Meet Taylor Mills | Business Marketing Coach and Digital Nomad

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Mills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I was always the kid that worked a lot. Multiple sports, extra classes, many extra curricular activities. Without realizing it, my entire life was spent “working.” Working constantly got me where I thought I wanted to go: the Ivy League. Once I got to the Ivy League, I hated it. So much so that I almost dropped out — not because of poor grades, but because I was simply unhappy. Spending 100% of my time working and/or thinking about work became depressing.

Instead of dropping out of school, I went to Spain for a year. I negotiated a sales internship at an American media company in Madrid. I loved it. For the first time that I was conscious of, I saw a world where people’s lives didn’t revolve around work or school. Yes, we all went to the offie daily. But our lives didn’t revolve around the office. When I think back on my time in Spain I have so many memories including and outside of my actual “job” there.

I decided then that no matter what, I did not want to spend the rest of my life prioritizing work above all else. I did not want my entire life to revolve around a job, school, clients, or any other form of work. That included going to work, thinking about work, talking about work. I want the majority of my time, thoughts, and energy to be on things I enjoy — including but not limited to work.

It’s been nearly a decade since then and being in control of my time is still my #1 goal. I revolve my daily life around different priorities like health, relationships, travel. Then I find a career move where I create my own hours and pivot as my priorities change. This sometimes means letting go of clients when my time and energy is drained. Finding new income streams that are more enjoyable and/or give me more time back. Saving up to take time off from work.

I don’t necessarily believe in “work-life balance.” The phrase itself puts working and living on the same platform. In my life, work is not #1. I work to live. I don’t live to work. It’s a daily choice that comes with very real consequences that I choose to accept.

I hope that 10 years from now, I am still as committed to controlling my time and spending the majority of it on things I enjoy.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve been a self-employed digital nomad for a decade. When I say that out loud, it sounds crazy. I was “remote,” “location independent,” and “nomadic” before these terms existed.

I knew since high school that I wanted to travel and not be tied to any one location. That led me to go to college on the other side of the country, then spend my first summer living and traveling throughout Italy, then take a year off to work in Spain, then study Portuguese and get a job in Brazil. I kept looking for opportunities to travel, make an impact, be inspired, and still make money. It also helped that I could speak Spanish and Portuguese.

That led me to look for jobs abroad, work for global companies, volunteer for various organizations, and try different internships.

I had 3 corporate jobs within 4 years of graduating from the Ivy League. None of them lasted more than 6 months. I decided I wanted to work for myself so that I could remain location-independent.

My decision to “be an entrepreneur” led me to launch my own app biz. I thought creating my own startup was the only way to be self-employed. A year into that journey, I quit because it didn’t align w my lifestyle goals.

I was working all the time and not making any money. I felt stuck because I didn’t want to go back to corporate but I also didn’t know how to be a “successful entrepreneur.”

Despite feeling like a failure, I used the skills I’d acquired recently on my app biz journey. Then I started charging for those skills. In 2017, I created websites + blogs for people. The next year, I ran email marketing campaigns for different individuals and organizations. By 2019, I was running webinars for clients and in 2020 I added webinar launches and course creation to my services. During the pandemic, I switched from running marketing campaigns and running businesses for clients, to business coaching where I help people create new income streams online.

While building my own services as a new business owner, I was also building communities of entrepreneurs. From hosting online mastermind groups, to in-person meetups around the world, to partnerships with other solopreneurs, my goal was to create meaningful relationships and foster genuine connections.

Now I get paid to set up business systems and create business strategies. I’ve helped my clients make over $5M in new online income streams, working 1:1, with individual, small teams, and huge companies.

What I’m most excited about is my upcoming Make Moves Retreat, happening in January 2023 in Cartagena Colombia. I am combining all of my passions and areas of expertise: community building, travel, and personal growth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite thing about LA is that there are many different vibes. There are options whether you want to be surrounded by water or tall buildings, enjoy rooftop dining or street food, immerse in American culture or international cultures, etc.

I grew up in the Crenshaw district. My favorite places to take people are local, black-owned cafes, restaurants, and workspaces. For example, we can grab breakfast at Hilltop Coffee, get in a quick workout with a view and the Baldwin Hills steps, get some work done then have dinner at The Gathering Spot, and go to 1010 for wine after dinner.

One classic area that I like to take people visiting from out of town is Venice Beach. I like to walk people through the canals to see lights and local decorations. Then I take them to the beach to see the graffiti walls, the talented skaters, and (especially for international visitors) local street basketball. And we can watch the sunset from a rooftop hotel or just on the beach in the sand.

I could go on and on about the different things to see, eat, and explore in LA. I’m from here, consider myself a professional explorer, and I still haven’t seen all areas of Los Angeles. Every month, I make it a goal to explore a new area. No matter what you like to do, there is something for you here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I always say that the hardest part of entrepreneurship is finding ways to keep going. My support system of friends, family, and my husband help me stay encouraged and keep going even when I’m scared/overwhelmed/discouraged.

Website: https://www.taylordmills.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taymakesmoves/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylordmills/