Tasha Prados is the founder of Duraca Strategic, where she partners with passion and purpose-driven businesses to maximize their impact through branding, marketing and strategy consulting. Her accelerator program (Re)Launch Your Business, guides entrepreneurs step-by-step through building a solid long-term strategy and successfully (re)launching; you can sign up here (Tasha is a writer at Nomadific and a great person to work with, I definitely recommend her program! If you sign up using our link we get paid a commission which helps us run the site.)
Q: What made you decide to create (Re)Launch Your Business, your Branding, Marketing & Strategy Accelerator?
A: I used to work at a top-three global ad agency with U.S. government and Fortune 500 clients on multi-million dollar initiatives. I still work with big organizations like that. But I started Duraca Strategic because I wanted to make those same industry leading tools and best practices accessible to the entrepreneurs and small business owners who need them most — but have the fewest resources.
When you’re just starting out, it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to focus your limited resources and energy. For folks a little further along, they often realize things aren’t working as well as they want because they never did the necessary foundational strategy. I’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs all over the world, and see them making the same mistakes! I created the (Re)Launch Your Business Accelerator so folks who are serious about (re)launching can get expert step-by-step guidance, support, and community without wasting time.
For many of us, this year has put into perspective the things that matter most. The world needs passion and purpose-driven entrepreneurs looking to make a difference. I want to help them make the biggest impact they can.
Q: Who is the accelerator for?
A: Current and aspiring passion and purpose-driven entrepreneurs ready to invest the time and energy to (re)launch their business and take things to the next level. The folks in our program care about more than making money — they want to have a social impact and do good in the world, whether it’s through a social enterprise, small business, side hustle, or consulting practice.
Q: What made you decide to start your own business and become a digital nomad?
A: I never thought I would become an entrepreneur — even though both of my parents are self-employed. I had always been intrigued by the idea of starting my own business, but I felt like I needed an idea that would change the world — and I didn’t have one. Eventually, I realized I had the ability to help the people with the great ideas maximize their impact. My roots lie in social justice, international development, and cross-cultural communication; it grounds everything that I do.
I’ve always loved traveling and living abroad, but I’m at my best when I feel like I’m a contributing member of society working to make the world a better place — and I’ve never felt that way when I was just traveling. So I loved the idea of combining starting my business with being a digital nomad. I liked the idea of being able to support my travels and be in a place long enough to get to understand more about the culture.
Being a digital nomad enables me to do my best work, because when I’m not working, I feel like I’m living life to the fullest. I get inspired by learning about other cultures and meeting interesting people (and fabulous freelancers to partner with!). It stimulates my creativity. It has given me the opportunity to work with great organizations and entrepreneurs I never would have met otherwise.
Q: How has the pandemic impacted your business & your travel?
A: Wellll, now I’m in one place haha. I don’t want to be a vector for the virus. I’m so lucky to be safe in Vietnam where they’ve got the virus very much under control and where I can live a normal life! It was not an easy decision to stay abroad — I agonized over it, but looking back, it feels like the right one for me.
I’ve been equally lucky with my business — I have more work than ever before. I started my business almost exactly a year ago! I was able to replace my corporate salary within four months, and I’m on track to hit six figures in the next couple of months. I’ve been featured in Fox Business News and Business Insider, spoken at dozens of conferences, and gotten to work on projects I really believe in.
Q: How do you think the pandemic will impact entrepreneurship and digital nomadism?
A: Responsible travelers are slowing down during the pandemic. Coronavirus has obviously led to a huge uptick in remote work and companies being more open to location independent work. We are seeing more countries recognize that digital nomads can be valuable long-term guests who will contribute to the economy and create new visa categories accordingly.
As for entrepreneurship, there are so many factors. With the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on the economy, many have lost jobs — and been forced into trying to make it work on their own. A lot of small business owners are suffering. At the same time, the pandemic has made many people re-evaluate how they’re spending their time, what they’re doing in their lives, and what really matters to them — this is definitely leading many folks to explore starting businesses and side hustles. I know it can be confusing and overwhelming, especially at first. That’s why I wanted to make it easy for people to feel they have what they need to succeed; so they can feel confident and supported.
This Q&A has been edited for narrative and context.The interviewee is a writer for Nomadific. We know her accelerator program will benefit many entrepreneurs and are proud to endorse it. Nomadific will make a small commission if you sign up through our affiliate link; this helps us run the site.
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