- Bryn Wright, 27, travels the world while selling used books on Amazon.
- Wright raked in $140,000 in revenue and almost $90,000 in profit last year.
- This is Wright's story, as told to writer Fortesa Latifi.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bryn Wright, 27, who works remotely from around the globe. Insider has independently verified Wright's income for this story, and the conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Two years ago, I was waiting tables in Arizona. I was super unhappy and felt stuck working two jobs. I was trying to pinch pennies to be able to travel for a short amount of time before returning to my jobs to hustle and be able to afford to travel again. It was a discouraging way to live, so I started looking for alternatives.
Because I don't have a college degree, I wasn't sure I would be able to figure out a way to make being self-employed work for me. But I knew I wanted to change my life, so it was worth a try.
After doing research on 'side hustles,' I landed on one I thought I could do
The idea was to sell used books on Amazon. I wasn't sure if I would make a good income doing it, but I took the idea and ran with it.
This is basically how it works: I spent the last year traveling around the US and buying used books. From there, it's really simple. All you do is send the used books to Amazon and they're stored in Amazon warehouses. Then Amazon fulfills the orders.
It's incredibly hands-off once the inventory is sent in. The game plan has been to work hard for a few months stocking my inventory, then travel while I make money from it.
I think a lot of people feel stuck. I know that I felt like, as a person without a lot of money or a college degree, there was no way for me to have a job that allowed freedom and travel. But all I really needed was a solid internet connection and the curiosity to learn about a new business, and my life totally changed. Last year, I made $140,000 in revenue and my profit was close to $90,000.
While my used bookstore was taking off, I started looking into other business ideas. I found this whole side of the internet where people share their ideas that they've grown into income streams. I really like sharing my own experiences, too!
My used bookstore isn't my only income stream
I also have a second Amazon bookstore front, and I also dabble in other forms of drop-shipping, which is a business model where the owner of a business doesn't keep stock on hand. The freedom I've gained from my new career is so enticing. I don't want to spend my life stuck in one place.
Even while traveling, I get bored after one month in a new spot. I like to keep moving. Being on the road traveling and working from anywhere is what I love, and I get to experience things I never dreamt of.
Like today, I woke up in Turkey. I don't know anything about Turkey! Everything is new and exciting, and I get to meet so many people from different cultures. In a few days, I'm headed to Bali, so I've been making sure I'm prepared for that next adventure.
It's awesome to not have to request time off to travel
Even though I travel almost constantly, it's not a vacation all the time. I work hard — it's not all lounging and relaxing, but I'm able to set my own goals for what I want my life to be.
Every day, I get to decide what my day is going to look like. My life is in my own hands. It wasn't like that before, when I was a waitress and had to answer to my boss and be tied down to one location.
It can be difficult to work while traveling, but I've figured it out. The best part is, since I'm my own boss, I can decide that a certain day isn't a great work day.
If I'm in a place where the power or WiFi is out, I'll just wait until the next day to work or use my portable hotspot, which totally saved my life in the jungles of Colombia. I can also work on a lot from my phone, and when I look for places to stay, I make sure there's reliable WiFi if possible.
Where I stay depends on the country I'm in
In Mexico, I did Airbnbs because they were cuter and nicer and in more local-driven versus tourist-driven areas. In Turkey, I'm staying in mostly hotels. In Bali, I'm doing hotels, too.
I'm such a planner — I love to make a route and plan everything out. I want to be able to say I really experienced the place I was in and saw every inch of it.
I do miss my family with the reality of traveling all the time, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I have so many irons in the fire, and I'm really excited to see what's next.