How this Startup Founder Traveled While Running Her Business

At Behere, we’re constantly inspired by the amazing women in our community. We’re thrilled to feature their stories and share how they’ve made traveling while working possible. From unconventional roles, to starting businesses abroad, these women have made exploring new places a priority. They share their biggest learnings, favorite memories, and their advice for someone thinking about living in a new city for a month.

Today’s Behere community feature, Joyce McCaffrey, is a startup founder from Toronto, Canada. She used Behere to book a month in Barcelona this summer. While busy running her own startup, Joyce took time to explore Spain and ring in the one year anniversary of her company’s launch from abroad.

Pretty cool, right? Check out her story below!

We love that you celebrated your business’ one year in Spain, tell us about your startup.


“A year ago, I started a digital content marketing agency called Atlas Content Studio. We specialize in creating credible online awareness for underrepresented areas of health. Think mental health, vaccination, sexual health – areas that people don’t necessarily want to talk about or simply don’t know the facts. Clients hire us to develop online strategies to tackle those 
awareness gaps. It’s super niche, but incredibly rewarding.”

What did a typical day look like for you in Barcelona?

 

startup founder

“Life moves slower in Barcelona. My apartment was by the beach, so I’d take the time to eat breakfast on my balcony in Barceloneta. Then I’d walk to my workspace – about 30 mins through the beautiful streets of El Born (my favorite neighborhood). I’d spend the day at work, then go for a run along the beach. Or I’d explore a new neighborhood with friends from the workspace. Needless to say, every day was inspiring.”

 

What was the biggest thing you learned from living in a new place?


“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that anything is possible. It applies to everything in life, but in this case – it’s possible to define the way you want to live, work, and travel. A second learning that caught me by surprise, was the value of solo traveling. It was one of the most empowering experiences I’ve ever had – and something I’ll be prioritizing moving forward.”

How was Behere helpful to your journey?


“My dream was to start a business that allowed me to do the work I love, while offering the flexibility to travel often while working. I was busy learning how to be a startup founder, so researching working remotely and getting set up abroad was out of the question. Fortunately, Behere had every detail figured out. I had a beautiful apartment, a workspace filled with likeminded people, and local recommendations upon arrival. My trip was curated based on the experience I wanted to have, and the process was seamless. Barcelona was my twelfth month since starting my business – so I got to ring in my one-year living out the very dream that got me started. It was a surreal feeling, and I’ll always have Behere to thank for that.”


We love hearing highlights from our communities adventures, what was one of yours?


“I took a weekend trip to Cadaqués, a beautiful coastal town in Costa Brava. It’s where Salvador Dalí lived, and it honestly looks like a painting.”

startup founder


Finally, what’s your #1 piece of advice for someone who’s thinking about living abroad?


“Commit to it, make it happen, and start living out your dream.”


Are you running a business and want to travel to experience new cities without the headache of planning?
Behere makes moving to a new city for a month (or more!) seamless, learn how here. Find and book private apartments, workspaces and fitness studios around the world, plus connect with our local hosts. Check out our locations!

Connect with Joyce via her website weareatlas.ca or on Instagram.

Images and words courtesy of Joyce McCaffrey.

Helping Women Around the World Create Careers They Love

We think this enthusiastic lady, Kalyna Miletic, is great for many reasons. But we especially love the positivity and passion she shares for helping women succeed. Kalyna shared some great insights about her experience with starting freelancing and how she transitioned into a business dedicated to helping other women succeed.

Read on below for Kalyna’s insight and adventures through starting her company and traveling.

What Inspired You to Start Kickstart Your Work?  


Even though I’ve worked with clients in 21 countries around the world and coached over 1,500 hours so far, my business hasn’t always been this way. 

When I began freelancing at 19, I felt completely alone. I didn’t know how to grow my business, where to get clients or what service I should be providing. My confidence was at an all time low because I didn’t think I could make this happen for myself. There weren’t many others doing freelancing yet, especially where I was living, and the field was very male-dominated. 
I started Kickstart Your Work to support women around the world to put their satisfaction and fulfillment first.  

