This list is gold, especially #48 on golden visas. Framing them as tools not trophies cuts through all the status chasing Ive seen in expat forums. When I was weighing residency options last year, the pressure to go for the "best" visa over the most practical one almost derailed everything. Lesson 93 about tax residency vs legal residency is another trap people missalmost always.
Thank you! Yep, the name Golden Visa can be deceiving, especially if there's other options that make more sense. Glad this helped, and I'm always happy when people mention the difference between tax residency and "ordinary" residency. One of the most common mistakes I see!
Thanks Ben. What an absolute goldmine. #145 really stands out for me. I am terrible at languages, but I always make an effort and when I lived in Japan I did get good enough to hold down an internship and with it develop many meaningful friendships. And also, huge congrats on the recent bestseller badge. Extremely well deserved! 🙏
Thanks Sam, really appreciate this! Last time I did a game with locals in Iran, I was asking them for a bunch of words in local language, and when I tried pronouncing the words, there was laughter all around. It’s a cool way to bond and at the same time learn the language a little. I still have all the Apple Notes from those games. And thanks for the kudos man!
nice
Thanks!
This list is gold, especially #48 on golden visas. Framing them as tools not trophies cuts through all the status chasing Ive seen in expat forums. When I was weighing residency options last year, the pressure to go for the "best" visa over the most practical one almost derailed everything. Lesson 93 about tax residency vs legal residency is another trap people missalmost always.
Thank you! Yep, the name Golden Visa can be deceiving, especially if there's other options that make more sense. Glad this helped, and I'm always happy when people mention the difference between tax residency and "ordinary" residency. One of the most common mistakes I see!
Ben, narrowing this down was hard — but here are the ones that really stuck with me, by number:
• #4 – “Your first country doesn’t have to be your forever country.” Permission is everything.
• #6 – “Fear doesn’t disappear. You just get better at acting while it’s there.” Accurate and oddly comforting.
• #13 – “Give yourself a timeline.” This alone prevents so much spiraling.
• #28 – “There is no perfect country. Only trade-offs you can live with.” Core truth.
• #33 – “Don’t confuse vacation energy with living energy.” A classic trap, perfectly named.
• #67 – “Prepare to feel unprepared.” This should be on the welcome sign.
• #141 – “Stop expecting permanence.” Quietly profound.
• #178 – “Build something that survives a move.” This might be the thesis statement.
This list is a gift — thanks for putting real language to things many of us only understand in hindsight!
Happy holidays, Kelly
Thanks guys! You really checked them all :) And you picked some of my favorites, especially #28! 💛
Thanks Ben. What an absolute goldmine. #145 really stands out for me. I am terrible at languages, but I always make an effort and when I lived in Japan I did get good enough to hold down an internship and with it develop many meaningful friendships. And also, huge congrats on the recent bestseller badge. Extremely well deserved! 🙏
Thanks Sam, really appreciate this! Last time I did a game with locals in Iran, I was asking them for a bunch of words in local language, and when I tried pronouncing the words, there was laughter all around. It’s a cool way to bond and at the same time learn the language a little. I still have all the Apple Notes from those games. And thanks for the kudos man!
Such a great list. Thank you.
Thanks Erin, you’re very welcome!