Can you make money teaching online?  I am always looking for ways to make money online. So, when the opportunity came up to be an Online Adjunct Professor at the University of the People (UoPeople), I decided I would accept. Today, I'm sharing my honest experience including the challenges, the rewards, and the income reveal, all with a healthy dose of reality for my fellow digital nomads. University of the People logo. The Accidental Professor: My Journey into Academia My initial aim was simply to teach English online, a skill I honed with a shiny new TEFL certificate. Little did I know, my background in HR, coupled with degrees in computer science and business administration, opened up even more exciting avenues at UoPeople. It turns out, my diverse skillset wasn't just collecting digital dust on my resume – UoPeople needed instructors to teach english, computer science, and business administration! I think they were as happy to find me as I was to find them. I had never taught at a university before, but I was ready for the challenge. The application started smoothly, just an online application that took an hour or so. There wasn't even an interview. Then came the delightful world of international degree certification. My US degrees were easy to verify, but my Master's from O.P. Jindal University in India required a special "NACES certification" which is a process that is very confusing, involves way too many people, and costs at least $100 USD. I hope you never have to go through it, but if you do, stay strong! It took forever to get my transcripts to the certifying organization, but eventually, my application was complete, my degrees were certified, and I completed the onboarding to be a new Online Adjunct Instructor at the University of the People. I was ready to teach my first course. My First Term: Diving into the Deep End of Online Education For my first term (January 30th to April 2nd, 2025), I decided to ease myself in with one course. The university randomly assigns courses you are qualified to teach and I ended up with Intermediate English. I had a warm group of students from all over the world. The curriculum was already laid out, which was helpful for a new teacher like me. My main tasks involved creating engaging discussions in the online forums, grading written assignments, and occasionally troubleshooting technical issues for students. Beyond the core responsibilities, I made it a point to encourage and support my students in their learning journey. There was also a weekly virtual meeting for new instructors and the requirement to log into the platform at least every 48 hours. Over the course of that term, I logged just over 80 hours and 12 minutes . That breaks down to approximately 1.27 hours per day , around 8.89 hours per week , and roughly 40 hours per month . The beauty of it was the flexibility – I could work whenever I wanted, as long as I met the deadlines and the 48-hour login requirement. Some days were light, just checking emails, while others involved hours of grading and responding to discussion posts. The Good, The Bad, and The "Could Be Better" Like any experience, this one had its ups and downs. The pros  included gaining valuable teaching experience, the small stipend, which I will detail in a moment, and the rewarding interaction with people keen on learning. It's is pretty inspiring to connect with students from such diverse backgrounds and witness their progress. However, there were also cons . Despite being an intermediate English class, some students weren't quite ready for that level. There was also limited influence over the curriculum, so I didn't get to practice designing courses. The realities of global education also presented some challenges. It was humbling to learn about the limited resources some students faced, with stories of long journeys just to access a computer. On a more personal note, despite my best attempts at coaching and guidance, one student ultimately didn't meet the academic requirements. Delivering that failing grade was not easy, and I reviewed his work multiple times looking for some sort of redemption, but in the end they failed. To make it worse, the student sent me multiple emails insulting me, making excuses, and demanding I give them a passing grade. Advice for Aspiring Remote Educators (and a Reality Check) Thinking of becoming an online adjunct professor? If you have the time, patience, and a genuine desire to help others learn, I say go for it! The experience of connecting with students and contributing to their education is rewarding. However, it's crucial to view this, at least if your situation is like mine, as an opportunity to give more than you receive. It is a volunteer opportunity with a stipend. Ensure your main income streams are stable before taking on this role. The stipend alone will not fund your digital nomad adventure. The Moment You've Been Waiting For: The Income Reveal! Alright, you skipped the whole blog and made it to the section where I reveal my earnings. For the 80 hours and 12 minutes I dedicated to teaching Intermediate English, my total earnings were $300 USD . Breaking that down, it comes to roughly $3.74 per hour , about $33.33 per week , and around $142.86 per month . That is relatively not much money, and it definitely won't fund a lifestyle. While the stipend was low for a single, non-credit introductory course. The stipend for credit-bearing courses in high-demand fields like computer science and business administration is significantly higher. I just started teaching my second term which includes two undergraduate courses in computer science and expect a much higher stipend. So, consider this my "level one" income reveal. I will make a future blog where I share the breakdown of earnings from teaching the two computer science courses this term. A Game-Changing Development: Accreditation Achieved! But wait, there's more! Halfway through my first term, something unexpected happened. The University of the People earned WASC accreditation from the Senior College and University Commission which is the very same accreditation held by giants like Stanford University. This is a game-changer for UoPeople students, making their hard-earned credits more respected and transferable, and opening doors to Federal Financial Aid. For me, it was another twist on the path of my digital nomad adventure. I went from being a volunteer English instructor at a non-accredited institution to teaching computer science to undergraduates at an accredited  university. This accreditation significantly boosts the value of the education UoPeople provides, and I'm humbled to be a part of it. Western Association of Schools and Colleges logo. My initial foray into the world of online education with the University of the People has been an eye-opening adventure. It is not a instant ticket into the digital nomad lifestyle, but it offers a unique and fulfilling way to contribute to global education, gain valuable remote work experience, and make a little money while you travel. This experience perfectly encapsulates the evolving landscape of remote work and the various possibilities for funding your freedom and living life on your own terms, one online class at a time. Adventure on!

Tired of the "laptop on the beach" influencers? Remote and Rich offers realistic strategies for earning while traveling. Here, you can learn how to fund your adventures without emptying your bank account or borrowing money from your parents. This blog is the no bullshit guide to making money online. It is not always pretty. Sometimes you earn pennies per hour. Other times you catch a beautiful sunset on a beach that almost no one knows exists. Life is a little brighter when it's on your terms. Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and envied those perfectly filtered photos of someone 'working' from a hammock in Bali? Yeah, me too. Then I realized most of them are probably deeper in debt than they are in the water. The truth is, the whole 'laptop on the beach' thing is often more marketing than reality. It's a carefully curated image designed to sell you a dream, and usually one an unrealistic one. Usually these people want you to enroll in their digital marketing course, subscribe to their youtube, and add them on Insta.  My name is Zachary, and I explore the world and making an adventure out of any situation. But unlike those Instagram gurus, I'm also serious about financial stability. I've spent the last three years building a sustainable income that allows me to travel on my  terms. And no, it doesn't involve selling a 'secret course' or pretending I run a Fortune 500 company from my hostel. My journey hasn't been about overnight riches or private jets to Thailand, even though that would be cool. It's been about smart planning, consistent effort, and a healthy dose of realism. I've explored a lot of different avenues, from freelance platforms like Upwork to building my own online businesses, even spending some time in the corporate world with companies like Uber and LinkedIn. Along the way, I've had my share of successes and  failures. But those experiences, both good and bad, have given me valuable insights into what actually  works when it comes to earning while traveling. And that's what I'm here to share with you, so you can hopefully skip some of the challenges and start making money online more quickly than I did. So, what can you expect from Remote and Rich? Simply put, I'm here to provide you with the real  deal on earning money while traveling. No fluff, no get-rich-quick schemes, just honest, actionable advice based on my own experiences. This blog is your go-to resource for learning how to fund your adventures without emptying your bank account or calling your mom for money. Below I outline some of the content you can expect out of this blog. Proven Income Strategies:  I'll share the specific methods I've used to generate income online, from freelance work and online business ventures to more creative approaches. We'll dive deep into each strategy, exploring the pros, cons, and the nitty-gritty details of how to make them work for you . And, where possible, I'll share real-life data on my own experiences, including how much time I invested and the returns I saw. This way, you can judge for yourself whether a particular strategy aligns with your goals and time constraints. This also includes the ins and outs of structuring and managing online businesses, from setting up the legal framework to handling the financial side of things. An LLC can be a handy thing. One area where I've found consistent success is in HR freelancing. This involves a range of tasks, from recruiting for companies using platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, to conducting virtual interviews and managing digital contracts. On the other side of the coin, I also coach job seekers, helping them optimize their social media presence, craft compelling resumes, and hone their interview skills. Having hired hundreds of people throughout my career, I understand what companies are looking for and how candidates can effectively present themselves. This type of freelancing can be particularly lucrative, as many businesses are increasingly relying on remote HR professionals. Practical Travel Tips:  Because earning money is only half the battle. I'll also share practical tips on how to travel smarter, whether it's finding budget-friendly flights, navigating local transportation, or securing affordable accommodation. But beyond the logistics, I'll also share insights on something crucial for any traveler: effective communication. Being able to connect with locals, ask for help, and build genuine relationships can transform your journey from a solitary experience to one filled with meaningful connections. Think of it as your crash course in becoming a savvy and  socially adept globetrotter. When it comes to practical travel tips, I'll be your go-to source for navigating the world of travel technology and  local transportation. We'll explore essential tools for booking flights ( Skyscanner.com , Hopper.com ), finding accommodation ( Airbnb.com , Booking.com ), and ordering food ( UberEats.com , Didi.com , Rappi.com , DoorDash.com , Grubhub.com ). But navigating a new city isn't just about finding your way; it's also about getting around efficiently and safely. We'll discuss how to utilize ride-sharing like Uber.com , Lyft.com , Didi.com , and BlaBlaCar.com  (where available), as well as provide guidance on navigating public transportation systems like buses and trains. I'll also share insights on staying connected abroad with services like Google Fi  and eSIMs, as well as tips on packing light, choosing the right luggage, and negotiating long-term stays with locals. We'll delve into the pros and cons of different lodging situations, from shared rooms and hostels to Airbnbs, traditional rentals, and hotels. And of course, we'll cover essential navigation tools like Google Maps  and communication apps like WhatsApp  and Instagram . And crucially, we'll cover essential safety tips for travelers, from protecting your belongings to staying aware of your surroundings and avoiding potentially risky situations. Consider this your comprehensive guide to becoming a tech-savvy, and safe , traveler. Digital Nomad Lifestyle:  The digital nomad life isn't always rainbows and sunshine. It comes with its own set of challenges, from staying productive in new environments to building a community on the road. It also requires a certain level of resilience and adaptability. Traveling to new places, encountering different cultures and languages, and navigating unfamiliar systems (from local cuisine to travel apps) can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming at times. For example, it is pretty much impossible for me to buy a shirt that fits me as I am relatively tall, so I spend a lot of time at the tailor getting small holes in my clothes repaired before they become big problems. l will share my insights on how to cultivate a positive and open mindset, embrace the unexpected, and bounce back from the inevitable hiccups that come with the territory. You will miss flights, and if you are lucky, it will be the best thing that ever happened to you. We'll explore strategies for maintaining mental well-being, managing stress, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth. My focus here is on sustainable  income and responsible  travel. I believe that exploring the world should be an enriching experience, not one that leaves you broke or contributes to over-tourism. We'll talk about building a long-term plan for your travel dreams, one that allows you to enjoy the freedom of the road without sacrificing your financial well-being or the well-being of the places you visit. Remember, leave it better than you found it.  Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the coconut on the beach? The image of the digital nomad sipping cocktails while effortlessly running a multi-million dollar business from their laptop is, shall we say, humorously overblown. Don't get me wrong, the freedom to work from different locations is a fantastic perk. But the reality is often less about pristine beaches and more about… well, reality. Sometimes, your 'office' is a small Airbnb dinner table at 3 a.m. because your client is in Europe and you're sweating it out in Panama. Sometimes, it's too hot and sandy to even think  about working on the beach (let's be real, sand, water, and electronics don't mix). And working in a cafe? Sure, the ambiance is nice, but try focusing with the clatter of espresso machines and the chatter of a dozen conversations swirling around you. I'd bet most people posting those idyllic beach pics are just checking emails, scrolling through Facebook, and catching up on YouTube. The reality of earning while traveling is often about networking, or in other words, a lot of video calls, some of which actually lead to projects that pay. Or maybe you start a YouTube channel that nobody wants to watch, forcing you to pivot to freelance writing (or something else entirely). Maybe it's about launching an online clothing company only to discover you don't have the capital to market and produce at scale, making your product non-competitive. Or maybe it's about endless corporate Zoom meetings while you're supposed to be "living the dream." Or spending hours crafting and blasting a marketing campaign that yields minimal results. It's about the hustle, the grind, and the constant need to adapt and evolve. I remember one time I took on a new client. The project was to help them map the market of available Data Executives for a large clothing retailer and then engage them for employment. I was stoked about this project because it paid very well and there was more work behind it should I perform. At the time, I was staying in a small town in Latin America that I hope you never have to visit. It was around 8am so I figured I would shower and get started on this new project. Halfway into the shower my new "employer" calls. I should have let it go to voicemail, but I didn't. I turned the water off, and looked at the phone thinking about what my client wanted so early in the morning. I answered it, and what ensued was an hour long phone call, where I am wet and naked, explaining to my new client what a data warehouse is and the complications of migrating it from physical to cloud. So here is your first tip of earning online, do not answer the phone when you are in the shower.  While I appreciate the allure of the 'laptop on the beach' dream, I also believe in being realistic about what it takes to achieve it. This blog is about giving you the tools and knowledge to create your own  version of the dream, one that's grounded in practical strategies and sustainable practices, not just wishful thinking (or perfectly curated Instagram posts). Now that you have a better idea of what Remote and Rich is all about, I'd love for you to become part of the community. If you're tired of the fluff and ready for some real talk about earning while traveling, then subscribe to the newsletter below. You will receive updates on new posts, many of which I plan to share my exact earning strategy, time commitment, and earnings. It's the best way to stay connected and never miss a beat. But this isn't just a one-way street. I want to hear from you ! What are your biggest travel dreams? What challenges are you facing when it comes to funding your adventures? Connect with me on social media – the buttons are below! Let's share our experiences and support each other on this journey to freedom and financial independence. I'm excited to hear your stories and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about exploring the world. Ultimately, Remote & Rich is about more than just making money online. It's about creating a life of freedom, flexibility, and adventure. It's about designing a lifestyle that allows you to pursue your passions, explore new cultures, and experience the world on your own terms. It's about ditching the cubicle grind and embracing a life of purpose and fulfillment. I'm incredibly excited to start this journey with you. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of travel, regardless of their background or financial situation. And I'm committed to providing you with the honest, practical, and actionable advice you need to make your travel dreams a reality. Join me as we explore the world, one adventure at a time. Let's get remote, and let's get rich (in experiences, if not always in dollars!). Adventure on!

Decentralized cloud computing can help save the internet. Introduction Hey Remote and Rich readers! If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for innovative ways to boost your income, especially while embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. Today, I'm sharing my experience with Coinbase's "Learn & Earn" program, specifically diving into the world of ALEPH. It's a fantastic way to not only earn a bit of crypto but also educate yourself on emerging technologies. Let's get into it! What is Coinbase Learn & Earn? Coinbase's Learn & Earn program is a user-friendly platform that rewards you with cryptocurrency for watching educational videos and completing short quizzes. It's a win-win: you expand your knowledge about various crypto projects and earn some digital assets in the process. For anyone interested in the crypto space, it's a perfect starting point. My Experience I decided to tackle the ALEPH learning module, which consisted of three concise lessons, each promising $1 USD worth of ALEPH upon completion. The process was remarkably straightforward. Time Efficiency: I completed all three paid lessons in just 2 minutes and 37 seconds. That's right, less than three minutes to potentially earn $3! Clear Content: The lessons were simple and informative, clearly explaining ALEPH's value proposition. Value Proposition: ALEPH is positioned as a decentralized cloud computing network that rewards contributors. Think of it as a system where you can get paid for contributing to a distributed cloud infrastructure. Real-World Application: One of the most interesting aspects was the mention of Ubisoft, the video game giant. They highlighted how Aleph is being used in projects such as Captain Laserhawk. This gives the coin a clear real world use case. The Fourth Step: After the paid lessons, there was an optional, unpaid trial of the ALEPH cloud, involving "Playing Captain Laserhawk with Aleph Cloud." Payout Timing: Coinbase notes that earnings may take up to 24 hours to appear in your account. What is ALEPH? A Deeper Dive Now, let's delve deeper into ALEPH. Chain-Agnostic Cloud: ALEPH functions as a chain-agnostic cloud, built for AI workloads, that allows users to store and compute data. This is crucial in a world increasingly reliant on cloud services. Learn more at: https://aleph.im/ Decentralized GPU Compute: Aleph.im 's decentralized cloud is for high-performance GPU computing. This is very important for AI, ML, and rendering workloads. Rewarding Contributors: Its mechanism rewards those who contribute resources to the network, fostering a collaborative and distributed cloud environment. Use Cases and Solutions: ALEPH allows you to “build dApps without any centralized components”. They offer computing solutions like "Private VM," "24/7 VM," and "Functions" (serverless computing). They also offer storage solutions, and are working to add storage resource nodes. Private AI: Libertai.io employs the strength of aleph.im 's compute nodes, giving life to a fully decentralized, peer to peer AI. Market Data and Potential: As with any cryptocurrency, it's essential to research ALEPH's market data, including its market capitalization, trading volume, and price history. Understanding these metrics can help you make informed decisions. ALEPH's Future and Roadmap ALEPH has a clear vision for the future. In 2025, they are focused on enhancing user experience, scalability, privacy, and security. Key developments include: AI solutions GPU marketplaces Decentralized load balancers This roadmap demonstrates ALEPH's commitment to innovation and growth in the decentralized cloud space. Staking and Network Security ALEPH uses a staking mechanism to secure its network. With a minimum of 10,000 ALEPH, stakeholders can participate in securing the network. Rewards are distributed every 10 days, allowing your stake to grow over time. This empowers users to contribute to the network's stability while earning rewards. Summary and Opinion My experience with Coinbase's ALEPH Learn & Earn was positive. The process was quick, the information was digestible, and the potential to earn crypto while learning is a fantastic incentive. Pros: User-friendly interface. Concise and informative lessons. Real-world applications. Easy way to earn small amounts of crypto. Strong future road map. Cons: Payout time can vary. The 4th step is unpaid. For digital nomads and anyone looking to diversify their income streams, exploring platforms like Coinbase Learn & Earn is a worthwhile endeavor. It's a low-risk way to dip your toes into the world of cryptocurrency and learn about cutting-edge technologies. Ready to start your own crypto learning journey? Sign up for Coinbase using my link and we can each get $20 in BTC: https://coinbase.com/join/M24CPZG?src=ios-share Don't forget to subscribe to Remote and Rich for more tips on earning money while traveling the world. Advenure on!

Glitching the system: Sharing the Cheatcode The allure of working from anywhere, with money to adventure, melting into new cultures, and ditching the traditional 9-to-5 is strong. I've chased that dream and accomplished it, and I'm here to share the real deal. There are ups and downs, and everything in between. Stay tuned to the end where I reveal how much money I have made remotely since I began this adventure more than 5 years ago. Packing light for life's adventures: the essence of a true digital nomad. The Rat Race: Cubicle or Cage? The third alarm on my phone goes off. This means that it is time to actually wake up. The first two alarms are just to prepare me for this moment. It is still dark because my company believes if we start working before other companies that the owner will make more money. I take a quick shower, iron a shirt, and call an Uber to work. Including the Uber ride to the office, this takes about 90 minute and at least $10. With inflation that is like $15 in today's dollars. Sometimes the sun is still not up when I get to the office. We have desks that are like semi-cubicles where the partitions go up to your shoulders. I guess these are meant to give us the feeling of privacy without actually giving any privacy. The carpet is like the carpet you find in the hallways of chain hotels, just a little less colorful. I don't drink coffee at this point in my life, but one of the "perks" is as much coffee and powdered creamer as you want. There is an ongoing uprising for liquid creamer over powdered creamer management is tring to stifle. You have to wear a shirt with a collar, but you can wear jeans instead of dress pants. Do not leave the coffee pot empty without brewing another pot for everyone unless you enjoy being metaphorically crucified by email in from of the entire office. Minutes before 6am, everyone is rushing to get their styrofoam cup of joe before we are expected to be at our semi-cubicles pounding away at the computer and phone to make the owner of the company his money. When our lunch hour comes, we skip it, or eat at our desks while we work. It is considered a weakness to take a lunch and managers regularly note the people who dared take their hour lunch instead of working. They probably keep a spreadsheet. Do not ever let your Microsoft Teams status go yellow. It is how the manager keeps tabs on who is at their desk or not. I changed the settings so that it took longer to go yellow than the default settings. I work like this for over a year, Monday through Friday, and two Saturdays a month. I remember one time I requested to take my birthday off of work to spend with my family and I had the bankroll of time off to cover it. It was not approved or denied, it was ignored. When I first interviewed for this company they showed me a spreadsheet of all the commission everyone was making. It showed people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and even one person making almost a million dollars in commissions. I never once saw a commission check and I did more business than almost everyone in the office of close to 100 employees. This was life at Total Quality Logistics, working 60 to 80 hours a week for $35,000 per year minus taxes. I would go on to work different office jobs over the next few years. Some had Red Bulls, but you could only wear jeans on Fridays. Others would let you leave 15 minutes early, but it was a sin to be late. They all had the same dull commercial carpets and they all talked about being a "family". Managers were all so proud of how much commission everyone was making, but employees rarely felt as happy , As a top performer in almost every role at every company I worked at for almost five years, I saw one commission check that was around $100. I decided to stop working commission jobs. From Choking to a Breath of Fresh Air Fast forward a couple years. I am commuting 3 hours a day to a job as