Hi you,

I was living in Toronto for 3 full weeks and that fills my heart & soul with gratitude & inspiration. I’m one lucky b°st°rd that I am able to do this. And: I also feel proud that I took the leap to actually leave! (Despite the doubts, fears, costs, and every other reason you can think of NOT to undertake this voyage)

Now, I would love to inspire you, dear reader. Because planning a digital nomad trip - as I call it - is something I highly highly recommend.

When I started my company, I set the goal of taking my business abroad (out of Belgium that is) on a regular basis. Twice or three times a year I want to work from another country. And this is why:

Inspiration
I love creative work, spaces of art, creators, and studios. It just makes me super happy and inspired to bathe in worlds shaped by creative brains.
So every time I plan a trip abroad, I make sure to check which galleries, museums or spaces I could visit.

Encounters with creatives
I’m always curious about how creative professionals handle their businesses. If they walk similar paths as my own clients, how they organize their creative processes, what the obstacles are in their region to make a living of their art.
So I just ask them. I plan coffee dates with local creatives. How I reach them? Well, I just send them DM’s through Instagram. It works 😀. Making use of the ‘social’ in social media, right!

If you’re wondering who I met in Toronto, go take a look at the work of Holly Stapleton, Ramona Nordal and David Yu (The latter I got to thank my network for 🙏🏼).

Personal development
Whenever possible, I learn something when I am on a trip. Or: I choose a particular destination because I want to learn something. Toronto was my chosen destination because I really want to bring my English to a higher level. It’s one of the skills I need to attract international clients. So you can picture me, sweating over a two weeks intensive English course, while staying with a guest family who provides Jamaican home-cooked meals and great conversations on life.

I’ll end this letter with a piece I clipped from an interview with the London-based R’n’B & neo-soul singer Rimon in the Dutch edition of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine. “My biggest eye-opener is the fact that the industry is actually relatively small. Growing up, it feels huge and unreachable, but in reality, it’s a fairly small world. That’s why I tell people: go networking, go to big cities and meet people who create and form culture. It’s super inspiring, but also helps your career.”