Belated intro: transitioning countries and defining what's next

[webs]

Hi all, I'm an ex-big tech employee in my 20s, just moved to live in Asia and looking to starting a business.

So it actually looks like I joined this forum about 10 years ago in my teenage entrepreneurial years, around when I was building hustles in web design and e-commerce, before I got caught up in academic work and then working life in the city. About 3 years ago I read The Millionaire Fastlane, and about 3 weeks ago I was going through my notes on it and saw that I had meant to join this forum. So here I am, finally writing an intro, so I can contribute and engage with the great community here.

I enjoyed my last job and was fortunate to work in a company with a good culture, understanding colleagues and several learning opportunities. However, I knew that I didn't want to settle into a stable, suburban life and that it was time for a change. I'm lucky that I've been able to make a move to a new continent fairly swiftly and working it out as I go along. My intention isn't to be a full-time digital nomad -- although that's what it's effectively been over the past few months whilst I explore the region -- but to find and settle in one place for at least 1 year at a time. I've found that being able to build routines in a place, have your local network, even knowing where you can get cheap, healthy food is critical for personal growth and focus. I'm currently considering Hong Kong, Bangkok or Taipei as my long-term destination.

Now, whilst I understand and get the Fastlane philosophy and despite my desire to create a business, my first step in one of these places is likely to be to get a job, for the following reasons: (Beijing's post here resonated with me for some of this)

1. To refine the skills that are critical for my intended business (broadly, cloud computing)
2. As a fairly stable basis from which to settle into my new life
3. I'm not immediately motivated by a desire for material goods or epicurean experiences. I consider myself very lucky to have a good standard of living now and what motivates me to start a business is not a luxurious lifestyle, or even freedom (I am already able to travel around one of the most beautiful and diverse continents in the world at the drop of a hat). What matters to me is the craft of starting a business, refining it and having a high degree of control over the outcome, being able to do things in the best way you believe fit. So I am ok with spending some time (perhaps 1-2 years) in a new job, in a new country, to refine my product and positioning. I'm willing to be persuaded otherwise on this point, however.

One question that is on my mind is whether I should focus on a fairly quick, generic business now or something more advanced and unique. The former would probably look like a Tim Ferriss model of researching an industry, creating a product to solve a niche problem and outsourcing everything, or even leveraging local manufacturing connections in Thailand and exporting cheap products. The latter would look like building and refining a new tech solution for B2B SaaS, so more involved. I do want to use my skills and not create yet another e.g. dropshipping company, so maybe I should focus on the latter? Or try multiple things at once and see what takes off?

I'm aware that my mindset might not be full-on "Fastlane" just yet, but I do tend to execute on my decisions thoroughly and fully, so if/when I decide that adopting it fully is right for me, I will absolutely embrace it. Nevertheless, thank you for reading and it's nice to meet you!

 

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[Lyzmin]

O'n exesi vjev nz nopftiv nohjv puv ci gamm-up "Getvmepi" katv ziv, cav O fu vipf vu iyidavi up nz fidotoupt vjusuahjmz epf gammz, tu og/xjip O fidofi vjev efuqvoph ov gammz ot sohjv gus ni, O xomm ectumavimz incsedi ov.

Ov't e qsuditt. Ov tvesvt xovj cioph duptdouat ecuav ov. Zua'mm hiv vjisi!

Ximduni vu vji gusan!

O sidunnipf zua vu sief Aptdsoqvif et ximm. NK huit fiiq xovj vji nevisoem. Xomm ci siemmz optohjvgam gus zua.

Citv ug madl up zuas kuaspiz! :F

 

[Panos Daras]

Jimmu epf ximduni! Siemmz eqqsidoevi vjot ximm-vjuahjv opvsu. O xotj xi jef nusi qiuqmi moli zua jisi.

Upi raitvoup vjev ot up nz nopf ot xjivjis O tjuamf gudat up e geosmz raodl, hipisod catopitt pux us tunivjoph nusi efwepdif epf aporai.

Xjev qsucmin fu zua jewi vji tlommt vu tumwi, xovj e qsufadv/ tiswodi vjev qiuqmi xuamf moli vu caz (molimz)? Tvesv xovj upi qsukidv ev e voni. Fup'v uwisvjopl ov.