a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist that was sucking the soul out of me. We worked in a makeshift office at an airport warehouse. You could hear cattle mooing and smell the shit of live animals that were being shipped around the world. There were flies everywhere and I would pick up shifts on Saturdays to make a little extra money. People counted on me to feed and clothe them. Something had to change. I started studying at university and applying to remote jobs. It took time, almost a year, but a lovey company named Sanford Health called me and offered me a fully remote and full-time job as a Sourcing Specialist for CNAs starting immediately. It even paid me more money than I was making in warehouse. My responsibilities at Sanford Health included managing recruiting resources and a small recruiting budget to create demand for the jobs offered by Sanford Health. I worked remotely and happily with them for over a year. Remote work is still work, but it is not the soul draining room of cubicles with an occasional potluck you are afraid to get food poisoning from. The choice to work with Sanford Health pivoted me into the world of remote work and I have not worked in an office since. It also helped me develop a set of skills companies secretly and highly demand. Remote but not a Nomad: The Big Tech Adventures Sanford Health was great to me. I was treated with respect, the work of hiring CNAs gave me a sense of purpose, and the direct deposit always arrived on time. With my experience there I got better at recruiting and my market value started to increase. After over a year with Sanford Health, I found full-time and fully remote contract job working as a Technical Sourcer at Linkedin . This is essentially major league for recruiters because the LinkedIn Recruiting platform is considered the gold standard of recruiting software and the LInkedIn social network is positioned for professional connections. I worked for LInkedIn through a 3rd party staffing company and my income would be doubled. I became a master of Linkedin Recruiter and connected with some of the brightest data scientists in the world. In a way though it was difficult. The people I worked with seemed to think they were superior to others and it showed constantly in emails and video calls. Still, I am thankful for that opportunity. Contracts are set for a certain duration. Sometimes they end on time, sometimes they are extended, and sometimes they end early. I finished up my contract at LinkedIn and it was time for my next play. That next play would be another contract, but this time at Amazon supporting their Alexa AI devision hiring AI Software Engineers and Product managers. At the time Amazon had the largest amount of recruiters of any private company and you could feel it. We were not coworkers, we were competitors. I was still using LinkedIn Recruiter to source candidates and also a tool called Beamery. When this contract ended I felt relief that I was getting out of there. Going International: From Remote Worker to Digital Nomad When my contract at Amazon ended I did not have any other work lined up. I was in Denver with a massive rent payment, a distaste for freezing temperatures, and no income. The pandemic was winding down and travel restrictions were lifting around the world. I decided I was going to take a trip. Skyscanner.com had a cheap flight to Medellin, Colombia and I bought a one way ticket. This would prove to be another life changing decision. Since I did not have a job, I was applying and interviewing while on vacation. About three weeks into my trip I lined up a well paying, fully remote and full-time job on contract with Uber as a Technical Sourcer. I would be recruiting Software Engineers for their Uber Eats Platform. It was similar to working at Amazon and LinkedIn because we used LinkedIn Recruiter and Beamery for most of our tasks. It was initially supposed to be a 6-month contract, but they liked me and extended it. I tried to keep it quiet that I was abroad, but my manager was from Medellin and I found it strategic to share my situation. I worked there for about. a year, as a digital nomad in multiple countries, saving my USD and enjoying the low cost of living abroad. It felt like I found a loophole. Now, I have been living abroad for over three years and working remote for over five. I made the jump from cubicle, to remote worker, to digital nomad, and what an adventure it has been. I have tried food some people have never heard of, and I still wear Nike from top to bottom. Sometimes the sky is bluer on the other side of the equator. The In-betweens: My Online Money Side Quests I have made a few other attempts at steady online income worth sharing. Unfortunately, for me most of these did not make any money. Fortunately for you, I am going to tell you which ones were losers so you do not have to find out the hard way. My first attempt at making money online was a company named Mineral. The plan was simple. I would create an online store that used a subscription model to sell clothing basics like socks, underwear and t-shirts. I decided to start with socks. I designed 5 models, their packaging (with the help of a designer from Fiverr.com ) and sourced a manufacturer in China using Alibaba.com I formed the LLC the traditional way by going to the state website, inputing my information, and paying the fee. Then I signed up for Shopify.com  and built the store and brand. I set a budget of $1000 and decided that if I spent that before I made $1000 in revenue, I would shut it down. I quickly made a couple sales after launch, including to customers around the world, but I quickly used up my budget and realized I had failed. It takes a lot of money to market a clothing product and produce enough units to get a good price on manufacturing. I shut the company down and was left with a box of socks and an informal education in business administration. Still, I did not give up. The next idea I implemented was a remote recruiting company. See, I had been a recruiter at some of the biggest firms in the world. I saw how the business worked, including the financials. I realized I was the product the companies were selling and they were charging a very high price for my service. If I could start my own firm, my overhead costs would be lower, I could offer the same product to clients, and maybe do it all remote for a living. I used Legalzoom.com  to set up the LLC, get a domain name, business insurance, and even a website. It took about a week to get Trustful, my new recruiting company, set up. I got to work contacting potential customers and soon I had signed up a very famous celebrity who wanted to make a fashiontech product. I would be helping build the team to bring the product to life. Recruiting contracts are interesting though in that you do not get paid until someone is hired, and usually still another 60 or so days after that. This meant that there was no guarantee I would make any money for my work, and even if I did, it could be months until I saw the money. At the time, I still had not worked my first remote job or made any money online. I shut the company down when Sanford Health, discussed earlier in this blog, offered me my first full-time and fully remote job. I lost about $500 - 1000 starting Trustful. Upwork was my next and probably most successful side quest into the world of online work. Upwork.com is a gig platform used mostly by digital companies and workers. I built a profile and highlighted my skills, specifically in the realm of HR consulting and recruiting. I quickly learned about the fierce competition and the constant hustle for gigs. The biggest challenge? Fighting for $100 jobs amidst a sea of proposals. My strategy was to prioritize my reputation on Upwork, building a complete profile and maintaining excellent stats like my Job Success Score. I was upfront with clients, emphasizing that their satisfaction was more important than any single job. This approach helped me secure long-term contracts and earn a near-perfect rating. I still take UpWork jobs and in fact just started a new one this week. My next attempt at making a living online was a YouTube channel. A Digital Adventure,  was an ambitious project where I would hire people from around the world using Upwork.com to film city tours. It seemed like a great idea. But $2,000 and six months later, I had less than 500 subscribers and a hard lesson in the costs of content creation. You have to have 1000 subscribers and meet a few other metrics to get monetized on YouTube. If I could do it again, I'd be more focused on which cities I chose to film and extra conscious on how much I was paying my videographers. Still, if you want to see high-quality videos from places like Bangkok, Thailand, Quito, Ecuador, Mexico City, Mumbai India, Medellin, Colombia, or like 20 other beautiful places, you can check out the channel. Overall, a fun experience that taught me a ton about video editing a creating a youtube channel, but a fail. Another try at getting rich online has been my journey on Coinbase.com . I've made about $100 in rewards over a few years, but the volatility of crypto investing makes it a risky game. For those interested in crypto investing, Coinbase staking, and anything blockchain, it's important that you know the risks. There is money to be lost. I am not qualified to give investing advice so I would recommend you find someone who is if you want to invest in crypto. Online poker? Not a sustainable income source. A week of playing on swcpoker.club  cost me $100 and a lot of sitting still. Gambling isn't a reliable strategy. For those interested in playing poker online, realize the same. There is money to be lost. Some people develop online gambling addiction where responsible gambling is impossible for them. Beyond those extremes, it just gets really boring sitting at the computer all day watching hand after hand, or game after game, trying to calculate a profit. Not many people make a profit either, so you have to deal with the feeling of loss constantly. My most recent go at making money online is this blog, remoteandrich.com . I figured that since I was able to make money online and travel the world, that I should share that story. There must be other people out there who want to travel, and if so, I can help them by showing them where I made money and where I lost it. So far, I have not made any money on this blog, but I have a good feeling about it. So, out of all my online money side quests, most have been a failure and taken a ton of time. That being said, I think I am profitable on the side quests only thanks to UpWork. Can you make money starting an online clothing company or making YouTube videos, I thinks so, but my experience doing the same was no so great. The Numbers: How Much I Have Made Online So you have made to the end. Probably the only part of the blog anyone really wants to read. How much do I make working online? Let us get to it. I have worked online for just over 5 years and made about $227,000 USD. That's about $45,000 per year, $3,800 per month, $873 per week, or $124 per day. For some, they spend this on a vacation every year. For others, it might be a dream to make almost $4000 per month working from their computer wearing a hoodie and slides. For me, It is my story of pushing and pulling for 5 years to make something work, and I hope it is just the beginning. If you appreciate the information here, please subscribe to the blog so you get notifications when I put up new content. Whats next?: The Experiments I recently started teaching English online at the University of the People and consulting at a budding staffing firm. I hope to continue these ventures while performing detailed experiments on income generation that I share on this blog, remoteandrich.com . I plan to test the freelancing sites like freelancer.com , tutoring sites like itutor.com , and many more online platforms in a systematical and documented way so that I can bring you the cheat codes to making money online. Similar to the format of this exact blog. I want you to know how much time and money I spend on these platforms along with the return on investment (ROI), so that you can decide if it is right for you. This is where Remote and Rich shines. Other blogs just google info and make blogs without testing anything they type. Here, I go to the field and come back with the intel that you need. Adventure on!

Where would you go if you did not have to commute to work tomorrow? Introduction Hey Remote and Rich readers! Are you dreaming of escaping the traditional 9-to-5 grind and embracing the freedom of remote work? I was once in your shoes, tired of the daily commute and endless meetings. Today, I'm sharing my journey from corporate life to becoming a digital nomad, and how you can follow a similar path. Let's talk about it. My Digital Nomad Journey: Early Days and Challenges Like many of you, I started by exploring online businesses alongside my regular job, launching Mineral.com and Trustful.com . I also gained valuable experience working remotely for giants like LinkedIn and Amazon, and even took some freelancing gigs on UpWork.com. I was eventually able to transition to full remote, but this held its own challenges. Building Connections: Initially, connecting with colleagues virtually was tough. The lack of spontaneous office interactions made building rapport a challenge. The only way to talk to coworkers was some combination of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and email. Building trust over a computer can be much harder than in person. Internet Reliability: Let’s be real, finding a stable internet connection can still be a struggle, especially when you're on important video calls. I have tried almost every provider and burnt hundreds (maybe thousands) of gigabytes of hotspot data working remotely. The Upside: Despite these challenges, the benefits were there. I gained the freedom to structure my workday, wear comfy clothes like a pair of Nike slides, and reclaim my commute time. Plus, my work-life balance improved dramatically while my savings grew. The Leap to Medellin: A Life-Changing Decision I was fully remote in the USA when the pandemic hit. Suddenly, I was laid off and it was a wake-up call. Life's too short to play it safe. I decided to move to Colombia, drawn by its vibrant coffee culture and friendly locals. Within a month, I landed a remote job, earning USD while enjoying the stunning beach views and lively street music. This financial freedom allowed me to explore neighboring countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama. I am still remote to this day and have not not been back to the USA. Essential Tools and Skills for Remote Work To thrive as a digital nomad, you'll need the right tools and skills. Marketable Skills: Start with a solid skill set. Whether it's English proficiency, web design, marketing, or HR like mine, having a specific expertise is key. For example, in HR, communication, recruitment, and onboarding are highly valued in remote settings. Essential Tools: Equip yourself with a reliable computer, cell phone, stable internet, hotspot data, and the suite of remote working tools. I mostly use Google Sheets, Google Docs, Gmail, Canva, and sometimes, if I have to, Microsoft Word. Networking: Build your online presence on LinkedIn and other social media sites.. Engage in relevant communities and groups to expand your network. Advice for Aspiring Remote Workers Here's my advice for those venturing into remote work: Embrace Flexibility: Be adaptable and ready to adjust to new situations. You will miss flights. Your internet will go down. You will crack the screen on your phone and your card will be declined. Network Actively: Connect with others, attend virtual events, and engage in online communities. Everyone is a potential friend. The neighbor, the maid, and the delivery driver from Uber Eats all know the city you are in and they generally want to help. Develop Strong Communication Skills: Practice clear and concise communication. Your emails should be sharp, your social posts clean, and even your broken Spanish should use a couple of vocabulary words that impress the locals. Don't Underestimate Self-Discipline: Create a dedicated workspace and set clear boundaries. I use Google sheets to track everything. Some people use the Apple Notes. Find what works for you and optimize it. Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay updated on new technologies and skills. I think the introduction of ChatGPT has shown the world that not even the most stable jobs are stable. Get your skills up. Future Goals I'm excited about the future. I recently started teaching English online and hope to develop online courses. I also have more than handful on online business I have been plotting to launch. All the while, I want to share the adventure with everyone here on this blog. My goal is to help you make money online and achieve your own freedom. Final Thoughts Remote work will not solve your problems, but it will change your life. It requires effort, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. The rewards are freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to live life on your own terms. For me, these rewards are well worth it. Let's stay connected. Subscribe below and follow me as I experiment with different online business models and platforms with he goal to report the exact amount of time I spent and my exact earnings. I will also soon be posting a blog that details all the remote work I have done and the total amount of money I have made online. Subscribing gives you the opportunity to optimize your success and avoid my mistakes. Adventure on!

