Digital Nomad Interview – Derick Ruiz [Remote Founder]
1) Tell us a bit about yourself and what do you do for a living?
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My name is Derick Sozo Ruiz. I run RemoteLeads, a lead-generation business where we help web developers land their next remote freelance job.
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I’m currently living in Thailand. Asia has a big place in my heart. I’ve traveled to Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and a few others.
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Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand are my favorite countries. Tokyo is my favorite city. I’ll be back there soon once the borders open up again.
2) Okay, so did you create the company whilst on the road or did you first establish the firm and then started the digital nomad lifestyle?
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I created RemoteLeads after I already started my digital nomad journey.
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Before this company, I earned my income freelancing as a front-end web developer.
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I noticed that good remote jobs don’t just get posted on Fiverr and Upwork. Good remote jobs get posted all over the internet.
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They’re posted on forums, job boards, Facebook Groups, and many other places. I noticed a lack of aggregation options for developers. This was a good opportunity to create a website that aggregates those remote jobs for developers.
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I created an MVP of the product and launched it on Hacker News, Reddit, and a few other places. I got some initial traction and that’s when I knew this was something that could work. I was solving my own problem.
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That’s what I recommend if you want to start your own online business.
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Build a solution for a problem that you have, regardless of how small you might think it is. Other people have that problem you have.
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3) When did you start working remotely as a digital nomad/entrepreneur and how did that happen?
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I studied abroad in Tokyo during university and living abroad always appealed to me. I thought I would make this happen by working for a foreign company. But, it turns out that the digital nomad lifestyle made more sense. I started in 2015.
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I worked in-office 9-to-5 as a front-end web developer for Hilton Hotels. I saw that my boss had a copy of Remote: Office Not Required by Basecamp on his bookshelf. I knew he was open to the idea of remote work.
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One workday I went into my boss’ office and asked if I could start working 100% remotely.
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He said yes. That was the start of this digital nomad journey.
4) What’s your favorite remote working setup when you are not working from “home” and why?
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My setup is light. It’s the same whether I’m working from home or outside.
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I use a Samsung Chromebook as my main driver. I also have a pair of wireless Samsung earbuds.
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I’m most comfortable when I keep my setup as light as possible.
5) What does a typical productive remote workday look like for you?
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I have non-negotiables for my business that I must take care of each day.
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These are activities like scheduling leads, connecting with my team, writing marketing emails, and brainstorming new ideas.
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I don’t rush with my work, but I make the most of it. If I take care of my non-negotiables then it’s a productive day.
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6) How do you manage to stay focused and productive? Can you give our readers a few tips for being productive whilst working remotely?
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Here are the 3 most important things that enable me to be productive while working remotely:
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1. Brainstorming
2. Consistent Exercise
3. Timeboxing
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First, I brainstorm a week in advance for everything that I can for the business. I then do a second round of brainstorming where I pick the most important 4 items and focus on those for the week.
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Second, I like to get the blood pumping with some kind of exercise before starting work. It’s a great way to get into a focused state.
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Finally, I set aside specific amounts of time every day to focus on important tasks. I sit down, turn off any music, and get to work. If I can’t get focused then I’ll meditate for 10 minutes first to clear my mind.
7) Do you have any favourite software tools which are key in your life as a digital nomad?
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Yes, here are top 4 tools that are essential for me and my business:
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1) Glitch – An online IDE and code hosting platform where I host all of the code and websites necessary to run RemoteLeads.
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2) MailerLite – The email service provider that I use to send all emails related to the RemoteLeads service.
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3) Krisp.ai – Noise-canceling software that I use to take quiet even if I’m in a noisy cafe.
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4) Google Chrome – My browser of choice that I’ve customized with various extensions.
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8) Can you name a few major challenges you have running a remote business as a remote entrepreneur?
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Sometimes it’s difficult to work on the business when you’re working in the business.
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Before I considered myself only a developer. But since starting RemoteLeads I’ve had to learn many different business skills.
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When a problem arises in the business my habit is to put my coder hat on and try to solve it on my own. But, that’s not always the best use of my time at the current size of the business.
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I’m now learning how to step back, think, and take actions that will benefit the business more long-term. Sometimes that means taking the time to clearly explain a task to my team instead of doing it by myself.
9) What is your best advice on a few practical steps for someone who’s dreaming about starting to work remotely?
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I always recommend RemoteLeads subscribers to start freelancing remotely on a part-time basis. Don’t let go of your current job if that’s your source of income.
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Get some projects under your belt. Get a good amount of savings. Get some long-term clients. After that, you can plan how to let go of your current job in the best way.
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Don’t burn bridges. Let go of your job in a way that will benefit you and the employer. You can ask for testimonials, ask them to become a client, and more things you can do.
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I teach information like this to RemoteLeads subscribers.
10) How can other digital nomads get in touch with you?
They can follow me on Instagram at @dericksozo or contact me via Remoteleads.io.
