Hi friend,

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For the past 90 days, I've been driving my Chinese EV, a NIO EC6, around Dubai.

There's a lot I love about the car. But I've also discovered that some of the features and services I expected aren't quite the same outside China.

And it got me thinking about something bigger.

How much of what we can experience in life is determined simply by where we live?

We live in a world where we can discover almost anything, anywhere. Yet our ability to actually access those things still depends on geography.

And that doesn't just apply to cars.

It applies to how we work, where we build businesses, what technology we use, and even the opportunities we create for ourselves.

The Geography of Choice

Think about how differently everyday life works around the world.

In some countries, paying for almost everything with your phone is second nature. In others, certain payment apps and financial services aren't even available.

A person running an online business might have access to international customers but discover that the payment platform they need doesn't operate in their country.

That's one of the things I find fascinating about living across cultures.

We often talk about globalization as though everyone has access to the same world. In reality, where we live still shapes what feels possible, convenient, or completely out of reach.

Sometimes, seeing how people live elsewhere makes us question the limitations we've grown accustomed to.

The Fine Print

My experience with buying a Chinese EV in Dubai is a small example of that bigger reality.

I bought into an experience that I'd seen demonstrated in another market. But owning that technology in Dubai has come with a few surprises.

Navigation, battery swapping, software updates, and subscription benefits don't necessarily work the same way everywhere.

It's a reminder that buying a product doesn't always mean getting the entire ecosystem that surrounds it.

And the same is true when we move abroad, launch a business internationally, or adopt technology from another country.

The possibilities can be exciting.

But understanding the local realities matters just as much.

Building a Life Without Borders

I've always been interested in what happens when people look beyond the place they were born or the market they know.

Not necessarily because they want to leave everything behind.

Sometimes they simply want more options.

A different lifestyle. Better access to technology. New business opportunities. Or the freedom to choose what works best for them.

But building a more global life isn't just about discovering what's available somewhere else.

It's about understanding what actually works for you.

Before making your next big decision across borders, ask yourself three things:

1. What am I really trying to access? Is it the product, the opportunity, the lifestyle, or the experience surrounding it?
2. What changes when I cross the border? Consider local services, regulations, infrastructure, and cultural expectations.
3. What trade-offs am I willing to accept? More choice doesn't always mean fewer complications.

Whether you're considering a move abroad, building an international business, or simply buying technology from another market, these questions are worth asking.

Because the goal isn't necessarily to live everywhere.

It's to have more freedom to choose where and how you want to live.

And I'm curious: what's something you've experienced in another country that made you rethink what was possible back home?

this week's youtube

90 Days with My NIO EC6 in Dubai — What No One Tells You

I've spent three months driving my NIO EC6 in Dubai, and the experience has come with a few surprises.

From navigation and battery swapping to software updates and subscriptions, I'm sharing what I love, what I didn't expect, and what buyers should know about owning technology outside its original market.

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