I recently had a chance to interview Denys Dovgal. Denys is Stanford University graduate who has since become a lifestyle entrepreneur, Ironman 70.3 finisher, speaker, author, podcast host, remote work leader and founder of Freedom Business Summit. 

He manages a remote business in the creative industry and manages a team of 30 people worldwide.

I recently spoke to him about how he is helping entrepreneurs transition to the remote work lifestyle and the top things to keep in mind as the world comes to a new way of life.

Denys, tell us a little about your background, where are you from, what uniquely qualifies you to share about remote business building?

I have been running my business remotely for about 6 years and I started to manage my company remotely, even before it was a trend.

I was born in Ukraine, then moved to the US and lived for about 2 years in San Francisco. I graduated from Academy of Art University and Stanford University. After that, I moved to Dublin, Ireland, and lived there for about 5 years.

For the last 2 years I have been traveling the world, and I am currently based in Bali and running my business from here. 

My main business is a video animation creative company called doodlevideo.co where we have a completely remote team. Some of the clients are globally recognized so I can’t disclose under our NDA.

All in all, we have completed more than 400 projects in the last 5 years. 

What Is The Most Common Problem You Think Remote Business Owners Face?

I have many friends who are running remote businesses and the most common problem is very simple: having the right mindset. Most business owners run their business in “operation mode”, rather than “owners mode.” In other words, most entrepreneurs working inside their business, instead of working outside of their business. 

The way I think about it is this: If you have all the right tools, but the strategy is wrong, it will not work. 

Another problem is that many entrepreneurs think locally, not globally. If we are talking about remote business, it means that you can work on a larger scale when you focus beyond just one country or location. 

How Do You Suggest They Solve Them?

One of the simplest ways to solve this is to change the way you think and see things in a global way. Basically you need to change your mindset. In order to do this, you need to change your environment and surround yourself with those people who have already achieved what you want to achieve.

As Albert Einstein said: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

What Are Some Upcoming Trends In Remote Work We Should Expect?

The main trend is that the world is moving to virtual workspaces and a remote way of running a business is now essential.

The world is changing so fast and now it is really difficult to predict what can happen in 1 year but definitely more and more companies are moving into a remote way of work, even big tech giants like Google and Facebook do this. 

We should expect the emergence of more tools and services that will help companies manage their remote teams and operations. Again, it is less about tools and more about mindset.

How Did Freedom Business Summit Come About?

I honestly believe in the concept of lifestyle design, and it is very simple. Life is first and business comes second. I believe that remote business and freedom is a new luxury. 

This simple idea stands behind my Freedom Business Summit. The summit is all about sharing new ideas, business systems, strategies, and proven strategies that work.

We are bringing the world’s best entrepreneurs, travelers, investors from around the world to share knowledge, skills, and expertise online about building what we call “freedom business.”

Any Specific Insights You Can Share With People Who Are Completely New To Remote Work?

The biggest insight that I have learned is to learn by doing. You will never be 100% ready for something. Just execute, make mistakes, learn from them, and do better. 

Also, read books and listen to podcasts, attend summits, and learn from other people.

One of my favorite books is “Built To Sell” and “E-Myth”. I’d recommend any serious entrepreneur to check these out. 

When Someone Attends Freedom Business Summit What Can They Expect To Take Away From It?

If you are always in a hustle mode join us for 2 days from September 29-30, 2020. If you are looking for better options and new opportunities this summit is for you.

Where and When Is Freedom Business Summit Taking Place?

This year we host Freedom Business Summit Online. We have created a place to meet hundreds of remote entrepreneurs, virtual CEO’s,  and worldwide travelers from around the globe.

Every attendee can learn from proven remote entrepreneur strategies, the latest ideas, and insights on starting and running a remote business.

You will learn from people who have faced the same problems you have, and who have overcome the same obstacles. You will leave Freedom Business Summit feeling inspired to take business efforts to the next level.

Learn more about Freedom Business Summit here: Freedomsummit.net