Nicole Laino
Hello and welcome to the limitless entrepreneur podcast. I’m your host Nicole Laino. And today, I am here with a special guest, Miss Yulia urug. She’s the founder and chief editor of J jet are a family travel and digital nomad blog for aspiring nomads and families. So she’s also a social media marketing coach, a public speaker and author, course creator and blogger, and she’s from Germany. And I’m so excited to have you here. Yulia. How are you?

Julia Jerg
Yay. Thanks so much for having me, Nicole. I’m great. Thank you. How are you?

Nicole Laino
I am doing really, really well. Thank you. So tell the listeners a little bit about you. Yeah, sure.

Julia Jerg
So I think well, I go only back as far as to my nomadic travels started. And that was in 2011. That’s when my my life changed. 100%. Like, before I was I was in a, you know, I was a PR consultant in a communications agency back in Munich, in Germany, and I was running a team and I was really working a lot. I enjoyed my job, I was actually married to my job. And I was going on all those events and stuff. And some nagging voice inside my head was telling me something is missing. That’s not everything. And I was ignoring that voice. Like so many other people out there that I have come across afterwards. And I was Yeah, I was, my body was sending me signals. And I was close to burnout syndrome. And that’s when I when I pulled the trigger. And I said, Okay, now that’s, that’s enough. I mean, I don’t want to end up losing health over happiness. And then I was sitting together with one of my best friends. And she, you know, we had a glass of wine. And we had a really good conversation. She just came back from a year and from Mexico. She, she said to me, you know, what, if there’s something you know, if you’re not happy about you should change it. Why don’t take a break and go go on a sabbatical for for a year, or, you know, a few months in? I was like, oh, no, this is crazy. And back then I had this completely different mindset. I was like, I had this crystal clear and perfectly, like from the outside the career path I you know, after uni, I did all the steps necessary and everything that people were telling me that you’re supposed to do. And I was, it was, it sounded crazy to me. I told her, I can’t do that no one will ever hire me again, if I take a break. For you know, a year sounded crazy, but even half a year. And then after that kind of conversation, it Yeah, there was another voice talking in my head. And it became louder and louder. And then I checked out, I started doing research and I checked out around the world tickets, and I saw that those open tickets allowed me to be flexible with timing, and only required me to choose a route. And this sounded like the perfect time because then I said, Okay, I will be gone for a few weeks. And I can be back you know, in time to be still okay. And yes, so that’s what I did. I quit my job. I said to my friends and family, I’ll be back in a few weeks. And funnily enough, though, I already had like an intuition that I wanted to have no mental or you know, baggage with me so I sold everything. I didn’t want to keep my apartment I didn’t want to keep and stuff because I thought okay, if I come back I want to read you know, start new I find this now so funny because back then I didn’t know that I never went back again that I never returned. And and and yet I knew it already like some something inside of me. Told me yeah, what if you liked it? And then you had only you know, you were you would have to return only for the things that are holding you back. So this was the best decision ever. Because yeah, it turned out that the few weeks turned in a full year. And on that year by the end of the first travel year where I really literally did nothing but travels and all my savings and enjoyed life and I was like so yeah, diving into this. Yeah, travel mode and also getting to know other lifestyle concepts and people’s versions of their careers. So I was totally inspired and I said okay, if they can make it I can make it and so two things happen that turned me into a digital nomad. The number one was I fell in love with my partner and who is the the father of our two sons today. And this made me want to stay out because we’ve been fell in love in the chili of in the desert of chili. And it was yeah, a very romantic story. But I don’t want to bore you with details. Anyway, so I really wanted to stay out for long, longer. And then, and then some former clients from that agency that I used to work for. They reached out and they said, Okay, so if you’re not coming back, I think after five or six months, they they realized, or they noticed I’m not, I’m not back.

Nicole Laino
Turned into view.

Julia Jerg
They said, if you if you’re not coming back, yeah, are you able to help us remotely. And that’s when it clicked. I was like, oh, there’s such a thing. I could do my old job remotely. But to be honest, like, or to be fair. It was it was the first step and the beginning of a long process, I still had to like, learn that there is such a thing as online business. And I started with freelancing I had, I had come across online business models back then. But I wasn’t really in the in the mindset, again, of me taking on upon an online business from scratch. So at first I was doing a bunch of different things like freelance writing, managing marketing accounts, social media accounts, helping people with their strategies, translation, even even, even though I’m not a translator, so you know, and then I realized, and I felt at ease, because I noticed, it’s possible to make money online. There are a million ways to do it. And all I had to do is figure out my way.

