Samira Holma’s Post

Ever felt behind because things didn’t happen at the “right” time or in the “right” way? We’re often told there’s a right way to do things, whether it’s working 9-to-5 or hitting specific milestones by certain ages 🙄 But these expectations don’t always align with what we actually want or what we need to feel and perform at our best. Trying to fit into these for the sake of it can be counterproductive and lead to a sense that we’re not doing enough, even when we are. Instead, focus on what works best for you. Experiment. Pay attention to when you’re most energized and get the most done. Create your definition of achievement and fulfillment based on your goals and needs, not someone else’s timeline. ➡ Have you ever felt pressured to do things a certain way or at a certain time? How did you handle it? ➡ What’s a choice you made that didn’t follow the “rules” but worked out better for you? 📷 Sunset in Stockholm. Designing my days around what works best for me is one of the parts I love most about being an entrepreneur. In the beginning, I often felt off-track if my day didn't match what’s considered “normal” or “productive". If I for example worked outside of classical business hours. Now I know that feeling came from deep subconscious beliefs shaped by stereotype norms, not reality. Same goes for so many other areas. It's more important to live in true alignment than just appear like you do 😉 #intentionalliving #digitalnomads #entrepreneurs

We often think we get a culture, but with time we realize there’s so much more to it. Understanding the nuances makes all the difference ✨ It’s about recognizing the power of context (and how that completely can change what's appropriate), the importance (or non-importance) of humor, body language, hierarchies, history, family, religion, career, unspoken rules, personal space, time, small talk, and more. Understanding how something works strongly influences how comfortable and "at home" we feel. It will affect how you show up. How successful you are in building relationships, teamwork, communication, reaching goals  - and whether you end up offending people or inspiring them 😆 Does this mean you should adjust to everyone all the time? Not necessarily. But you're better off talking about expectations, working/communication styles, values, and accepting that what’s obvious to you isn’t a universal truth 😇 Being curious beyond the surface can shift your mindset and even shape your personality. Adapting to different ways of thinking can make you more empathetic, compassionate, open-minded, and change how you see yourself and the world. More than just avoiding mistakes, it’s accepting there is always more to learn. Meanwhile, we can do our best to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. Making them feel seen for who they are - which is one of the most powerful ways to build meaningful connections 😍 ➡ Ever been surprised or confused by cultural nuances? ➡ How do you navigate these in your relationships or travels? 📷 Colombia visiting Sweden. Even if I grew up here, living abroad for years has changed my perspective and I keep on learning every time I visit. An ongoing process, always evolving, which also is what makes it exciting 😉 #cultures #sustainabletravel #digitalnomads

Many brands and destinations have similar strategies. 5 simple and powerful ways to differentiate yourself 👇😎 💎 Be creative with global trends: What trends resonate with your brand and target groups, and how can you tap into them in a way that makes it hard to copy? Connecting it to culture and your identity. Think a digital detox with sauna experiences in Finland, nature immersion with wildlife in Kenya combined with homecooked food and unique stories, a workcation in Sweden centered around solving fun local challenges. Only your imagination sets the limit 😉 💎 Make experiments a part of your identity: Instead of simply copying what others are doing or repeating the same old, dare to think new. A pop-up café with locally sourced ingredients from farmers within a 50 km radius supports local business and positions you as innovative and community-focused. You can still build on basic needs; connection, shared passions (like food), and customer insights to give even daring ideas a strong foundation. The temporary format lets you test concepts and helps manage expectations. When something works, you can always turn it into something lasting or transform the best parts into something new. And talking about lasting… 💎 Think long-term and see how things are connected: Tourism helps drive place development, which attracts investments, talents and can improve life quality. Showing how your initiatives are part of a bigger picture adds depth to your brand, supports sustainability and impact. Instead of just launching campaigns, how can your efforts contribute to larger shifts or movements? A yearly event could be turned into a community that supports year-round collaboration and development ✨ 💎 Emphasize people and culture: While many stick to traditional marketing, there’s a great opportunity to stand out by highlighting authentic, unfiltered experiences. The real stories, learnings, people behind the scenes, and the cultural nuances that make your place or brand special. Real is better than perfect. Never have we craved authenticity as much 😍 💎 Be transparent and share: Don’t be afraid to share insights and collaborate with others, even competitors. A local hotel that openly shares its sourcing practices and sustainability efforts educates its audience and sets a standard for others to follow. When you add your twists to what you do, people can copy, but they won't replicate the essence of what makes you unique. Transparency positions you as a leader, sharing can lead to unexpected opportunities and partnerships. If you’re too afraid to share, it's often a sign to review your strategies 😇 ➡ What would you add? Which one resonates most? ➡ What's a local twist you could add to a global trend? (Need help with any of this? DM to chat about how to differentiate your brand) 📷 Local twists, pop-up experiences, Finnish sauna... Where would you start? #placemaking #travelindustry #entrepreneurs

