Jef van de Graaf

Hold firm to your dreams ✊ — HEY FRIEND(S) 😃 Never ever did I imagine returning to Thailand again. But here I am, with a 1-Year #ThaiVisa to: 1. Study Muay Thai for a year (and get in the best shape of my life) 2. Rebuild my Copywriting Agency (@copyadscontent); 3. Build and monetize a bunch of websites (e.g., pooffee.com and eyelinernan.com); 4. Live like a King (at the living costs of a commoner); 5. Share my experiences with you (on #TikTok, #YouTube, and #Instagram). It's a long journey ahead, with a lot of work to do, but, that's the beauty of being a #digitalnomad: Never try. Never know. (i.e., if you never try to push your self or chase your dreams... you'll never know what kind of life you will create or achieve.) #buildyourdreams (at Udon Thani) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnjcqOsp2Dx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It's not all sunshine while enjoying a Leo beer by the beach. The reality of being a nomad is navigating archaic and confusing bureaucracies without losing your cool or blowing a fuse. #digitalnomad #visarun #laos #Thailand #cmmtg #edvisa #godhelpme #sos #headache #ineedabeer (at Vientiane, Laos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cndnn3ppnG_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Life has a weird way of taking you to places where you belong. About 2+ years ago, I was living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I knew this was a #digitalnomad haven, but I had my heart and mind set on building a life and my future in #Indonesia. Well, guess what? Throughout my time in Chiang Mai Thailand, I was unhappy with my experience. Here's why: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭. Now, I'm back here in #ChiangMai and I'm excited to finally refocus and rebuild my future by learning from the past and enjoying every moment in the present. May you find your happy place and live good. Stay well ✌️ @jefthecrazycanadian - - - Huge thanks to @nixbrouwer and his incredible photos 🙇🤳 - - - Location? 📍 ภูฟ้าใส โฮมสเตย์ ม่อนแจ่ม 27/2 หมู่11บ้านหนองหอยใหม่ Mae Raem, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180 Phu Fahsai Homestay - - - #liveyourbestlife #myhappyplace #entrepteneur #entrepreneurship #nomadic #freedom #เร่ร่อนดิจิทัล #jefvandegraaf #jefthecrazycanadian (at Mon-Jam, Chiang Mai) https://www.instagram.com/p/CltSECTNhHC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Building a fkn empire. 📈 - - - In life, you only have two choices: Choice No. 1: Be a slave. Choice No. 2: Be a boss. "But Jef," you say, "how can slavery be a choice?" Just look at the definition: 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. In today's working world, an employee is foundational to a company's ability to function. It's also the sole driver of a company's value and asset creation. "Wait Jef," you say, "WTF does that even mean?" Think about it like this... Almost every time you make or create something for your boss/employer, who gets ownership? Them or you? In many cases, it's the company/business/owner that acquires your creations which they sell at a price to put profit into THEIR pockets. All the while, you simply get a salary - or worse - minimum wage. Look. I'm just rambling about sh*t here but I hope you understand my point. You can work for a living. Or... You can build a fkn empire. The choice is yours, my friends. - - - #boss #selfemployed #entrepteneur #startup #motivation #dailymotivation #inspiration #beaboss #founder #freelancer #parttime #bullshittet #enjoylife (at Copenhagen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjXaKb0tAm3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What's your summer vacay look like? (Assuming, you even take one...) - - - For me -- and for the first time in like forever -- I scheduled a full week away from all client projects, #copywriting, and my laptop. My little bro @jonathonvandegraaf put together a 5-day portage trip in Algonquin Park with my old man (aka dad), my nephew, and my niece. It was epic because... There was no WiFi in the wilderness, no stress trying to get my client's site to rank on Google, no impulse desire to buy sh*t online that I don't really need, no urgency to meet a deadline. But instead... There was nothing but pine-scented air to breathe, a big fresh lake to drink water, a hole in the ground to poop, and some delicious lake trout to catch'n'cook. Hope you all take the time to enjoy your summer. ✌️ - - - #summer #vacay #wilderness #alone #algonquinpark #algonquin #gonefishing #laketrout #summervibes #camping #outdoors (at Algonquin Park, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgctoA0JCxB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Social media is so f***ing stressful... 😵‍💫 --- Some days I write and share whatever comes to mind while: 1. I'm taking a poop 💩 2. I'm sitting on the train 🚂 3. I'm drinking a coffee ☕ Other days, like today, I attempt to stage and plan content to: 1. Validate my existence with the world 🌎 2. (Re)build my IG audience/community 👍 3. Find leads/clients for @copyadscontent ✒️ However, days like today, I end up with content that: 1. Triggers my insecurities 😭 2. Makes me feel like a fraud 🤥 3. Questions my purpose in life 🤔 Do you ever feel the same way? --- #Instagram #contentcreator #influencer #wannabe #honesty #truth #socialmedia #stressed #entrepreneur #business https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_mK9ELT6p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