Nicole Laino
And, yeah, go I love that you had inspiration carry you that you you took a leap. And, you know, I think you what you touched on with your story of like, you know, I think there’s a lot of people listening to this show right now, that and myself included, where you had that life that that looks good, but felt bad. You know, everybody else was like, You got this great job and all this and then you’re just like, Yeah, but I’m kind of dead inside. At least that was how I felt maybe it wasn’t that that extreme for you. To make the donuts, but I’ll go again, and, and you, like I love that when you talk about how you sold all of your furniture, you’re like, I’ll be gone for a few weeks, and you sold all of your furniture. And he sold everything that you owned. And because there was there was, it was almost like a sort of visualized, like your higher self, grabbing the wheel. And being like I’m driving, don’t tell her anything. Like the rest of the nasty versa. Just over from here, trust me, trust me, this is gonna

Julia Jerg
be so be backing out if you tell her

Nicole Laino
exactly, you guys just got to trust me. And then you go on this adventure and and the adventure starts to open you up to the just these new possibilities and trusting the unfolding, which I think is so hard for us to do when we have like one foot in the other reality and one not. So a lot of the people doing the side gig, it can be very hard to keep yourself in that inspirational place because that is the place of abundance, that is the place of change that is the place of when you are inspired and lifted and your energy is aligned with something like your adventure and with you know, I’m just going to figure it out and see where it goes. And then opportunities come like you said, you know, just suddenly people are reaching out to me and being like, can we pay you remotely? That’s amazing.

Julia Jerg
Exactly. And I think you’re you’re having a great point there. I mean, I’m torn between saying don’t do it my way because it’s really I learned I learned really step by step the hard way figuring out all by myself and stuff over the past 10 years, but at the same time like you said if you are keeping yourself in the safe zone at home and then you’re creating your side hustle and turning this into an online business eventually take you then on the road. It will take you probably a lot longer and chances are that you’re risk that you’re never going to do it but because there’s so much power in your environment, and the people are close to you that they will be pulling you back. So what I did, I was exposing myself and I was actually putting myself at risk of, you know, either grab my last dollars to buy a plane ticket and then go home and make money there, or I mean, knock on the door of my parents house, or, or make it happen. And this this constant like feeling of, Okay, I gotta figure it out, because the money runs out was scary. And that’s why I’m saying you, if you should follow a blueprint and have like a safety net in place, don’t do it like me. But at the same time, for me, it was a great motivator. And I was, yeah, I was, I was positively enough and optimistic, and maybe also just in the right stage of my life to pull this off. Because I had the experience, I had the, you know, I had the confidence, I had the maturity to actually do it. Probably I, my, my, my, you know, the South me, in my 20s or early 20s, wouldn’t have been able to do it. I don’t know, I don’t want to underestimate myself back then. But you know what I mean, it’s it was perfect timing?

Nicole Laino
Well, and I think, and I don’t know what your view is on this. But I find that, you know, when we talk about manifesting, when we talk about, you know, living in abundance mindset, it can be very difficult for people to imagine something drastically different from what they have, and stay there. Like, you can imagine it for a second. And then that doesn’t really do anything, and they kind of gave up. And it’s kind of what you did was you flipped it where you stepped into that world. It inspired you so much that it actually I think it was probably harder to pull you back to the other world, then pull you to this one. It was like, oh, no, no, I’m not leaving this like, and when you send out that open hearted vibe to the universe of like, How can I just do this forever?

