Moving to a new country can be both exciting and challenging, filled with the promise of adventure but also the uncertainty of the unknown. Whether you’re an expat, a student, or a professional seeking opportunities abroad, success often hinges on more than just professional skills. In this guide, we’ll explore the wisdom shared by experienced individuals who have successfully navigated the challenges of living and working in a foreign land. From building social capital to embracing resilience, these secrets to success abroad are invaluable for anyone looking to make the most of their international experience.
Here are some hot secrets and tips to unlocking success abroad from speakers of The Expat Woman Virtual Summit, Nov. 2023.
"Start connecting with people and learning about the country you are moving to even before you move. Leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to find connections, make new ones and join groups that provides tips and insights and will answer your questions on navigating life in the county you are relocating to."
"Networking is key. Build your social capital through networking so you expand your circle and you make connections that will empower, inspire and advocate for you."
"Be curious about your host country and ask questions."
"Be Fearless and Open to the Unknown."
"Often we think "when I have more time / money / ..., THEN I'll be happy / fulfilled / at home / etc". But this is a never-ending trap, leaving us always wanting something more and never completely satisfied. Decide for yourself how you want to feel or what you want to achieve exactly. Then start embodying that in the here & now already. Crave adventure? Work from a cafe instead of the office. Want that promotion? Start dressing, behaving, talking like you got it already. BE that person who has already achieved the feeling you're after - and see how you'll get there in no time."
"One secret to help women achieve success abroad is having a strong intention for your time abroad. No matter if it's for work, for family or whatever, it's important to have a strong why to anchor yourself abroad and a clear picture of what you'd like to gain from this experience. No matter if it's language acquisition, professional development or simply to relax-- a clear intention will help you to align your attitude, priorities, and day-to-day choices to support your intention. Doing this will help you to weather the rollercoaster that is living abroad."
"When expat life throws you lemons and makes you feel discouraged and disappointed, here's a positive twist I want you to remember: These moments of utter frustration are actually a blessing in disguise! They push you to break free from unfulfilling situations, relationships, and routines. In life, there are no dead-ends, just signs guiding us to make a U-turn so we can rediscover happiness and fulfillment. So the next time you reach this point, embrace it as an opportunity for positive change and take action to steer your life towards what truly makes you happy."
"Starting in a new country is never easy. Being confident and fearless helps while knowing all the way that you are not entitled. Believe that our difference is our strength. If we are not cheering for ourselves, no one else will."
"You can't have meaningful relationships with others if you haven't got a healthy relationship with yourself first. Learn to accept and love yourself and the rest will come automatically."
"Find a community that can help you adjust to life abroad and lessen the loneliness that can occur when you are away from your loved ones."
"The secret to help women achieve success abroad is mastering emotionally healthy resilience. That means instead of toughing it out and pushing through, it's taking care of your emotional, mental, and physical health so you can be strong and empowered to deal with challenges in a healthy way. Life abroad is not always easy and it's easy to be stressed, overwhelmed, and have difficulties adapting."
"Be open to reinvention. A new location, new people, new experiences can also mean an opportunity to lean into the person you've always wanted to become (and been afraid to do so before)."
"Network with people who have similar journey as you and are in your dream role. Ask them how did they get here. Their journey can be your blueprint. The best time to network with someone is when you don’t need anything from them. That’s how you build and nurture long term professional relationships and advocates."
"Get a life coach - don’t try to take the journey and navigate change alone."
"Building wealth is not based on how much money you make. Developing strategic systems for your money; investing in the stock market, real estate, and business development; and mastering your mindset are what help you build wealth."
"Embracing flexibility and adaptability as well as utilizing previous experiences as examples of emotional resiliency to empower and uplift you when times get tough, and recognizing that it is okay to acknowledge the difficult times."
"Be your authentic best-self self and connect with others."
"Be intentional, proactive, and assertive."
"Prioritize your physical and mental health and build a supportive social network."
Thank you to our The Expat Woman Virtual Summit 2023 speakers for sharing these very valuable tips. Click here to learn more about each of them.
