How did you get started with remote work?
Interview with Gregory, a Senior Software Developer
I was 19 and working for a very small website development shop out of the owner's in-law suite in their house. It was my first real job as a software developer, and I came into the "office" most days.
But everything was done from my laptop, so whenever the owner needed the space, I would work from home. And slowly I began working from home even when it wasn't strictly necessary.
When I left that job, I joined a company that was semi-remote (they went into the office once a week), and I was the youngest by about 20 years. The devs there taught me how to manage remote work well, and a lot of the habits and skills related to working from home that I formed at that time are still going strong.
I was able to skip a lot of the biggest "pain points" of remote work - and to avoid a lot of the mistakes - simply because that company was already well versed in working remotely.
They were able to give me the tools to succeed, and they already had the communication system down very well, which helped a ton.
Gregory is a senior software developer working from home - learn how he finds the balance between lack of focus and hyperfocus.
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Interview with Ayush, a CEO and avid remote team builder
Well, for me, embracing remote work was a part of the experiments I do with myself. I keep checking out newer ways of working, sleeping patterns, and managing my team.
I started with remote work since I was working on scaling up my team and finding ways on how an organization should work without any micromanagement.
We have come a long way since then, and now we are managing teams in five countries.
Ayush is a CEO that is committed to helping companies build successful remote teams—see his process and tips for developing location independent teams that thrive.
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Interview with Digital Nomad Sage, an entrepreneur and UX consultant
I had just come back from teaching abroad in South Korea and was applying for jobs in 2015. I had a really hard time because I was overqualified for many jobs with a Masters degree, and I lacked the experience to get entry-level jobs.
I tried studying Web Development but quickly lost interest since I’m not really good at coding. I came across Youtube videos about Amazon FBA, so I became a Fulfillment by Amazon Seller for pet supplies, but that didn’t work out.
My former Japanese language professor saw my struggles and decided to take me under his wing in 2017 and hired me into his UX company. Thanks to him, I have about two years of experience in UX Research working remotely!
My primary job is as a UX Consultant assisting my boss with UX Research.
From e-books to blogging, Digital Nomad Sage has become an expert on making money online—see his advice for developing an online business.
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Interview with Andrew, co-founder and CEO of Insured Nomads
Remote work has been a part of my modus operandi for over 15 years as my wife and I have taken turns in our professional development with various expatriate assignments and international opportunities. This situation has given me the freedom to take my work with me or pioneer new ventures from the road.
Andrew, co-founder, and CEO of Insured Nomads talks traveling while working, productivity tools, and the best advice he has received.
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Interview with Laura, a communications specialist and travel writer by night
I've always had a side hustle as a freelance writer, so I've always worked remotely part-time for various publications. But two years ago, I landed a great full-time gig as a communications specialist with a WordPress website design and development agency called WebDevStudios.
So by day, I work remotely with a team of talented people. By night, I continue working from home writing articles and blog posts.
Laura Coronado discusses her method for juggling her career as a communications specialist by day and her side hustle as a freelance travel writer by night.
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Interview with Katerina, a team collaboration consultant who sees the value of discipline
I started working remotely by accident. It just happened that my boss moved abroad. My role evolved into facilitating interaction between her and the rest of the team, which was distributed across the city.
By coincidence, my office was located in a side building. I shared it with two other junior members. Nobody paid attention if we came to work, as long as work got done.
That pattern, of working in remote teams, and from where ever I wanted, became more frequent over the years.
Remote working wasn't a conscious decision, but a progression.
Seven years later I still have an office I can go to - if I want to.
Katerina fell into remote work by accident - she reveals how easy and straightforward it can be to make discipline a daily part of remote work.
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Interview with Kristi, a CEO and remote team leader
I began working remotely back in 2013, first as a marketing consultant working with startups and universities, and then in a fulltime communications role with a large higher ed IT association.
I'd already spent six years in traditional brick-and-mortar jobs but was eager to break free from the four walls of an office--knowing full well that I could accomplish anything I was working on from anywhere I could use a laptop.
That was such a freeing feeling. I stayed in that role for two years before striking out on my own with a teammate whom I've known for decades. Now there are six of us.
Kristi is a CEO, remote work author, and speaker. In this interview, she shares the impact of new motherhood and remote team leadership on her work.
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Interview with Saibu, an HR content writer for a remote company
My journey started when I was still a student at the University. That time, I needed a hustle that would make me some cash, and after trying many options, I settled on content writing. That got me started – searching for remote work. I landed a few gigs, both short and long-term.
So after graduating in 2016, I decided to go into remote working full-time. Things weren’t that smooth, so I had to take some on-site jobs from time to time. But I realized at a point that on-site jobs aren’t just for me – and went into remote full-time. And, I’ve been working remotely since 2014.
Hear how Saibu, a thriving HR content writer, navigates the complexities—and perks—of working with a remote team from Ghana.
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Interview with Cameron, a designer who works remotely at a WordPress agency
I was working a more “normal” job during the week and moonlighting as a Freelance Designer on nights and weekends. I pulled lots of long nights fueled by coffee and punk rock until I had enough work coming in to jump into freelance full-time.
This lead to starting a small agency with a Developer friend which was a great opportunity for me to learn the business side of things including sales.
While freelance life was great in many ways, I also missed the steady paychecks and predictability of a normal job, so after 3 years of freelancing and running a business, I decided to start looking for a full-time remote job.
While attending an industry conference WordCamp Raleigh I met someone who worked for my current employer WebDevStudios. In a few weeks, I had applied for a remote position with them and been offered a job which I excitedly accepted! I've been working remotely with them for 3 years now.
Learn how Cameron started full-time remote work after trying freelancing and starting a digital agency.
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Interview with Gino, a founder skilled in building remote teams
I got started with remote work back in early 2015 when I moved to the Bay Area (I’m living in Seattle now and loving the Pacific Northwest). By that time, I had spent around a year working with my team in an office in Lima, Peru.
In 2015, we decided that we would start hiring remote team members based throughout the Americas and not just Lima. That’s what got us started in remote hiring.
We started hiring great people in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and all of a sudden; we had a company with half remote team members and half in-office team members.
It wasn’t long before many of the team members in our Lima office started requesting to work from home. One of our engineers had to commute for an hour and a half each way (to and from the office).
What’s crazy is that the vast majority of companies throughout Latin America continue to operate this way — basically expecting employees to commute for a couple of hours a day on average. Remote work is growing in Latin America, but more slowly than in other parts of the world.
It’s embarrassing to think that we didn’t think about going remote earlier. Once we did, we noticed a spike in productivity and everyone was citing improved work-life balance.
Soon after, we decided to let go of our office altogether in order to become a 100 percent remote company. Today, we have team members from the U.S., Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and others. We all work from home.
Gino realized how important remote work could be to finding the best talent—see his strategies for building remote teams.
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