Ian Robinson: Starting anew
January 14, 2015 | Podcast
After US immigration wouldn’t let his Australian wife back into the country, Ian Robinson had a big decision to make. He ended up leaving his growing biofuel business in Hawaii to join his wife in New Zealand, and they’ve been traveling and working online ever since.
Note: Some of the language in this episode may not be suitable for work or children!
Most Memorable Location-Independent Experiences
After the US immigration service made it clear to my wife and me that she wouldn’t be allowed back into the United States of America for possibly two to three years, I had a decision to make.
I asked myself, “Do I stay in Hawaii with this growing biofuel business? Do I live a life of a man in a long-distance relationship? Do I live in an emotional state subject to the glacial decisions of the state? If not, do I leave the country and embrace uncertainty? Am I brave enough to start anew?”
My most memorable location-independent experience was landing in New Zealand after leaving the United States and that business. I left a growing company yet reunited with my love. We met in Auckland feeling optimistic and ready to begin a new life together. I said, “Fuck the system, I’ll find a way to make this work.” That was the moment it all began. But the end of the story hasn’t even been written yet…
Biggest Surprise along the Way
Honestly, pulling cash out of the ATM and depositing money into savings accounts while living a world-class lifestyle surprises me on a weekly schedule.
The organic birth and success of Freedom Podcasting. I know we create big results for people with money. We help them make more money. But it makes me eternally grateful each time we can live another month in paradise, around the world, without having to return and work in a purposeless job. I love the work we do and I’m grateful each and every day for the opportunity to do the work that supports great people to tell their story and inspire people on a scalable basis.
We live in an astonishingly great time to be alive. I am in a constant state of surprised awe and gratitude.
In this episode
- Learning about a place firsthand instead of through books
- Dealing with immigration issues when you’re married to someone from a different country
- Podcasting tips (especially for nomads)
- Developing cultural understanding (even if you don’t speak the language)
- Life in the Dominican Republic
- Why it’s important to have a perspective of abundance
- Making choices about what kind of lifestyle to pursue
- And much more
Resources we talked about
Note: Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which means you may receive free credit or another bonus and I may earn a small commission or other benefits if you sign up/purchase using that link. There’s no additional cost to you, of course!
- The Mariposa Foundation
- In the Time of Butterflies* by Julia Alvarez
- Duolingo
- Ian’s tips on setting up a podcasting studio
- Antifragile* by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Vagabonding* by Rolf Potts
Connect with Nomadtopia
Hi, I’m Amy!
I’ve been location-independent since 2004, and after bouncing all over the world I’m currently based in central Mexico with my husband and our twin preschoolers. I founded Nomadtopia to help you create—and thrive in—the location-independent lifestyle that’s right for you.
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