After finishing high school in his home country of Slovakia, Lubo knew he was not fit for a conventional career path. Instead, he decided to study in Australia and see what a nomadic lifestyle had in store. Now, Lubo Jurik works for his own graphic and web design business in Asia. Helping clients build and grow their businesses online, Lubo is able to live and work all over the world. Read more about his story, here:
What are you working on right now?
I am updating and creating new working procedures for my company, and I work on a new online course, which will hopefully help people in Slovakia and Czech Republic to live happier, more fulfilling lives.
What is your current desktop wallpaper? and why?
It’s the default Windows wallpaper, since I have bought a new laptop recently and haven’t updated it yet. Before, it was a quote from Sheryl Sandberg: “Done is better than perfect,” because I am a bit of a perfectionist. I wanted to remind myself that shipping matters more that having a perfect product that no one can buy or use.
Which book has shaped your life or changed the way you think the most?
It’s definitely Think and Grow Rich from Napoleon Hill. I have read the book maybe six times already, and there is always something I can take away from it. Also, it was the first self-help book I have read, and since I grew up in a “fixed mindset” family, the book opened my mind about what’s possible in this world.
How do you start off your day — aka what’s your morning routine?
I have eggs, veggies and wholegrain bread for breakfast, then I clean up, brush my teeth, make black coffee with coconut oil and work on my laptop. It’s the same routine almost every day.
What is one thing you do to get motivated?
When I feel down or without energy, hitting the gym and working out hard always makes me feel better. I try not to go without going to the gym for longer than three days. It does not matter whether I am back in Slovakia, living in Taipei or Busan, or even just traveling and staying at hostels.
Also, I save to my Evernote notebook all the positive messages I receive from people – blog comments, messages on my Facebook or emails. Reading the messages always inspires me and helps me to recognize that I am on the right track, doing the right thing. This helps especially when you receive some hate online (which happens to everyone every once in a while) and are feeling a bit down.
What made you smile today?
It’s just the morning now so not much happened yet today, but I smiled when I saw one of my flatmates walk out of her room.
What is something you think everyone should try at least once in their life? Or Name one skill you think everyone should have or learn?
I believe that if everyone has lived overseas for an extended period of time (at least three months), the world would be a much nicer, friendlier, more open-minded place to live.
What is one skill or hobby you’ve been meaning to learn but haven’t had time for?
I don’t believe that we don’t have enough time to do the things we want to do. Everyone has the same amount of time, but each person has different priorities. So when I say to myself that I don’t have enough time for X, I usually realize that the thing I want to do or learn is not as important to me at the moment as other things I spend my time on.
But, to answer your question, I would really like to learn programming WordPress plugins. I enjoy it and it’s a really useful skill, but it takes a huge amount of time to learn, and unfortunately I can’t afford that at the moment. I am sure that I will eventually find the time for it, because one of my goals is doing less of the things that I don’t want to do and doing more of what I enjoy doing.
List 3 simple things in life that make you really happy:
Sunshine, sea/ocean and human touch.
What is the best thing that you have done, just because you were told you can’t?
When I decided not to go to a university and start my own business instead, my dad not was supportive at all. He wanted me to get a proper job; he thought I couldn’t earn enough money making websites, working on my own.
Another time was when I decided to go study in Australia. People around me thought I was crazy, that it was not possible or at least very difficult, but I managed to do it and it changed my life. Living in Sydney has opened my eyes like nothing else.
What is your favorite coworking space and why?
It’s probably Taipei DigiQuarters, because the environment was very friendly and inspiring.
If you had the opportunity to spend a week or month in another country to be your office of the week/month, where would you go?
Ever since I left Korea 3.5 years ago, I wanted to come back. And I came back 3 weeks ago, so I am where I want to be at the moment. But if I could choose a 7-day office anywhere in the world, it would probably be somewhere with hot weather and beautiful beaches – maybe somewhere in the Caribbean.
Biggest item on your bucket list at the moment?
The biggest (most difficult) one is probably to build a company which would work without my interference. Another one is to learn speaking fluently in an Asian language (most likely Korean).
As a Digital Nomad/Entrepreneur. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you have and why?
That depends. Would I know in advance that it would happen? How long would I be there for? Would my life be in danger or not? If I knew it would happen, I would probably bring a satellite phone, a knife and a lighter.
Tell me something you have never told anyone else.
I am a very open person and I share a lot of my personal stories, not only successes but also struggles, in my blog posts and in my book.
What was your first job? Has it shaped where you are today?
I started my web design business right after high school and I still do it now, almost 12 years later, so it definitely shaped my life and what I do now. Back then, I had no idea that it would be possible to travel and work from almost anywhere in the world, but those skills helped me to start living the digital nomad lifestyle over four years ago.
Any advice for your previous boss?
The only time I had a boss was when I worked as a waiter and a warehouse worker in Australia while I studied there. I have never been employed back home.
What’s your favorite part about coworking?
It’s the sharing, inspiring and mutual support.
What is your go-to pump up song?
The first one that came to my mind is “Her” from “Block B”, a K-pop band.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for the thought-provoking questions, and for you guys reading my profile. If any of you would like to contact me, my email is [email protected], my Facebook and my Instagram
