So, I Wrote An Amazon Alexa Skill

The wheels touched down, and I unconsciously exhaled as I always do when I’m finally on the ground. Headphones still on—giving a slight side-eye to those passengers who immediately start to rise—I flipped airplane mode off and waited for the rush. Facebook notifications, WhatsApp and iMessages, Instagram likes and replies, too many emails than I care to count, and now, thanks to Remote Year, pings from Slack.

But this time, a note from a stranger caught my eye: “Have you ever written an Amazon app?”

Really, stranger is a stretch—since everyone who went on Remote Year feels like extended family. Yugen is my dysfunctional immediate—but my cousins are infinite. Once you finish the program—and one complete lap around the world and the sun—you’re deemed a ‘citizen’ which comes with perks, bragging rights and the never-ending invitation to be part of a community of nomadic professionals. As a frequent poster in many channels as I look for experts and ask crowdsourcing questions, this fellow citizen thought of me for her project.

With the heat of the Puerto Vallarta sun stinging my back, I squinted at my phone and asked my friend: “Hmm, well this feels a lot like fate, doesn’t it?”

It’s no secret I’m a big believer in the universe—and all of its many signs—but being connected for this specific contracting opportunity made me smile in disbelief.

I sort of have a thing for Amazon. Or rather, I drink the Kool-Aid—big time.

When I started traveling in late July of 2017, I went through a massive process of packing up my old apartment in New York, donating (far too many) boxes of (unnecessary) things and figuring out what the F I’m supposed to pack for a year’s worth of travel. After a few attempts and reading many blogs online, I narrowed it down to one checked bag, one carry-on and one backpack.

One item that made the cut-throat list at the end though? My Amazon Alexa Dot.

Call me crazy—plenty of my remotes did—but when considering the need for an alarm clock in various time zones, a speaker for jams and a way to stay updated on the news (and okay, my ‘Day in History’ skill that I adore), I decided this multi-purpose electronic wasn’t frivolous, but necessary.

And I proved myself right for five glorious months, using my pint-sized Dot every day… until a Thailand outlet fried it because I forgot my surge protector. Cue: tears.

Fast forward eight months later, and here I was, on the call with this citizen—who happened to work for iVillage right before I did many years ago—and talking about a wellness-focused skill that would give listeners an upbeat, helpful and interesting message daily. Sitting from my hotel room in Mexico, I couldn’t believe how much the stars aligned.

And align they did:

I signed the contract from a villa in Jamaica…

…I began work in New York City, from a coworking space with RY citizens in the city.

I continued each phase, writing away from a coffee shop in Cape Town, a resort in Durban, another in Kruger National Park, a game reserve in Johannesburg and with hippos in the background in St. Lucia, all in South Africa…

…and finally, I finished 90 days worth of content from a hotel room in London.

I received the news it was live last night, from the only CrossFit gym in the small town of Hayesville, North Carolina, which 15 years ago, offered me my first writing gig at a local newspaper.

Driving home in a rush to hear the skill live, ‘Unwritten’ by Natasha Bedingfield came on the radio, and I was taken right back to my teenage self, sitting next to her then-boyfriend who said, ‘Hey Linds, this reminds me of you.’

He wouldn’t have guessed—and neither would I—that ‘Unwritten’ would follow me wherever I went—much like Amazon, it seems—including the background music for a birthday video created by my RY besties last September in Prague.

As it goes, today might be where my book begins, but I’m so excited to introduce an Amazon Alexa wellness Flash Briefing for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare: It’s Your Wellness, Own It. You can enable and start listening… now! It isn’t my voice but I’m proud to have shaped the dialogue and words, and each day you’ll be greeted with new advice.

Why the novel? Eh, well if you know me, it’s my style.

But more importantly: so much of being a full-time freelancer or digital nomad is hustle. It’s about taking days where you could be touring around cities, sleeping in or boozing away, but you choose to spend the hours working, networking and building your contacts. Though I feel mighty lucky to be someone who has always known exactly what she wanted to be, building a career out of it wasn’t chance: it was tenacity, drive and a relentless spirit that wasn’t afraid to say ‘yes.’ And more importantly, wasn’t dismayed when many—many—people said ‘no.’ In this business, they nearly outweigh one another, and frankly, ebb and flow all the time. It’s a rollercoaster, and I’m thankful to still be holding on.

I hope by sharing the journey I’ve been on—both the successes and the pitfalls—other writers (or perhaps, just daring dreamers) remember there’s a bright light at the end of that tunnel. It’s possible to get there if you’re willing to go through the muck to make it. And perhaps, if you are quiet enough to allow the universe to lead you. Trust me—it’s talking, you just have to listen.

Now, Alexa—bring me my coffee? I’m on deadline.