For anyone dreaming of building a business and a life abroad, the Entrepreneur Expat philosophy provides a proven roadmap. Whether you’re planning to relocate to Mexico, Portugal, or anywhere else in the world, these mindsets help you avoid trouble, build authentic community, and generate portable income streams that support your lifestyle.

If you’re serious about becoming an entrepreneur abroad, these seven philosophies will keep you grounded, focused, and thriving.

Respect the place and its people

The first principle of the Entrepreneur Expat philosophy is respect. When you move abroad, you’re a guest—not the main character. That means learning local phrases, greeting people properly, and adjusting to how things are done locally instead of expecting everything to work as it does back home.

For example, in Mexico, renters may handle small maintenance tasks themselves rather than relying on landlords. Instead of being frustrated, understand this is part of the trade-off for lower rent. Respecting local customs helps you integrate smoothly and avoids unnecessary conflict.

Community before money

Another core Entrepreneur Expat mindset is prioritizing community. Relationships and trust come first, business comes second. In much of Latin America, who you know often matters more than what you earn.

Start small: become a regular at a café, learn people’s names, and show up for your neighbors. Over time, these connections open doors to opportunities that money alone could never buy.

Start now: action beats over-planning

Too many aspiring expats say they’ll move “someday.” But the Entrepreneur Expat understands that action creates momentum. You don’t need to sell everything overnight. Instead, book a 30- to 60-day stay, test one city, and begin adapting your routines.

It’s better to take one imperfect step forward than to wait for the “perfect” time—which may never come.

Build portable income streams

Freedom as an Entrepreneur Expat depends on income you can take anywhere. That could mean freelancing, consulting, building an online business, or finding a truly remote job.

The key is to inventory your skills and translate them into services you can offer worldwide. Tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator can connect you with clients across industries, giving you unlimited reach without being tied to one location.

Don’t take shortcuts

Every Entrepreneur Expat faces temptations: the fixer who promises a quick visa, the shortcut for residency, or the under-the-table solution for paperwork. But shortcuts create long-term problems.

Do things legally, hire licensed professionals, and trust the process. Proper tax, immigration, and real estate guidance costs money—but it saves you far more in the long run.

Plan for change

One constant for the Entrepreneur Expat lifestyle is change. Countries evolve, neighborhoods shift, and your own goals may change after a few years abroad. Build backup plans for banking, housing, internet, and even residency.

Think in terms of “Plan B” and “Plan C.” Multiple residencies, emergency funds, and diversified accounts ensure you stay resilient, no matter what happens globally.

Abundance is everywhere

Finally, the Entrepreneur Expat philosophy rests on abundance. There is always a solution, a new opportunity, or a next step. Maybe you can’t qualify for a visa yet—so you start a small business locally to create jobs. Maybe you launch a digital course to earn passive income.

Abundance comes from being proactive, receptive, and creative. With this mindset, you’ll never be stuck—you’ll always find a way forward.

Why the Entrepreneur Expat Philosophy Works

Adopting these seven philosophies transforms expat life from stressful to fulfilling. By respecting people, building community, taking action, generating portable income, avoiding shortcuts, planning for change, and embracing abundance, you’ll thrive anywhere in the world.

If you’re ready to take the next step, apply for a free consultation at entrepreneurexpat.com/consult or grab your Moving Abroad Checklist at entrepreneurexpat.com/abroad

Additional Resources:

👉 Moving Abroad Relocation Blueprint Course which offers step by step guidance on everything from choosing the right country to immigration to taxes and everything in between: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/blueprint

👉 Want us to handle the details of your move abroad? Apply for our white-glove relocation services here: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/consult

👉 Free Moving to Mexico Guide: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/mexico

👉 Free Moving Abroad Checklist: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/abroad 

Remote Work and Online Income Resources:

👉 Expat Income Accelerator course which shows you the multiple ways you can make money globally based on our 15+ years of experience in online business, investing internationally and living in multiple countries: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/income

👉 Get Your First High Paying Client Online Bootcamp which walks you through the first four foundational steps of creating and monetizing an online business based on 15+ years of experience in online business: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/firstclient-yt

👉 YouTube Mastery Workshop which shows you how we’ve built two YouTube channels that bring clients and passive income from digital course sales (including turning Entrepreneur Expat into a six-figure business in six months): https://www.YouTubeMasteryWorkshop.com

👉LinkedIn Mastery Workshop which shows you how to use LinkedIn to find remote work, clients and connect with recruiters based on Justin’s experience building a six-figure business and finding remote work on LinkedIn: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/linkedin

👉 Free Make Money From Anywhere Guide: https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/money-guide 

V I D E O S    T O    W A T C H    N E X T :

Online Business Tips to Working and Traveling In Mexico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGH0voCyOc&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_IA6s3KvB_g9Cc9Ze1eji8j&index=2

Moving to Mexico: 10 Reasons Why We Chose to Live in Guadalajara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK23vD8_xjc&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_LAY7UV78YMgms-f2e1UcwN&index=23

Tips for Moving Overseas: Top 5 Remote Work Skills That Make Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFzjCrlNAL8&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_IA6s3KvB_g9Cc9Ze1eji8j

——————————————–

Inquiries: community@entrepreneurexpat.com

——————————————–

#livinginmexico #movingtomexico #digitalnomad #makemoneyonline #expatsinmexico #digitalmarketingtraning #geoarbitrage #moveoverseasfromus #digitalmarketingcourse #guadalajara #costoflivingmexico #digitalnomadvisa #digitalnomadnews #workandtravel #locationindependentlifestyle #locationindependentbusiness #locationindependententrepreneur #locationindependentbusinesses #locationindependentbusinessideas #secretsoflocationindendentbusiness #howtobecomeadigitalnomad

Disclaimer: The information in this video should not be considered tax, financial, investment, or any kind of professional advice. Only a professional diagnosis of your specific situation can determine which strategies are appropriate for your needs. Entrepreneur Expat can and does not provide advice unless/until engaged by you.