Hear How This Aussie Couple Earns 6-Figures Living Their Dreams While Others Sit In Cubicles
Imagine quitting your job, buying a bus and travelling full time, all whilst still earning a 6 figure income.
Chris and Bec have been paid to travel the world for the last 5 years, earning remote income and literally living the laptop lifestyle.
Today we are going to find out what that journey has been like for them. You’ll hear:
- How they are making money online and how they’re AI proofing it
- What they’ve discovered to be the most lucrative and easiest ways to monetise online.
- How they’re driving traffic in this AI age.
- Plus, the surprising way you can get started and create options outside a 9-5.
If your job isn’t fulfilling and you feel like you’re chasing someone else’s dream, this interview could change everything. Click below to watch it now.
When Chris and Bec set off in their four-wheel-drive bus to travel Australia five years ago, they weren’t just escaping the daily grind—they were pioneering a lifestyle that many dream of, but few achieve: earning a substantial income while exploring the world.
Today, they’re living proof that with the right digital skills and a strategic approach to online business, location independence isn’t just possible—it’s sustainable.
“We’ve travelled around Australia in the bus twice now,” Chris explains with a hint of pride. “We started in Perth, and now we’re back in Western Australia after travelling around Australia. Twice.”
But what makes their story truly remarkable isn’t just the freedom they’ve achieved—it’s how they’ve built multiple revenue streams that continue to grow, even as they roam to the most remote corners of the country and beyond.
Chris Traded a Six-Figure FIFO Job for Location Independence
Chris’s journey into digital entrepreneurship began while he was still working in the oil and gas industry on a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) basis—earning a substantial income but feeling increasingly burnt out by the corporate lifestyle.
“I was on a two-week-on, one-week-off schedule. They would fly me from Perth to the middle of nowhere, working 12-hour shifts. Later, it became one month on, one month off, but I was so remote that I had very little access to the internet.”
Despite the constraints, Chris began learning essential digital skills through the Digital Investors program. After just nine months of training, he made a bold decision that would change everything—Chris quit his six-figure job to pursue digital entrepreneurship full-time.
“I know that if I don’t go 100% into something, I’m not going to do it. And if I don’t have my back against the wall, I’m not going to do it,” Chris explains. “That’s the situation I put myself in—though I don’t recommend people do it.”
Bec Experienced Burnout In Her Job, So Joined Chris to Grow Their Online Business
Bec, who was working as a social worker at the time, soon joined Chris in building their digital business.
“I used to be a social worker. I was taking every single extra shift I could. I was on call. I was burning out really fast—both of us were.”
The timing of their transition proved perfect. After building websites for local businesses and establishing themselves in the digital space, they sold one of their lead generation websites for a six-figure sum—providing the capital they needed to purchase their four-wheel-drive bus and begin their Australian journey.
Bec & Chris Built Multiple Income Streams Through Their Online Businesses
What’s particularly inspiring about Chris and Bec’s story is their approach to income diversification. Rather than relying solely on one revenue model, they’ve strategically built multiple income streams that complement each other:
1./ Lead Generation Businesses: Provides Bec & Chris with Ongoing, Reliable Income
“The lead generation business has been hands down the most stable and consistent income over the years,” Chris explains. “We own websites where customers come to, and then we connect them with local businesses, mainly trades, and we get a cut from that.”
This business model has proven particularly reliable because it’s built around evergreen service needs. As Bec points out,
“The great thing about lead generation is it’s AI-proof. We’re not going to get robotic electricians overnight. Every time you go into that industry, you know that it’s a real industry.”
The lead generation model has also provided them with the location independence they craved.
“When we first started, we were trying to use Telstra, and that was patchy reception at best,” Chris recalls. “Now we have Starlink, and literally we get faster internet on the Nullarbor plains at the bottom of Australia, within 300 kilometres from a roadhouse, than we did in the centre of Perth.”
2./ Salt and Charcoal: Grew from Free Rugs to Five-Figure Brand Deals
Alongside their lead generation business, Chris and Bec have built Salt and Charcoal—their inspirational travel brand blog encompassing social media channels and a content-rich website. What began as a simple desire to share their journey has evolved into a significant revenue source, though not without its challenges.
“When we started Salt and Charcoal, it was just leaving here in Perth,” Bec remembers. “I was like, ‘Oh, let’s make a new Instagram.’ No idea what to call it. I guess we’ll just have family following.”
In those early days, monetization was minimal. “Let’s be totally upfront,” Bec shares. “Content creation—if people want to quit their jobs and become a content creator overnight, it’s just not possible. It’s very slow to grow.”
Their first brand partnership provided modest returns—a free rug! But as they built their audience and refined their approach, the opportunities expanded.
