Get Paid to Travel: How ChatGPT Helped Me Escape the Office

Three months ago, I was stuck in a cubicle in Ikeja, working a job that made my rent but crushed my creativity. The final straw? I asked HR if I could work remotely from Cape Town for two weeks. The answer: a flat “No. Company policy.”

That same week, I watched a travel vlogger on YouTube sipping espresso in Portugal while replying to emails from clients. I wasn’t envious I was angry.

If she could work from anywhere, why couldn’t I?

Then I found it: a thread on X that said, “Use ChatGPT to create digital products and fund your next vacation.” I clicked. I tested. And now I’m writing this from a beach café in Zanzibar.

You don’t need to beg your boss for permission.
You need the right system and it starts with a prompt.

Why ChatGPT Is the Digital Nomad’s Secret Weapon

Most people still think of ChatGPT as a chatbot.
But those of us using it to fund our travel see it for what it really is:

A full-stack business assistant.

With the right workflow, ChatGPT can help you:

•  Identify what your audience is struggling with
•  Build a product or service to solve it
•  Price and sell that product to fund your travel lifestyle
•  Market it automatically while you explore new cities

It’s not hype. It’s a system. Here’s how I used it.

3 ChatGPT Prompts That Pay While You Travel

These prompts helped me go from “Can I really do this?” to “I’m doing this.”
Try this exact workflow to start building travel-funded income streams:

ChatGPT Prompt #1: Build Your Product

Prompt:

“Create a step-by-step guide for [specific pain point your audience is facing]. Incorporate my brand voice into the guide. My brand voice is [describe your tone: witty, empowering, practical, etc.].”

Why this prompt works:

You move from vague idea to concrete asset something people can buy or download. I used this prompt to create my first $15 digital guide on “How to Start Freelancing with No Experience in Nigeria.”

ChatGPT Prompt #2: Price and Funnel It

Prompt:

“What should I price a guide like this? Also, give me a funnel outline that leads my target audience from downloading the guide (or getting it free) to buying a higher-tier paid offer.”

Why this prompt works:

You’re not just building a product you’re building a business. I turned my free guide into a funnel that led to a $97 consultation package. Three clients in one week paid for my flight to Accra.

ChatGPT Prompt #3: Market While You Move

Prompt:

“Develop a 30-day marketing and engagement plan to help me promote [name of the guide] using [LinkedIn, email marketing, etc.]. Include what kind of content to post, and when to post it.”

Why this prompt works:

Automation equals freedom. I scheduled 30 days of posts on LinkedIn before my flight and didn’t touch my laptop for a week while income still came in.

What I Learned From the First 30 Days

• People want solutions, not perfection.
• You don’t need to be an expert. You just need experience + execution.
• ChatGPT will do 70% of the work but you must package and deliver.

From Lagos to Nairobi to Kigali, this system works.
And you don’t need capital just connection, creativity, and consistency.

High-Income Micro-Products You Can Build With ChatGPT

Here are some great first-time ideas for digital nomads:

•  Step-by-step freelance starter kits
•  Mini eBooks: “How I Landed 3 Clients Using LinkedIn in 2 Weeks”
•  Email course: “Become a Copywriter in 30 Days”
•  Notion templates and planners for creators
•  Niche guides for specific skills (e.g., “Resume Templates for Nigerian Tech Roles”)

Each one of these can sell for $5–$97 over and over again.

You Don’t Need Permission to Live a Life You Designed

If your boss says no to remote work - build a client list that doesn’t ask.

If you can’t afford to travel - build a product that pays you daily.

If you don’t know where to start - start with a prompt.