About

The Internet is a goldmine, the global workspace is changing, and Corporate America is catching on. Established companies and startups alike are beginning to realize that most work can be completed from anywhere with an Internet connection. More and more studies are being conducted that show that telecommuting produces higher job satisfaction for employees, and big savings on overhead for companies.

If you’re ready to begin exploring the option of working from home (or a coffee shop, hotel room, or the Maldives for that matter), then you’ll want to check out these websites! Here, you’ll find everything from entry-level customer service gigs, to marketing positions and even senior-level developer openings with reputable, well-known companies! (I see you, UnitedHealth, Etsy, & Amazon.)

[bctt tweet=”Looking for remote work? Check out these 10 websites!” username=”asiaxmaria”]

Happy job hunting, my friends. Here’s to hoping you land the career of your dreams!

1. Remote.co

Remote.co makes it almost too easy; When you subscribe, you’ll receive job listings straight to your inbox 1-2 times a week!

2. Power to Fly

This is THE place where startups and women working in tech come to connect. I’m really impressed by what they’re doing with and on their platform.

3. The Muse 

I love and utilize this site for a lot of different reasons; their blog articles are usually phenomenal and they offer a ton of great, practical career advice. If you go to “Search Jobs” at the top, then select “Work from Home Jobs”, that’s where you want to be.

4. TravelMe.World

Huffington Post, Elite Daily and Forbes Books all cite TravelMe.World as an ideal place to find remote opportunities, and with good reason! The site is so easy to use and navigate and has pages upon pages of job openings.

5. RemoteJobs.com

Search for a particular job title, keyword, or company name that suits exactly what you’re looking for!

6. SkipTheDrive.com

Catchy name, right? Their motto is “Simple is Best”, which I can agree with. Browse openings by category, and find the gig that’s right for you. They’ve got some great resources to read through as well, if you have a little bit of extra time.

7.  WeWorkRemotely.com

Super user-friendly interface, but if scrolling through pages of listings isn’t your jam, you can head on over to their Twitter instead where they tweet out some pretty amazing job opportunities each and every day.

8. WorkingNomads.co

Whether you’re seeking a position in marketing, sales, administration, or education, this site has a TON of job openings; there’s bound to be one that’s of interest to you. Today, when I checked their site, there were 3,933 openings in development ALONE!

9. FlexJobs

FlexJobs lets you personalize your job search to match your interests and/or experience, which is so awesome! I’ve read about a lot of success stories finding work through this site.

10. Dream Home Based Work

This is a great resource for those just entering, or considering the world of remote work. Many of the job leads seem to be entry-level positions and/or side hustles for some extra cash, but definitely worth checking out nonetheless!

In this digital world we live in, it seems like it’s getting increasingly more difficult to tune out all of the distractions.

I’m all about working smarter, not harder, and in an effort to do so, I’ve tried {what seems like} every tool, app, and software known to mankind to save time and create more focus with my workload. When I really need to buckle down and get sh*t done, these are the tools that I know I can count on to beat the productivity roadblocks:

[bctt tweet=”7 Productivity Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Know About” username=”asiaxmaria”]

Productivity Trap: Paper Lists in Too Many Places

What I use: Trello

Life before Trello looked something like this: Scribble down notes and client tasks on the nearest notepads I can find. Pile them up on my office desk, then sift through them at a later time hoping that they’ll make sense. It’s been a huge game changer for me within my business, and my only complaint is that I wish I’d begun using it sooner. It’s, hands down, the BEST project management program that I’ve used (and believe me when I say I’ve tried them all), proving easy to implement and fun to work with. It helps me to visualize what I need to do, and what’s already been completed. The system that I currently use is really simple. It consists of three “cards”, or lists, for each client: To-Do, Doing, and Done. I love that I can customize the backgrounds with pictures of my liking, and color code each of my clients too. 10/10 would recommend this program!