What is Kickstart Your Work? 


Kickstart Your Work helps women love the work they do through group coaching programs, one-on-one coaching, training courses, retreats and workshops. Our philosophy is centred upon the idea that you can be successful
and enjoy your time while working.

kalyna miletic

I’m so passionate about this mission because I believe time is our most valuable resource. Supporting women to take the leap and move into exciting careers as freelancers, makes me feel like I’m making the world a better place! Building this community has helped me feel there is a place I belong, with all of my quirks and big goals. I believe we should all be supported in achieving our big dreams. It means so much to me to know I’m supporting women around the world live their bigger visions.
   

Why is Helping Women Specifically, So Important to You? 


I choose to work with women, specifically, because I know what it’s like to not fit in or feel you’re asking for too much. In high school I had a hard time and felt like I didn’t belong. The feeling continued throughout university and I always felt I was asking for too much with my big aspirations and dreams. 

I want all women to know that they deserve whatever their heart is calling them to do, and their happiness matters and is critical to their fulfillment. I hope to help women build the lifestyle of their dreams, by sharing the system that has allowed me the freedom to work online, from anywhere. 

What has been Biggest Challenge Since you Started Your Business? 


The biggest challenge, so far, has actually been accepting that I can run a business and be successful. There have been all sorts of learning experiences and growth moments, but the most impactful, by far, has been to allow this wonderful experience into my life. I tried to push it away for years, feeling I didn’t deserve to be doing it, or it was too good to be true. Believing that I deserve to be happy, and can create anything I desire, has been life-changing professionally and personally.


How has Travel Impacted You? 

I’ve been traveling for 4 years and it has completely changed the way I see the world and myself. Living in Brazil in 2016 was foundational to me making the decision to start Kickstart Your Work and continue running a location independent business.
Seeing how happy locals were with seemingly little material success was so inspiring to me. Their values of family, fun and celebration have stayed with me. I’m also always inspired by the people I meet. I’ve had thousands of conversations in planes, busses, hotels or restaurants, to name a few and I’m amazed at how much you can learn from people you meet.
I’ve visited around 22 countries so far, and seeing the different ways of life has truly opened me up to the realization that we are similar and rooted in the same fundamental desire for love and belonging.

What is your favorite place you’ve been? Where are you off to next? 


My favourite place is a tough question to answer because I’ve seen such beauty all over the world. I feel most at home when surrounded by water. Some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve seen are; Australia’s Sunshine Coast, Aruba, Brazil and California.  
My next stop is in France where I’ll be exploring the South!


Behere is excited to be helping with your upcoming retreat in Chiang Mai. What is it all about?

The Freelancer’s Retreat in Chiang Mai is all about helping women learn how to start attracting clients as independent contractors and work online from anywhere. 

If using your genius zone (things you are great at and love doing) to deliver a service to clients feels like the right next step toward a fulfilling career, then learning the 5-step system to landing clients will completely transform the way you approach the transition to freelancing.


Any fun facts you want to share? 


Through my travels and adventures, I’ve had the opportunity to skydive Foz Iguacu in Brazil and swim with Stingrays in Grand Cayman all while on the quest to find the perfect hammock. 
kalyna miletic travel
And professionally, I’ve just landed two TedX Talks happening in the next few months (a long-time goal of mine)

Want to start traveling and freelancing? Get started below!

How this Freelancer Keeps Focused While Traveling

[vc_row padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”no-padding” ipad_padding=”sm-no-padding” mobile_padding=”xs-no-padding”][vc_column][vc_column_text]At Behere, we’re constantly inspired by the amazing women in our community. We’re thrilled to feature their stories and share how they’ve made traveling while working possible. From unconventional roles, to starting businesses abroad, these women have made exploring travel a priority. They share their biggest learnings and favorite memories. Plus, they share advice for someone thinking about living in a new city for a month.
Today’s Behere community feature, Tiff Ng, is a social storyteller. She became her own boss to have more freedom and this is how this freelancer keeps focused while traveling. Originally from Australia, she’s visited over 12 countries and is a creative, adventurous soul. She booked trips to Barcelona and Belgrade on Behere this summer. She returned home to Australia, already itching for more adventures. Read her story below.

You created a job that enabled you to work from anywhere, tell us about it.

“I’m a social storyteller; I help small businesses and influencers to tell their unique stories through a social and content strategy that is bespoke to their business and the audiences with whom they want to connect.”

What was the most important thing you learned while living in new cities?

behere member feature tiff living abroad

“To be honest, it’s not always that easy. We often fall into the trap of thinking that quitting our jobs to travel, or having this Instagram-worthy ‘nomad’ life, is the dream. But it does take a lot of hard work and can be really tough. Having a positive mindset, the courage to keep going and a solid support system (and yes, that includes Behere) is key to helping you get the most out of this experience. But it is all up to you and your mindset.”

How did Behere help in your journey?


“It can often get very overwhelming being so in charge of every decision in your life. While I’ve been adjusting to location-independent work and building up my own business, it’s been amazing to have Behere take care of the rest. It’s given me peace of mind. I can focus on my work and have the comforts and WiFi I need to support that.

In particular, the network of city hosts and members of the Behere community have gone above and beyond to help me settle into each location. They were a friendly face on a journey that can often feel very isolating.”

We love hearing highlights from our communities adventures, what was one of yours?

“It’s not quite one, singular memory but rather a thematic experience throughout my time abroad. But my favourite will always be a sunset. There’s something about the rainbow of colours and the poeticism of another day passing that is truly spectacular. I particularly love chasing sunsets as I travel.
For one, it’s a luxury I wasn’t always afforded while working long hours in a corporate job. Now, working remotely, I can afford myself that break to just take a beat, wherever I am, to acknowledge that moment and appreciate it every day.
But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it’s a phenomenon that happens every day in every place. It’s the unique combination of where you’re enjoying it – because it’s casting crazy silhouettes against the light or reflections over the horizon – or who you’re with, or what you may have been doing at the time, that can make each sunset unique, every single day. I love being able to make this daily moment an adventure wherever I go, by changing one of these variables each time.”

freelancer keeps focused while traveling


How has living in new places affected your work?

“I hate to sound like a cliché, but living abroad has really changed my life.
Living abroad has felt like taking a giant leap off the deep end and learning to fly. While it can be terrifying to think how far you can fall, for me, it’s given me the blind confidence to keep going and back myself in this whole journey. With this confidence, I’ve been able to grow a business that is more meaningful to me. It’s more aligned with where I want to go with my life and career. I’m clearer in my mission, more inspired in my work and I’ve never been more excited about what’s to come.”

Finally, what’s your #1 piece of advice for someone who’s thinking about living in a new city for a month?


“Go for it.

If it’s on your mind already, it will never go away. Take the risk and enjoy the ride. It might not always go to plan but constantly learn and grow from each experience. It will all be worth it.”


Have you been wanting to take the leap to travel for a while? Or travel without the headaches and work of planning, so you can be productive from the get-go? Learn how Behere helps make this possible here.
Connect with Tiff at anytiffng.com, or on InstagramTwitter or LinkedIn.

Images and words courtesy of Tiff Ng.

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Meet Our Budapest City Host | Bogi

Our team had the pleasure of connecting with Bogi, an inspiring woman from Budapest. A freelancer and entrepreneur, she’s had many really cool roles. From being a reporter in Egypt, to being a sports entertainer in Spain, Bogi has traveled and worked around the world. A people person, she loves adventure and good conversations. We’re also thrilled to have Bogi as our Budapest Behere City Host. Learn more about her below.

Tell us about yourself and what inspires you about traveling?

Hi I’m Bogi, I live in Budapest and am originally from here. Travel inspires me because I’m a people person, so besides the destination, it’s inspiring to have good conversations with new people. I love that so many great things happen when you least expect them. Being in new places puts me in a completely different mindset. I see different perspectives and traveling brings out different sides of me.

Bogi

What do you do for work and how’d you end up there?

I’m currently a freelancer and tour guide. I run B Side Tours in Budapest. I’ve tried various jobs in my life so far, and often wish I could do much more.

I’ve worked at a movie theatre, language school, as a hostess at concerts, as a sports entertainer in Spain, a receptionist in Italy and a reporter in Egypt. I sold a couple’s invention at a boat show in Germany and to get that job I sold insoles for an hour to showcase my sales skills. The latest challenge was giving my voice to 2 videos, and the hop-on-hop-off bus.

What inspired you to start your tour company?

I was initially inspired to become a tour guide by my 8th grade history teacher. But it really was a Brazilian couple on one of my tours a few years ago who gave me the push to create the website (thank you!)

What are your favorite things/place about Budapest?

My favorite places are close to nature, on the islands or by the river Danube on the shore up north. I love how Budapest holds a lot of surprises – e.g. you can’t see it from outside, but a former apartment building hosts a leafy garden or bar. I am still amazed at the creativity of turning unused spaces into something else, (like the famous ruin pubs).

Budapest is a cool and vibrant city but the Buda side will forever be my favorite; the dreamy, hilly, green, suburbs side of town where I grew up.

Fun facts about yourself:

One of my fave fun facts is that I met Nicholas Sparks and he signed my copy of the Notebook which I read when I was 16 (and in love).

I have many more fun facts about Mariah Carey, Angelina Jolie, Busta Rhymes or the Bruce Willis stuntman.  If you enjoy podcasts, have a listen to my episode on Andy Steves’ show, “Budapest, Baths and Boyz II Men“.  You’ll also be able to listen to the entertaining chat I had with the amazing ladies from Chronicles Abroad, too!

And, if you travel on American Airlines in the US July 2018, you’ll catch a video of me talking about Budapest!

You can check out Bogi’s tours at bsidetours.com
or on Instagram: @bsidetours.


To meet Bogi in Budapest and join one of her awesome tours, choose your apartment, workspace and fitness studio on Behere.

Behere Team | Women Making Moves: Nyah Pham

Have you been dreaming about Lisbon? Then meet Lisbon City Host, Nyah Pham, who’s making a wonderful impact in Lisbon. She has a love for community building and making others feel at ease and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! Read her story below, it’ll be sure to spark your wanderlust for Lisbon.

Tell us about yourself and your love for travel…

My name is Nyah (pronounced NA-JA, not NY-AH). I’m originally from Vietnam but grew up in Denmark and have lived in the US, France, China, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Growing up as an immigrant child in Denmark, I always had an urge to discover new cultures and countries from a very young age. My parents took me around the world to visit relatives, so I developed an early curiosity for travel. The first time I traveled on my own I was 15. I remember how excited I was to head to the US and visit my sister by myself. Terrified, but also full of hopes and dreams. Ever since, I’ve travelled to more than 50 countries and I am still discovering. Travel is the fuel to my being. I don’t think I will ever stop travelling. As the Danish writer HC. Andersen put it, “To travel is to live”. 

What do you do when you’re not helping the community in Lisbon?

I am a independent Business Consultant and Life Coach. Half my time, I’m dedicated to event concepts for different kind of clients. This means conferences, exhibitions, festivals, launches etc. My job is to put a great programme together to make the event unforgettable.
The other half of my time, I help clients overcome challenges and struggles in their everyday lives and transform into better versions of themselves. This can be within their careers, relationships or health. In most cases, these three are highly related.
I like the combination of my jobs, since they allow me to be creative as well as reflective. Creating concepts and hosting events feels natural to me. I’m at my best when I see an event come together, with people connecting with each other and enjoying the content. Helping others transform and change is the best gift that has been given to me. Not only does it feel impactful and purposeful, but making a change and difference in others lives is a true blessing. 
Nyah Pham

Why is community so important to you and what do you love about the community you’ve created in Lisbon?

I’m community builder at heart. I love to see people come together, whether it’s because they share the same interests or not. Something magical happens, when people come together, connect and eventually build something beautiful. I always say, “It’s not the place you fall in love with, it’s the community”. I live by that. You can go to the most magical places; tropical islands with beautiful beaches, but if the community is not there, you will not have that sense of belonging.
Lisbon was number one on my list and I’ve ended up staying here for about a year. I fell in love with the community from day one and started hosting weekly Digital Nomad Meetups. Before I knew it, we grew the community from 1000 to almost 3000 members in less than a year. That’s incredible. The Digital Nomad scene here is huge and I keep seeing new faces all the time. But what makes the community in Lisbon unique is, that nomads who come here tend to stay – we’ve simply become “slowmads” because we love this place and community so much. 

What makes Lisbon so special?

Lisbon is the city of seven hills. It’s what makes it so charming. I love walking through the city and admiring the beautiful tiles and cobblestones. It’s so beautiful yet, historical at the same time. I feel majestic walking around here. Plus, with 300 sunny days a year, and the ocean nearby, Lisbon ticks most of the boxes for a fantastic place to stay. 


To explore Lisbon like a local, get started with Behere below!
Photos and words courtesy of Nyah Pham.

Women Making Moves | Sahaj Kohli

We think this incredible lady, Sahaj Kohli, is great for many reasons. But we especially love the impact she has through her writing and her emphasis on self-love.  Sahaj shared some great insights with us about her experience solo traveling and why she thinks it’s the most important thing you can do for yourself. 

Tell Us About Yourself… 

 

“I’m Sahaj Kohli, and I’m currently a senior editor at HuffPost. I’m very passionate about traveling, personal development, and being a good aunt to my four nephews.

I believe in the power of vulnerable storytelling to connect with other people. So, I translate most of my inner dialogue into written form via Instagram or blog posts.

I spend most of my free time wandering (even in my own city), reading, eating fried chicken sandwiches, and obsessively checking flight prices to cities around the world.” (us too on that last one!)

Sahaj Kohli

When You Booked Your First Ever Solo Trip, What Scared You Most? 

 
“I booked my first solo trip in 2014, to Croatia and Iceland for about 2.5 weeks. It was only a month after a devastating four-year relationship breakup. I think initially, it was a combination of me taking control of a situation I felt powerless in and wanting to physically run away.

 SPOILER ALERT: You can’t run away from emotional pain.

It was incredibly hard being heartbroken and alone abroad. After a few days, and reminders that my NYC life would still be there when I got back, I was able to enjoy myself and meet people.

So much of who I was, had been wrapped up with this person who no longer wanted to be with me.

Meeting people after a breakup is so underrated.

It’s so much hard, internal work to get to a place where you are comfortable with who you are and what you are worth.

My first solo trip taught me this lesson x5. It not-so-gently showed me that I am a person who occupies space, with or without a partner. I am worthy of genuine human connection in all forms. I don’t think anything is of greater importance than fostering that connection with everyone I meet.” 

How Has Solo Travel Inspired You, Pushed You, Changed You?

 

“Solo travel has most importantly taught me; I have everything I need within myself, to get through anything life throws my way. It’s also taught me that I’m stronger, and more resilient and capable, than I’ve ever given myself credit for.

It’s shown me, over and over, that I’m worthy of the space I occupy, as I mentioned. I just need to remember that it’s very important how I occupy that space.”

What Else Should We Know About You..

 

“My default emotion is guilt, so I have been trying to tackle that and really focus on investing in myself.

