What does it mean to be an RV Entrepreneur? Did you know that if you run a business or work from your RV you might be considered an RV Entrepreneur?
The perception that full-time RVers are retired people who travel the country in their golden years is changing. Emerging is a new culture of non-retired, hard-working people running businesses or working from their RVs.
And even those retired RVers are getting into the action–starting and running businesses from their home on wheels.
What The Heck Is An RV Entrepreneur?
Heath Padgett, the author of The RV Entrepreneur, says in his book that he and his wife Alyssa are part of a growing trend of people who ālive in an RV and run a business from the road.ā
I asked Alyssa if she could expand on the definition. Hereās what she told me:
āBeing an RV entrepreneur is more about creating a mobile business that allows you to travel full-time and work from anywhere. Some people would classify themselves as “RV entrepreneurs” without actually owning their own business, which almost makes the word entrepreneur a misnomer. A good portion of the people in our community still work full-time jobs or do mostly freelance work. They don’t all necessarily own or want to build their own businesses. Being an RV entrepreneur is really more about the freedom and the lifestyle that allows you to work from anywhere, regardless of how you make income.ā
People have been working from their RVs for a long time. But it took the imagination of Heath and Alyssa to give them an identity, and in my opinion, inspire a culture of RV entrepreneurialism.
Thatās really freakinā powerful: Two twenty-somethings ignited an entire culture of RV Entrepreneurs.
Mic drop.
Ugh, I sound forty-something. Anyway…
Is this why the RV Entrepreneur movement is taking off? Yes and maybe. Letās explore this more.
Why The RV Entrepreneur Movement Is Taking Off
The RV Entrepreneur movement is taking off for multiple reasons. It helps in Google searches when youāve coined a phrase like RV Entrepreneur, and have a book, podcast, and blog about it. But there are other reasons that make this lifestyle more attainable.
Technology has made the biggest impact. Chris and Cherie from Technomadia, talk about how the internet was more challenging when they started out in 2006. Lack of internet was a literal barrier to working from the road for many people.
Now with multiple carriers, plans, wifi, boosters and cafes, Internet access is making remote work more attainable than ever. This shift is going to cause a huge impact on employers, something Iām researching and will write more about.
Other reasons for its popularity are social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc.), infinite online business options, and sites like Flexjobs and Upwork. These platforms and the ability to freelance or build a virtual business, empower people to live a āFlex-Life,ā a life with more flexibility and freedom than ever before.
Hereās what Drew Bensen, fellow RV Entrepreneur, and empowerment coach said when asked about his definition of RV Entrepreneur:
āBeing an RV Entrepreneur means having the freedom to plan my days and my life. Once I started RVing, worlds opened up to me. I realized I had more options; I wasnāt tied down to one place, job, or plan. I could change my mind or path any time I wanted. So I did. I kept my company in Seattle while becoming a published author and certified Empowerment Coach. I can literally create whatever I want and follow the sun at the same time. I donāt know how long Iāll RV, but I do know Iāll be forever changed because of it.ā
Drew is an amazing person with an inspiring story, who has motivated me in so many ways. We were chatting one day about his book Positive Minded People when he said āIām an open book,ā and boom–this image of him holding his book open came to me. Check him out at drewbensen.com.
What It Takes To Be An RV Entrepreneur
It takes a whole lot of Chutzpah to be an RV Entrepreneur (Yiddish term for āGutsā). Freedom and flexibility come at a cost sometimes. You trade in security and stability for some highs and lows. All of which can be magnified by the emotional swings of running a business–especially if youāre a new entrepreneur like me.
There are a lot of things to grapple with as an RV Entrepreneur. RVing on its own takes a lot of adaptability, flexibility, and patience. Being an entrepreneur takes much of the same along with courage and unrelenting commitment. Youāre on a constant roller coaster of emotions. If you like a challenge, then congratulations, welcome to the RV Entrepreneur club!
Eric and Brittany Highland, fellow RV Entrepreneurs and online marketing consultants who run Knektion.com, said this:
āAn entrepreneur is someone who creates a product or service to solve a problem and has the drive to endure the desert between idea and release to market. An RV Entrepreneur is a special kind of crazy, adding in the challenges of nomadism: finding connectivity, your home on wheels breaking when you least expect it (and when you have a client call in 10 minutes), building a community out of isolation. Hereās the good news: Community is out there and weāre all about crazy!ā
You can check out their adorable family and travel stories at RV Wanderlust.
So whatās an RV Entrepreneur to do with all these emotions? Lucky for you there are great resources to help you.
For full-time RVing check out:
- Full-Time RVing-The Emotional Journey – A group dedicated to discussing the emotional aspects of being a full-time RVer.
- RV To Freedom-5 Steps To Freedom – A free webinar series kicking off in April 2018 to help you transition to the RV lifestyle.
- Xscapers – A club catering to active RVers. They offer resources and community events.
For RV Entrepreneurialism check out:
- Remote Work 101: Work, Live, and Travel Where You Want Course (re-opens in June 2018) – A course led by yours truly on finding remote work. More details below.
- How To Start A Virtual Business So You Can Travel Full Time – Launch your virtual business in 30 days.
- The RV Entrepreneur Facebook Group and Podcast – learn about how people make money on the road.
- The RV Entrepreneur Summit (See details below).
The point is that if you want to be an RV Entrepreneur, you can. There are resources and support for this lifestyle. If you really want to go deeper into the traits to be successful, read this article written by my close friend and business collaborator, Liz Wilcox.
The RV Entrepreneur Summit
The RV Entrepreneur Summit is in a class of its own. This is a unique event that caters to people in different phases of their RV journey. You might be new to RVing or havenāt purchased an RV yet. Maybe you already run a business or want to start a business. Or you just want to hang out with cool people and eat brisket. Whatever your motivation, the RV Entrepreneur Summit has something for everyone.
Topics range from building a business from the road, creating content, getting internet, road-schooling, self-publishing and more!
Bryce and I attended the very first RVE Summit before we would call ourselves RV Entrepreneurs. We attended again the second year and it was exciting to see how much it had grown–both from an attendance and content perspective. A year later I was even speaking at the summit! Hellooo Chutzpah!
From left to right: Lindsay McKenzie from Follow Your Detour, Julie Chickery from Chickery’s Travels, Camille Attell from More Than A Wheelin’, Liz Wilcox from The Virtual Campground. Photo credit: Joe Hendricks. https://joehendricks.com
My Blog Mastermind Group and I led a session called Blogging For Business to teach people how to make money from their blog. We carefully planned and executed a really valuable session. Iām not being very humble about this, but itās because we worked our tushies off (aka Yiddish booty) and made sure that every minute would be useful. We got rave reviews and many people started a blog or put a plan in place to monetize their blog shortly after.
One of the best perks of the Summit is connecting and collaborating with others. You can hang out in the co-working space and brainstorm, create things, and heck even launch a business right on the spot!
I was having some website troubles that week and was able to sit with Teresa Ott, fellow RV Entrepreneur and website guru, who helped me figure them out.
Hereās Teresaās definition an RV Entrepreneur:
āBeing an RV Entrepreneur is the willingness to put long-term freedom above all else–even if it means short term-discomfort or sacrifice to get there. Pushing ahead despite fear and unknowns. Continual cycles of learning then adapting based on that new knowledge. Not only being willing to change but recognizing when I need to change and acting on it.ā
You can check out Teresa and her wizarding website abilities at The Fearless Venture.
Let’s Talk About Remote Work
āBut weāre not RV Entrepreneurs,ā say my full-time RVing friends. Ok cool, itās not for everyone. But maybe youāre just not sure if running a business is your thing.
Thatās ok too. There are so many avenues in this lifestyle. When I first started out, I wasnāt an RV Entrepreneur, in fact, I still struggle with calling myself that at times. Just like RVing itself, this entrepreneur lifestyle has to be flexible and fluid. Just because I’ve worked for others or freelanced, doesn’t mean I’m not (or wasn’t) an RVE. It took some time to find my footing and learn the ropes of earning money remotely. And if I’m being totally honest, I’m still learning.
To check out how Iāve earned income as a full-time RVer, click here.
My definition of an RV Entrepreneur is this:
āAn RV Entrepreneur is someone whoās willing to let go of security and stability to pursue a life of flexibility and freedom. She tries new things, lives outside of comforts zones, and moves forward in spite of fear.ā
My definition has nothing to do with running a business (or even living in an RV) and is more about designing a life on my terms. Itās like Alyssa said in the beginning, the term RV Entrepreneur might be a misnomer.
Frankly what you call yourself isnāt important. How you design your life is.
Work, Live, and Travel Where You Want
If youāve decided that you want to work remotely and not necessarily run a business from the road, then check out the Remote Work 101: Work, Live, and Travel Where You Want course. I provide support and resources for the following:
- See remote work opportunities you didnāt see before
- Identify companies that hire remote workers
- Identify jobs that can be done remotely
- Build more confidence in your skill sets
- Expand your thinking about your qualifications
If youāre nervous about the remote work job market, thatās okay. Iām here for you and can help you navigate it.
There are more remote jobs than there are people to fill them. I know this because of research and experience. As a former manager and corporate trainer, I have written many job descriptions and hired many people.
Hereās the secret that employers donāt want you to know–no one is ever truly qualified for those job descriptions. Employers write them to describe the perfect candidate, but finding that candidate is like finding a purple unicorn. So they look for people with skills that are close enough, transferable skills, or people they like and feel can be trained.
