Digital Nomad Stories: Dave Danzeiser of Thrive Themes
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Dave Danzeiser is an OG when it comes to living the digital nomad lifestyle. He has been working remotely and traveling the world since 2012. Dave is the Head of Facebook Ad Strategy at Thrive Themes and he also runs The Quest for Awesome. He recently shared his story of how he landed a remote job and became a digital nomad.
Why did you initially want to work remotely?
I had been working on my own website at the time and realized I needed to level up both my income and skills and saw working for a marketing company as a fast way to do that.
How did you land your first remote job?
Mostly by being in the right place at the right time. I wasn't actively looking for a remote job, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. I was already using Thrive Themes' products so when the CEO sent out an email he was looking to start a remote marketing team by holding a 3-month, all expenses paid apprenticeship in Barcelona, I went for it.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced when it came to landing a remote job and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle was being qualified in a space I had very little experience in (internet marketing). I overcame it, accidentally, in two ways. The first, by doing SOMETHING, even it wasn't very good. In this case, it was already having a website I was actively creating content for using the tools of the company I was going to work for. The second, not applying for something I wasn't qualified to do. This was an apprenticeship, which meant I didn't need a ton of proven experience, just the willingness to learn.
What’s a typical day look like for you?
We set quarterly, individual goals, so my day consists of making progress on these. The company is one that gives a huge autonomy to the employees, and only steps in if goals aren't being met, which is perfect for me. A typical day involves checking ad numbers and making adjustments to campaigns, launching new ads, and helping other team members if needed.
What’s the best part about working remotely?
Being able to work when it best suits me, without the stress that comes from running a business.
What’s the biggest lesson you learned when it came to landing a remote job, that you wish you knew when you started?
It's one of the quickest ways to get paid to learn or build up a portfolio for yourself in an industry.
What’s your advice for someone who wants to get started working remotely?
Pick a skill set that goes well with entrepreneurs trying to scale their business. This will be salespeople, operations and implementors (copywriting, content marketing, landing page creation, conversion optimization, SEO, video editing, graphic design, etc). If you have little to no experience then you want to be okay getting paid a low wage to start. Use this to your advantage as many entrepreneurs are bootstrapping and are looking for hustlers. Be that hustler, but don't be afraid to ask for a raise as your skills build and you prove yourself as an asset to the business.
Anything else we should know?
If you need anything else, let me know at https://thequestforawesome.com.
Ready To Land A Remote Job?
Check out these online courses and worksheets that show you how to land a remote job using skills you already have or consider 1:1 Remote Career Coaching to help you land your dream remote job.
