How do you decide priorities?
Interview with Maggie, a senior product manager at HubSpot
I try to be purposeful in the tasks I work on. I think it’s important to look at your input and decide if there’s a better way to do it.
I’m all about efficiency, and I hate wasting time for the sake of it. Work smart, and check yourself regularly to make sure you were working in the most effective way. Iterate on your processes and learn from those who are smarter than you.
Remote work allows Maggie to live in a small town and excel in her career. Hear about how she stays professionally connected, and her essential career advice for remote workers.
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Interview with Jake, a customer success manager for Atlassian
I consider due dates, customer impact, team impact, and level of effort. If I can knock out some low hanging fruit in 5 or 10 minutes, I might just do it as long as that means I can still get the more important stuff done. Knocking out some small tasks right away helps build momentum for the rest of the day.
Jake was burned out on the San Francisco lifestyle—see how he transitioned from working in-office to working remotely for a remote-friendly company.
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Interview with Molood, a CEO who shares how minimalism has improved her remote work experience
I think the word "priority" is a factor of importance and urgency. Did you know that for about 400 years, the word priority was not used in plural form?
Priority was the single task that needed to be done first. Somehow we humans have tried to bend reality by making the word plural and implying that several things can be done first, which is illogical if you think about it.
In my work, we stick to the singular form of the word. Everything is prioritized according to their urgency and importance. As I mentioned before, I heavily rely on my calendars and plan my time.
I have blocked some time in my calendar for lunch and dinner because otherwise, I literally would forget to eat. I also block some time for my morning routine.
For high-impact tasks, I break them down into smaller achievable goals, and task lists each with a due date. The business/project manager on my team is a big help in this area.
Using Basecamp as a task management system, we are forced to stay away from shiny features that usually add complexity to processes. Basecamp is built for simplicity, and striving for keeping things simple in our business keeps us organized and focused on what truly matters and needs to be done first.
As CEO and Founder of Remote Forever, Molood has made a career in teaching individuals and companies how to work remotely effectively. See how embracing a minimalist lifestyle has caused her to excel.
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Interview with Dani and Luca, digital nomads who have mastered work and travel
Work is always our priority. We discuss with our customers what needs to be done in a stand-up call that we do every day to decide what to work on, but we usually schedule in advance so that we are always on track with what our client needs.
Dani and Luca have mastered the art of traveling while working—see their hacks & tips for thriving as digital nomads.
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Interview with Digital Nomad Sage, an entrepreneur and UX consultant
I decide priorities by looking at their cost-benefit analysis. Things that are not so important I will definitely put on the backburner. I usually prioritize things that will have the biggest potential to make me income.
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 Patryk, a Front-end Developer & UI Designer
I'm always open to new opportunities and eager to help people or get involved in non-profit activities.
However, that trait means I can easily become overwhelmed by too many commitments.
Every couple of months, I write down and evaluate my long-term goals. Whenever a new opportunity appears, I first check if it aligns with the bigger picture.
It's not always easy, as it means saying "no" to a lot of amazing things. If you want to learn more, google "opportunity cost". 😉
Patryk has learned that there is no reason to wait for the flow - once you start working, it will happen naturally.
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Interview with Andrew, co-founder and CEO of Insured Nomads
It should fall within the daily plan, but I always work with flexibility. Family comes first so often I need to put all on hold to take care of a situation with my wife or kids, cook, or handle a school or sports requirement.
Priorities require flexibility, and remote work gives this freedom.
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 Kristi, a CEO and remote team leader
Definitely not LIFO (that is, last in, first out)--if I've learned anything from a few econ classes back in the day, it's that you must prioritize your work by what's most important, not the most recent or seemingly urgent. Defining 'important' is where the real challenge lies!
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 Melissa, a co-founder and remote work champion
It’s not easy.
The best method for me is to go week by week and pull out the things that have to get done and things that would be nice to get done and go from there.
Melissa started Work Well Wherever to help individuals & companies embrace remote work—see how she balances entrepreneurship, parenthood, & self-care.
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Interview with Marian, a nomadic social media manager and day trader
My trading job comes second, as I like to work with my VA clients first.
Once I finish my social media management tasks, I start my trading job.
But before all that, my number one priority is my health, especially my mental health.
If I don’t feel good some days, I don’t like to push myself to work, because the work will not be perfect.
So my health is top of everything.
Day trading & virtual assisting has allowed Marian to see the world—in this interview, she lays out her routine and priorities for those thinking of traveling while working.
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