In a perfect world — without you know what happening in the world — I'd go to Kathmandu to explore the Himalayas. Then back-pack for months in a India, introduce myself to the Stans, and mingle in the middle east (if I can afford it). How about you? 🤔 #travel #wanderlust #postdaily #weekend #memories #nomad #nomadic #life You made it. Yay! 🎉 (at South-East Asia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYfpEbwt456/?utm_medium=tumblr

Define: #nomad (at Canada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSg84hu-cv/?utm_medium=tumblr

What's your favorite city? 🧐 #travel #nomad #nomadic #digitalnomad #kunming #china #chiangmai #thailand #bali #indonesia #favoritecity #cityliving ============== Internet's Best Consulting "Jef went above and beyond with the tips, hints and links. Thank you." - Anna 🔗 LINK IN BIO (at Earth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPozQAvxn2/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hi, my name is Jef *insert 22 Jump Street meme* and I'm a a̶l̶c̶o̶h̶o̶l̶i̶c̶ nomadaholic. So... I've been back in Canada for 3+ months and I've had time to reflect on my 7+ years of travel in #Asia. And... My nomadic life started way before I jumped on a one-way ticket #Tokyo in 2014. In fact... I recall wanting to explore all the places my parents would take me as a child. That's why... My mom used a child leash, you know, strapped to a kid's arm as the parent walks then around like a dog? Anyway... I want to start sharing my 9+ years of experience as a #nomad that started with quitting factory labour in pursuit of an alternative way to fund my education in 2010/2011. So... I'm kicking off the month of January with a new post everyday about my experiences, lessons, and stories. And... There's no better way to do this than by playing my favorite game: #2Truths1Lie Drop a comment to make your guess: ① ② or ③  ================= p.s., The Internet's Best #Consulting (#linkinbio) has just gone up in price. My hourly rate is now $15. Book an hour with me today to explore options and ideas to: — Fund a future full of #travel — Attain more #freelancer clients — Shoot the shit about whatever Trust me, I'm a damn good listener. And, people normally pay hundreds of dollars for my strategic advice. (Is that a humble brag or am I just a @superduperahole?) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNFE3DvwJs/?utm_medium=tumblr

**FOR FREELANCERS 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬** If you're reading this, I'm looking for #freelancers who are serious about growing their services in 2022. And... I'm not f*cking around when I say I want to help you get: — More leads — More clients — More money I've been a #freelance #copywriter for 5+ years and I've built a few successful #wordpress websites for my self and my clients. If we're a good fit, I'm gonna go all out balls out to help you win more in the new year. ============== "𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘐𝘠 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵, 𝘑𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘚𝘌𝘖-𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘛 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧!" — ᴀᴍᴇ ᴘʀᴏɪᴇᴛᴛɪ, ꜰʀᴇᴇʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ꜱᴄʀɪᴘᴛᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ============== What are you waiting for? SLIDE INTO MY DM RIGHT NOW TO: — Book a discovery call — Discuss pricing & project ideas — Get a website that makes you 💸 *ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴄʏ = ᴄᴀᴅ (ɴᴏᴛ ᴜꜱᴅ) Talk soon, @jefvandegraaf #UX Copywriter | #WebOps Specialist | Not a #Mama's Boy | #Workaholic | #Honest AF | Why are You Still Reading — Slide into my DM 😘 (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/jefvandegraaf/p/CXUhfw3lWng/?utm_medium=tumblr

You're not a failure. 🤠🤘 I promise. You either: 1. Gave up too soon; or, 2. Didn't even try. I gotta be honest though... This sounds an awful lot like guru garbage — which I'm not about. But... 🍑 That's been my problem time and time again. I start a project. Then get distracted. And change directions. It's like I'm a dumb dog chasing it's tail until I get so dizzy and crave tummy rubs. Ah, tummy rubs 🤤 F*ck... see... it happened again as I write this freaking post. Look, #NapoleonHill wrote in his book #ThinkAndGrowRich: "𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 #𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵." Promise me that the next thing you do or the next #project your start — don't quit. Even if you've tried your hardest and haven't seen a single result in weeks. 😭 Even if you have no immediate support and feel utterly #alone in your pursuits. 🥺 Even if a corrupt government deports you from their country and tries to extort you for #money while escorting you to the Jakarta airport. 😤 Okay, that's a bit personal and probably irrelevant to you, but, I think you get the point. Best, @jefvandegraaf p.s., I still have spots available in the internet's best consulting experience. For a limited time only, you can tap into my: — Freelance #copywriting expertise — Website selling ideas & strategies — Nomadic lifestyle know-how for a one-time super low payment of $14.35 — that's #Canada's minimum wage! But don't delay — my hourly wage goes up on January 1 to $15 🤯 So, save yourself $0.65 and schedule a 1-hour consult to gain perspective on your: — Online business — Freelance career — Life in general Talk soon 👍 (at Tiananmen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJHU0jOT3D/?utm_medium=tumblr

