The Time Freedom Podcast

Katrina McGhee Is a Digital Nomad but Maybe Not for Long

Episode Summary

Today on the podcast, Brian and Kirby welcome Katrina McGhee. Katrina, age 46 and currently floating between locations as a digital nomad, is a career break and sabbatical coach, author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies. In this episode… Katrina shares her path from healthcare actuary to digital nomad, including how she saved $40K in 18 months, quit her corporate job, traveled the world for 20 months, and returned to land five job offers in five weeks. She and Brian dig into what digital nomad life actually looks like, why she's now considering settling down after eight years on the move, and why a career break could be a key addition to Brian's "No-Hustle Transition" framework.

Episode Notes

Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Variation creates appreciation. Doing different things in life, like working then resting or traveling then staying put, makes you appreciate what you did before and what might come next. The contrast is the point.
2. Consider a career break in the first part of Year 2. If you're following the No-Hustle Transition to entrepreneur, don't just flip from employee to business owner. Take a real break first. Even just three months to decompress. You'll be more productive in the nine months that follow than if you white-knuckled through all twelve.
3. A career break "cracks people open" to living differently. Many of Katrina's clients are corporate 9-to-5ers who return from their breaks realizing they can design life on their own terms, not just go back to the way things were.
4. Plans are cute. It's good to have goals, but always take advantage of the random opportunities that come your way. 
5. Digital nomad life has pros and cons, just like traditional living. After eight years of location independence, Katrina is considering settling down for easier dating, fitness routines, and mental space to grow her business. Every lifestyle has its trade-offs.

Chapters:

• 0:00 – Introduction to Katrina McGhee
• 1:21 – The Digital Nomad Lifestyle Explained
• 4:09 – The Power of Career Breaks
• 6:51 – Transitioning into Remote Work & Coaching
• 9:39 – From Nomadic Living to a Home Base
• 12:27 – Building a Flexible Coaching Business
• 15:10 – The “No Hustle” Transition Approach
• 17:44 – Planning for the Future with Flexibility
• 32:24 – Navigating Career Transitions & Uncertainty
• 36:37 – Building a Brand Around Career Breaks

KATRINA MCGHEE

Katrina McGhee is a career break and sabbatical coach, digital nomad, and author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies. During her first career break, she traveled the world for 20 months. In her next, she left her corporate job a second time to build her coaching business. Katrina is the co-founder of BreakSpace, the membership community for career breakers and sabbatical takers.

You can connect with Katrina at kmcgheecoaching.com or listen to her podcast, Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee.