Professional Profile: Lindsay Ross, Accountant and Digital Nomad
Who says being an accountant means sitting in a cubicle 12 hours per day, wearing overpriced business casual, and anxiously dreaming of spreadsheets during the busy season? Honestly, everyone does, including me for over six years of my professional career. Fast forward to today. I’m writing from a workspace with an ocean and mountain view perched in the hills of Tenerife, one of the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. While there was absolutely nothing wrong with my “average” life before full-time travel, I found myself desperate for something more. I was bored and craving change. I was single, didn’t have any kids or a mortgage, and itching to fulfill my passion for travel. About a year and a half ago, I decided to leave my typical 9 to 5 office job behind to work remotely while traveling the world. Since then, I’ve traveled to roughly 20 countries across three continents, started my own freelance accounting business, and haven’t looked back.
I work from my laptop anywhere in the world with a WiFi connection. I lug my suitcase between AirBnbs, staying in one place anywhere from one week to two months. I’ve worked from beach clubs in Bali, cafes in Barcelona, and coworking spaces in Argentina, all while being far more productive than I ever was in a cubicle. With no car payment, a lower cost of living, and limited suitcase space, I spend at least 30 percent less than before, which allows for a much better work-life balance. I dedicate most of my weekdays to work, but my weekends have included paragliding off the coastal cliffs of Brazil, climbing Macchu Picchu, and sailing the coast of Croatia. Don’t get me wrong; there are challenges as well. Between the language barriers, logistical nightmares, and not-so-glamorous cultural differences, I’ve had more than my fair share of bad experiences. However, the freedom, flexibility and priceless experiences that come with it make everything worthwhile.
Due to the growing popularity of remote working, I’ve also formed lots of new friendships that span the globe. Sharing desk space with software developers, digital marketers, copywriters, and web designers makes for exciting conversation and many different opportunities. Some may call this lifestyle frivolous or irresponsible, especially from a career development perspective. What they don’t know is that I’m working quite literally beside successful entrepreneurs and business owners who work and dream harder than anyone I’ve ever met.
Of course, the road to get here wasn’t easy. My push against the status quo wasn’t exactly well-received. I was hard-pressed to find someone in a leadership role to take me seriously and was told “no” more times than I can count. Nevertheless, I decided to take a risk and do it. If climbing the corporate ladder with cushy health insurance and a 401(k) brings you joy, then that’s amazing. Go for it! However, please don’t believe that it’s the only way. Your success doesn’t have to look the way everyone else thinks it should.