The landing page for the Arcadia website. The Allure of High-Yield Crypto for Digital Nomads The idea of funding your travel with automated crypto returns is a dream for many digital nomads. Imagine earning 300% APYs while you fly to new countries, learn new languages, and meet new people. That dream led me to Arcadia Finance, a DeFi which appeared to offer massive returns on crypto investments. I am always trying to find ways to make money online, so when I started setting up an account to automate investments and pump unbelievable returns it felt like was entering the digital Wild West, panning for gold in the river of online income. While I didn't exactly strike it rich with Arcadia, the journey was certainly an adventure, and one I'm here to share. In this blog post, I'll dive into Arcadia Finance, demystify DeFi for fellow travelers, recount my personal experience setting up and funding an investment strategy, and reveal the surprising outcome of my experiment. Consider this your fellow explorer's firsthand account of navigating decentralized finance. What is Arcadia Finance and How Does it Work? Arcadia Finance positions itself as a smart tool for managing your crypto investments on decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Think of them as marketplaces for cryptocurrencies. It aims to simplify the often-complex process of setting up and automating what are called "liquidity provider" (LP) positions on popular platforms like Aerodrome, Uniswap, and Alienbase. For digital investors on the go, this means potentially being able to manage, leverage, and automate their crypto portfolios with features designed to maximize returns, such as auto-compounders (automatically reinvesting earnings) and rebalancers (adjusting your portfolio to maintain your desired asset mix). The platform boasts curated yield strategies – with names like pseudo delta neutral, bullish, and bearish – offering varying levels of risk and potential annual percentage yields (APYs). Arcadia emphasizes giving users control over their investment strategies, highlighting features like fine-tuned liquidity management, security that has been audited, and the ability to earn income without needing to actively manage your investments daily or lock up your funds for extended periods. It's backed by teams considered reputable in the crypto world and is trusted by experienced DeFi users. They also claim to offer a user-friendly interface and plenty of resources, building a community on platforms like Discord and Twitter. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Explained for Travelers Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is revolutionizing how we think about investing, offering unprecedented freedom and opportunities that go beyond traditional banks and financial institutions. By using blockchain technology, DeFi cuts out the middleman, allowing for direct, peer-to-peer transactions, automated lending and borrowing, and innovative new ways to earn money online. For digital nomads and those seeking location independence, this democratization of finance is particularly appealing. It theoretically breaks down geographical barriers and lowers the hurdles to entry, giving individuals more control over their assets and the potential to online earn from anywhere in the world. This emergence of DeFi is a major shift, sparking innovation and challenging old-school investment models. However, it's also important to remember that with these new opportunities come new considerations, especially around managing risk and understanding the ever-evolving regulatory landscape. My First Steps into the Arcadia App While Arcadia Finance has a standard website, the real action happens within their web3 application. For those unfamiliar, a web3 application is one that interacts directly with the blockchain, and to use it, you typically need a crypto wallet – think of it as your digital bank account for the decentralized web. As a digital nomad always on the lookout for new ways to potentially make money online, I decided to load a modest $9.96 worth of USDC into my web3 wallet and dive into the Arcadia app. The interface looked sleek and listed all the major cryptocurrencies, but I'll be honest, navigating it was overwhelming.. While I have some familiarity with web3 apps, the world of advanced crypto investing, especially the exotic strategies offered here, was largely uncharted territory for me. It turned out there were three main types of investment opportunities, each with an overwhelming list of different digital assets you could invest with. Exploring the Investment Tiers on Arcadia Arcadia Finance categorizes its DeFi yield opportunities into three tiers, designed for users with different levels of crypto experience, risk tolerance, or other needs: Lenders: This is the most straightforward option. You essentially lend your cryptocurrency (like USDC, WETH, or cbBTC) to lending pools and earn a passive APY through interest and potential liquidation penalties. It's a bit like putting money in a savings account, but with crypto. While you avoid the complexities of actively managing trading, you still face risks related to the smart contracts (the code behind the platform) and the possibility of bad debt. This might appeal to digital nomads looking for a relatively hands-off way to potentially generate some income. Strategists: This tier is for those looking for slightly more involved but still simplified yield opportunities. You choose from pre-designed strategies (like "Delta Neutral," "Bullish," or "Bearish") to participate in automated market maker (AMM) pools using stablecoins and major cryptocurrencies. You earn from trading fees and the platform's own token emissions. However, you face a broader range of risks, including smart contract risks, market volatility, impermanent loss (a unique risk in AMMs), and risks associated with leverage (borrowing funds to potentially increase returns). Farmers: This level is for experienced DeFi users who want complete control over their strategies. You can customize trading ranges, automate actions, and use leverage to try and maximize your returns from AMM pools. As you might expect, this comes with the highest level of complexity and the same risk profile as the Strategists. My Attempts to Strike Gold While browsing the investment options, I saw some impressive estimated returns. I was seeing APYs of in the 20 - 50% range. I kept scrolling and saw one of the products estimated an APY of over 300%. I immediately called bullshit and decided I was going to test it, you know, for you the reader. Plus the idea of potentially tripling my money in a year was pretty convincing. I tried to fund this ridiculously high-yield investment with my shiny new USDC, and that's when the fun really began (note the sarcasm). Every time I tried to deposit my money into the 300% APY opportunity, the app kept throwing an error message. What was even more irritating was that each failed attempt cost me a small transaction fee of a few cents. I tried a couple of other investments with similarly unbelievable yields, and they all failed in the same way. I was about ready to label the app as garbag, but my journalistic curiosity (or maybe just the thought of making money) kept me going. Eventually, I somehow ended up opening a margin account under the Strategies products (to be honest, I'm still not entirely sure what that entails), and finally, it accepted my funds. The predicted APY here was barely above 40%, which still felt outrageously high, but I had the account and investment live and decided i would ride it out for a while. The Earnings Reveal: Did I Get Rich? The moment of truth has arrived. You've followed my journey, witnessed the initial excitement, and endured the technical trials. Now, the burning question: how much money did I actually make or lose by entrusting my precious crypto to this web3 DeFi app promising those astronomical APYs? Well, it is kind of complicated so let me give the short answer and then the long one. I lost $3.40 resulting in an ROI of -%34 . It is hard to see how this investment would return 40% APY when it was down 34% in just two months, but crypto is volatile so it might be possible. Let me go into a little more detail so you understand how I arrived at these numbers. I started by swapping $10 of ETH for USDC which incurred a $.04 fee I took my $9.96 in USDC and made a few failed attempts at creating a new investment. Each failure costing a few cents. I finaly found a strategy that did not fail. The specifics are unclear, but it seems that it used my USDC as liquidity and rewarded me with AERO for my kindness. When I cashed out of Arcadia