We all know the terms remote worker, digital nomad, expat, and global freelancer, but did you know there are many more global identities than meet the eye? This article delves into 25 unique global identities, explaining what each term means and highlighting their distinct characteristics.
Remote worker: flexibility to work from anywhere
A remote worker is someone who performs their job outside a traditional office setting. They might work from home, a coworking space, or while traveling, but the key factor is that they’re not tied to a specific physical office. While many remote workers maintain a home base, they enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere, making this lifestyle an attractive option for individuals who want more control over their work-life balance.
- Key traits: Freedom from a fixed office, with the flexibility to work from anywhere.
- Common careers: IT, marketing, project management, customer service.
Digital nomad: the freedom to travel and work simultaneously
A digital nomad takes the remote worker concept further, living a life of constant travel while working remotely. Instead of maintaining a fixed home base, digital nomads work from cafes, coworking spaces, or beach huts in different countries, leveraging technology to stay connected with clients and teams. This lifestyle is defined by flexibility, adventure, and a love for experiencing new cultures while working.
- Key traits: Constant travel, working remotely from various locations worldwide.
- Common careers: Freelance writing, software development, content creation.
Expat: a new life in a foreign country
An expat is someone who moves to a country other than their homeland, often for work or family reasons, with no intention of becoming a permanent resident. Expats might move for a few years due to a job placement or personal reasons, often enjoying the experience of living abroad while maintaining ties to their home country. Unlike digital nomads, expats typically live in one place for an extended period.
- Key traits: Semi-permanent residency in a foreign country for work or personal reasons.
- Common careers: Corporate employees, diplomats, educators.
Cosmopolitan: a citizen of the world
A cosmopolitan is someone who feels at home in multiple cities and countries, blending seamlessly into different cultures and societies. Cosmopolitans are often well-traveled and have lived in several different countries, making them comfortable with the global community. They typically engage with various cultural, professional, and social circles in different parts of the world.
- Key traits: A global mindset, comfort and ease in multiple cultural settings.
- Common careers: Diplomats, international business professionals, global creatives.
Global citizen: beyond borders
A global citizen goes beyond the idea of being an expat or cosmopolitan. This individual identifies as belonging to the entire world rather than any single country. Global citizens are often engaged in international causes, advocating for global issues like climate change, human rights, and economic equality. They prioritize a sense of global unity over national borders.
- Key traits: A commitment to global causes, identifying with the world as a whole.
- Common careers: International development, global NGOs, environmental activism.
Travelpreneur: blending business and travel
A travelpreneur is an entrepreneur who combines their business pursuits with a love of travel. These individuals run their own companies while moving from place to place, often using travel as inspiration for their business ideas. Travelpreneurs leverage their location-independence to grow their ventures while enjoying the freedom to explore new destinations.
- Key traits: Entrepreneurship combined with constant travel and exploration.
- Common careers: E-commerce business owners, consultants, online coaches.
Global freelancer: the world is your client base
A global freelancer is someone who offers services to clients all over the world, often using platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or direct client relationships. While they may be similar to digital nomads, global freelancers focus on building a diverse client base across different countries and industries. They work remotely and may or may not travel frequently, but their work spans international borders.
- Key traits: A diverse, global client base, offering location-independent services.
- Common careers: Freelance designers, writers, marketers, developers.
Slow traveler: embracing immersion while working remotely
A slow traveler prefers to spend extended periods in one place rather than constantly moving. This lifestyle allows for deeper cultural immersion, giving the individual the chance to experience life more like a local. Slow travelers often work remotely, using the extended time in each location to balance work and exploration.
- Key traits: Staying longer in destinations to immerse in local culture while working.
- Common careers: Remote writers, educators, consultants, developers.
Location-independent entrepreneur: running a business from anywhere
A location-independent entrepreneur operates their business entirely online, allowing them to work from any location. Unlike travelpreneurs, who may use travel as a primary aspect of their business model, location-independent entrepreneurs might choose to stay in one place for long periods or move as they wish. They benefit from the freedom to grow their business without being tied to one location.
- Key traits: Running a business from anywhere, with flexibility in location.
