Sharon Tseung is the Founder of Digital Nomad Quest, a website which teaches people who are living the digital nomad lifestyle how to build passive income streams.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
Hi everyone! My name is Sharon Tseung, founder of Digital Nomad Quest. Back in 2016 I quit my job in Marketing, traveled the world for 2 years, and built multiple passive income streams on my digital nomad journey.
Because of my passive income, I was able to save even more money coming back, despite all the travel expenses, and now I teach people how to do the same on my blog, YouTube channel, and podcast. I decided to return to the Bay Area as a Marketing Manager at a startup (for multiple reasons), but I’m building my brand and passive income streams on the side.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
Back when I was a digital nomad, I would frequent cafes to work for a few hours. When I felt like it, I would walk down the streets of Lisbon, or wherever I was, to immerse myself in the local life. I wanted a balance of travel and work so that I could live life to the fullest!
I’m currently working at a startup, so I’m normally at the office for my day job. We’re building a new, meaningful social media platform, and because we’re all creating this app together, it’s been very fulfilling and feels very entrepreneurial. At night and on weekends, I’m usually making content for Digital Nomad Quest, building out my email sequences, or working on courses I’m creating.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
My current role is actually quite flexible so I occasionally take remote days and PTO, which has allowed me to work in different cities and visit conferences around the world. My boss is very kind to me! With my online business hustles, everything can be done remotely.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work-life balance is very important for me, but can be difficult to achieve. I mainly try to spend time with my loved ones and take care of my physical and mental health on top of my hustles. By writing out my daily tasks and goals and doing some introspection, I’m able to gauge if I’m falling behind on any specific domain in my life.
5) What do you think are some of the best habits or routines that you’ve developed over the years to help you achieve success in your life?
Google Keep and Google Sheets have helped me stay organized. I use Google Keep for my daily tasks and Google Sheets for outlining my goals and milestones. I have a tracker that reminds me of my one thing I need to accomplish by end of month to feel good about myself.
By constantly knowing what I need to do each day, I’m able to stay on top of things better. You can check out this comprehensive look at how I stay organized here.
6) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, and The ONE Thing by Gary Keller were great reads for me from an entrepreneurial perspective.
Spiritually, I really liked A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, and The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer.
7) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
My “one thing” changes every day. But that’s important to note – that it’s crucial to define your “one thing” before you go about your day. When you accomplish this task you should feel good about yourself because it will get you further towards where you want to go.
This is the point of the book The ONE Thing by Gary Keller. If you can successfully accomplish the 20% that produces 80% of results through one step, you’ll advance faster than most people.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
I would like to read an interview about work-life balance by either Tim Ferriss or Eva Longoria, actually! I think most people see Tim Ferriss as someone who is quite enlightened and a pro at maximizing his time to accomplish many feats.
And I recently listened to an interview on Eva that showcased how much she’s been able to accomplish in her lifetime while balancing her family life and physical health, and it was really fascinating.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Make sure you’re constantly evaluating the important domains in your life and how you’re doing in each area. Write these things down so that you can stay organized and understand if you’re falling behind on hitting the gym, becoming too much of a hermit and not socializing with friends, or working too hard.
This will help motivate you towards your goals, stay balanced, and not burn out constantly.
If you found the above conversation helpful and inspiring, be sure to check out Balance the Grind’s guide to achieving a healthy work-life balance.