Julia Jerg
Exactly. As I was actually getting really scared to go back to my old life because I, I, I knew how it felt. And I remember very vividly that what it all entailed. And don’t get me wrong. I mean, it was a good life. But still. It wasn’t me anymore. So once I went through all the transformation, I realized I can’t go back and a half to make it happen. So yeah, it definitely pulled me further and looking into a different future. And this is I also, you know, now that I’m telling you this, I just realized, this is also the most exciting, exciting part of, of, of this lifestyle, because some people are when I got messages from from friends or family, and then they would ask me, so. So what are your plans? And where do you go next? And I always said, I don’t know. And that’s the beauty of it. And I don’t care. I don’t want to know, you know, I the literally the first year I was living day by day, I didn’t know I sleep at night, sometimes, you know, I just went and let life happen. And that was beautiful. I mean, now my my lifestyle has changed. I have two kids and obviously, I have a lot more stability. But still, we are still able to pack our bags and move to tomorrow to a new place. And I mean, thanks to COVID when we’re not doing it right now. But if the world’s world turns back to normal, chances are we do it. So

Nicole Laino
so so let’s talk and where you are parked during COVID Like I do not feel sorry for you at all that you have to stop where you are. She’s on an island in Thailand by the way. Better Instagram, it’ll you’re not gonna feel bad for it. I’ll be like, Oh, terrible. Whisking. Often we’re in lockdown again.

Julia Jerg
I won’t share too much, but it’s really It’s really amazing how we’re, every morning I wake up and I’m grateful and and again, I was I’m thankful to for having developed such a strong trust in my intuition because back in March last year when when everything turned crazy and people around us families from Germany that we met here on this island, they were packing up and saying terrible things Thailand will turn into a war zone and the government will you know make you leave the country do with, you know, the military forces and all these horrible scenarios and people around as well falling like flies? And I was like, always saying, no, no, no, something tells me we need to stay. That’s, that’s the best decision that we can make. And it was so hard it was against again, and it reminded me a lot, too, you know, it was a similar situation. When I started this, this world trip, because all the voices and all the logic and all the reason was against my decision, I was almost 30, I had no kids, and I had no house and I had not the conventional things that you should have at this age. And I was, I was still doing it. And it was hard to get through to no noise. And I was, you know, every obstacle and objection against it. And again, it turned out to be the best decision. And yeah, being here, this is really a powerful place. And again, like, very grateful, and I stopped talking about it, and I don’t want to make you jealous.

Nicole Laino
That’s okay, you can make me jealous. I love seeing your outfit, because I don’t mean it. I don’t mean, I just don’t feel bad for you. I don’t feel bad for you that you’re stuck in on a gorgeous island in Thailand. I envy it. But I love your pictures I do. And like a giant pig on the on the beach. I want to hang out with that. Oh, it

Julia Jerg
was so thank you though.

Nicole Laino
But I want to talk a little bit about so you’re talking about intuition, you’re talking about trust, and you actually train people to become digital nomads to make this transition. And what I think is really interesting about that is and tell me if I’m wrong, but my my gut is saying that there has to be a lot of it’s not all the technical stuff of like, and this is how your Instagram feed will look. And this is how you do this. And this is how you do that. Are you getting people just aligned with like, Okay, you want to have this much in savings? And then like are you trying to get them just their heart in the right place to be able to make a move like this? What is what what talk to us about a little bit about that process of getting somebody ready for this?

Julia Jerg
Yeah, sure. So it’s so so interesting that you’re putting the finger on exactly this because I have been for the longest you know, work together with my clients and help them exactly with only the technical part. And this is what I’m telling you telling them what they get, you know, I help you with your social media, with your marketing strategy with your branding with your alignment with your goals and all these things. And again, like subconsciously, most of the sessions and most of the coaching that I’m designing them for at all when we are in the sessions turn into mindset talks and turn into like really guidance for them to yeah, see Yeah, go through the those roadblocks that they are feeling the the misbeliefs and all these things so every time I go out of these coaching sessions I feel so energized because how cool is this when someone tells you Wow, now I’m actually I’m feeling it now have those goosebumps I’m ready to do it. I really want to do it. And now the other thing like how does my Instagram look like a will look like that’s actually only the you know, that will fall into place? And then yeah, so So but again, that was me having to go through this process and realizing it myself because only this year I took the decision to and I’m actually as we were speaking I don’t know when you publish this podcast but as we’re speaking I’m creating a master class and an online course just for exactly this for your mindset and it will be called something like mindset mastery and don’t it is still a work yeah working title but because I feel like this is exactly people need to get help to get started and and do this first initial step they need someone to hold their hand and you know, I feel like a cheerleader saying that you can do this and then everything else once they are out there and once they’re putting themselves and then everything falls into place and yeah, you can help them point them further into the direction and yeah, but so I’m very excited now for for this to come because I know this is going to be a game changer. Not only for my clients but also for me because I I feel I was holding back and I was always thinking the mindset part is so it’s so abstract and people who call my me hippie and I know I can talk to you about this because you nothing else but talk about mindset and and I love that you do it because it’s so important and, and once I took the decision, it felt felt very relieving. And I think it’s the best, best change and talk to my business. And that

