I was broke and homeless but now I make six figures… here is how I turned my life around
Jaromir Cabla, who goes by Jaro online, 26, originally from Prague, Czech Republic, said his love of travel was ignited after he moved to Oahu, Hawaii, at age five.
He explained exclusively to the Daily Mail that growing up on an island that's so small you could 'drive across it in just one hour' resulted in him feeling 'very boxed in' throughout his childhood.
'I had this itch to see more of the world at a very young age,' he said.
In November 2019, Jaro hit the 'lowest point of his life' after years of feeling 'overwhelmed, anxious, and completely stuck mentally.'
He had just broken up with his girlfriend and moved to California, where he slept on a friend's floor with no job, income, or permanent home.
Then, in February 2020, he decided to sell all of his belongings and use the money to purchase a one-way ticket to New Zealand to 'chase the feeling of freedom,' and he hasn't looked back since.
'After buying a one-way ticket in February of 2020, I've been traveling the world full-time for the last five plus years,' he explained.
He told the Daily Mail that growing up on an island in Hawaii that's so small you could 'drive across it in just one hour' resulted in him feeling 'very boxed in' throughout his childhood
'Once I experienced what freedom actually felt like, I knew there was no going back. Since then, travel has been my greatest treasure.'
First, he spent eight months 'hitchhiking' around New Zealand by himself with nothing but a 'backpack and his surfboard.'
While he said he barely had a 'penny to his name,' he said it was the happiest he had ever been.
'It was the first time I experienced real freedom in my life, the freedom of the road, the smiles you'd meet, the experiences that you just couldn't make up,' he gushed.
Jaro has now been to over 35 countries, and has turned his passion into a lucrative business.
He explained that he started documenting his adventure for fun on social media with no plans to become a travel influencer.
But about a year into his travels, one of his videos unexpectedly went viral and sparked his first brand deal.
'That was the moment I realized: I can build a life around storytelling, and inspiring others to pursue their own passions by choosing a different sort of lifestyle,' he dished.
He now has over 1.2 million followers on Instagram and said he earns $15,000–$40,000 per month depending on the brand deals he gets
He now has over 1.2 million followers on Instagram and said he earns between $15,000 and $40,000 per month depending on the brand deals he gets.
And while he has gained a massive following in just a few years, he believes others can make money as a travel influencer like him even if they don't have social media fame.
He said it comes down to having an interesting 'story' to tell more than owning a 'fancy camera' or knowing how to take pretty pictures.
'You don't need a huge following or a full team - I started with an iPhone and raw stories, posting by myself, with minimal equipment,' said Jaro.
'In fact, I didn't own anything I couldn't fit into the one-backpack I traveled with.
'You need to start with your why - the passion behind your story is more important than a fancy camera.
'A strong why, or a reason for what you're doing will make your success inevitable, because each time you have a low moment, you come back to your why, and it helps you push through.'
He said to focus on creating content that 'makes people feel' and tells a story, and stressed the importance of building an 'emotional connection' with your audience.
He also pointed out that people relate more to 'something real' and recommended being yourself rather than trying to make everything look 'perfect' online.
'Focus on value and relatability, not perfection. It's more important to be consistent and to show up for you audience online than to constantly try to curate something "perfect." People want real,' he explained.
'We're all human, and we all relate to one another through the same human desires, fears, dreams, etc.'
Jaro recently launched his own coaching service called NoMoreMondays, which is dedicated to helping others 'pursue their passions as creators on social media' - and it brought in over $100,000 in its first month alone.
In the end, he said he feels 'blessed' that he can help others have the opportunity to 'get paid to do what they're passionate about' like him.
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