Episode #131: Rafting the Zambezi, Walking the Camino, and Bootstrapping Companies for 8-Figure Exits with Dave Williams

Episode Summary

Dave Williams shares his entrepreneurial trajectory growing up in Delaware, becoming a digital marketing pioneer in the 1990s, and eventually bootstrapping and selling multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses. He then talks about his world travel journey with his wife, becoming a digital nomad, and gives his tips on long-term world travel with a partner. Dave shares stories from his most epic travel adventures, including white water rafting on the Zambezi River, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, and Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. He then reflects on his pilgrimage walking the Camino de Santiago and why it was so life changing for him. He also shares highlights from hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc in Europe, the Himalayas in South Asia, and reflects on how traveling to over 50 countries has impacted him. He then talks about building “Nomad X” (a platform offering medium-term accommodations for digital nomads in Portugal) and recently merging with Flatio. He also reflects on the importance of building community as a digital nomad and talks about the “Nomad Village” initiative on Madeira Island in Portugal. Dave then talks about the key leverage points for bootstrapping businesses to 7 and 8 figure exits. He explains his leadership style and what he feels makes a great CEO, as well as his techniques for attracting, hiring and retaining top talent. Dave also gives tips for how to build company culture in remote-first companies. And, finally, Dave reflects on the importance of giving back, making a positive impact around the world, and gives tips on how to be a more socially conscious traveler. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

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What You'll Learn
  • Leverage points for bootstrapping businesses for 7 and 8-figure exits
  • Reflections on some of the world’s most epic pilgrimages, hikes and adventures
  • How to be a more socially conscious traveler and make a positive impact
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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[4:15] Why Dave Chose Portugal as His Home Base

[6:51] Growing up in Wilmington, Delaware and Becoming an Entrepreneur

[10:46] Founding, Scaling and Exiting His Digital Marketing Businesses

[18:38] Dave’s World Travel Journey and Tips on Traveling Long Term with a Spouse

[21:11] Rafting the Zambezi River

[24:34] Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro

[27:47] Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef

[30:49] Walking the Camino de Santiago

[37:47] Hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc

[39:21] Hiking the Himalayas

[42:06] What Travel Means to Dave

[44:34] Building Community as a Digital Nomad

[48:42] Building Nomad X and Merging with Flatio

[55:01] The Medeira Island “Nomad Village” Initiative

[55:17] The Key Leverage Points to Bootstrapping a Business to an 8 Figure Exit

[57:35] Dave’s Leadership Style and Tips for Being a Great CEO

[1:00:22] How Dave Attracts, Hires and Retains Top Talent

[1:03:35] How to Build Company Culture in a Remote-First Business

[1:05:11] Dave’s Productivity Techniques and Habits

[1:07:56] How to Be a More Socially Conscious Traveler

[1:11:05] The Lightning Round

  • #1 Book Dave recommends
  • #1 Travel hack Dave uses
  • #1 Person with whom Dave would most like to have dinner
  • #1 Piece of advice Dave would give to his 18-year-old self
  • Top 3 Favorite Travel Destinations
  • Top 3 Bucket List Destinations

[1:17:17] Contact Dave

  • LinkedIn
  • Email Dave
headshot photo of a man

Dave Williams

Dave Williams is a location-independent serial entrepreneur and digital marketing pioneer who has founded, scaled and exited multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses in the digital marketing space over the last 20 years. He is also an angel investor and currently advises over a dozen start-up CEOs.  Dave left the U.S. in 2013 to become a full-time digital nomad and travel the world with his wife Jen.  He has traveled to over 50 countries and currently maintains a home base in Portugal.  In 2017, Dave founded NomadX, a platform offering digital nomads affordable medium-term accommodation options in Portugal, which recently completed a merger with Flatio. Dave is passionate about the global digital nomad movement and is currently the global ambassador and strategic advisor for Flatio, as well as a global ambassador for both Nomads Giving Back and the Digital Nomads Madeira Island initiative.

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