Now What Do I Do? Nomad Mindset, DAFT Visas & Quiet Influence with S.A. Grant

I’m Bradley Charbonneau of Repossible, and in a recent conversation with S.A. Grant we tackled the big question so many of us ask ourselves at crossroads: now what do I do? S.A. shares the exact chain of decisions that turned a “someday” dream in Barcelona into a real move to the Netherlands—stacking visas, aligning promotions, and becoming the kind of person who makes big moves. If you’re hovering at a decision point—career, country, or creative leap—this piece is your practical nudge.

From Barcelona Spark to Real Relocation
Stacking Visas: Skilled Migrant + DAFT
The Nomad Mindset: History, Legacy & Breadcrumbs
Beating Perfection: The “Worst Book Ever” Approach
Practical Advice: If an 8-Year-Old (or You) Is Listening
FAQ
Conclusion

From Barcelona Spark to Real Relocation

It didn’t happen because of a vacation blush. For S.A., a company event in Barcelona lit the desire to live in Europe—but desire alone wasn’t enough. He and his wife kept traveling, kept naming the goal, and when an opportunity surfaced through her employer’s European expansion, they treated it like chess: map the moves, align the pieces, then execute.

Key moves they made:

Recognize the spark (Barcelona)
Position for opportunity (wife pursues promotion tied to EU operations)
Use a practical visa path (Skilled Migrant) to enter
Layer residency options (DAFT) to de-risk long-term stay

Why “now what do I do” becomes a plan

There’s a mindset difference between saying “I want to live there” and actually living there. The step from wish to plan involves daily small actions that steer you into the identity you want—like taking writing classes every day if you want to be an author. For S.A., “we kept on traveling and every time we would travel be like we have to figure it out,” and those micro-steps added up until the opportunity aligned.

Stacking Visas: Skilled Migrant + DAFT

One of the most practical sections of our talk was about using multiple legal pathways to create resilience. The couple used a Skilled Migrant visa tied to the wife’s employer to enter Europe, then secured DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) to separate residency from the employer and reduce single-point failure risk.

Skilled Migrant visa: immediate, employer-linked route into the Netherlands
DAFT visa: trade/entrepreneur pathway that provides longer-term independence
Plan for dependents and contingencies: bring adult children under dependent rules, or create company structures to sponsor family

The Nomad Mindset: History, Legacy & Breadcrumbs

S.A. frames movement as part of a larger human story: nomads built migration into our DNA. He sees leaving the U.S. as a way to expand legacy and leave breadcrumbs—podcasts, books, stories—that future generations can follow. “If you think about nomads…that’s human nature,” he says. For him, living across geographies is a survival technique and a gift for descendants: now there’s a cousin or aunt abroad to normalize the idea.

“The faster you find those people in your inner circle, the bigger you could explode in the long run.”

secondhand motivation. Your kids might say they don’t want to travel, then years later tell friends that a particular trip was the best of their life. That background exposure often shapes identity more than a sit-down lecture.

Model the behavior you want to seed in others

Find your wavelength people—those who vibrate similarly and push you forward

Feed the next generation opportunities: travel, small risks, and examples

Beating Perfection: The “Worst Book Ever” Approach

Fear of perfection can stall big moves and creative projects. Rather than waiting for a masterpiece, S.A. and I discussed intentional first-steps that are allowed to be terrible. My “Worst Book Ever” workshop is a deliberate rite-of-passage: write an awful draft, publish it, learn the craft, then iterate. Perfectionism dies when action replaces speculation.

How this approach helps the “now what do I do” moment

Lower the bar for first action—do something imperfect.
Iterate publicly; let real feedback replace fearful imagination.
Turn small, imperfect wins into confidence for bigger moves.

Practical Advice: If an 8-Year-Old (or You) Is Listening

Whether you’re eight in the background or forty-eight at a crossroads, S.A.’s core advice is clear:

Find your wavelength people—peers who push and challenge you.
Feed promising seeds in others—your encouragement matters more than you think.
Prepare practically: learn the paperwork, positions, and paths that make a move possible.
Decide—do—become. Make the decision, take steps, and evolve into that next you.

FAQ

Q: I keep asking “now what do I do”—where should I start?

Start by naming the next small action. If it’s moving countries, research one legal pathway this week. If it’s writing a book, write 500 imperfect words today. Small consistent actions shift identity.

Q: Are visas the only practical route to moving abroad?

No. Employment-based visas, treaties like DAFT, student routes, and entrepreneur visas are common. Layering options (employer + treaty) adds resilience.

Q: How do I find my “wavelength people?”

Look for people who energize you, challenge you, and share curiosity. Attend meetups, online communities, workshops, and travel groups. Investment in relationships pays exponential dividends.

Q: What if my family doesn’t support my move?

Use indirect influence and model your path. Your decision can become the permission your kids or cousins need later—even if your immediate circle resists now.

Conclusion

The answer to “now what do I do?” isn’t a single step; it’s a pattern: choose intentionally, find your people, take small consistent actions, and protect your progress with practical planning (visas, timing, backups). Whether your goal is international living, a creative leap, or a career pivot, legacy-minded action—leaving breadcrumbs for the next generation—gives those decisions shape and meaning.

If you’re ready for your next “Now What?!” start with one imperfect action today.