Our Story
We get asked all the time by our friends, family and new acquaintances how it is that we’re able to travel the world and still make a living. After retelling our story and our life connoisseur philosophy countless times, we realized these weren’t just isolated questions, but that people all over the world were wondering the same thing: how can I do what I love every day, travel the world, earn a living, and have a lot of fun to boot?
To help answer those questions we decided to start Living Radically as a repository for our knowledge and experience to help others who are venturing down the path of independence. Here you’ll learn the most cost effective way to travel to the most beautiful places in the world, how to fund your lifestyle with a steady stream of income you don’t have to work on night and day, and how to live overseas for a fraction of what it costs you now. We aspire to be the following:
Travel Moguls n Individuals who love to travel with luxury and adventure while still being cost effective.
Business Adventurists n Business adventurists love new ideas, challenging the traditional and working outside the box. They want to escape the 9-5, build passive income and work at what they love.
Life Connoisseurs n We work and think fast, but savor the good of life. Life Connoisseurs enjoy the beauty, fun and best parts of life and endeavor to have all different kinds of experiences in their repertoire.
Since we liberated our lifestyle, we’ve ridden motorcycles through the mountains of Yangshuo, China, could reach out and touch a Rhinoceros in Singapore, appear regularly on CNN, counseled some Real Housewives in Orange County and partied at the Playboy mansion. Meanwhile by working less, we’ve actually seen our incomes skyrocket – I made my old corporate annual salary in two months – without ever stepping foot in an office.
We’ve also made mistakes and had failures along the way, the experiences from which we’re passing on to you. We know the tactics and tools we used to start our online lifestyle can work in almost any situation, whether your a housewife, unemployed, the CEO of a major company, or even a high school student.
Feel free to look around, but before you go make sure you sign up for our free email e-course “14 Days To Live More For Less”. Inside you’ll get a taste of the tools we use every day to make ourselves more productive, earn more money and have more free time – all while spending less. It’s definitely worth your while to sign up, there’s a quick form right underneath here. Oh and we don’t sell your email to anyone else, we hate spam just as much as you do.
About Scott Edwards
Background: Scott grew up around the world, used to have a British accent, went to space camp as a kid, and recently earned his pilot’s license. He graduated from George Washington University as an International Affairs major before deciding that really wasn’t what he wanted to do anyway and joined a technology startup. He loves technology, computers and the internet and is most definitely addicted to his iPhone. He runs an online marketing consultancy that helps people with products get noticed.
His Passions: Scott loves planes, a lot. For him getting to a destination is just as important as what you do there. He loves memorizing airline route maps, seat layout and frequent flier program tiers. He also loves travel, which is good because you usually need to leave the airport when you get somewhere or people start asking questions. Unfortunately both these habits are usually expensive, which is why Scott is obsessed with finding the best airfares to the most exotic places without sacrificing fun or comfort.
How He Makes Money: Scott is a successful affiliate marketer. He also recently started developing iPhone applications for himself and select clients. Scott also develops and optimizes online marketing funnels for business who sell products and services online.
About Vanessa Van Petten
Background: Vanessa loves sour candy, romantic comedies and her Panini maker. She graduated from Emory University in 2007 with a degree in Mandarin and International Studies. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She speaks Spanish, French, Chinese and English and often plays translator on Scott and Vanessa’s trips. She wishes Scott would let her get a puppy. She runs a number of websites and small companies; the most popular being Radical Parenting.com which is a parenting advice blog written by kids.
Her Passions: Vanessa loves writing of all kind–novels, short stories, self-help and non-fiction. She also enjoys creative strategy and technology such as guerrilla marketing ideas, new ways to brand and how online technology is changing offline life. And (of course) she is addicted to travel.
How She Makes Money:
1. Book sales: Vanessa has written 2 books:
- You’re Grounded! A parenting book from the kid’s perspective, which Vanessa wrote when she was 17.
- Dirt-E Secrets of an Internet Kid an ebook for parents on keeping their kids safe online and understanding the technological world of teens today.
2. Consulting and Speaking: Vanessa works with bloggers and small companies on blog monetization, gaining traffic and social media. She also speaks to companies, at schools and organizations on her career, the internet and teen/parent communication (one of her passions). In addition, Vanessa helps companies develop all technology platforms and marketing plans such as iPhone app development and private social network building. She also works with authors and bloggers, teaching them how to increase sales and learn to monetize their business.
3. Blogging: Vanessa keeps a number of blogs (anonymous and public) where she sells ad space, sponsorships and gets free products.
4. Affiliate Sales: Vanessa sells a number of affiliate products on her various websites through Amazon and private companies.
5. Webinars and E-Products: There are a few different e-products that Vanessa sells. Many of our articles go into how, why and what our online products are. Some examples include a Study Skills Bootcamp Webinar, a Mom Blogger Teleseminar and an ebook on Self-Publishing. She also has a number of iPhone applications.
6. Trendspotting and Focus Groups: Vanessa is able to monetize her travels by doing trendspotting for companies and conducting focus groups around the world.
7. Youthology: Vanessa works with youth on self esteem, career development and pursuing their passions. She also developed a training program for Youthologists to work with teens and families all over the world.