- Common careers: E-commerce owners, consultants, online course creators.
Remote consultant: providing expertise from afar
A remote consultant offers professional advice and services to businesses or individuals without being physically present. Remote consultants work across borders and industries, using video calls, emails, and digital tools to provide expertise. They may travel occasionally but primarily rely on remote work to connect with clients worldwide.
- Key traits: Offering consulting services remotely, across borders.
- Common careers: Business strategists, marketing consultants, HR specialists.
Perpetual traveler (PT): the nomad with no fixed address
A perpetual traveler, or PT, is someone who moves continuously without ever settling in one place. They often change locations for tax reasons, seeking to avoid long-term residency in any one country. PTs travel between countries, often staying long enough to explore and work before moving on to the next destination.
- Key traits: Constant movement with no fixed residence, often for tax and lifestyle reasons.
- Common careers: Freelancers, investors, remote workers.
Flexpat: flexible expat living
A flexpat is a hybrid between an expat and a digital nomad. Flexpats may live in a foreign country for an extended period, but they maintain the flexibility to move as needed. They aren’t as tied down as traditional expats, often choosing to work remotely or have contracts that allow them to travel or relocate.
- Key traits: Semi-permanent residency with the flexibility to move when necessary.
- Common careers: Consultants, corporate employees, freelancers.
Nomadic family: traveling and worldschooling as a unit
A nomadic family is a family that travels together while working remotely and educating their children through worldschooling. Instead of attending a traditional school, the children learn through travel experiences, with parents often taking a hands-on role in their education. This lifestyle is defined by a love for travel, family, and a commitment to alternative education.
- Key traits: Family-oriented travel combined with remote work and alternative education.
- Common careers: Freelancers, digital marketers, travel bloggers.
Telecommuter: traditional remote work without the travel
A telecommuter is someone who works from home or a remote location but doesn’t necessarily travel. They have the flexibility to work remotely but may still need to be close to an office or team for occasional in-person meetings. Telecommuters are typically more rooted in one place than digital nomads or remote workers.
- Key traits: Working remotely but maintaining proximity to a central office.
- Common careers: Customer service, administrative roles, project management.
Globetrotter: frequent travel without long-term commitment
A globetrotter is someone who travels frequently for both work and leisure but may not necessarily work remotely full-time. They enjoy visiting new places and experiencing different cultures, but they often have a home base to return to. Unlike digital nomads, globetrotters might travel for short-term projects or vacations rather than live a fully nomadic lifestyle.
- Key traits: Frequent travel for work or leisure with a home base to return to.
- Common careers: Consultants, international business professionals, travel writers.
Virtual team member: part of a distributed workforce
A virtual team member is part of a team that works across different locations and time zones. These professionals work entirely online, often collaborating with colleagues worldwide, but they are part of a larger organization. While they may not travel as frequently as digital nomads, they enjoy the flexibility of working from home or any remote location.
- Key traits: A member of a distributed team working fully online.
- Common careers: IT, software development, marketing, HR.
Geoarbitrage practitioner: earning in one economy, living in another
A geoarbitrage practitioner takes advantage of the differences in living costs between countries, earning income in a stronger currency and living in more affordable destinations. This lifestyle allows individuals to maximize their savings or quality of life while working remotely. Geoarbitrage has become popular among remote workers who can live comfortably in countries with lower costs of living while earning a higher income from abroad.
- Key traits: Leveraging cost-of-living differences for financial advantage.
- Common careers: Remote workers, digital entrepreneurs, international consultants.
Borderless entrepreneur: running a global business without borders
A borderless entrepreneur runs a business that operates internationally, free from the limitations of a specific country’s borders. These individuals set up their companies in ways that allow them to work and serve customers from any part of the world. By embracing a global mindset, borderless entrepreneurs focus on markets in various countries, often using digital tools to manage operations and reach a global clientele.
- Key traits: Operating a business internationally, without location constraints.
- Common careers: Global business owners, international consultants, digital marketers.
Remote researcher: global collaboration without physical presence
A remote researcher conducts academic, scientific, or market research from a remote location. Using digital tools and platforms, they collaborate with teams, institutions, and other researchers worldwide without the need to be physically present. This flexibility allows researchers to participate in global projects while maintaining their location independence, whether they are staying in one place or traveling.