Productive 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 • achieving or producing a significant amount or result "his/her/it was very productive today" Hmm... 🤔 That's not very helpful. What exactly do you want to 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦? A field of rice? A lot more sales? A load of crap? There's so little time in our lives. Why let it waste away? If there's ever a reason to 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, make it today. But not without knowing what you want. Do you know what that is? That's your first priority. Second priority is productivity. Third priority is food. Fourth priority is getting laid. And so on. Look, jokes aside. If you're really lost and everything's fucked up. I got you. Grab a 1-hour consult for only $14.35 per hour — that's Canada's minimum wage! I know you know what to do if you really want this. 👊 Talk soon, @jefvandegraaf ===================== #productivity #motivation #consult #consultation #strategy #productive #motivation #inspiration #ihatehashtags #ineedanassistant ===================== p.s. Let me know if you ever read my article, "7 Super Simple Productivity Hacks To Get More Shit Done" 🖇️ IN BIO (It really turns me on to know that your eyes are enjoying the words I created. 🤤) (at Chiang Mai, Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_FnynlK2R/?utm_medium=tumblr

•´¯`•. Tabula rasa. .•´¯`• It's finally here. A new beginning. The start of an adventure. A digital adventure. Aimed at helping you. To learn things. And to achieve things. Things I couldn't do before. Things I never knew possible. Things I discovered along the way. My way. Through life and it's mysteries. Mysteries that we'll never understand. But we always try to. Because we're human. And that's what humans do. Again. And again. And again. Anyway... It's good to be back, old friend. I've missed you. You've missed me. Are you ready to go chasing after prosperity? So come my brothers and sisters and kaks and diks.* Let's fucking do this. 👊 #welcomeback #helloagain #myfriend #blogger #writer #copywriter #ux #newwebsite #launchday #tuesday #jefvandegraaf #reconnected #IStillHateHashTags *Yes, dik, pronounced exactly as you think it, just like the dangy nobbin' I carry in my pants: dick. And, it means "sis" Are you always such a perv? (at Kitchener, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW8afoxFYuz/?utm_medium=tumblr

Podcast Art/Cover -- VOTE NOW 👍 ---- Regardless of the chaos and #bullshit in my life right now, there's nothing else I can do except continue building. Right now I'm preparing my podcast. I'll begin recording the first few episodes this week. 😎🤘 However... Which of the podcast covers do you like best? Drop a comment with your fav # Thanks 😘 ---- @jefvandegraaf ᴱˢᶜᵃᵖᵉ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᴳʳᵉᵃᵗ ᵁⁿᵏⁿᵒʷⁿ #podcast #graphicdesign #votenow #podcastcoverart #coverart #entrepreneur #hustleeveryday #keepgrinding #doordie (at Yogyakarta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUHe8dOhPeT/?utm_medium=tumblr

'Fuck it!' 🤬 I've spent so many years dreaming up ideas. From my failed drop-shipping business in Taiwan to a semi-successful hustle teaching English in Japan. Then I got into the freelance game and I became -- unregrettably -- the 'Jef of all trades.' Need an HTML email? Yeah -- I can do that! Need a new WordPress website? Yeah -- I can do that! Need a shit course with google-able information that you wanna sell for €3,500? Yeah -- I don't wanna do that... There comes a point in your career/journey/adventure in life where you just gotta say: 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁! "Fuck it -- I'm gonna quit my job!" "Fuck it -- I'm gonna travel the world!" "Fuck it -- I'm gonna start a business!" We are living in the most prosperous era in the history of hairless apes. If there's ever a better time to do something you've always been meaning to do... it's right now. #cliche Its so easy to spend all day inside your head or covered in potato chip crumbs with your BFF, #Netflix. But, I get it... Its very fucking scary to take a blind leap into the great unknown -- not knowing where you're going to go, what's going to happen to you, or how things are going to turn out. Forunately for you, I'm cracking out of my shell to share a message with you -- a message that's dedicated to: 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 — 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. You're welcome to join me on this new journey because, in the coming months, I will be: - Releasing a podcast that tackles life's toughest questions - Sharing insights into my day-to-day hustle and quarterly earnings - Writing weekly emails to help you make sense of this crazy world 𝗕𝘂𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱: Quitting your job without a financial cushion to depend on or a plan to create new income streams may be fatal. Always seek advice from your doctor -- or better, a qualified business advisor -- to see if the Fuck It Newsletter is right for you. SIGN UP IN BIO @jefvandegraaf DID YOU READ THIS? Drop a 🖕 in the comment #Fuck #It #Newsletter (at Special Region of Yogyakarta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJ2eWEB9S3/?utm_medium=tumblr