and took my funds back to my wallet, I had to pay a small feel. Then I had to pay more fees to convert my USDC back to the original ETH. In the end, I have $6.31 in ETH and and $.28 in AERO I cannot trade because the value is too low. Essentially the AERO is useless, but considering my wallet calculates the value of the ETH and AERO at $6.60, that is what I am reporting. There is one more thing to mention. I also accumulated points from the Arcadia App for "participating in the protocol." I diligently scoured their website and any available information, hoping these points might be spendable somewhere. Like when you go to chuckee cheese and spend way to much money on games and in the end you have a stack of tickets that buys you a plastic whistle. I thouht maybe I would get a virtual whistle. It seems like the points are just for show though. There is a leaderboard, but that is the only place the points seem relevant. So, I lost money and have a bunch of virtual points that don't do anything, and I am still confused about how the whole process works. That's the big earnings reveal! Insights from Exploring Crypto So, what did I actually learn from this? Quite a few things, it turns out, and hopefully, these insights will be valuable for other digital nomads considering venturing into similar territory. Firstly, it became glaringly obvious that my understanding of advanced investment strategies, especially within the complex world of DeFi, is limited. I'm not even entirely sure if the financial products offered on platforms like Arcadia are simply crypto-world equivalents of traditional investments or something entirely new and experimental. This highlights the importance of continuous learning, especially for those of us trying to manage our income and grow our money while traveling the globe. Perhaps it's time to dust off those investing books or explore some online courses specifically geared towards crypto and DeFi for beginners. Or more seriously, ask ChatGPT. Secondly, timing in the market is everything, or so they say. Almost immediately after I invested my small sum, the crypto market experienced a significant downturn. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of my losses. Was it my own lack of expertise, a flawed product offering on Arcadia, the broader market slump, or a combination of all three? This uncertainty underscores the volatility inherent in the cryptocurrency market and the importance of being aware of macroeconomic factors that can impact your investments. Another crucial takeaway, and one I'm glad I heeded, is the importance of testing the waters with a small amount of capital. My $10 experiment, while resulting in a loss, prevented a potentially much larger financial hit. This is a golden rule for anyone exploring new and potentially risky investment opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of online earning. Finally, from a purely practical standpoint, the Arcadia app itself left much to be desired. Frequent crashes and a confusing user interface made the experience less than smooth. While this was just one platform, it reminded me that not all web3 applications are created equal. I've seen other similar platforms with much better user reviews, and perhaps those will be worth exploring before I completely dismiss the potential of the DeFi sector for generating remote income. Final Thoughts: DeFi and the Traveling Investor Bringing it all together, my foray into Arcadia Finance was driven by a genuine excitement to explore new technologies that could potentially help fund my travel adventures as a digital nomad. The promise of high yields in the DeFi space is certainly alluring for those of us seeking financial freedom and the ability to earn income from anywhere in the world. While my personal experience with Arcadia resulted in a small loss and a fair amount of confusion, it served as a valuable learning experience. Reflecting on the overall experience, I'm left with a healthy dose of skepticism coupled with a continued curiosity about the potential of DeFi. It's clear that this is a complex and rapidly evolving landscape that requires a significant amount of research and understanding before diving in. In conclusion, my brief foray into Arcadia Finance was a stark reminder of the complexities and risks involved in the world of DeFi. While the allure of high-yield opportunities can be strong, especially for digital nomads looking to boost their income while on the move, it's crucial to approach these platforms with caution and a healthy dose of skepticism. The reality of investing in DeFi is that it requires a significant amount of research, understanding, and a tolerance for volatility. Ultimately, the goal is to make informed decisions about how you fund your adventures. My experience highlights the importance of continuous learning and careful consideration when exploring new financial technologies. And as always, remember this is not investment advice, or any type of advice for that matter. I'm just sharing my personal experience. Adventure on!

I have a soft spot for the Queens. From Skeptic to the Virtual Felt - My 30-Day Online Poker Journey The traditional notion of gambling always felt like a losing proposition to me. Why pay for entertainment with such a high chance of disappointment? That was until I discovered No Limit Texas Hold'em (NLHE) through some work friends. Unlike casino games where the house always has the edge, NLHE pits you against other players. Suddenly, it wasn't just about luck; skills like reading people and understanding probabilities came into play. For an 18-year-old, the steady income from local home games was an encouraging start. My fascination grew, fueled by watching poker legends on TV. Remember Phil Hellmuth's infamous table rants at the World Series of Poker (WSOP)? Or the laser-like focus of Phil Ivey, seemingly never blinking? Reading strategy bibles like Doyle Brunson's "Super System 2" solidified my understanding of the game. But consistent home games are tough to find. That's when online poker beckoned. The sheer volume of players, from micro-stakes to the high-stakes games of the pros, was incredible. Online games are also lightning-fast, dealing many more hands per hour. Plus, the online competition seemed sharper, offering a chance to learn and grow. A friend and I even briefly considered going pro by taking our savings to Las Vegas and sitting in cheap hotels and casinos all day, a plan that thankfully never materialized. So, online poker, with its low stakes and 24/7 availability, became my chosen arena. Initially, I thought playing poker online wouldn't be much different from playing live. I was wrong. The pace, the massive tournaments, and the caliber of players online are on another level. For the past 30 days, I embarked on a focused journey, documenting my experience on swcpoker.club , with a clear goal: to see what kind of income a digital nomad could realistically generate playing online poker. Let's dive into the numbers and the lessons learned! Background: Honing My Skills Over Two Decades My poker journey spans nearly two decades, leaning towards the recreational yet experienced side. I've played in various settings that include the casual comfort of home games, the electric atmosphere of casinos, and the digital dance of the online poker. My experience includes cash games, Omaha, and the thrill of Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs). While I'd rate my skill around a 6 out of 10, I've tasted victory, even taking first place in tournaments with over 1000 entrants. My understanding of poker fundamentals is solid, thanks to classics books like "Harrington on Hold 'em". Historically, home games have been profitable, casino play a mixed bag, and my past online play unfortunately ended in the red. My motivations for returning to online poker now are clear: the speed and convenience compared to live games, the flexible stakes and rake, and the potential to fund this digital nomad lifestyle I'm pursuing. Plus, let's be honest, I genuinely love the game. For this specific 30-day earning reveal, I focused solely on swcpoker.club . Online Poker Sites Explored: My Deep Dive into SWC Poker For this 30-day experiment, my exclusive focus was on swcpoker.club , a unique platform in the online poker landscape. Founded in 2012, SWC Poker proudly claims the title of the original Bitcoin poker site, using cryptocurrency for all transactions, which offers a degree of player anonymity. A key aspect to understand is their chip system: 1 chip on SWC Poker = 0.000001 BTC (also known as 1 bit or 1 microBTC). This means 1,000,000 chips equals 1 Bitcoin, allowing for a wide