Self-love is often perceived as selfish by people who want more from you and/or ourselves when we feel like we aren’t doing enough for other people.

Because of this, I started a FB group where I get like-minded women together to tackle the idea that; taking care of ourselves is not selfish but necessary to tap into our potential the world needs from us.

Likewise, I’ve launched a solo travel (in your own city) newsletter. It replicates lessons and experiences one has traveling alone in a new place and allows for someone to have them in the comfort of their own city.

Why?

Because it’s important to know you can strengthen your self-reliance and confidence without leaving home. Routine is the one thing that gets in most people’s way and it’s what leads it complacency. When we remove that, we’re able to focus on ourselves and how we fit into our world.

Lastly, everyone should try solo traveling once in their life.

Single, in a relationship — it doesn’t matter. It’s truly the most interesting, difficult, amazing way to learn who you are and love who you are.”


Learn more about Sahaj at sahajkohli.com and follow along IG @sahajkohli.

Meet our Bali City Host and Female Founder, Ulla

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our team connected with this outstanding, energetic woman in Bali and are so glad we did. Ulla Risager has created a company that fosters connections and aligns with our values at Behere in many ways. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Ulla as a our Behere Bali City Host!
Ulla has managed to travel extensively, find her passion, start a company and fill her life with purpose. Read on to see how she’s accomplished this and started a company, while living in Bali.

  female founder Ulla

We’re so excited to highlight you, tell us your story…

“Hi, I’m Ulla! I’m originally from Denmark and currently live in Bali, where I run my business, Learn With Locals. It’s a platform that offers handpicked learning experiences to travellers and anyone wanting to learn something unique, from an inspiring community of locals.
A few years ago, I left my job in Amsterdam where I was working for a travel startup. I remember when they asked when I wanted to take my vacation days. With only 2-3 weeks, I tried to decide when I wanted to take time off and where I’d travel to. I couldn’t choose.
I recall thinking, “Life is too short to be sitting behind this desk everyday and only really ‘living’ for 5 weeks a year.” No way – so I left.

It was a new beginning for me.

I had been job searching for a while, before leaving my job in Amsterdam I’d worked for Airbnb in Ireland and Google in Barcelona. I’d realised though, it didn’t matter what kind of ‘cool, we’ve-got-ping-pong-tables/free coffee, free drinks on Friday’ company I joined. If I didn’t have the flexibility to travel – and to realize and discover my potential and purpose in this world – nothing really mattered.
Back in 2015, I’d also survived a terrorist attack in Paris, and spent a good amount of time thinking about the meaning of life. I realised, life is short and the only sure thing in this world is that you won’t get out alive.
So I decided to travel. After traveling to the US, Cuba and Mexico, I bought a one-way ticket to Bali and went on to start Learn With Locals.
Starting a company is like jumping off a cliff not knowing where you will land. But you work day and night to make sure you’re headed in the right direction!

female founder Ulla

What exactly is Learn with Locals?

“Learn with Locals is a community of people eager to experience, share and learn from others; for you to travel deeper and connect with inspiring individuals.

Our community consists of passionate locals that share their hobbies, crafts and skills.  A passion they’ve carefully cultivated over time, as a self-starter and micro-entrepreneur in Bali.

The vision behind Learn With Locals is to give locals a chance to create new sources of income. All while helping tourists, expats, and locals, experience their destination in new, meaningful ways.

We offer a selection of curated and hand-picked experiences, workshops and classes ranging from creative, crafty experiences to technical, culinary and cultural events and workshops.

You can check out our website here: www.learnwithlocals.io/ and follow us on IG @learnwithlocals.”


We’re thrilled Ulla has joined the Behere team as our Bali City Host and, that we’ve partnered with Ulla and Learn with Locals for our community.
Find your apartment, plus workspace and fitness studio in Bali on Behere then head there to connect with Ulla – and attend one of her many amazing workshops!
Photos and words courtesy of Ulla Risager and Learn With Locals.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]