Love all the opportunities remote work enables, but connecting in person is still another level 😍 Luckily you don't have to choose. Even if you go down the location-independent route, you can build a more diverse network than ever. Before starting this lifestyle, career development and that professional network were some of the things I was most worried about. I was working for a well-established company, where everyone had a mentor and knowledge-sharing meetups took place several times a week. What I've come to realize is that there are so many opportunities when working for yourself. If you’re proactive, your network often ends up more diverse and you’ll learn more than ever. I love meeting people and didn't choose location independence to be in isolation, but to have more time to invest in the most important connections 😊 I usually attend events in every place I'm based longer. Catch up with online connections, clients, and partners IRL. Sometimes just with people who share the passion for whatever - food, business, personal development, hiking, dance, community impact. You don't always have to meet (some I've worked with for years and not met in person, even if it feels like it 😆). But when the opportunity presents itself it can take that connection next level. It doesn't need to be black and white. Some do regular IRL catch-ups, others don't. The key is that you don't "have to" be somewhere, you're there because you choose to. And there is beauty in that ✨ ➡ How do you balance online connections with in-person meetings in your work? ➡ What strategies have you found effective for maintaining meaningful professional connections while working remotely? 📷 Lovely meeting in Helsinki last week with Anu Nylund + a networking event in Medellin. Building a network of genuine connections is the best investment. Ranging from family and friends from way back to others who inspire you #remoteworkers #digitalnomads #intentionalliving

Can competition and collaboration co-exist? (Competition isn't always a bad thing…) With all the focus on collaboration, one can almost feel guilty about wanting to "outperform." Is it bad to want to be the best in your industry? Not necessarily - it depends on what drives you 😇 Wanting to be the best becomes problematic when it’s driven only by ego or the desire to dominate. But when it's channeled towards excellence, innovation, and contributing to a larger purpose, it can coexist with collaboration - and position a place and industry as more attractive ⭐ Here’s how you can find that balance: 💎 Connect "winning" to something bigger: Instead of only focusing on outperforming others, connect success to broader community/industry needs to turn your ambition into a drive for positive change. You might want to be the most eco-friendly or deliver the best customer experience. Setting a standard others can follow and build on ultimately benefits the entire industry and place. Success isn’t just about rankings, it’s about impact 😉 💎 Collaborate to elevate and have fun with it! Use collabs to push your industry forward. Campaigns or industry events with your competitors can highlight the uniqueness of each (if there are none, you’ve got some work to do 🙄) Fun competitions, like community awards or challenges, can drive everyone (+ reach and branding) to new levels. Sharing best practices and innovations contributes to raising the overall quality and innovation 💎 Do good over being the best: Sometimes, another brand may be better positioned in a certain segment. Instead of forcing competition, celebrate their success and learn from their strengths. Prioritize real impact and know when to support rather than compete 🙏 It makes you look better too 😎 Focusing too much on personal or company success without considering the bigger impact can limit long-term growth and innovation. In the obsession to be the best for the sake of it, some may miss out on valuable partnerships that could lead to greater overall success.   Healthy competition and collaboration aren’t exclusive. By balancing ambition with a commitment to doing good, you can achieve success far beyond your own achievements. ➡ Are you always in it to win it? 😆 What's your view on competition? ➡ What’s one way you balance competition and collaboration in your work? 📷 Champions League, Milan. In sports teams, there can be amazing performers, but the real strength comes from how they work together, passing when needed, and recognizing that their collective efforts contribute to something bigger #placemaking #travelindustry #entrepreneurs

It's not always about doing more, sometimes it's about simplifying. Do more of what works. 3 questions to regularly ask yourself: 1. What should I stop doing? (In different areas - family, work, relationships, fun, health, spirituality - maybe you want to show up differently) 2. What should I continue doing? (Cred to what's working!) 3. What should I start doing? (This could be something you used to do, a passion you haven't done for too long, something you feel you need or always have wanted to explore) It could be a smaller scale. It will make a big difference in comparison with nothing 😇 ➡ Anything you're stopping or starting with? 📷 Breakfast in the sun in Stockholm. I'm continuing to have as many meals as possible outside 😋 #intentionalliving #digitalnomads #personalgrowth