Productivity Trap: Client Management

What I use: Dubsado

After investing in Dubsado, I saw firsthand how important a CRM is to efficiently running a small business. It’s my all-in-one for everything from invoicing and time tracking to sending proposals and communicating with clients. I’ve created workflows that have allowed me to streamline my onboarding process with new clients. One feature that I absolutely love is that each client gets their own secure, password protected portal, where they can view all invoices, payments, contracts, etc at any time – How cool is that?! Their customer support team is top notch, too. They’re always helpful, responsive, and just downright thoughtful. They’re constantly listening to their customers, and adding new features what seems like every week to make the program more useful for everyone. When you sign up for a paid membership, you receive the cutest little welcome package; I’ll spare you the details and let you see the surprise for yourself! A couple of weeks ago, they even uploaded a Starbucks gift card to their private Facebook group to treat us all to a coffee. How awesome, right? I totally believe in spreading the word about tried and true programs, so if you’re in search of a solid CRM, feel free to try Dubsado out on me! You can test it out for yourself here.

Productivity Trap: Getting Lost in the Depths of the Internet

What I use: Rescue Time

This nifty little Mac application logs how much time you spend on each website, then emails you a report at the end of the week. It’s a reminder that scrolling through Facebook, indeed, does not equal working. 😉

Productivity Trap: Too Many Ideas

What I use: Evernote

This is home to all of my idea dumps, mind maps, and note taking. I also use it to saving links and create lists of all kinds. Its’ minimalist design allows me to jot down anything and everything that’s on my mind in a distraction-free space. I can then organize and categorize by “notebook” afterward to keep the information in order. I love that it has an Desktop App, and I use it often! Super functional and easy to use. I’ve been a big fan for a long time.

Productivity Trap: Efficiency and Time Management 

What I Use: FocusBooster 

Ever heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s an approach to time management that uses a timer; you work uninterrupted and free of distractions for 25 minutes and then take a break for 5.  We could all use some improvements in our productivity, right? I only recently learned about the technique, but have seen huge results and benefits since I’ve put it into effect. It’s been a simple, but effective way to boost my overall efficiency. Try it out for yourself and I think you’ll agree!

Productivity Trap: Email Subscription Overload 

What I use: Unroll.me 

Unroll.me shows you everything you’ve ever subscribed to via email in one comprehensive list, then allows you to simply swipe to unsubscribe from which ones you don’t want to read anymore! I’ve spent too many mornings sifting through an inbox overflowing with things I don’t want, or simply don’t have the time to read. It can clog the brainwaves and just be a downright waste of time, am I right? I have a habit of subscribing to any and every little thing that catches my eye and then end up with a boatload of unread emails that I keep promising myself I’ll get back to. Spoiler Alert: It never happens. Unroll puts an end to that nonsense, freeing up your inbox for things you actually WANT and LIKE to read.

Productivity Trap: Remembering Passwords

What I use: Lastpass

Have you ever thought about how much time you’ve spent resetting your passwords because you forgot them? If you’re like me, it’s probably a lot. LastPass puts an end to this. It’s also been a great way for me to manage my clients’ passwords in a secure way.

Tell me: What apps do you guys use to stay on top of your workload and keep your businesses running smoothly?

$1,458.

That’s the amount of extra income I earned in August from teaching with VIPKID. I don’t mean to toot my own horn but, well, week after week, my schedule is booked solid. I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m not the most over-the-top or outgoing teacher in the world. As a matter of fact, the personality tags assigned to me after my interview were “reserved” and “serious”. So how do I do it?

I have a theory, and it involves…Props.

These days, I find myself scouring the dark depths of Amazon’s Toys and Games page and wandering the aisles of Dollar Tree in my spare time. And Target’s dollar section? Don’t even get me started! If I walk into that store, it’s over. Tyler can vouch.

I love to bring new, exciting, interactive props into my virtual classroom whenever possible. Distance learning can be hard in itself. But distance learning a new language? That’s a whole nother ball game. I’ve witnessed even the most eager students’ attention spans go right out the window because Bentley walked by, or their little brother decided it would be funny to run around the house with no pants on in the middle of class. And yes, that’s happened. Multiple times, actually.

 I’ve spent the last 8 months building up a solid little arsenal, and today I’m going to share some of my all-time favorites with you! So, onto the good stuff!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation. As always, all opinions are my own. I only recommend products and services that I wholeheartedly believe in and are a good fit for my audience!

Magnetic Funny Faces

I use this as both a reward system and a fun way to review parts of the face. It’s very simple – You have a magnetic tin with the outlines of a man and woman. Every time they do a good job, they’re able to add a new component – mouths, noses, eyes, mustaches, even earrings! They get such a kick out of making the goofiest, most absurd faces possible. I’ve been using this for many months, and let me tell you – It has gotten me lots and lots of laughs.

Board Books

I grew up on these classics! I’m quickly learning what a wonderful tool Bill Martin Jr’s books are for ESL learners. Repetitive and colorful, they help to reinforce concepts that we often talk about in class such as ordinal numbers & animal names. They’re also awesome to have on hand for fast finishers – You know the ones I’m talking about; they fly through the slides and you’ve just barely passed the 15:00 mark. Definitely a great solution for those speedy readers!

Boston Terrier Dress Up

Prepare to see those little eyes light up when you pull this one out. I mean, who wouldn’t have fun dressing a dog up in scarves and sun hats? There are also golden retrievers, Saint Bernards, chihuahuas, cats, and even dinosaurs to choose from!

Stackable Ice Cream Cone

SO useful for so many things; encouraging counting, practicing color identification, showing the motion of “eat”. They would make a fantastic reward system, too! I can hear it now – “When you do a good job, you’ll get a scoop of ice cream!” The versatility makes it well worth every penny!

Animal Finger Puppets.

These work really well for the little ones who need a bit of extra encouragement or getting through a trial with a timid student. There’s just something about a tiny panda or frog singing “Hello! How are you?! I’m fine, fine, fine” that is WAY more cute than a teacher!

Having a variety of props play a big factor in keeping students engaged. They mean the difference between making the class interactive or downright boring. The moral of the story is: Go get you some!

VIPKID Family, tell me – What props are you currently using that your kids are loving right now? I’d love to hear about them! Share with me in the comments below! Happy Teaching!

I’ve both given and received gifts from UncommonGoods and can tell you from firsthand experience – they are ALWAYS a hit. If you took a quick a look at my Instagram, I think it’s pretty safe to say that my readers agree! When I posted about this partnership with the company, these were some of the many remarks I was met with:

“I shop them often for gifts!” – @UrsulasUniverse

“They have such cool gifts!” – @FitTwoTravel

“YESSS! I love Uncommon Goods so much”. – @Chelsea.Quint

The feeling is mutual, my friends.

So, why shop Uncommon Goods?

 I really admire them as a company for two major reasons: 1) They’re making sustainable shopping more mainstream and 2) are working hard to create a positive impact for both their consumers AND their employees, which is huge! I’m all about shopping responsibly and from small businesses when possible, so I love that many of the items available on their site are handmade from artisans around the world. They’re also beginning to incorporate a lot of philanthropy into their business model, too. If you’re interested in learning more, you can read up on their numbers and mission on their website. 

Now, for the fun stuff! I’ve hand selected a few of my favorites from the shop with my fellow travelers in mind. Here they are:

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Custom State Pillows.

This one’s for all you long distance lovers out there…You can have the silhouette of ANY two US states made into the most adorable pillows.

And for those of you who aren’t in the states, how about a world map pillow instead? Both come with little hearts stitched wherever you please. ?

Latitude Longitude Pendant.

I KNOW I’m not the only one that has a total fascination with GPS coordinates. This pendant would be such a beautiful, meaningful way to commemorate a special place or time in your life; where you first met your significant other, the location of your a big, life-changing trip. The possibilities are endless! Have fun and be creative with it.

World Scratch Map.

I received one of one of these maps as a gift a few years back and to this day, it remains one of my favorites. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to take that coin or key & scratch off a new location after you’ve visited.

It’s like a visual bucket list, just beckoning you to buy that next plane ticket! A definite must-have for any frequent flyer.

 Moscow Mule Cocktail Set.

Because, well, let’s be real, with crying babies and zero leg room, who couldn’t use a little cocktail at 30,000 feet?  One vodka, please! #CheersToThat

Great Outdoors National Park Candles.

Alright, alright. Admittedly, I saved the best for last. Seriously, why am I JUST finding out that these exist?! National Parks + Things that Smell Good + Supporting Small Business = A Big Fat Yes from Me! Also, if you’re shopping for an outdoor enthusiast who also happens to care about the environment, rest assured – the packaging tubes are made from recycled paper and the wax is derived from the highest quality coconut oil (aka a renewable resource). Brb, while I go order a set of my own!

Believe me when I say that Uncommon Goods has something for everyone. Go and take a look for yourself!

Tell me – Have you ever purchased an item from their site? If so, what was it?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but as always, all opinions expressed are my own. ?

Ah, the wonderful world of podcasts. Whether you’re in the car, sitting around on a long layover, or just cooking dinner at home, you can turn one on & learn anything – and I mean anything – you want.

Neuroscience strike your fancy?

Curious to hear what life is like as a circus performer?

Have 5 minutes & want to learn a few Chinese phrases?

There’s a podcast for that.

Here are 5 of my personal favorite entrepreneurial podcasts to listen to when I’m on the go and in need of some brain food…

1 – Goal Digger | Jenna Kutcher.

This is a definite favorite for me currently. I’m obsessed with Jenna Kutcher everything; her Instagram feed, her photography, her website, and yes, her podcasts. They’re all incredible and beautiful at the same time. She is a prime example of a young woman who risked it all, invested in herself and her business, and has learned a lot along the way. And now? She’s sharing that knowledge with us! Every tidbit of info she puts out into the world is so helpful and so REAL. I’ve gained an incredible amount of clarity from her about what I should be dedicating more of my focus to, and less on. On today’s episode, she covers why you need a brand & not a business.

Check Goal Digger out here.

2- The Laptop Lifestyle | Alexis Teichmiller.

Alexis is the Affiliate Manager over at email marketing powerhouse ConvertKit, and let me tell you – The girl knows what she’s talking about. Mostly aimed at millennials, this podcast is about all things authenticity, mindset, and purpose. Alexis inspires others to create the life that they want, and she’s damn good at it!

You can listen to her here. 

3 – GirlBoss Radio | Sophia Amoruso.

If you’ve either read Sophia’s book or watched her Netflix series, it would only make sense that you listen to her podcast too, right? GirlBoss Radio consists of a series of interviews with some pretty powerful and well-known female CEO’s; Jenn Hyman of Rent the Runway, Christine Day of LuluLemon, and Brit Morin of Brit + Co for starters. All women who brought their visions to life, and are now CRUSHING it with their businesses.

Learn from those who have done it here. 

4 – Women, Work, & Worth | Mavenly + Co

 The title alone drew me into this one, and boy did it deliver. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be SUBSTANCE. Covering topics such as switching careers gracefully, getting more financially fit, and monetizing your strengths and NOT your passion projects *gasp*, they bring a healthy dose of reality where it’s needed.

Go get you some truth bombs here. 

5 – Magic Lessons | Elizabeth Gilbert.

Elizabeth Gilbert is the mastermind behind one of my all-time favorite books “Big Magic”. You’re probably familiar with “Eat, Pray”Love”? Yup, that’s by her too. The woman is brilliant, and quite honestly, I don’t think I’ll do her any justice, so straight from the website: “Magic Lessons are roadmaps for the path to creativity; the extra nudge we need when we’re feeling stuck in our creative lives”. Yeah, you’ll want to hear this.

Take your first magic lesson here.  

As I sit here in my office reflecting on the last few months, I can’t help but smile. There’s sunlight pouring through my window, and I’ve got a delicious, warm cup of coffee in my hand. Bentley is right outside, napping on my balcony and I can hear Tyler starting to stir.

Where the magic happens.

       Life. Is. Good.

Launching a remote business and working for myself has simultaneously been the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. But you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, I have to actively seek out clients – Shit’s hard. Yes, I run the risk of us parting ways at any given time. And yes, it definitely requires a certain level of discipline on my part. But when it all comes down to it, life and work aren’t a balancing act for me anymore…

Mission accomplished.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 perks of being a digital nomad and reasons that I love this very hectic but absolutely wonderful life of mine:

1. Every Day Feels Like Friday. 

Friday used to be the highlight of each and every week for me – I couldn’t wait for it to arrive, knowing that it meant time away from my desk, sleeping in a little, and relaxing a lot. Sometimes, Tyler and I would even manage to squeeze trips in. I can say, from experience, that jam-packed itineraries over the course of 2 or 3 days are the exact opposite of a vacation. These days, Sunday nights aren’t sad, Monday mornings aren’t painful, and Fridays seem to have lost their appeal. We can take our time on vacations, and if I need a little bit of extra sleep, I can grant myself that too.

2. Business Meetings in your Pajamas.

I don’t care what anyone says – If you work from home, pajamas are work appropriate. Just this past week, I had a Skype consultation with a new client and yup, you guessed it –  I was business up top, yoga pants on the bottom. That, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

3. No More Daily Commute.

Last year, I drove a solid 40 minutes to and from my work office each day. At the time that I resigned, I was 1,000 miles over my car lease agreement. Now? I’m 1,500 under. Guess who won’t be paying overages, constantly filling up her gas tank, or spending precious time braving traffic 5 days a week? THIS GIRL. Instead, I’ll be sitting here, being met with looks like these while competing for chair space with my Chief Furry Officer.

4. I Work On MY Terms.

I take on tasks and projects that I enjoy doing, and collaborate with businesses whose missions I care about/align with. I have the option to turn away prospective clients who don’t feel like a good fit (and lord knows I have).  Trust me people; When you know, you know. I can take breaks, run errands, go to appointments and bring Tyler to & from the airport when I need to. I can blast Atmosphere as loud as I want, whenever I want.

 5. The World is My Office. 

Last week, I was writing an editorial piece for a jewelry company in LA from a coffee shop in Scottsdale. This week, I’m home creating an email marketing campaign for a client in the UK. Next week, one of my girlfriends (Hi Bex!) is getting married, so I’ll be working from my laptop in Florida . And after that, Vegas, Denver, and Calgary are in the books. In bed? Poolside? From the other side of the world? You name, it and I can work from there. And MAN, does it feel good.

The Internet is quickly revolutionizing the way that we work, and I could not be more excited about it! It’s about time we stop TALKING about “work life balance” and starting DOING it, am I right?!  If you’ve been thinking about working remotely and have any questions on how to get started, I’d be happy to chat. Remember- I’m only an email away 🙂

As always, happy travels my friends!

xo, Asia

Shortly after I sat down to draft this post on Monday night, a rather controversial article came out from the more-vocal-than-usual Adventurous Kate. She speaks about the Travel Blog Exchange being “unethical and irresponsible” – Very different from the TBEX that I know. I must say it was a little bit disheartening to read immediately following my own attendance and participation, but the organization’s representatives responded thoughtfully & well. I took a few days to process it all (probably longer than I should have, quite honestly) and ultimately decided that it left a really bad taste in my mouth. The way that she describes the organization is so vastly different than my experience with them, and I think that many others bloggers would agree they feel the same way. It’s also led me to take a very different angle on this post than I was initially going to.

Kate’s piece has me wanting to voice two things to keep in mind:

The first is that controversy (unfortunately) always sells.

The second is that if you’ve been considering attending TBEX Zimbabwe and are having second thoughts about it after reading that post, DON’T. I encourage you not to let a single person’s perception of an organization skew your view of the entire thing and dissuade you from attending what I found to be an informative event full of progressive and compassionate people.

Allow me to walk you through my own account…

Over the course of 4 days, I had the privilege of picking the brains of industry professionals; the editors of Lonely Planet, Coastal Living, and GONomad for starters! I rubbed elbows with some of the world’s notable travel writers and influencers; Don George, Samantha Brown, and Bruce Poon Tip of G Adventures.

I got to have dinner under rockets at the U.S Space + Rocket Center and connect with likeminded travelers and media professionals. How many people can say that?! I was able to visit a {seemingly} small Southern city that I probably wouldn’t have gone out of my way to otherwise, and I ended up loving it after learning about its’ role in aeronautics and witnessing firsthand its’ charm.

I sat among individuals of all different levels within the travel media industry, from the blogger starting out to the seasoned journalist who’s “made it”. Together, we attended breakout sessions about SEO, found out how to use Pinterest to increase our online traffic, and discussed turning our greatest passions into paychecks.

I learned that 2017 is the year of International Sustainable Tourism, signed a pledge to #TravelBetter moving forward, and completed a training about responsible travel and the role it plays in the betterment of the world.

 To me, attending this conference was not only a massive step forward in legitimizing my blog, but also opened my eyes to how we, as travelers, possess the manpower to change the world as we know it and be an absolute force for good.

THAT’S what I took away from my weekend in Rocket City, and people ought to know.