The Truth of Influencer Travel and Managing a Business From Your Laptop

Being a business owner doesn’t guarantee you a travel vlogger’s lifestyle. At least, not initially and certainly not without a solid process in place.

Take it from me, a guy who’s journeyed through six and a half million miles of global travel. The glitz and glamor of hopping from Thailand to Japan, and then to China and Vietnam, seems like an influencer’s dream come true.

Everyday I see young entrepreneurs who want to travel the world, pop bottles at clubs in Miami, and live a stress-free lifestyle.

Indeed, who wouldn’t be enticed by the allure of private jets and luxurious vacations? 

Screenshot 2025 01 27 at 11.17.17 PM
Dennis Yu on The Great Wall of China

But behind every picturesque post and envy-inducing story lies the hard work of managing teams, tackling client emergencies, and staying up late—often until the early hours. This relentless grind, the part of the iceberg submerged beneath the surface, constitutes about 95% of the reality.

What the camera captures is merely the tip of the iceberg; the glamorous moments that belie the extensive, often taxing groundwork necessary to sustain such a lifestyle.

Even now as I’m recording this on a boat in Thailand, the video will be later repurposed by our team, which may or may not need iterations from me personally to get it right.

This hidden aspect involves not just attending glamorous events or lounging in exotic locations but also managing the nitty-gritty details of a business. When Instagram is off and the cameras are away, I’m deep in email threads, strategizing with my team across different time zones, and solving problems that arise unexpectedly.

Even an “average” day for me in Las Vegas where I’m based out of is me bringing my laptop around the city and working.

This is the real hustle that supports the facade of an effortless life lived in beautiful places.

The truth is, successful influencer travel hinges not on perpetual leisure, but on robust, repeatable business processes. Whether it’s consulting, building personal branding websites, or any service that can be standardized and executed repeatedly, the foundation of a thriving, mobile lifestyle is a solid operational structure.

Initially, you might manage everything solo, especially when earnings are modest. However, the goal should always be to develop processes that your team can run without your constant oversight, allowing you to truly live the dream showcased on social media.

Creating such a sustainable business model requires an understanding of the importance of scalability and repeatability. This involves setting up standard operating procedures (SOPs) that ensure every aspect of the business is executed with consistency, quality, and efficiency.

These SOPs act as the backbone of the business, supporting growth and allowing the entrepreneur to delegate tasks confidently. This is especially important when operating B2B businesses like serving other local service businesses, which is why we have our own SOPs depending on the work required.

Beware of Influencers Without Teams

Many influencers peddle the fantasy that you can achieve wealth through minimal effort and flashy online marketing courses. Beware of these claims. Through personal experiences and those of my friends, I’ve seen many such schemes turn out to be mere money grabs

 A sustainable business that allows for travel and enjoyment often involves less glamorous activities like owning real estate or running a business that others manage for you.

Take, for instance, my friend Marco, who has systematized his approach to serving concrete coating companies. He replicates his successful business model repeatedly, which affords him the freedom to travel. This is a testament to the power of a repeatable business model. It’s not about selling a dream but about creating a reality that is sustainable and capable of supporting a desired lifestyle.

Marko and Dennis
Dennis Yu and Marko Sipila Recording Content in Las Vegas

The image of success often portrayed on social media is carefully curated. For every moment of leisure captured on camera, there are countless hours of unseen work. Successful influencers and entrepreneurs know this balance well—they craft their public persona while managing a bustling enterprise behind the scenes.

So, as you scroll through feeds filled with travel and opulence, remember the unseen work: the emails, the late-night Zoom calls, the strategy sessions in Ubers or hotel lobbies. The sustainable influencer lifestyle isn’t just about being in front of the camera—it’s about the diligence and processes that occur when the camera is off and maximizing your utilized time.

Let this be a cautionary tale as well as a beacon of hope: look for evidence of substantial, repeatable businesses behind the scenes.

Screenshot 2025 01 27 at 11.19.32 PM
Dennis Yu in Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand

And most importantly, strive to build a business that doesn’t just look good on the outside but is solid and sustainable on the inside. Don’t be swayed by those selling dreams without substance. 

Instead, focus on creating value that endures, ensuring you don’t just appear successful—you are successful. This approach not only leads to genuine, sustainable success but also ensures that the lifestyle you showcase is genuinely attainable and enjoyable.

Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations. He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications. Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries. Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.