Busyness used to be something almost admirable. But there's so much beauty in space. These days, I always leave room. It allows me to take on exciting initiatives, show up for what matters, explore, and just be (this is usually when I get my best ideas 😎) How we view time influences not just our work-life balance, but our ability to embrace new experiences and personal growth. By not being constantly busy, we can connect deeper with people, cultures, and opportunities, leading to a more balanced, fulfilling life. Yet, it’s common to feel the need to be productive all the time. Many still equal busyness with success. FOMO and people-pleasing can push us to overcommit, leaving little room for spontaneity or relaxation. Resulting in a life that’s packed, but not necessarily meaningful. It can affect our ability to be present, relationships, and overall life quality. Culture plays a role, too. Some prioritize efficiency and speed, while others value slower, more intentional living. But if we're always busy, what's the point? Creating space, both mentally and physically, opens up room for growth, creativity, and more meaningful experiences. It lets you follow your curiosity, whether supporting local communities, family, friends, or a hobby you love 😊 When there is not much to take from, even small mindset shifts, like being present and prioritizing what matters most can make a big difference. It starts by being aware and thinking not just about what you want to do and achieve, but how you want to live ✨ ➡ Has your approach to time changed over the years? ➡ What’s one way you create space in your life? 📷 Quality time with my nephew + friend in Sweden, morning hike in Panama #intentionalliving #personalgrowth #digitalnomads

Collaboration is the only way to drive meaningful change and progress 👑 Here's why (and how to make it work for you): ⭐ The future is regenerative. Everything is connected. You can't do it all alone, real impact comes from working together ⭐ No need to reinvent everything. I have re-directed many businesses from launching something new to teaming up with partners that already have whatever they're looking for instead ⭐ Shared resources/skills, reduced costs, bigger reach, innovation, fun… 😎 So how do you make the most out of partnerships? 💎 Identify key partners, beyond traditional collaborations: Look into different partnership categories, from the obvious to creative and unconventional that can bring fresh perspectives and value. A luxury travel brand might partner with a wellness business to create exclusive retreats that combine high-end experiences with holistic health services 💎 Prioritize building a relationship vs. just making a pitch: A more direct approach can work, but before reaching out, clarify what you can offer and create a value proposition that shows how teaming up can help solve a problem or create new opportunities for BOTH. Unfortunately, it's still way too common to receive one-sided messages from randoms who want you to recommend their services with no reference to how this "partnership" could benefit you. Be open about your intentions so people don't feel cheated to have agreed to a meeting 😇 💎 Start simple. Just because a partnership seems like a good fit doesn’t mean it will work. Pilot smaller projects before fully committing to a larger scope 💎Transparency and follow up! Set clear goals and expectations from the start. Agree on responsibilities, goals, and communication routines to avoid misunderstandings and double work. Review over time, evolve, make changes when needed ➡ Would you add anything? Do you have a partnership strategy in place? ➡ What’s one collaboration that’s made a difference for you? Any do's/don'ts from past experiences? (Need help with any of this? Partnership strategies are a natural part of most of my projects. DM to chat about how collaborations could take your business to the next level ✨) 📷 Working with community-run initiatives in Ecuador all based on collaborations #sustainabletravel #placemaking #travelandtourism

My grandma’s 85th birthday, able to be here for it 🤗 A unique yet still normal workweek, thanks to remote work 🙏 Quality time and delicious food with relatives ❤️ Morning walks with my mum. Some meetings in Helsinki. Sauna after work 😍 Location independence isn’t just about travel to exotic destinations (though I must say Finland is pretty exotic, even if I’m not 100% biased... 😆) It’s about lifestyle design and being able to spend your time as and where you wish. It’s not just about going from one place to another, but about being present in the moments that matter. It’s about the freedom to work from anywhere while still being connected to the people and things that are important to you. Being open to change, getting the best out of different worlds, and creating a life that aligns with your values. Whether that means staying close to home or exploring places you've always dreamt of ✨ ➡ Any special occasion you were able to be there for thanks to your flexible lifestyle? ➡ How has remote work improved your personal life? 📷 Mikkeli, Finland (grandma's hometown) #remotework #intentionalliving #digitalnomads

One of the most important skills: To see patterns ✨ Staying ahead isn’t just about following trends, but understanding what’s happening and what position you want to take. Technology is advancing faster than ever. It also means that the need to detox will grow. Luxury is in demand, so is back to the basics. Rural living is being redefined. Some areas are merging - like work and travel, luxury and simplicity, authenticity and life quality, personal development and community, cultures, business models, target groups... People are more intentional about how they live, and it's affecting everything. I could go on 😇 A few things to keep in mind: 💎 See how things are connected, what that means, and what you want to do 💎 Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. It should align with who you are, what you want to represent, and the life you want to live 💎 Zoom out. Many people will ask, what does this have to do with that? But that’s how you expand your mind Many opportunities, if you pay attention 😉 Do you? ➡ Any patterns you're extra excited about? ➡ What position are you taking? 📷 Rio. Have you made zooming out a part of your routine? 😎 #entrepreneurs #innovation #futureofwork