range of game stakes. Here ’s my take on SWC Poker after 30 days of grinding: SWC Poker Benefits: Play Anywhere: The browser-based platform allows for convenient play from any device including mobile. Crypto-Friendly: Offers deposit options in various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum. Beginner-Friendly Freerolls: Their freeroll tournaments are notably soft, offering a chance for new players to get their feet wet, though the payouts are minimal (around $0.10 for first place). Rake-Free Microstakes: A fantastic feature for beginners and those looking to practice without the added cost of rake. SWC Poker Cons: Slow Deposit Times: I experienced relatively lengthy deposit processing times, sometimes up to an hour. Occasional Glitches: The site can be a bit glitchy, although it never directly impacted my hands. Low Player Traffic: This was the most significant drawback, with peak player counts rarely exceeding 250, limiting game selection. Basic User Interface: The UI is functional but lacks the polish and features of larger, more established sites. Minimal Freeroll Rewards: The very small payouts in freerolls make them less appealing for serious players. Overall, SWC Poker offers a unique experience, especially for those comfortable with cryptocurrency, but its limitations in traffic and features are important to consider. Alternatives like CoinPoker (sometimes referred to as coinpoker or coin poker) may offer different advantages. The lovely Queen of Spades surrounded by other cards. Financial Performance: The Big Earning Reveal Meticulously tracking your wins and losses is absolutely crucial in online poker. It's the only way to determine if you're truly profitable over time and to identify patterns that can help you improve your game and maximize your earnings. Over these 30 days, I clocked in approximately 150 hours at the virtual felt on SWC Poker, averaging about 5 hours daily. Now, for the moment of truth – the earning reveal! My total profit after 30 days was 275.69 SWC chips. Let's break down what that means in real money. With 1 SWC chip equaling 0.000001 BTC, my profit is 0.00027569 BTC. Using a current Bitcoin price of around $84,200 USD per BTC, my 30-day online poker profit translates to approximately: .00027569 BTC * $84,200 USD/BTC = $23.21 USD . I guess if I want to make this a sincere blog I have to talk about fees, too. Unfortunnately, I did not track the fees as closely as I did my inflows and outflows. However, I made about 10 deposits with an average fee of around 25 cents per deposit. So, I paid about $2.50 in fees. This leaves me still north of $20 in profit. For those of you who have read this far and are unfamiliar with profitability of poker players, we are rare. I read an estimate that about 5-10% of players can be consistintly profitable. While this might not seem like a fortune, this profit was earned through strategic play, particularly in heads-up matches against less experienced opponents. I recall one session where I won 80 times my buy-in in a single hour against a weaker player. I am not sure if it more interesting to to get an 8,000% return in an hour, or that everytime I outplayed this opponen they mispelled the word "idiot" in the chat. I also had several other profitable heads-up encounters. Additionally, while the freeroll payouts are small, my consistent success in these soft tournaments, even in unfamiliar game variations like Drawmaha, contributed to the overall profit. I was making the money around 90% of the time in the freerolls. Of course, poker involves its share of losses. This 30-day period served as a valuable reminder of the importance of emotional control. In the past, a bad beat might have sent me into a tilt, chasing losses and smashing the all-in button until I went broke. Now, I've learned to step away, analyze my decisions objectively, and recognize that as long as my plays were mathematically sound, the outcome of individual hands is just variance. I spent a lot of time analyzing my previous big hands to see what when well and what went wrong. Identifying and learning from my mistakes has become a key part of my post-session analysis. The Light Shines: Unlocking my Cumulative Equity Theory Something clicked about a week into this experience. Poker uses theories like pot odds and equity. I am not going into the mechanics of these theories because they deserve their own blogs, or even books, but essentially they are quantitative methods to determine correct actions during a game like NLHE, a game where you are betting on future events with incomplete information. In short, pot odds are the cost for a player to continue to participate in the play of a hand. Pot equity refers to the value of your hand as a percentage of the the pot. The pot is just all the money bet at any point in a hand. These concepts, used correctly can guide a player to profitability. My most key insight from this experience is what I call the Cumulative Equity Theory. Actually this theory already exists, I just formulated my own version and name without knowing it existed. The basis concept is that each hand has a finite value if you consider all the poker hands that have ever been played or will be played, and they also have a finite value at each stage of hand including preflop, flop, turn, and river. The idea of the Cumulative Equity Theory is that a hand with negative equity on the the flop and the turn, may have a positive equity on the river. Or consider this example, preflop you have AA, otherwise known as a pair of Aces. This is the strongest preflop hand and you would have the highest equity of all hands dealt, unless another player was also dealt AA. However, by the river, the board shows 56789 of Spades, a straight flush. Your pair of aces are invalidated. Worse, one of your opponents, sometimes called Villains, has the 10 of Spades. Giving your pair of Aces a negative equity. You only have 9 high straight flush while Villain has a 10 high straight flush. Over the Course of the hand, your AA went from high equity to low equity. The Cumulitive Equity Theory states that If you manage your bets, checks, and folds correctly each betting round, you can optimize your hands equity across all streets, not just the turn or river. You could lose a hand where you have high equity preflop, but low equity at showdown, and you can still be a profitable player if you maximized your equity on each street. This is the Cumulitive Equiy Theory. Each card, action, and street are connected and the most profitable players find the function that optimizes their equity over all cards, actions, and streets. This concept may be the single most important one to master if you want to go pro. My profitablilty skyrocketed after discovering this theory. More Key Insights and Learnings: Strategies for Success This 30-day grind provided some valuable insights for anyone looking to make money online playing poker: Bankroll Management is King: Proper bankroll management is paramount for long-term survival and success in online poker. The inherent variance means losing streaks are inevitable, and having an adequate number of buy-ins (at least 25 for cash games and 75 for MTTs, with some pros recommending even more) is crucial to weather these storms without going broke. While the low traffic on swcpoker.club  sometimes pushed me outside my ideal comfort zone, understanding these principles is vital. Adaptability in Game Selection: The limited player pool on he site meant traditional table selection wasn't always an option and I had to play over my bankroll. Instead, I focused on adapting to the available games and players, meticulously taking notes on individual tendencies to exploit weaknesses. Cultivating Emotional Resilience: The emotional swings of online poker can be challenging. Staying healthy by eating well and taking breaks from the screen is important for physical well-being. More crucially, developing emotional detachment from short-term results and focusing on making sound, mathematical decisions is key to long-term profitability. Analyzing hands objectively, whether they result in a win or a loss, is far more valuable than reacting emotionally. Conclusion: A Small Victory in the Digital Nomad Journey While the $23.21 profit over 30 days on might not be a life-altering sum, this experience was undeniably valuable. My primary goal was to re-engage with online poker and I did it without losing even a penny. Who knows, maybe you will see me at the final table of the World Series of Poker one day. Until then, Adventure on! Do you want to try your poker skill against me? You can use my referral code here to sign up: https://swcpoker.club/a/chplDq7q