Ten Years Later as a Digital Nomad in Thailand...

 Today I attended the 2026 Nomad Summit conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I came as a regular attendee, sitting in the back, mostly anonymous to those there. The people to my left and right had no idea I was the founder of this event, and one of the first digital nomads to populate this city and turn it into the digital nomad mecca it has become today.

Back in 2013 when I first came to Chiang Mai and started networking with other online entrepreneurs, the term "digital nomad" wasn't even a thing yet. And when it first started being thrown around, I avoided using it or labeling myself as one for years and years until it became common place. We called ourself "location independent entrepreneurs" which is retrospect was way too long to ever stick, but at the time at least, fit us well.

If you ask me today what you should to do get started, I would tell you to find a remote job as I know how tough it is to become an entrepreneur. I also know it's not for everyone to take the risks and responsibilities to start their own business.  Just like if you were to graduate from college back home, I'd tell you to get a job that doesn't suck and has a short commute over risking everything to start a physical brick and mortar business. 

That doesn't mean that entrepreneurship doesn't work, or that it's not worth it, it's just hard and most people honestly aren't cut out for it. Just like most people are better off being employees than they are CEOs. For me, I was forced into the role, and I'm glad I did it as it paid off. But I also know that it easily could had went the other way as well. Luckily I had good mentors, work ethic, and the ability to grind. 

This was exactly the theme of this year's Nomad Summit. They started the first talk about how to find a remote job, followed by how to start a business. But the thing that impressed me most was the fact that they had the local Governor of Chiang Mai come on stage to kick off the event. He said that digital nomads were welcome here and that he hopes we'll stay even past the 180 days that are normally allocated for tourists. 

It's a very different feeling knowing that we're welcomed here, instead of just tolerated. Big congrats to Christoph and Alexandra the new owners of the conference for pulling this collaboration off. The fact that the Amazing Thailand government is sponsoring the dinner and afterparty of the event is a whole new level of this movement. 

I'm officially retired from nomad life and have nothing to do with the Nomad Summit anymore officially,  but it's nice to come back and see how it evolves each year. The digital nomad community as a whole has grown so much since I started way back in 2013. Now it's no longer a movement but a way of life.

With love from Chiang Mai,

Johnny FD