What if you could start your business today and be ready to walk away from your job in just six months? Spoiler: You can.

This episode is your blueprint for building a business that fuels your freedom—on your terms. We’re not talking about cookie-cutter strategies or waiting until you’re “ready.” We’re diving into how to leverage your existing skills, define your purpose, and craft an offer that actually sells—so you can start living your freedom lifestyle ASAP.

Inside, we cover:
✨ Why you’re NOT actually starting from zero (and how to own your experience)
✨ The #1 mindset shift that separates stuck employees from thriving entrepreneurs
✨ How to define YOUR version of freedom (and build a business around it)
✨ A simple framework for crafting your first irresistible offer
✨ Where to find your first paying clients (hint: they’re already in your world)

This isn’t just about making money online—it’s about designing a business that works for you, not the other way around. If you’re ready to ditch the “someday” mentality and start your freedom-based business now, hit play.

Tune in or read the blog version below:

Debunking a Common Misconception

Hello and welcome back to the podcast. Today, I want to share with you how to start from scratch. So if you’re still working a nine-to-five—whether remote or in an office—this episode is definitely for you. And if you’re someone who just needs a reset, absolutely stick around—there’s value in this for you, too. We’ll dive into how to set up your freedom business—your location and time freedom business—from a place of vision and purpose.

As a digital nomad myself, I spend a lot of time in digital nomad forums—whether on Reddit, Threads, or inside Facebook groups. And there’s one question that pops up at least a couple of times a week: How do you become a digital nomad without experience?

I mean, there’s a reason this podcast episode exists, right? How do you start from scratch? The first step is figuring out where to begin in building this freedom-based lifestyle. But what I’ve noticed—both in the way this question is asked and how it’s often answered online—is a core limiting belief: that in order to become an entrepreneur, you have to start at zero and completely erase everything you’ve done in the past three, four, or even five decades of your life.

There’s this idea that to build location independence, you have to start with an entry-level job or take any remote job you can find. But as you know, on this podcast, we talk about entrepreneurship as the key to freedom. So for this episode (and in a bigger sense), let’s throw that idea out the window.

The first thing I really want to say as you start from scratch is this: Do not forget who you are.

Do not discount everything you’ve already accomplished. Don’t overlook your accolades, experience, expertise, education, or any of the incredible achievements you’ve created for yourself and the world around you.

This remains true even if you hate the guts of your current industry and can’t wait to distance yourself from the mindset, the people, the way things are done, or even the products and services being offered. This argument still stands.

You’re not starting from zero. This applies whether you’re 21 and fresh out of college or 50+ with decades of experience in an industry you may or may not want to stay connected to as an entrepreneur.

So right off the bat, here’s what I want you to do: Create a bragging list.

Create a Bragging List

Write down at least 20 things. If you want to go all out, list 100 things that you either love doing or are really fucking excellent at.

Now, this may take some digging, right? Something people repeatedly reflect back to me is that I’m a great communicator. I’ll send emails with people on CC, and I’ll get responses from them saying, “Wow, that was such a beautifully written email—you’re a great communicator.” My mom will call me asking how to handle her boss, saying, “Dina, you’re such a good communicator. How do I do this?”

Clients ask me to repeat things because apparently, I synthesize their ideas in a way that just clicks for them. So, part of my bragging list would include: I’m a great communicator. I summarize things powerfully. I’m a great negotiator. I can hold my ground in a conversation. That’s four or five things already.

Now, let’s go deeper. Specifically, I want you to look at two categories.

1. What Are You Really Great At?

These might be things you hate doing. In my 9-to-5 career, I accidentally gained a ton of experience organizing fundraising events—especially silent auctions. I hated everything about them. I hated the concept, running them, soliciting donors, and even the communication involved. I fucking hated it. But I was really good at it.

So that would go on my list. Whether you love it or hate it doesn’t matter—write down everything you’re really good at. These could be things you naturally excel at, things you just know you should delegate but always end up doing yourself because you’re so damn skilled at them.

2. What Do You Love Doing?

Now, this is the fun one. What would you sacrifice sleep for? What would you drop everything to go do? What lights you up? What sets a fire under your ass? What makes you drop into a flow state and forget about time?

If you could spend the rest of your life doing just this—what would it be?

These can be things that seem completely unrelated to making money, or they might be things where you’re like, “Yeah, I could turn this into a business.” Doesn’t matter. If you love skiing, put it on the list. If you love drawing, put it on there. If you love yoga, put it on there. If you love traveling—especially spontaneous, last-minute trips—write that down.

What we’re doing here is simple: taking inventory. Inventory of the skills you’ve built, the education you’ve gained, and the experiences you’ve had. And just as importantly, inventory of who you are and what naturally sets you on fire.

What Really Drives Your Freedom Dream?

Now, set this aside for just a minute. If you’re listening to this podcast while driving or out on a run, start running a list in your head. And later—actually take a moment to physically write it out. This will be such a powerful exercise for you.

But before we go any further, let’s take a step back. What are the real intentions behind wanting to be a nomad? Or creating more location independence? Or, more broadly, the desire to build a business that gives you freedom?

This is your first real task in building a business from scratch—getting brutally honest about your intentions. Why do you want to embrace this new freedom-based lifestyle?

What Does Freedom Actually Mean to You?

Lately, it seems like everyone wants to be a digital nomad. But I think what’s really behind the decision to opt for an online business is something deeper: the desire for more agency over your life. And sure, that might look like full-time travel—but it doesn’t have to.

What does freedom mean to you?

• Is it just about location independence?
• Is it about escaping the monotony of a desk job?
• Is it about working from anywhere?

If so, great. But that’s only phase one.

The Overlooked (But Critical) Next Step: Time Freedom

This is why I really believe that entrepreneurship is the way to go for anyone who craves freedom. Because even if you land a remote job, yes—you’ll have location independence. But you still won’t have full autonomy over your time.

I see this constantly with clients who come to me from remote jobs. They tell me:

“Yeah, working from anywhere is great… but now my time feels even more restricted. I have a taste of freedom, but not all of it. Help me get all of it.”

And that is where business comes in. Not just any business—your business. One where you call the shots. And, more importantly, one that aligns with two key non-negotiables: authenticity and structural freedom.

So, ask yourself:

• What does location freedom look like for me?
• What does time freedom look like?
• And what other freedoms do I want?

Because when you get clear on those answers, you stop chasing someone else’s version of freedom—and start building your own.

Location Independence Is Not a Business—Here’s What Is

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Let’s get one thing crystal clear—because this might sound funny at first, but hear me out: location independence is not a business.

The way you structure your business and design your offers will determine how much location freedom you actually get. But location independence, in and of itself, is never a job. It’s not even a business mission. It’s a lifestyle choice.

And the best part? You don’t need a specific professional background to make it happen. You definitely don’t have to start from scratch.

Take it from me—someone who used to do fundraising for orchestras in the U.S. I do nothing related to fundraising anymore… except for one key thing: fundraising taught me how to confidently ask for big numbers (and be okayreceiving them). It also taught me how to genuinely connect with people—an essential skill in business.

Your Business Comes From What You Already Know & Love

You don’t need to reinvent yourself. You need a fresh perspective on what you already bring to the table.

So let’s go back to two key questions:

1. What are the things you do naturally throughout the week?
2. What are the things you love doing—things you’d choose over any tedious task, any day?

If you haven’t already, take a moment to acknowledge your unique skills. You’re not just identifying what you’re good at—you’re uncovering what actually lights you up.

And here’s the beauty of this whole process: in just a minute, with a little more brainstorming, your business idea will take shape. And if you already have a business? Your core purpose is about to get so much clearer.

Aligning Your Business with Your Core Values

Let’s put everything we’ve covered so far on pause for just a moment. I want you to dig a little deeper.

As aspiring or established freedom-based entrepreneurs, we have to constantly check in with ourselves. We have to make sure that what we say we want—and what we’re actively building—is truly aligned with our core beliefs and values.

So ask yourself these questions:

• If no one would judge you or be disappointed, what choices would you make for yourself right now?
• When was a time your gut instinct didn’t make logical sense but led you exactly where you needed to be?
• What does your ideal day as a digital nomad, a location-independent entrepreneur—or just an entrepreneur, period—actually look like? What thoughts would you think? What actions would you take? What conversations would you engage in (or avoid)?

Now, with your self-inventory in hand and a clear understanding of what you truly want to build, it’s time to take action.

You Only Need 3 Things.

If you’re overwhelmed, take a breath—because launching your business is actually simpler than you might think. Here’s what you need to start:

1. Your purpose statement – Clarity on why you’re doing this.
2. Your first offer – A clear, tangible way to help people.
3. Your first clients – The people who will pay for that offer.

And here’s the kicker: you don’t need social media to do any of this.

Sure, social media can be a tool—but it’s not the only way to get clients. You can land your first (or next) 1, 5, or even 10 clients without relying on it at all.

So, let’s break this down: Step one? Craft your purpose statement.

Your Purpose Statement

When you craft your purpose statement, it’s important to note that whatever you come up with in the next few weeks will likely evolve over time, and that is okay. Perfection is the enemy of progress, and in entrepreneurship, we’re always striving for progress. To land on your first version of a mission statement, look at what you do, who you do it for, and the impact you create.

If you’re drawing a big fat blank right now, go back to your inventory lists and do some detective work. Circle the things that keep coming up. Specifically, ask yourself: whenever you do the things you’re really good at or passionate about, what tends to happen? Who tends to be there? What type of person benefits, and what is the positive impact of you showing up at your best?

This is such a simple yet revelatory exercise. I do this regularly whenever I feel stuck in my business. I look at what I’m naturally good at, what I love doing the most, and then search for a common thread. It serves as an ongoing litmus test to ensure that at every stage of my business, I’m aligning my actions with my purpose and who I am becoming. If you’re just starting out, this exercise will reveal the initial direction you want to pursue as a new business owner.

Now, examine what happens every time you do a particular thing for a specific person. What results do they get? Then, try it on like a shoe—literally go business idea shopping in your own mind. What do you do? Who do you do it for? What impact does it create? I’ll link an article in the episode show notes to give you a few ideas on how to transfer your existing skills and passions into a business. But first, reference your heart, your experience, and your inventory list. You should be able to craft an initial mission statement—or as I prefer to call it, a purpose statement.

Your First Offer (YAY)

Next, you need an initial offer. For the sake of this episode, I’ll keep this focused on just one type of offer. Ideally, when clients come to me and haven’t started making money yet, I have them create two types of offers: an audience-building offer (a no-brainer, low-cost offer) and a money-making offer.

In this episode, I’m focusing on the money-making offer. Initially, this is typically a one-on-one offer that you can sell and deliver directly. This doesn’t mean your business will always rely on one-on-one clients or that you should structure it that way long-term. In fact, you should never build a business that exclusively relies on one-on-one clients.

To develop your first one-on-one offer, revisit your mission statement. Ask yourself: if I were to guide someone through this transformation, what would that experience look like? This shifts the focus away from “How often would I have to show up to charge for this?” and toward “What needs to happen? What experience do I want to facilitate to guide a client toward this transformation?”

Then, dive into specifics: What would I need to deliver? How long would the transformation take based on my expertise? What would the client need over, say, three or six months, to see real results? (Of course, assuming they show up and do the work—because you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.)

Some of this will involve resources and conversations. If you’re a yoga teacher launching a business, for example, your deliverables might include mindset support, teaching guidance, and physical adjustments for better alignment. First, rely on your inner experience and expertise. Then, look outward—observe what colleagues in your field are doing.

Next, consider pricing. How much would you need to charge to feel excited about showing up for this work? This is the most basic pricing strategy in the beginning—choose a number that feels right and that you can say confidently without choking up. That’s it for now.

If you want to dive deeper, my course, Book Clients to Book Flights, covers goal-oriented pricing strategies for early-stage businesses. But the foundation remains: if you can’t state your price with confidence, you won’t sell it effectively.

Creating your First Clients

Finally, let’s talk about creating clients. I have a freebie called Land Clients Within 90 Days Without Social Media, which I’ll link in the episode notes.

Your first clients are already in your network. When I launched my business, I had no social media presence—just a single Facebook post announcing, “Hey, I quit my job and I’m starting this business. Celebrate with me!” I had no authority, no audience, no visibility. But I got on the phone with people I knew who needed what I had to offer.

I’d ask them, “Hey, how’s that thing you mentioned struggling with two years ago? Would you want support with that? Because actually, as of yesterday, I’m in the business of helping people with exactly that.”

So here’s your next step toward entrepreneurial freedom: once you have your purpose statement and an initial offer idea, make a list of at least 10 to 20 people who need the transformation you provide. I fully believe that you already know your first 10 clients. I’ve seen this proven again and again with myself, my colleagues, and my clients. If you lean into the belief that you already know them and lead from a place of service and connection, you will find them.

If you need support at any step—whether it’s crafting your purpose statement, refining your first offer, or learning how to activate your network—check out my website. My course, Connections to Clients, is a great place to start. And if that doesn’t feel aligned, message me on Instagram, let me know where you’re stuck, and I’ll point you to the right resources.

Your Action Steps for Today:

1. Create your freedom inventory.
2. Identify who is always present when you’re at your best and what positive change happens for them organically—this is your mission statement.
3. If you were to intentionally guide someone toward this change, what would that look like? That’s your first offer.
4. Make a list of people who might benefit from this transformation and start connecting with them.

I’ll see you next time. Have a beautiful rest of your day. Create more freedom today than you did yesterday. Take care. Bye-bye.

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