The trick is to position yourself as a flexible and likable candidate. I can help you do that.
Sign up here to get on the waiting list for the Remote Work 101 course, re-opening in June 2018.
Remote Work 101: Work, Live, and Travel Where You Want
Get on the waitlist: Next session starts June 2018.
Conclusion
The beauty of this lifestyle is that you get to choose how you live, work, and spend your day. You can camp and hike and make money, and not call yourself an RV Entrepreneur–or call yourself one–whatever works for you.
However, there are some benefits to being part of a like-minded community, where people know your name and accept you for who you are. Yāknow like a rolling Cheers bar, without the witty banter–ok, ok, with the witty banter.
If you need some extra motivation, check out what Britt Densford said about being an RV Entrepreneur:
āI have been an entrepreneur for 40 years. My choice to be a full-time RVer only means I focus my passion for business in a new way. An entrepreneur is a person who is willing to risk loss in order to make money. The challenges and risks of business and RVing are similar. Both call on your creativity and test your resolve to reach your goals. I will be an entrepreneur until I die!ā
Britt and her husband Stephen travel full-time in their RV and run The Art of RV Harmony, a website and YouTube channel dedicated to helping people navigate the relationship aspects of the RV lifestyle.
There you have it: RV Entrepreneur. Two seemingly unrelated words that when put together define an entire movement. Donāt let the movement pass you by. Stick out a thumb and weāll pick you up on the way to freedom.
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Great post Camille! I like how you have added clarity to what makes a person an RV Entrepreneur.
Thanks Britt and thanks for contributing. You and Stephen are such an inspiration to us and many RVers. Glad I could help clarify things ;).
Wow! Camille! Such an incredibly powerful piece. The beauty in this ‘movement’ and journey is we aren’t alone more are we aren’t lonely. I personally, have never been in a place (physiologically and spiritually) where, though there’s a level of competition, the eagerness and selflessness to HELP each other become successful Nomad Entrepreneurs is THE mantra. Without you, others mentioned in this piece and some sidekicks, I could never have, in my wildest dreams catapulted my desire to be my own boss and succeed at it. THANK YOU. Thank all, not only those mentioned in your blog here, but all those who said ‘you can do it’ with a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Truthfully, I never found that BRV (Before RV). Maybe there’s something to that?
Hey Lisa I’m so glad you liked this article and that you feel supported in this community. I agree that RVers are very supportive and RV Entrepreneurs share their insights on how to succeed in this lifestyle. It’s more like friendly competition that competition. I’m so happy that I and others have helped you, and I love the direction you are headed with you content. #alwaysonliberty #RVinteriordesign š
Love it Camille. Such a foundational post that so many of us have overlooked writing! You’re always adding in the missing piece!
Thank you Lindsay! I do think a lot about these things. Perhaps I need a new hobby š
I thoroughly enjoyed this post. My husband and I have been full-time in our RV for 8 years. I am building a business that will help us break away from the ties of the RV Park we live in and the job resident manager job I’ve had for the past four years.
I’m also no stranger to the term “entrepreneur” as I have had side-jobs working as an independent contractor in some form or fashion over the past 35 years. I describe this as having an entrepreneurial spirit. The desire to work for yourself from your own home.
I will be following this blog as I am enjoying the inspiration it gives me to push on as an RV Entrepreneur.
Hi Sue wow 8 years in an RV! You’re probably ready for a sailboat by now š I’m glad you found this article helpful and will continue to follow our blog. Being an entrepreneur is new for us, so you could probably teach us a few things. Keep us posted on your journey too-it sounds like an exciting time for you and your husband.
Hi, Really enjoyed your article and suggestions for all levels of skill sets. My husband & I are both retired on a modest income. Own our Motorhome & have considered going full time but worry about cost exceeding our budget. Thus, I would like to do something I enjoy remotely that could increase our income enough to travel without worry.
I am a retired executive admin but have been away from it awhile & am most likely not as fast at multi tasking as I once was. I love administrative type duties; PowerPoint etc. I am also creative and love crafts and I make jewelry. What do you think would be a good fit? I would probably enjoy making & selling my jewelry but donāt know if that would bring in enough additional income. I am also thinking of creating simple instructions online for beginners. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Hi Dixie – well shoot it looks like I missed your comment from a while ago. Sorry about that! It sounds like you have a lot of skill sets and a variety of things you like. That’s great. it means there are many remote jobs that you’d be good at and that you’d like. Did you sign up for the Remote Work Roundup email series yet? In it I offer a mini-skills assessment, which helps people focus on what skills they have and then use that to look for remote jobs that match. I think you could be anything from a visual assistant–since you have done admin work and know PowerPoint–to something more creative since you like making jewelry. Here’s a link to get the email series in case you don’t have that yet. https://www.morethanawheelin.com/7-remote-work-paths/Take Care – Camille