.

Enough about me. If you want to know more, this is me on LinkedIn .

I’m stepping in for this edition of shreemail because Shree mentioned how tough it is to consistently write these.?

So, I’m here to prove him otherwise— or did he just trick me into taking over?

What's Happening

Anyway, let’s talk about the podcast episode recorded 7,000 feet above sea level with Mayur Sontakke from NomadGao.

The reason this podcast was so interesting to me is because of the whole global digital nomad wave that’s gaining momentum again.

Over 50 countries now offer digital nomad visas, with South Korea, Japan, and Thailand being the latest in Asia to jump on board.

A digital nomad visa allows individuals to live in a foreign country for a long stay while working remotely for employers or clients based elsewhere.

Goa is also pushing for a digital nomad visa from the Indian government, which would let digital nomads live and work remotely in Goa—or anywhere else in India—for up to a year while working for foreign employers or freelancing.

Overall, this is a tailwind for NomadGao and the hospitality industry in general.

There are about 35 million digital nomads for whom the doors to our country will open up with the digital nomad visa.

Plus, with remote work still an option for some, more Indians are hitting the road and living the digital nomad life, traveling around the country while working from wherever they are.

So clearly there is demand.?

But what are these travellers looking for?

Let me share some insights around this from the podcast.

Beyond Hotels, Hostels, and Airbnbs

If you're a frequent traveler, you know the struggle – hotels can be expensive, hostels often lack dedicated workspaces, and AirBnBs require a lot of self-setup.?

The Dharamkot property, I was told, was perched on a stunning hilltop overlooking the Dhauladhar range. The location with dedicated workspaces, surrounded by folks who share your remote work lifestyle. They had also had regular community-building exercises. Sounds pretty ideal, right?

One takeaway for me is that not every startup idea has to be about creating the next big thing like ChatGPT. Opportunities are all around us; discover the one that resonates with you the most and pursue it passionately.

Mayur's Vision: Redefining Remote Living

Mayur Sontakke's vision for NomadGao goes beyond co-working spaces, actually.

He envisions self-sufficient "digital nomad villages" – vibrant communities designed for families who choose the remote work lifestyle. Imagine raising your children alongside other remote workers, fostering a strong sense of belonging while living sustainably.?

These villages would feature community gardens for fresh produce, utilize renewable energy sources, and offer a unique blend of technology, community, and environmental responsibility.

It sounds like a utopia, but we're closer to this than you'd think.

<https://youtu.be/QKsQkPSfw4w?si=ZVxBPfK92FpUanuL >

Let’s Talk Numbers

Low occupancy rates, especially on weekdays and off-seasons, have always been a problem for hotels.

But, unlike traditional hotels with seasonal fluctuations, alternate forms of accommodation like NomadGao target digital nomads seeking extended work stays.

This means weekdays hold just as much value as weekends for occupancy.

They understand their audience's desire for a work-friendly environment and provide the comfort and functionality remote workers crave.?

As a result:

• The average stay duration is longer than other properties at about 12 days.
• They have the highest occupancy than any other property in their surroundings.
• People have stayed at NomadGao for as long as 7 months.

Additionally, NomadGao offers long-stay discounts, making them a budget-friendly option compared to traditional hotels.

And unlike backpacker hostels, you get your own room.

Last Thoughts

Of course, it's fair to say that the heyday of the Work From Anywhere is over.

Most companies prefer the hybrid way of things now.

People have gone back to cities in hoards. Whether or not they're happy there is for another conversation. An important conversation nonetheless.

But I think the WFA movement in 2024 has more depth than breadth.

Folks who've really embraced the lifestyle, don't seem to be going back anytime soon.

But more than mountains, beaches, or beers at 11:30AM, what the digital nomad movement still values the most is: freedom.

And that to me, is golden.

Before leaving, I want to share a very interesting newsletter I read by Chris Harvey (Law of VC).

He discusses how investor preferences change from SAFEs to Convertible Notes as startups progress from pre-seed to later funding rounds. It's worth checking out !

And that wraps up this edition!

I hope you enjoyed it and do reach out to me or Shree if you want to continue this conversation offline :)

Best,

Farheen

P.S. We recently hit 1,000 subscribers on shreemail. I'd like to thank you for sticking around for the past two years and 20 editions! As always, I'd love to know how I can make this better and more valuable to you. I promise to be more consistent too. It'll really help if you could share this with one friend who might find this useful. And fun. See ya around! - Shreevar