Looks like the classic MVP page to test if this is a good idea. Seems interesting, but can you imagine the headaches of looking after 100 people, in 18 locations across the globe, in one year?! Coordinating jobs, visas, accommodation, people leaving, getting fired, personal issues, flights, buses, etc. I have taken coordinated trips with 90+ people on the same plain to remote destinations, and it takes months of planning for a single stop. You would need full time handlers.
ps. don't get me wrong, I like the idea, but you are likely going to burn these people out with tons of logistic issues.
I can't help thinking ~25 people and ~10 locations would be more of a sweet spot (100 people is too large a group for a lot of accommodation and easy booking on scheduled flights, for a start) but finding employers who want to guarantee 12 months' remote work for a given bunch of aspirant globetrotters on a relatively high-intensity world tour will be trickier still.
But still, it sounds like fun and does solve the problem of lack of friends and focus for permatravellers.
Might be easier to aim this at micropreneurs with runway as more of an alternative to the shared workspace/exotic workaway though....
Pretty interesting. This is what I've been doing for the last 12 months throughout Europe, but with a new location every 1-2 months.
At first the organisational details were the frustrating part, but after almost 12 months and 8 cities the lack of longer term friendships is more of a problem.
In regards to "the headaches of looking after 100 people", surely that's something that can be addressed by limiting the scope of services provided? I think handling 1) accommodation and 2) work would be more than sufficient for most responsible people.
What are your thoughts on this?
- Remote Working Groups (3 - 10 people)
- New city every month
- Rent entire home via AirBNB
- Keep per person avg monthly rent below 1000 USD
Similar experience. I've been moving around every 3 months or so for the past year and a half and man, the friendship and human connection stuff gets hard. So hard in fact that I ended up staying in SF two months longer than intended just because I had found some great people to hang out with regularly.
This is what I have been doing for the past few years and one gets used to it. The internet is useful for keeping connections with family members and friends over long distances.
It sounds like a coworking (coworkation?) round the world holiday. Can participants work on other things or are they tied to those jobs that the organisers assign them, I wonder...
The wording on the page suggests that you get to live the nomad lifestyle while still maintaining your comfort-zone. I strongly believe that exactly the opposite makes this kind of lifestyle so interesting and worthwhile (i.e. being pushed out of your comfort zone on a regular basis).
I understand that it may sound very compelling to many and I absolutely don't want to advocate against their "product"; just think about what you want. "traveling without any of the risks" also takes away much of the fun, adventures and personal growth you'd experience on your individual, non risk-free journey.
I just started to work remotely and I agree that the solitude is easily the worst thing about it. You have to make an extra effort to go out and establish relationships, but even then, if you move around a lot, long-term it is going to be tough.
I think having a group or network of similar minded people would greatly help.
I have actually thought about this a lot, what if there is a network of airbnbs/hostels around the world which a group of remote workers agree upon to be more concentrated? I think co-working spaces do much of it right now, but it can always be improved upon.
I have started to experiment with this over the last month. Staying at room shares on airbnb, working in coffee shops/co-working spaces during the day and then meetups at night to network. Doing this with a group would lower costs and keep a sense of familiarity. Do you think a less formal concept of this would work?
You got a nice simple idea, created a quick gmail account, built a quick SquareSpace landing page with collection form and now you are on the front page of Hacker News collecting some good data.
This my friends is quick and dirty and it works, if you can hack this idea and get it onto the front page of NH in 30 minutes you will make this happen.
Are the travel costs footed by the remote worker? I'm trying to understand how Remote Year would make money off of this. Kind of like a programmer/recruiter/travel agent all in one?
I would imagine the remote workers themselves are paid their normal salary by the company, or perhaps salary minus travel expenses. The company participates by footing the bill for travel expenses, and gets support and feedback from the firm behind Remote Year, who in turn get brand recognition and their name in the ears of executives.
I could be completely wrong, though. There isn't enough info on the website to make hard guesses.
The remote workers all have their own jobs that Remote Year can help them find. They then pay a fixed amount per month to Remote Year, which includes housing, travel, activities, programming and some meals.
They made it pretty clear that they aren't paying you for your work, but have some help available for securing remote jobs. So I imagine the pay has everything to do with you and your experience.
Anyways, the page seems like a marketing test anyway, just to see if there is any interest.
[+] [-] WestCoastJustin|11 years ago|reply
ps. don't get me wrong, I like the idea, but you are likely going to burn these people out with tons of logistic issues.
[+] [-] notahacker|11 years ago|reply
But still, it sounds like fun and does solve the problem of lack of friends and focus for permatravellers.
Might be easier to aim this at micropreneurs with runway as more of an alternative to the shared workspace/exotic workaway though....
[+] [-] gdcaplan|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] briggers|11 years ago|reply
At first the organisational details were the frustrating part, but after almost 12 months and 8 cities the lack of longer term friendships is more of a problem.
In regards to "the headaches of looking after 100 people", surely that's something that can be addressed by limiting the scope of services provided? I think handling 1) accommodation and 2) work would be more than sufficient for most responsible people.
[+] [-] detroitcoder|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Swizec|11 years ago|reply
WhatsApp can only get you so far.
[+] [-] sonar_un|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] doctorfoo|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chippy|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sushimako|11 years ago|reply
I understand that it may sound very compelling to many and I absolutely don't want to advocate against their "product"; just think about what you want. "traveling without any of the risks" also takes away much of the fun, adventures and personal growth you'd experience on your individual, non risk-free journey.
[+] [-] nchuhoai|11 years ago|reply
I think having a group or network of similar minded people would greatly help.
I have actually thought about this a lot, what if there is a network of airbnbs/hostels around the world which a group of remote workers agree upon to be more concentrated? I think co-working spaces do much of it right now, but it can always be improved upon.
[+] [-] detroitcoder|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] startupfounder|11 years ago|reply
You got a nice simple idea, created a quick gmail account, built a quick SquareSpace landing page with collection form and now you are on the front page of Hacker News collecting some good data.
This my friends is quick and dirty and it works, if you can hack this idea and get it onto the front page of NH in 30 minutes you will make this happen.
[+] [-] flysteps|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tylermac1|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] morganvachon|11 years ago|reply
I could be completely wrong, though. There isn't enough info on the website to make hard guesses.
[+] [-] gdcaplan|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Aardwolf|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rco8786|11 years ago|reply
Anyways, the page seems like a marketing test anyway, just to see if there is any interest.
[+] [-] scrollaway|11 years ago|reply
"[email protected]"
Really? You have a domain name, couldn't set up "[email protected]"?
Even though I'm sure nothing was meant by that, it makes the whole thing sound incredibly unprofessional and simply detracts from the offer.
[+] [-] morganvachon|11 years ago|reply
https://www.squarespace.com/pricing/
Still, they could opt for Google's business email so they could use Gmail's backend with @remoteyear.com addresses.
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
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