Nicole Laino
took me a long time to like to do embrace it. And I think everybody starts out unless you were like a therapist before. And you’re like transitioning to coaching, where you’re like, This is what to do. You’re you you feel like people need, they want to buy the thing. They want to buy the process, the strategy, that how do I do this thing? And but the problem isn’t, you know that you don’t know how to do it, there’s actually it’s not that hard. There’s actually not that much to the actual doing. There are some tricks and tips and things that you can do that can make it more powerful. But I always say like, is it the app or the operating system, it’s the operating system that is usually at fault. If you can’t write on social media, if people aren’t paying attention, the energy that you’re putting behind what you put out, there isn’t the right energy, you’re holding back, you’re not stepping into, you’re not saying what you really want to say. And that takes credit that takes that takes, you know, you’re worried you’re not going to sound credible, like you’re saying like, I’m going to sound like a hippie, I’m going to sound like this, I’m going to sound like that. But it’s when you step out, and you have the courage to be 100% you. And that’s when the magic happens and the right people come to you. That’s when the whole thing starts to work. So, so yeah, so you’re gonna teach people how to get into the Nomad mindset. Yeah, exactly.

Julia Jerg
And then obviously, I mean, that’s the step stone. And then if they want to continue, they, they can join, I’m planning to launch a group coaching program at by the end of the year, hopefully, where then can learn every single step necessary in order to you know, create their nomad journey properly from from scratch. So there’s everything included, that is necessary related to online business, social media, and, you know, all the good stuff. But I think that mindset needs to come first. So yeah.

Nicole Laino
Yeah. And can you tell us just going into the technical going into it to the because I do think the logistics, particularly for somebody who’s like, I don’t have like a home base? You do right now because of COVID. But otherwise, it was like, we pick up and move tomorrow, like when we’re like, let’s go to go to you know, Italy. But but the technical side of it, social media must have been a large part of how you were able to grow? Or were you? I know, you said that you were leaning on old clients, you were doing some PR work? What was it that that kind of gave you the most leverage? For you know, what was like that cornerstone for your business? When you started? Like, what did you sink your teeth into? Did you just try a bunch of things? Or were you like, No, this is where it’s at. I’m gonna put a lot of effort in here.

Julia Jerg
Well, it was actually helping others become more successful on social media. So I was doing a lot of in the beginning, I was actually managing their accounts and helping them with the strategy, but then also, yeah. Later on, I started simply coaching them. You know, I did a lot of workshops and, and public speaking and gaining. Yeah, the the, I think that was the main part. But I also have to admit, I also tried a lot of different things. I also wrote an ebook, you know, by social media marketing, I, I did all the things that probably everyone does, when they when they try to build up their online presence and online business. And yeah, and I was lucky enough to always have good connections, or maybe not lucky, but because I’m, I’m also a big believer of, you know, networking and reaching out to people. So jumping on other people’s podcasts, even, I think three years ago, that was, that was a thing already for me. And then I know some business owners who occasionally need help with some of their projects. So I always said, you, I’m here if you need me, these types of project work was in the beginning, definitely something that helped me to fund my travels and to figure out my, you know, online business system. So it’s a mixture. It’s actually yeah, I’d say it’s a mixture of many things. And then my own social media is, is really only now since last year. A lot more in my focus. Before it was always I had all the social channels obviously, you know, up there, but since I was I’m also only one human and I and then helping other people with their accounts and stuff helped me help me back then my two kids were born. And this was also pulling me back a little bit. I must admit, I was really not taking too much time after I stepped back again. But But still, it’s affected, obviously, the development of the business.

Nicole Laino
And is it I’m curious, is it? How is it different? Or is it different? Managing other people’s accounts versus managing your own?