Today, their brand partnerships have reached impressive heights, with their largest partnership so far netting them $20,000 AUD for what Chris describes as “a three-day excursion and then probably a week of editing after.”
The growth of their travel content business offers valuable insights for aspiring content creators. Initially focused on quantity, they’ve shifted to a quality-first approach that emphasizes authenticity and real experiences—elements that AI cannot replicate.
“We’ve done a huge shift. Before, we’d create a lot of content that was good content, but now, even on Instagram and the website, we are giving so much attention to each piece of content that we make. Gone are the days on anything where you can just create rubbish content.”
How Chris & Bec AI-Proofed Their Online Business
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, Chris and Bec have adopted strategies to ensure their business remains resilient against AI disruption—a concern for many content creators and digital entrepreneurs.
Their approach to AI-proofing combines authenticity with strategic diversification:
1./ Creating Content AI Cannot Replicate
“We were creating content that AI could easily replicate,” Chris admits. “But now we focus on building incredible content with our own personal opinion and voice. Storytelling as well.”
This shift to more personal, experience-based content has proven effective. “You can get the AI overview,” Chris explains, “but you’re never going to find the hidden spots. You’re never going to find that cafe that’s got the special coffee. AI is never going to give that to you.”
“This is how we are AI-proofing. We create real content and share real advice, and people are going to read that. No matter how good ChatGPT and all of that kind of stuff is, we’re still going on blogs and actually learning real advice from real humans. That’s not going anywhere.”
2./ Strategic Monetization Through Direct Partnerships
Another key element of their AI-proofing strategy has been their approach to monetization—particularly on their travel website.
“When we started generating good traffic, we put ads on it,” Chris explains. “We didn’t really like ads as in Google AdSense. And we also used a publisher called Mediavine, but the revenue really wasn’t that great.”
The turning point came when they discovered the power of direct advertising.
“We were able to find direct advertisers. And in this particular case, insurance—travel insurance—and that paid, I would say, 10 times more than the ads that we used to have on the website.”
This shift from programmatic advertising to direct partnerships has not only increased their revenue but also strengthened their position against AI disruption. By cultivating relationships with brands that value their authentic connection with their audience, they’ve created a monetization strategy that AI cannot easily replicate.
Steps To Build a Location Independent Online Business
Chris and Bec’s journey offer valuable insights for anyone looking to build a location-independent lifestyle through digital entrepreneurship:
1./ Start with Local Business Websites
Despite their current focus on lead generation and content creation, Chris still recommends building websites for local businesses as the best entry point.
“If everyone wants to start in this particular business area, online, I still think that building websites for local businesses is hands down the best way to start. Quick cash, you learn a lot really fast.”
This approach allows beginners to earn while they learn—developing the fundamental skills that can later be applied to more location-independent business models.
2./ Diversify Your Income Sources
Perhaps the most important lesson from Chris and Bec’s experience is the power of diversification. While their travel brand is their passion, having multiple income streams has provided the stability needed to pursue that passion freely.
“I think the world we’re going into now, there is one other big takeaway point from this interview. That is the power of diversification. Isn’t it interesting, even for you guys, I know your passion was to build a travel blog. But it’s that diversification of income where you really make your money.” – Matt Raad, eBusiness Institute
3./ Focus on Quality Content Over Quantity
As the digital landscape evolves, Chris and Bec have found that quality content—created with intention and authenticity—outperforms high-volume, generic content.
“We’re creating better content and less content,” Bec explains. “Before it was worse content and more.”
This shift not only helps protect their business against AI disruption but also strengthens their connection with their audience—creating opportunities for more valuable partnerships and higher revenue.
From Burnout to Freedom: The Real Value of Learning Digital Skills
Five years into their journey, Chris and Bec have transformed their lives completely. From facing burnout in traditional careers to building a thriving online business that funds their travels around Australia and beyond, they’ve created a lifestyle that most only dream about.
Their story is a testament to the power of digital skills in creating true location independence. With a robust lead generation business, a growing travel brand, and strategic partnerships with major companies, they’ve built a diverse income portfolio that continues to evolve and strengthen.
For those inspired by their journey, the path forward is clear: develop foundational digital skills, start with proven business models like building websites for local businesses, and gradually build toward more location-independent income streams.
As Bec emphasizes: “It’s free. It could change your whole life.”
Chris and Bec’s experience show that with the right skills, strategic thinking, and a willingness to adapt, the dream of earning a substantial income while exploring the world isn’t just possible—it’s within reach for those willing to take the first step.
How You Can Get Started With Your Own Laptop Lifestyle Business…
If you would like to learn more about the Digital Skills Chris & Bec used to create their location independent online business, check out our Free Masterclass.