- Key traits: Conducting research remotely, collaborating across borders.
- Common careers: Academic researchers, market analysts, scientific researchers.
Workationer: mixing work and vacation
A workationer combines work with vacation, moving temporarily to a new location to enjoy the environment while maintaining their job remotely. The workation lifestyle is about finding balance—enjoying travel and relaxation without taking time off from work. Workationers often spend a few weeks or months in a new destination, working during the day and exploring during their free time.
- Key traits: Combining work and vacation, temporary relocation.
- Common careers: Remote workers, consultants, freelancers.
Cross-cultural consultant: navigating global business differences
A cross-cultural consultant specializes in helping businesses and individuals navigate cultural differences in international work settings. Whether it’s understanding business etiquette in different countries or managing diverse teams, cross-cultural consultants provide valuable insights to companies that operate globally. They often work remotely, providing their expertise through virtual meetings, and sometimes travel to different regions to offer in-person guidance.
- Key traits: Expertise in cultural differences, remote and sometimes in-person consulting.
- Common careers: Business consultants, intercultural trainers, HR specialists.
Remote creative: crafting art from anywhere
A remote creative is a designer, writer, photographer, or other creative professional who works remotely, often using global travel as inspiration for their work. While they might be considered digital nomads, remote creatives specifically focus on producing creative content, whether for clients or personal projects. They may travel to gather inspiration from different cultures and environments, allowing their work to reflect their global experiences.
- Key traits: Remote work in creative fields, using travel for inspiration.
- Common careers: Graphic designers, writers, photographers.
International volunteer: making a global impact
An international volunteer dedicates their time and skills to causes and organizations around the world. They may work for global non-profits or NGOs, volunteering in various countries for short or long-term projects. While not necessarily tied to remote work, international volunteers often use their professional expertise to help communities and causes, contributing to global development, education, or humanitarian efforts.
- Key traits: Volunteering globally, contributing to international causes.
- Common careers: NGO workers, humanitarian aid providers, educators.
Global networker: building and leveraging worldwide connections
A global networker is someone who builds and nurtures a professional network across borders. They often work in industries where connections are crucial, such as business development, international sales, or talent recruitment. These individuals excel at leveraging their global contacts to foster collaborations, partnerships, and career opportunities, often traveling to maintain and grow their networks.
- Key traits: Building global professional networks, leveraging international connections.
- Common careers: Business development professionals, sales executives, recruiters.
Part-time nomad: balancing stability with adventure
A part-time nomad is someone who travels or lives abroad for part of the year while working remotely, but they maintain a permanent home base for the rest of the time. This lifestyle allows individuals to enjoy the freedom and excitement of travel without fully committing to the nomadic lifestyle. Part-time nomads often spend several months each year in different locations, balancing stability with adventure.
- Key traits: Part-time travel with a stable home base.
- Common careers: Remote workers, consultants, freelancers.
Conclusion: the global workforce redefined
Although the above list of 25 identities provides a solid overview of the diverse global lifestyles emerging today, it’s often challenging to neatly categorize an individual into just one of these roles. Many people embody a combination of these identities, reflecting the fluid and multifaceted nature of modern work and life. This blend is what makes each person’s journey unique and exciting.
The 21st century has redefined how we live and work, with remote work, travel, and global lifestyles becoming more accessible than ever. The diverse identities listed in this article showcase the flexibility and possibilities available to modern professionals who want to integrate work with personal passions, exploration, or family life. Whether you’re a remote worker, a digital nomad, or a slow traveler, the freedom to design your lifestyle is now more achievable than ever before.
As the world continues to evolve, these global identities are not only shaping the future of work but also transforming how we connect and interact with the world around us. Whether you aspire to become a cosmopolitan, a global freelancer, or a perpetual traveler, it’s clear that traditional boundaries of work and residency no longer define what it means to live a fulfilling, global life. This comprehensive look at 25 unique global work and lifestyle identities highlights the vast and exciting possibilities for navigating work and life in today’s connected world.
