We know for a fact that moving to a new place, a different country is no breeze at all. How much more if you’re a trailblazer spouse/partner who got no job, stays home, takes care of the kids and supports the spouse? How do you face the challenges brought about by moving into a new country like China? 

Find your tribe and stretch out of your comfort zone. Going to places you wouldn’t normally go will help you change perspective. 

Hailing from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, Nicole Webb moved to Australia as a teenager with her family. There she went on to pursue her dream of becoming a television journalist and newsreader with Sky News. She then moved to HK in 2010 and to China in 2014. 

In this episode, Nicole shares how she identifies herself with trailblazer spouses and partners -- the struggles and tribulations they face when moving to a new place like China. She attributes loneliness and loss of identity as among the challenges facing these trailblazers. She’s not without ways and means to find a solution to this dilemma with her own experience. And she counts social media as the one big factor in connecting with other like-minded people. And that it’s important to give it [adjustment] the time it deserves.  

What you will learn from this episode: 

• Learn how to be a confident trailblazer spouse or partner who is secure in the thought that she has a lot to contribute to her new-found community and the world at large 
• Find out ways to connect with like-minded human beings who are also trailblazers looking for important necessities 
• Learn how to find your purpose when moving into a new place so you won’t lose your identity 

“Often, I think it can seem quite an insurmountable task when you arrive in a place like China, you are out there on your own and, your spouse is off to work doing what he or she does. It takes time and to really give it the time it deserves. It can be an incredibly enriching and lasting experience, and often even a better one for the trailblazer.” 

 - Nicole Webb 

Topics Covered: 

01:53 - Nicole defines who her ideal client is 

02:57 - She shares the need for spouses or partners to take the time it deserves to settle in and find their feet in a new place like China 

04:00 - Why loneliness becomes a symptom of the problem for the trailblazers 

04:54 - Giving her thoughts on spouses trying to pigeonhole themselves into a certain box which shouldn’t be the case 

05:54 - One actionable tip you can do to help solve a trailblazer’s problem: Find your tribe and step out of your comfort zone.  

06:32 - One valuable free resource that can help a trailblazer spouse find her place in her new-found community in China: Facebook group - Shanghai Mommies 

07:22 - Talking about her blog, ‘Welcome Musings in Hongkong’ that connected her to a lot of other expats 

08:10 - One great resource for anyone moving to China: CHINA BLONDE: How a newsreader's search for adventure led to friendship, acceptance...and peroxide pandemonium by Nicole Webb 

Key Takeaways: 

“I think as an ex-pat, social media is something that can connect you with people all over the world that are in similar shoes to you.” - Nicole Webb 

“I started an ex-pat blog, ‘Welcome Musings in Hong Kong’. And I think that just helped to connect me with people from all over the world as well.”  - Nicole Webb 

“China Blonde, I think would be a very great resource for anyone who's thinking about moving to China, or anyone who's thinking about moving anywhere out of their comfort zone, for that matter, because it takes you through all of those trials and tribulations of moving from your beloved country and setting up in a new country.”  - Nicole Webb 

“I think what I'd like to say on help solve is just to remember that it takes time to settle in and time to find your feet.” - Nicole Webb 

“One of the problems is that we often try to pigeonhole ourselves into a certain box, which is what I did as well as a newsreader. I thought that's kind of all I am. And you forget what you have done over the last 10 or 20 years and what makes up you as a whole. And that can be so many other things besides that work title that perhaps you've been in the past.” -Nicole Webb 

Resources: 

• One great resource for anyone moving to China: CHINA BLONDE: How a newsreader's search for adventure led to friendship, acceptance...and peroxide pandemonium by Nicole Webb 

Ways to Connect with Nicole Webb: 

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledwebb/

Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: 

• Website: http://www.wealthwithoutborders.net    
• Podcast: https://wealthwithoutborders.net/podcast/  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardwhiteson