Network Marketer Jonelle DaSilva On the Freedom She's Found As a Remote Worker

 Just a few years ago if you told Jonelle DaSilva she’s find success working for a network marketing company, she’d likely burst out laughing. With a successful career in the hospice industry, and a dream to travel all over the world, she couldn’t imagine what her life would be like in the months and years to come. 

And after Jonelle found herself facing one of the toughest moments in her life, she took a leap of faith and started her life over — working remotely and continuing to embrace her love of travel.  Here’s her story.

Tell me about your career trajectory. How did you fall into your current role? What was some of the defining moments that lead you from traditional employment to remote self-employment?

For the better part of a decade I worked in healthcare, the majority of which was in hospice. I have always loved helping people, and my ten-year career taught me a lot of life lessons from basic appreciation to wake up healthy everyday to a deep compassion for those around me.

For most of my young adult life, I traveled — as much and as far as I could with only two weeks paid vacation a year. I dreamed of what it would be like to be location independent and followed dozens of travel YouTuber’s wishing I had their life. 

Then my own world was rocked. In January of 2017 my seemingly healthy Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. In October of 2017 he died. 

I kind of lost my shit after that, but it ended up being the push I needed to go after the things I always wanted but was always too afraid to do. 

I quit my job and set out on an adventure around the world —all seven Continents in one year! It was my own Eat, Pray, Love journey to heal my broken heart.

Halfway through that year, I decided to take a big leap of faith, and after a lot of research I joined a network marketing company.

And I worked my butt off. Feeding my brain knowledge and self-belief by reading personal development books and listening to countless inspirational podcasts. I knew the biggest obstacle to success as an entrepreneur in this field is self belief, and I was determined to not only reach all my goals, but fly passed them.

You have a passion for travel. How does jetsetting around the world mesh with your job? How do you make it work?

We are fortunate to live in a world at a time where anything is possible. 50 years ago running a remote business from Antarctica wouldn't be possible — ya, I did that.

The beauty of network marketing is it can be done anywhere. If you have a phone and internet you’re ready to go. And if you put in the time to build this business than you’ll reap the benefits of something called residual income.

As I’ve built a solid team of customers and mentored other entrepreneurs over the last year and a half, my business can run hands off should I choose to take time off. 

I work with the number one skincare company in North American. My customers are using a consumable product that yields results and literally gets washed down the drain day and night and needs to be reordered month after month. I do not hold inventory or deal with shipping so when I travel it is solely up to me if I want to network while away or simply live in the moment. 

What are the challenges you face when it comes to remote work?

This goes back to my previous comment about personal development. Remote work is a blessing but so few have the discipline that comes with being their own boss. Pair this with the emotional rollercoaster of big wins but hard losses it is crucial to build up your self belief. 

I’m fascinated at how varied everyone’s day can be. Tell me, what is a typical day in the life look like for you?

Well I can tell you no two days look alike. 

If I’m traveling I work my business into the nooks and crannies of my day.

When I’m home I do the same. Living my life first and working my business into my day and not the other way around. 

All that being said I do not want to paint a picture that I am blasé about my business. Anyone that knows me well can attest to how passionate I am about it. I just take full advantage of the flexibility.

Whether I’m on the road or home I love meeting new people, helping my customers and training the next wave of entrepreneurs. Mentoring is something I’ve become so passionate about. This business is my baby and taking everything I’ve learned from what I’ve done well and not so well and pouring that knowledge into my team to help them succeed is so rewarding. 

Another thing I’m always curious about is where people work, since everyone’s ideal workspace is so different from another person’s. What does your workspace look like?

When I’m home I prefer my office to coworking spaces. It’s light and airy and definitely girly with hints of gold and teal decor and vision boards galore.

When I’m traveling it’s a plane, train, Uber or beach! 

Your life has changed so much in the past decade. Where do you see yourself in five years?

My goodness it certainly has! In the next 5 years, I will be able to retire my now boyfriend Brent, who will be my husband at that time. We will have a child of our own, and as a family we will have the ability to travel and live life on our terms.

I want to expose our child to the wonder and magic of travel from a young age as well as volunteer work to instill humility from a young age. 

I will also have expanded my business to mentoring and coaching women worldwide on how to run a successful network marketing business.

I will be working on my first book and preparing for my first TedX Talk. 

Alright, final question. Wait, two questions. First, what is your best advice for people who want to change their life and work remotely? Second, do you have any advice for people who are currently remote workers?

For people looking to make a big change, here’s the secret...The time will never be right! Life will always give you a reason why next week might be better.

Stop putting your dreams off and take the jump!

And for all my remote workers out there, my number one advice is work on yourself just as much as you work on your business. Never stop learning and perfecting your craft as well as your mind.

And number two is consistency, consistency, consistency, especially in the beginning. There is no overnight success in the entrepreneurial world. It takes grit and daily effort to get it off the ground.