| telecommuting is the way of the future. | | | | because they’ll be sending faxes to a US |
| You’ve read Tim Ferriss’s | | | | number. |
| Four-Hour Workweek, set up your online | | | | |
| business, and packed your bags for your | | | | The Professional Appearance without the Professional |
| three-month mini-retirement to Kuala Lumpur. Then | | | | Cost |
| you realize that although most of your business can | | | | Choosing an affordable location and living in affordable |
| be done by email, you’ll need to send and a | | | | lifestyle is one of the keys to making your |
| receive a few faxes. Your short-term apartment | | | | mini-retirement work. To do that, rent an apartment |
| doesn’t have a fax machine. So what do you | | | | rather than a hotel, set up a DSL connection instead |
| do? | | | | of using an expensive aircard, buy a cell phone with |
| | | | | an international plan, set up a voicemail box with a US |
| Internet Fax Frees You from the Office | | | | number, and order the monthly low-cost internet fax |
| The unfortunate reality is that some customers and | | | | service. |
| vendors still insist on faxing some documents. You | | | | |
| have three options for dealing with that on your | | | | Not only will doing all of the above help you save |
| mini-retirement. | | | | money, but it will also help you present a professional |
| | | | | appearance without the professional cost. DSL |
| 1. Find new customers and vendors who will do | | | | enables you send emails from your regular account |
| everything by email, but that might delay your trip. | | | | rather than webmail. A US phone number encourages |
| 2. Pay exorbitant fees at a local business center, but | | | | customers to leave you a message anytime. |
| people may balk at sending expensive international | | | | Professional faxes from your computer maintain your |
| faxes, not to mention the steep price the fax center | | | | brand image. |
| will charge. | | | | |
| 3. Sign up for an internet fax service. You’ll be | | | | Once you develop professional relationships, you may |
| bringing your laptop, anyway. | | | | be able to reveal your true whereabouts without |
| | | | | customers doubting your professionalism. In the |
| Obviously, option 3 is the easiest and most | | | | beginning, use all of the resources modern technology |
| cost-effective solution. With an internet fax service | | | | offers to give the appearance of working from an |
| like eFax, you can receive faxes from your email and | | | | office without actually doing so. If you’ve |
| send faxes from your computer. Your customers | | | | longed to travel the world, but aren’t ready |
| don’t even have to know you’re | | | | to stop working, this is the best way to experience |
| sipping Mai Tais while reviewing their documents | | | | the best of both worlds. |