Julia Jerg
Oh, I’d say it’s, sometimes it’s easier because you’re less picky and you’re less nervous. And you’re, you’re like, you when you have to look from the outside. It’s so crystal clear. Yeah. And this is why I tell people, okay, if you’re a solopreneur, please do get the best mate, every now and then to look over your shoulder. Because if you’re just in your own headspace, someone said the other day, it’s if you have, it’s like living in your ecosystem, and you need that look from the outside. And that’s so crucial. And of course, having a coach for example, on your side, guiding you is a game changer. But if you’re not at this stage, you know, not yet and not in the position at the moment, then at least your partner, your spouse, your friends, or someone you know, ask your audience, that is really so crucial to get feedback because you can put a lot of effort and energy into social media. And if you don’t get the results, it can be really frustrating. And then you wonder, what am I going, what am I doing wrong? And like you say, well, first of all, your energy has to be 100% aligned with what how you really feel and to get up that energy? Yes. I mean, yeah, we talked about that. But then then being confident enough, also when you’re posting. And so this is, yeah, this is what I like helping other people with their content, because then I can give them the confidence boost, and then the feedback boost, and you know, the five principal but but I enjoy actually a lot more when I you know, I get excited and motivated and when I so now I’m going into my Facebook group and yeah, sharing sharing mice things because I obviously, I’m passionate about this as well. So it’s both good. But now I yeah, I prefer my content over the others.

Nicole Laino
I mean, that it’s more creative. And you know, and I love, like I love the coaching side for the same reason, like I love having like looking at my clients and having giving them the courage to say what they want to say, sometimes they need permission in the beginning. And it’s not that you’re giving them permission, but you’re telling them you know, they’re like, I want to post this but you know, that’s to this. And it’s like, is it or is that a story you’re telling yourself? Sometimes you need somebody to just point that out to you? Is that a story you’re telling yourself? Because that doesn’t sound like a fact to me? That sounds like an opinion? Like one that came from you, not from other people? Where did you get that from? So, like you said, it become we become our own echo chamber of good ideas being slapped down by a critical part of ourselves. So I love all of this. And I love your story. I love just your energy and the way that you approach everything. There’s not. And I think that this is this is the spot that’s very difficult for people to get to, which is the spot of living in joy detached from outcomes, yet committed and open and still moving forward in faith not sitting there waiting for something to just necessarily happen. But kind of just just living in that energy of the right thing will present itself. I will do this. And I trust that the next step will be revealed. Yeah, and I’ll know it because it’ll feel right.

Julia Jerg
Yeah, absolutely. And I think and I hope also that COVID You know, has one if there’s one positive positive thing that comes out of this pandemic, then I hope that people take it as a as a warning call, and actually start living their best life now. Because, you know, I mean, I don’t want to be that person. And that’s what I told my myself back then in 2011 I don’t want to sit on that porridge when I’m 70 If I make it that far, but at telling myself Oh, I wish I had I mean, regret must be the worst feeling. And I know it’s a lot of yeah, you have to be brave and it’s hard work. It’s a constant battle, because it’s very comfortable to just sit back on your couch, on your on your sofa or doing the daily routine because knowing things the way they are as it’s the most comfortable thing. But do you want to be comfortable or really be fulfilled and happy? And that’s the one question that everyone else out there has to answer themselves, honestly. And once you get to that point, and when you say, No, I really do want to be happy and be live a fulfilled life. There is no no way back. You simply have to, you know, lay the breadcrumbs in front of you, and taste them in order to build it and make it happen. You owe it to yourself.

Nicole Laino
Absolutely. And you you, I think, what people want to keep what was coming up for me all the time, you were you were saying that was you are the author of your story. And not not everybody looks at it that way they see that? Well, I was dealt this hand and my parents did this. And I was I didn’t get to go to college, or I did go to college. And then I got a job. That didn’t mean, and this, this feeling that life happened to them. And these are the cards they were dealt. So they’re playing the hand as it was and it’s like, No, you’re the dealer. You deal with the cards, you choose them, and you choose in every moment. And so I love I admire the choices you make. And the way you show up in the world, I love watching you and stuff and keeping keeping track of all the things you’re doing.

