In our 7th episode of Day In The Life of A Remote Worker, joining us is the world’s leading remote job coach, digital nomad, official member of the Forbes Coaches Council and a course instructor in his own right. Introducing Jordan Carroll, an individual who has transformed the lives of many employees that want to transition into remote jobs and work remotely.
Jordan Carroll has had the experience of working for a Fortune 50 company in the past and now he currently runs his business The Remote Job Coach.
Tell me about yourself and what it is that you do?
I create content, courses, & coaching programs to help high performers learn a proven process to land legitimate remote jobs and gain freedom and flexibility in their lives.
I found my first remote job on Craigslist as a telemarketer in 2013. Surprising, I know, that you could use black market eBay for anything other than awkward encounters with sociopaths.
Being a remote telemarketer in 2013 was about as glorious as it seems. I would squeeze in hour-long “call-blitzes” in between a full-time university course load and two other part-time jobs.
Little did I know, the remote work movement would become the most impactful cultural phenomenon in my life moving forward.
I’m Jordan Carroll and I’ve worked remotely, consistently, upwards of 6 years, for:
↳ A global Fortune 50 tech company with over 400k employees (IBM)
↳ A fully distributed, remote-first travel company with 150 employees (Remote Year)
↳ Multiple other startups with a range of 2-50 employees as well as my own businesses
These experiences have given me a unique perspective.
What I realized:
There’s a learning curve to both finding remote jobs as well as becoming an efficient, high performing remote worker. These aren’t subjects taught in school.
So, I set out to educate others.
My alter ego as #TheRemoteJobCoach is the result of helping others learn a proven system that’s enabled me to get hired to work remotely as a high performer, without the “traditional application process.”
Why?
Because remote work fundamentally changed what was possible for me:
↳ Lifestyle
It allowed me to build work around a life of travel, inhabiting 15 different countries on 5 continents in 2 years. It gave me time to pursue hobbies, like: video production, learning Spanish, and performing stand-up comedy.
↳ Health
It gave me the flexibility to prioritize health. I lost 40 lbs and 15% BF in 90 days, quit cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, and started competing in Spartan Races, Tough Mudders, and international marathons.
↳ Relationships
It gave me freedom to meet hundreds of connections on LinkedIn around the world, and join communities like: Nomad Cruise, Remote Year, Running Remote, Nomads Giving Back & more.
↳ How I Can Help You
Remote work is changing what’s possible for all of us.
Interested in finding remote work but don’t know where to start?
I can help you accelerate your progress, beat the black hole of rejected resumes, and finally land a remote job without wasting time sending endless applications.
When did you start working remotely as a digital nomad and how did that come about?
2013 in telemarketing part time and then again in 2014 within a full time role at IBM.
What would go down as the biggest achievement so far and what makes you so proud of this?
Quitting alcohol. Been almost 2 years.
https://medium.com/@jspensir/h
Do you have any favourite cafes, places or coworking spaces that you like to work remotely from when not at home and why are these your favourite?
Yes, when I was traveling more frequently (I have “settled” in Playa Del Carmen for the moment) I would try to find any local cafes with acai bowls and matcha. I love a nice cafe with superfood. I’m not vegan or anything but Acai bowls are just so damn good, so I would always seek those out. I also mostly quit coffee because it gives me anxiety and having matcha tea as a replacement has been great. Some day I want to own my own superfood cafe that doubles as a coworking space on a beach. Any place near a body of water where I can work is my favorite.
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
Focus on my business by “slowmading” instead of doing the quick, fast paced, move every month digital nomading I was doing before. This is going to allow me to focus more on building my business to it’s fullest potential, focus on relationships, and building a community here in Mexico.
What does a typical workday look like for you and how do you manage your time and schedule effectively?
6:30am – 7:00am: Wakeup and drink my lemon cayenne sea salt water.
7:00am Workout.
8:00am: Meditate.
8:10am: Read.
8:45am: Journal.
9:00am: Pomodoros or my group calls with clients.
11:00am: First meal – usually something light / smoothie / eggs.
12:00pm: Second work sprint.
2:00pm: Lunch.
2:30pm: Nap.
3:00pm: More calls.
6:00pm closing out the day and any lingering items, then sometimes I’ll work until 10:00pm or so if things are pressing.
This is an ideal day. I probably achieve this (depending on the week), at least 3-5 times. the first part is actually the easiest. I workout, meditate, read, 5x a week regardless, the other stuff is dependent on the day and if it’s more focused on client work or meetings etc
If you could give one bit of advice to anybody out there that is dreaming about working remotely what would that be?
Stop dreaming and start talking to people that are doing what you want to do. Close your skills gaps.
Get extremely targeted at what you think you want to do, and take small action, you won’t know until you try.
This interview has been a real insight and pleasure to host, a massive thanks goes out to Jordan Carroll for inspiring others to get into remote work and for taking the time out of your day!
If you found encouragement and the remote work experience of Jordan Carroll inspirational as you pursue remote work or a business idea, take a look at some of the articles in the Search Remotely Series: A Day in the Life of a Remote Worker. See below.
A day in the life of a remote worker
- Szabi Kisded
- Richard Jann Escobido
- Gisella Casolaro
- Alexandra Heikke
- Martin Steph Wanless
- Joshua Biggers
- Matilde Leitao Miguel Costa
- Anna Sherchand
- Johnny FD
- Jacob Cass
- Automattic
- Invision