digital nomading

I dislike using the word ‘Underground Revolution’, because it makes Digital Nomads, DNs for short, seem like some nefarious rock band. But they are far cooler than that, in my opinion and that’s not because I claim to be part of that not-so-nefarious group. I think Digital Nomads matter in a way like most important revolutionary groups matter.

I have been speaking to a lot of people in mainstream businesses, and they have told me the same thing over and over again.

‘I first heard the term Digital Nomad (DN) a few months ago, and I had no idea what that meant.’ Or ‘I didn’t know that I was a digital nomad, until a few months back, when I heard someone describe themselves as such.’

What’s In A Name? A Rose By Any Other Name..

Does the definition of the group or the naming of it matter that much? Not really, unless you realize that revolutions happen because a group of people consider themselves to be part of a select cache, and are willing to fight for that group’s safety, and precedence. I don’t think DNs will have to go into battle anytime soon, but I want to delineate why the naming of a group matters.

I have spoken to many DNs, who became so before the advent of the internet. They used a fax machine, and snail mail to communicate with their bosses. They weren’t necessarily ‘Digital’ Nomads, but they were nomads and they worked on the road. These people would tell me that they had no idea that they were part of this awesome group of people who worked on the road, and were free to travel the world. It gave them a sort of belonging. They didn’t feel lonely anymore. They weren’t just cast-offs, or rebels, or outcasts. They were part of something bigger than themselves. It gave them a sense of safety and security to belong. (more…)