Johannes’ journey to Taiwan, love led the way and entrepreneurial success followed

Join us for our latest Beyond Borders interview with Johannes, a passionate nomad now based in Taiwan. Born and raised in Germany, Johannes holds degrees in education science, sociology, political science, and law and finance. Today, he thrives as an SEO consultant and self-made entrepreneur, living in Taiwan with his wife and children. We were curious to hear how Johannes transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship in a new country.

A move inspired by love

When asked what prompted his move to Taiwan, Johannes' answer was simple: love. “During my master’s degree, I did an internship in China and met my future wife, who is from Taiwan. We were long-distance for a bit, which was a disaster with lots of hopping back and forth to see each other. After about a year, I finally found a job in Taipei. Later, we moved to my wife’s hometown, and I started working remotely from there. Now we have two girls, one three years old and the other ten months. They are my everything.”

Despite the challenges, Johannes always knew he wanted to settle outside of Germany, and Taiwan turned out to be the perfect place.

Preparing for the big move

Johannes believes that previous experiences living abroad helped him prepare for relocating to Taiwan. “I grew up in a small German village called Dossenheim, but during university, I took semesters abroad in Spain and later Brazil. After completing my second bachelor's degree, I lived in South America for four years, working as a language teacher, and then returned to Europe to get a law degree in Rome.

From the first moment I lived outside of Germany, I knew I wouldn’t be coming back. That mindset stays with you, and from then on, it doesn’t make a huge difference where you end up. I had also gotten to know China and Taiwan through some of my previous stays. Even if you love a country from visiting on holiday, you can’t make an educated decision about living there permanently without experiencing it for longer periods. Moving somewhere without knowing its annoying parts sets you up for failure.”

Overcoming challenges and finding success

Johannes faced several challenges in his career transition, moving away from his academic background.

Figuring out my career was tough. There’s a clean break from anything I had studied before, which was nice for a fresh start, but I didn’t have a concrete plan. I worked in sales for a bit, serving German clients, and switched jobs thrice before settling in an SEO agency and pursuing that field. Navigating documentation without speaking traditional Chinese was difficult, but my wife helped with that. However, she couldn’t read the documents I needed from Germany, making bureaucracy a long and stressful process, especially with two countries that don’t have close diplomatic relations.

Johannes’ determination and the support of his wife played a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. “Sometimes, you get a lucky break. When that happens, you better take advantage of it. I wasn’t 100% sure how I landed the gig at the SEO agency, but I immediately did everything to excel at my job. It was hard, challenging, and unstable, but I knew I wasn’t going home. So, you push through and make it work. Knowing there’s no way out helps you succeed.”

Building a support system

“My wife is my best support system, particularly because she’s very organized,” Johannes says. He admits he didn’t fully utilize the extensive expat community in Taiwan. “Between my wife and family, I had a pretty set social structure to rely on.”

Reflecting on the move

Johannes reflects on his relocation journey and shares what he wishes he had known before moving.

I realized I didn’t possess any tangible skills. All my degrees were theoretical. I wish I had invested earlier in a specific skill and passion, letting go of the idea that academia is all. Since getting into SEO, I haven’t looked back. Knowing this career path beforehand would have removed the most stressful moments of the move. Also, it’s essential to be submersed in real projects to learn fast and meet expectations.

Thriving in remote work

Johannes shares his thoughts on remote working life in Taiwan.

There’s a stereotype that Taiwan doesn’t have a great work-life balance, and there’s truth to it. Remote work doesn’t always make it better. You need to be a working machine here, which is the biggest downside compared to life in Germany. I’ve noticed a disconnect from social life and difficulty separating work from private time. Those are areas I want to improve, especially to focus on my family.

Despite the challenges, Johannes values the gift of remote working. “I know I’d hate to lose it. My dream would be a hybrid work setting, with two office days a week. I feed off other people’s energy but am less productive in the office. A hybrid solution offers the best of both worlds.”

Parting words of wisdom

Johannes leaves us with valuable advice.

“Have a plan B, C, and D for your work. Remote jobs are great but can be fickle, especially for freelancers. As an expat, ideally, your endgame is to have your own business. A specific, practical skill is valuable for creating security and independence abroad.”

Johannes’ journey to Taiwan is a testament to embracing love, seizing opportunities, and overcoming challenges with resilience and determination.