Zach Boyette tells his story growing up in Tennessee, teaching himself to code, working for Google, finding his first location independent job and embarking on a life as a full time itinerant nomad. He shares his travel experiences, favorite destinations, and why he chooses to move locations every week. Zach also talks about his passion for minimalist packing and his top tips on traveling the world with carry-on luggage only. Zach then shares his tips on balancing work with lifestyle design as a full-time traveler. He shares some of his most memorable locations where he has had to take business calls around the world, and how he puts work first while having epic travel adventures. Zach then talks about co-founding his growth marketing agency, Galactic Fed. He shares the suite of services offered to businesses by Galactic Fed, and explains the biggest mistakes most companies are making with paid media and SEO today. He then explains how Galactic Fed has differentiated itself from other digital agencies, and describes his ideal client. Zach then takes us inside his company and shares how he and his co-founder bootstrapped Galactic Fed to nearly 100 staff people in less than 3 years. He gives his tips on hiring, cash-flow management, and building company culture in a fully remote company during rapid growth. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com
Hosted by Matt Bowles
94: Bootstrapping a Digital Agency to Nearly 100 Staff in 3 Years and Choosing to Live in a New Location Every Week with Zach Boyette
Episode #94: Bootstrapping a Digital Agency to Nearly 100 Staff in 3 Years and Choosing to Live in a New Location Every Week with Zach Boyette
Hosted by Matt Bowles
94: Bootstrapping a Digital Agency to Nearly 100 Staff in 3 Years and Choosing to Live in a New Location Every Week with Zach Boyette
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Zach Boyette
Zach Boyette is co-founder of Galactic Fed, a multi-national, remote-first marketing agency that he built while traveling the world and scaled to nearly 100 staff people in under 3 years. Galactic Fed provides companies with a suite of services ranging from copywriting and paid media to SEO, strategy and analytics, and their clients range from Fortune 100 companies to startups and small businesses. Zach is a full time “digital nomad” who has had no permanent base since 2016, and has traveled to over 50 countries.
What You'll Learn
- How to hire the best people and manage cash flow during periods of rapid scaling
- The biggest mistakes companies are making today with paid media and SEO
- How to travel the world with carry-on luggage and change locations every 7 days
Links From the Episode
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WORK-TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN WHICH MATT AND ZACH PARTICIPATED
- Remote Year (Use this link to get a $100 Discount on Remote Year)
- Nomad Summit (Get 10% OFF Tickets to the Next Nomad Summit By Using the Code “FRIENDS”)
#1 BOOK ZACH RECOMMENDS
WINE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
COMPANIES FOR WHICH ZACH WORKED
CONTENT MEDIUMS ZACH RECOMMENDS
PLACE WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
ZACH’S TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
ZACH’S TOP 3 BUCKET DESTINATIONS
PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Argentina
- Asia
- Australia
- Barcelona
- Bogota Candelaria
- Brazil
- Florianopolis, Brazil
- Valparaiso, Chile
- Columbia
- Europe
- France
- Jakarta
- Japan
- Los Angeles
- Malaysia
- Mexico City
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Prague
- Puerto Rico
- Asheville, NC
- Brooklyn, New York City
- Lima, Peru
- Rio
- Leblon in Rio
- Rome
- Santa Teresa in Rio
- San Francisco
- San Sebastian
- South Africa
- South America
- South Polo, South America
- Signal Mountain, Tennessee
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- West Africa
CONTACT ZACH
- Check out Zach’s website
- Follow Zach on Instagram
- Email: zach@galacticfed.com
(Get a discount on Galactic Fed Services by mentoring the Maverick Show!)
Time Stamped Show Notes
[2:50] Zack’s Upbringing, Work Experience and Entrepreneurial Tendencies
- Growing up in Tennessee
- Starting businesses in college
- Teaching himself to code
- Working for Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati
- Working for Google in Ann Arbor, Michigan
[6:41] Becoming Location Independent and Traveling the World
- Landing a Remote Position at Toptal
- Choosing to do the “Remote Year” work-travel program
- Zack’s travel experiences prior to Remote Year
- Getting robbed on his first business trip but continuing to travel
- Zach’s experience on Remote Year
- Matt’s experience on Remote Year
[14:41] Balancing the Nomad Lifestyle with Building a Business
- Putting work first while traveling the world
- Taking business calls in extraordinary places
[20:56] Matt and Zach’s Experiences in Brazil
- Zach’s experience spending New Years in Rio
- Matt’s experience in Rio
[26:18] Solo Travel vs. Group Travel
- Matt’s experience traveling solo in Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Matt’s experience traveling in the French wine country with close friends
[32:59 ] Zach’s Travel Cadence
- Zach’s Decision toTravel to a New Location Every 7 Days
- Quality Control and Administrative Logistics For Fast Travel
[38:49 ] Minimalist Packing
- Why Matt and Zach travel the world with carry-on luggage only.
- The versatility of Merino wool
- Matt’s workshops and minimalist packing
- “Stylish Minimalism” for both men and women
- Matt’s keynote speech at the Nomad Summit
- The psychologically liberating impact of minimalism
- Detaching from material items and focusing on experiences and relationships
- Having more money to spending more money on experiences
- Saving money by living with no permanent base
[54:28] Founding the Growth Marketing Agency “Galactic Fed”
- Leaving his job
- Teaming up with his co-founder Irena
- How Zach structures his remote team communication
[58:45] Galactic Fed’s Service Offerings
- Paid Media and SEO offerings for growth marketing
- The biggest mistakes companies are currently making SEO and Paid Media
- How Galactic Fed works with its clients
- How Galactic Fed differentiates itself from other digital agencies
- The ideal client to work with Galactic Fed
[1:08:50] Scaling Galactic Fed to Nearly 100 Staff People in 3 Years
- The importance of hiring the right people and prioritizing employees
- The ability to hire the best staff in the world as a remote-first company
- Zach’s tips on hiring and cash-flow management during rapid growth
- Building company culture in a fully remote company
[1:17:27] The Lightning Round
- #1 Book Zach recommends
- #1 travel hack Zach recommends
- Zach’s favorite podcasts
- Zach’s top 3 favorite travel destinations
- Zach’s top 3 bucket list destinations
[1:21:49] Contact Zach
- Email Zach
- Follow Zach on Instagram
- Get a discount on Galactic Fed services
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