I spent eight years working as a software engineer across Asia and North America. Then, at the end of 2024, I got laid off.
Instead of jumping straight back into another corporate job, I decided it was time to try building something of my own.
I started freelancing, taking on technical consulting and software development projects. Slowly, I built up a steady stream of income, launched my own AI SaaS business, and eventually created a lifestyle where I could work from anywhere, on my own terms.
But getting here wasn’t easy.
Like many people who dream of having more freedom over their careers, I tried looking for fully remote jobs on LinkedIn and finding clients through freelance platforms. Most of those attempts went nowhere. The competition was overwhelming.
What I eventually realized was that the best opportunities rarely came from job boards or freelance platforms. They came from people I’d actually met.
Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation. You find out someone is working on something, struggling with a problem, or looking for a particular skill. And sometimes, you happen to be exactly the person they need.
That’s how some of the best opportunities begin.
Since becoming a digital nomad, I’ve met so many interesting people along the way. At coworking spaces, colivings, meetups, and random dinners that somehow turned into three-hour conversations.
But here’s the problem: I’m terrible at remembering people.
I’d forget someone’s name a week later, remember their face but not what they were working on, or exchange Instagrams only to completely lose touch once we ended up in different countries.
And that bothered me, especially knowing how much potential those connections could hold.
One of my own software development projects actually came from someone I met at a tech exhibition. We had a conversation, stayed connected, and eventually that connection turned into a real business opportunity.
It made me realize something:
Your next opportunity might already be sitting somewhere in your real-world network. You just don’t know it yet.
That’s why I built Nomad Cairn.
I wanted a simple way to remember the people I meet, the conversations we’ve had, what they’re working on, and what they’re looking for.
Not another social network for collecting followers or connecting with strangers, but a place to make the most of the relationships we’ve already built in real life.
Because I believe the right connection, at the right time, can open doors you never expected.
And for those of us building careers, businesses, and lives on our own terms, those connections matter more than ever.
— Jamie