Julia Jerg
Thank you so much. I appreciate it. But you know, to this point, and to be fair, it’s also very hard because society tells you that you should live like this. That’s that was my my hardest, hardest obstacle for myself back then too. And I don’t blame anyone, if they now are in at some point there, they realize, Oh, I’m not that far. But at least trying. You know, I always say, try it out as at least once. You can always go back to your old life, it’s always going to be there sitting and waiting for you for sure. But at least try it out once and then you can you can decide for yourself if you like it or not. And if you prefer that old life or if you maybe love to explore a little bit more what’s out there. And there’s always I mean, people, please trust me, and I know, Nicole, you can confirm that too. If you have the courage and really open that door, there will be more doors open. I mean, always, always, always. It’s not that you’re you’re gonna like like I thought back then no one will ever hire me again. That was my belief. I really thought that. Yeah, and yeah, I was I was proven wrong because it was actually it’s an accelerator if you if you take the courage and change your life and add a few more skills and, and you know, open your horizon to towards the world and other other lifestyles then they will be fools if they don’t like you. And if no one will hire you, then you create your own business. So that’s it. Yeah, but

Nicole Laino
you are held. And if you can, like sometimes I just sit back and I go in like shrinks. And this to me when I was when I was going through my depression after I was like, when I was leaving corporate. I was I was giving a shrink. And I remember I was moving to LA I made like not a move like you did but I got rid of everything and we moved across the country because I knew if I stayed there I would get pulled back in. And so that was my higher self saying get out of here because you will that’s the only way we can truly break free. And we you know we we moved and my own when I was you know struggling with the move and the big change and you know, leaving all the things my shrink just sat there very calmly he was one of those shrinks that like just knowing and a little bit dry. And like looking and listening and nodding and then looks at me and he’s like I want you to repeat after me. I have always been and I always will be okay. And I was like really? That’s what I have. I have always been and I always will be okay, and he was like it’s the truth. Have you ever not been okay? Even the worst thing you’ve always been taken care of things have always worked out. You will never be homeless unless you choose to be you will never be it you will always be okay. And if you can trust that and move and do your thing. The only thing you will regret is not doing it sooner. And then I was like, alright dude. Received thanks. But, but thank you so much for being here. And for anybody who is considering I mean, you’ve got the got this great mindset course coming out like you’re the Nomad mindset where you can get into that and figure out if this is right for you, and a workshop and all fun things planned. Tell them where they can find you tell them where they can stay in touch with you on the webs.

Julia Jerg
Yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate it. So for now, I be found on J jetta.com. That’s J ygwer.com. And all my social media handles are also J jeder. Yeah, except Clubhouse. I’m with my full name. Euodia. Yeah, for some reason, don’t ask me why. There’s no strategy behind

Nicole Laino
that that’s okay. The pictures are the same, though. So you know, when you find her that, that it’s the same one as Instagram. But, but we will link all of that up in the show notes for you. So if you don’t have a pen and paper handy, don’t you worry. We got you covered. And Yulia, is there anything that you’d like to say to the listeners before we wrap up? Yeah, sir. I

Julia Jerg
mean, I really love talking about this. For me, it has become my iki guy. I just had a person on my podcast the other day, and she is a guide for to finding your ikigai. And I that’s why I’m using the term because I learned something new. And I was funnily enough, yeah, I always followed my ikigai not always but the past decade. And so I wish like if you if you feel inspired, and if you if something resonates with you, that we talked about today, then, yeah, again, I’m repeating myself, but try it out at least once. It’s so good. Also stepping out of your comfort zone, even if it’s uncomfortable at first, it has to be uncomfortable, you will be scared. There’s fear and all the other, you know, anxiety involved. But that’s good. That’s when you know, change is happening. And transformation. So yeah, I hope you guys try it.

Nicole Laino
I hope they do too. Because it really, you know, you step into the fire and you realize you don’t get burned. It’s better. Yeah. So thank you so much for being here for sharing your story. And I know you’ve inspired so many people listening right now. And you who’s listening made it all the way to the end. We love you. We thank you. I so appreciate you grateful for you making it to the end of this conversation with us. We hope you are inspired. And I’m going to end the show like I end every show I’m going to tell you that you are only limited by the limitations that you accept. And when you stop accepting those limitations. That is when you become limitless. We’ll see you on the next one.