Think remote work is only for tech geniuses, trust fund kids, or people who "got lucky" with timing?

I coach people who believe this myth, and honestly, it breaks my heart. They'd look at successful digital nomads and assume there was some secret sauce they didn't have access to better connections, perfect timing, or natural advantages they'd never possess.

But after seven years of living this lifestyle and countless conversations with remote workers, I can tell you the truth: the biggest difference between those who make it and those who don't isn't luck.

It's refusing to accept "no" as a permanent answer.

My recent conversation with Lauren Peikert on the Digital Nomad Nation Podcast proves this beautifully. Her journey from months of job rejections to landing her dream remote role shows exactly what persistence looks like in the real world.

The Myth That Keeps You Stuck

"I think my advice has changed a lot. Back when I worked for that recruitment company, I was teaching courses on how to get a remote job. When I've been searching for my job in recent years, I break every single rule that I ever taught anyone," said Lauren Peikert, Digital Nomad Nation Podcast

Here's what most people don't understand about remote work: it's not handed out based on your resume alone anymore. The game has completely changed since COVID, and most job seekers are still playing by the old rules.

Lauren had all the "right" qualifications, marketing experience, startup background, and polished resume. But for months, she got nothing but silence from employers. Sound familiar?

The problem wasn't her skills or experience. The problem was that the majority of companies now use robot screening systems, and her resume was completely invisible to them.

When "Expert" Advice Stops Working

"I would spend days and days feeling like this job description is perfect for me. I'm exactly what they want, and not getting a single response or just pure rejections," said Lauren Peikert, Digital Nomad Nation Podcast.

The traditional job search advice is quality over quantity, tailor every application, network your way in. It wasn't just failing Lauren, it was making her situation worse. She'd spend days crafting the perfect application for a role that seemed made for her, only to get rejected or ignored completely.

This is where most people give up. They start believing remote work is for "other people"—those mythical nomads who seem to effortlessly land amazing jobs while traveling the world. But Lauren did something different.

The Mindset That Changes Everything

"I tailored my resume to the robots. I went on LinkedIn Easy apply, put filters for the kind of job I wanted. I just started clicking send on every single job that came through my filters. And within a month of fixing my resume for the robots and doing that, I had a couple job offers in one week," said Lauren Peikert, Digital Nomad Nation Podcast

Instead of accepting defeat, Lauren got curious. She researched why her applications were disappearing into black holes. She tested her resume through applicant tracking systems and discovered the shocking truth: not a single word was getting through.

Lauren stopped trying to be the "perfect" candidate and started playing the actual game, not the one she thought existed.

Persistence Looks Different Than You Think

Here's what persistence actually looked like for Lauren: thousands of LinkedIn Easy Apply submissions and hundreds of carefully written applications. Not because she was desperate, but because she understood the new reality of remote job hunting.

"I probably did thousands of easy applies on LinkedIn and hundreds of hard, written applications to get my job, but I didn't give up. I burnt out, but I kept going and it's definitely possible," said Lauren Peikert, Digital Nomad Nation Podcast.

Lauren was freelancing while job hunting, which gave her the freedom to be patient and wait for the right opportunity. She built supplemental income streams that kept her afloat without panic.

Your Remote Work Reality Check

Remote work isn't reserved for people with computer science degrees or trust funds. Lauren works in marketing. I built my freedom through real estate.

The common thread isn't our backgrounds—it's our refusal to believe that location independence was meant for someone else.

"I believe that it's very possible. I know a lot of nomads are freelancers or entrepreneurs, but it is possible to work full-time for a company remotely," said Lauren Peikert, Digital Nomad Nation Podcast.

The companies worth working for, the ones with great managers and healthy business mindsets, understand that results matter more than your physical location. But you have to be willing to keep trying until you find them.

Ready to Stop Making Excuses?

Lauren's complete story includes the exact resume formatting that beats applicant tracking systems, her strategy for handling time zones across continents, and how she built trust with employers who'd never hired someone outside North America before.

But more importantly, her journey proves that remote work requires adaptation, persistence, and refusing to accept limitations that other people try to place on your life.

Listen to the full episode to hear Lauren's step-by-step approach to landing remote work in today's market, plus the mindset shifts that transformed her from burned-out job seeker to successful location-independent professional.

Because the only thing standing between you and remote work might be the belief that it's not meant for you.
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​Connect with Lauren Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-peikert/

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