Becoming location independent is a journey, not a destination. We're always quick to talk about the stuff that worked... but I wanna talk about the shit that didn't. Maybe it was bad timing, the wrong niche, or just burnout. Whatever it was, failure is (usually) how we get better. So if you're willing to share (and maybe save the rest of us some time)... Share a failure from your journey below, and tell us why you think it happened 👇🏻

Hey guys, Was wondering if there are any ecommerce DTC Ecommerce Klaviyo Email Marketers on here. If you're in London that's even better, let's connect and go for a coffee! Even If you're on the other side of the world, shoot me a message 🙌🏻 Thanks, talk soon :)

I'm curious... for those of you in the group who are teaching English online, what is your current hourly rate? How much do you actually make?

Hello, im in Chiang Mai, so nice , and much quieter than bangkok!. anyway Im a musician , been playing my whole life professionally.. thinking of doing online guitar lesson for the first time in my life , why not? so I have uploaded videos on my instagram page davetecce , and i will put some on youtube , tiktok, and several other websites (long story) So I can play a mean guitar , but i dont know what the heck im doing on zoom. Is there anyone that would be willing to meet with me, and basically do practice zoom calls , until i got it down .. Also there is a setting (something about allowing background noise) that will be the best setting for audio on both ends when doing guitar lessons. so again if anyone s willing to meet with me and just do practice zoom calls etc. i can compensate you obviously. if meeting someone is not the way, then any suggestions on a website or person online that can offer this type of training , just getting hands on experience with zoom.perhaps there is a basic course i should take? thx

Scrolling through platforms like Preply or the educational tags on Xiaohongshu, it is easy to feel discouraged. With skilled teachers from countries with a lower cost of living offering lessons for a fraction of a UK hourly rate, it can feel like the industry is in a race to the bottom. The good news? It is a race you don’t need to run. The Global Reality We must accept that the market has changed. Teachers from the Philippines and Latin America are often excellent, hardworking, and provide a vital service for students who need affordable practice. This isn’t unfair; it is simply global economics. However, just because they can charge less, doesn’t mean you should lower your value. Why You Shouldn't Compete on Price. If you try to match the lowest rates, you will burn out. More importantly, price dictates your student. - Low prices often attract casual "shoppers" looking for a chat. - Sustainable prices attract serious students looking for results. Sell Value, Not Time To stand out, stop selling "English lessons" and start selling specific outcomes. As a native speaker or a specialised tutor, you offer things that bargain-hunting cannot buy: - Cultural Nuance: Understanding how and why we use certain phrases. - Idiomatic Fluency: Polishing advanced speakers to sound natural, not just grammatically correct. - Specialisation: Solving high-stakes problems like IELTS exams or business presentations. The Verdict The market is big enough for everyone. There is a place for affordable conversation practice, and there is a place for premium coaching. Don’t look down on the low-cost market—just choose not to participate in it. Stand firm on your prices, highlight your unique expertise, and you will attract the students who are looking for you, not just the cheapest option.