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The OG Digital Nomad (1983)
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I know a cool dude when I see one. And the story I'm about to tell you is about a cool ass motherfucker. The kind you don't see very often. If you’re lucky enough to work remotely, you’ve probably had a moment where you bounced around for a bit, half-pretending you weren’t on holiday (at least to your boss, because you were definitely on hol). You felt freer, you felt cooler, and you probably worked with the kind of view that can make anyone jealous. It's the type of experience that makes you feel like you've cracked the code. Well friends, long before laptops were light or Wi-Fi was widespread, at a time where none of this was normal, there was already someone taking things to the next level. The year was 1983. And the human was Steve Roberts. Steve Roberts' storyWorking as a freelance author and computer consultant in Ohio, Steve had recently turned 30 and felt a deep sense of wanderlust. He wanted a different way of living, one that would allow him to work while still fulfilling his need for adventure. Surely you can relate. But he didn't have any guidebooks or examples to follow, so he cooked up a plan in his head and got to work. He spent six months custom-converting a touring bike with a solar-powered portable computer that he would use to stay in touch with clients and publishers. He would connect to the internet via phone and upload his pieces so that he could meet his deadlines. There was no Google Docs back then! Technology was moving fast, though, so Steve had to adapt too. He kept updating his gear to meet his needs, and at some points things got kinda crazy. Besides the obvious technological feat, I can't help but to feel deeply inspired by Steve's drive to follow his dreams. Because if it's not that easy for some people to go remote today, it definitely wasn't back then. And he wasn't chasing the latest productivity hack or inspirational trend either — he was just... doing it. One of the things that really stuck with me was something he said during an interview in 1984: I’m trying to make good time, but the emphasis is on the good, not the time. I'm a big advocate of slow travel, so this resonated with me a lot! Further ReadingIf you'd like some more inspiration on how to take your life to the road, we've got a few nuggets in our Work & Travel department. I hope you liked the story. I'll catch you here same time next week. Take it easy! The photos featured belong to Steve Roberts. You can read more about this story on bikepacking.com. Take a closer look into his work at MicroShip.com. |
The Broke Backpacker
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