What do you like about remote work?
Interview with Dane, a freelance writer and author with 7 published books
Honestly, working remotely just came about because I wanted to switch my day job from social media marketing to flat out writing.
What I like most about my job is the fact that I can pick and choose which projects to bid for and to work on.
I don’t just have to do whatever I’m told to by some line manager who has no idea where my strengths lie and what I want to get out of life. Being able to “fire” clients when they’re frustrating or unprofitable is nice, too.
Another big advantage is the fact that I can pick my own hours and take time off as and when needed. For example, earlier this year I was given the opportunity to go to Latvia on a last minute press trip to learn more about the Latvian literature scene and to help to promote it through my blog and my YouTube channel. Because it was so last minute (we’re talking a few days’ notice), there’s no chance I would have been “allowed” to go if I was in full-time employment. But because I’m my own boss, I was able to do it.
I think one of the main things that it comes down to is flexibility. Working in a corporate environment can be stifling, even though the companies that I worked for previously would be considered SMEs at best. Still, I’ve never been a fan of office politics and the inflexibility of having multiple line managers etc. and find that now that I work remotely, I can react much more quickly to client requests and just generally do my job more effectively.
Dane is a freelance writer and author who works remotely, and balances client work with writing his own books.
Read full interview from Interview with Dane, a freelance writer and author with 7 published books.
Interview with Patric, a UX designer and usability engineer that works from home
I love being able to decide the "focus of the day" for myself.
Most of the time I can just choose the topic (or side project) which I am most motivated about right now. So I can use the flow of my motivation and don't need to delay working on X only because somebody is telling me to do Y instead.
Of course you always have those days where either one of your projects needs urgent attention (like Google blocking it for whatever reason) or your freelance client has set up a scheduled 3-hour call.
But in general I am free to choose what I work on. That's the best!
And yeah, I can take care of my little one and see him grow up every day...
Patric works on his own projects while also consulting for medium sized software companies, learn how he works remotely.
Read full interview from Interview with Patric, a UX designer and usability engineer that works from home.
Interview with Melissa, a co-founder and remote work champion
I love that you can truly create un-interrupted space and time to complete a tough "think task" without feeling like an anti-social jerk!
I always struggled with this in traditional office settings.
I'm an extremely observant and also social person, so if anyone is by my desk, I feel obligated to take off headphones and engage in conversation.
If I saw someone upset while quickly grabbing water, I would inevitably have to ask them what was wrong. Before I knew it, I'd be an hour into hearing about their ex-boyfriend's Instagram feed.
Melissa started Work Well Wherever to help individuals & companies embrace remote work—see how she balances entrepreneurship, parenthood, & self-care.
Read full interview from Interview with Melissa, a co-founder and remote work champion.
Interview with Tyler, a director of customer success models how to start a remote work career
I like the flexibility most of all.
Secondary public education is a VERY co-located environment: bells every hour to send another set of people to a mandatory meeting outside of your control.
From networking to land a remote work gig, to building out an exceptional remote work tool stack, Tyler has quickly figured out how to thrive in remote work. See his tips for starting strong.
Read full interview from Interview with Tyler, a director of customer success models how to start a remote work career.
Interview with Vivek, an entrepreneur building a virtual office for remote teams
Flexibility of work time. - I love when employers measure productivity by work output rather than hours spent at a desk.
Office optics suck.
Flexibility of geography. I've lived in the Bay Area for almost a decade, and it's great. But, I want to experience living in other cities across the globe. Most importantly, though, I prefer my home office workspace to office environments with tons of ambient noise and interruptions.
No commuting. I suffer from chronic neck pain, and I can't bear commutes that last more than 30 minutes.
The long San Francisco commute sent Vivek into remote work—hear about his three strategies for eliminating distractions & his must-have tools.
Read full interview from Interview with Vivek, an entrepreneur building a virtual office for remote teams.
Interview with Alaina, a nonprofit program state director
I love the flexibility!! I can't say that enough, being able to set my own hours or work (for the most part) from anywhere.
It takes a minute to find your rhythm in a new remote position—hear how Alaina organizes her time to hit the ground running in a new remote work job.
Read full interview from Interview with Alaina, a nonprofit program state director.
Interview with Michelle, an organizer of digital nomad experiences
The fact that you can choose to work in an environment with other like-minded people gives me so much energy.
Meeting new people with amazing stories gives me so much inspiration and never a feeling of being stuck in the office.
A solo backpacking trip led to Michelle organizing co-travel experiences for digital nomads—hear how she manages working while traveling.
Read full interview from Interview with Michelle, an organizer of digital nomad experiences.
Interview with Taylor, a marketing director and intentional digital nomad
I love that my life dictates how, when, and where I work, and not the other way around.
It's a fundamental perspective shift and I don't want to go back.
In more practical terms: I love that I can move to NYC and then back to Durham without changing jobs. I love that I can book a last minute trip to the Bahamas just because I'm cold and not ask for permission. I can then work from the Bahamas since I don't have to take time off.
I love that I can take a 10 am yoga class if I want to or go for a 10-mile mid-day run to clear my head. I can get my hair cut at a weird time or go grocery shopping when there isn't a crowd. I love that I haven't been in rush hour traffic in three years. My life is up to me.
Taylor shares how co-working spaces, digital nomadism, and work flexibility gave her the work environment she always wanted.
Read full interview from Interview with Taylor, a marketing director and intentional digital nomad.
Interview with Kay, an independent software consultant who found freedom in remote work
Mostly, that I have more time for my partners, but also, that I can do things I can't do in an office. Often I get the best ideas when showering or grocery shopping.
The time saved for commute has the biggest impact on my life.
Often this sums up to a whole work day in a week (~8h), that is more than a work month a year just traveling.
Learn how Kay made the jump from full-time employee to full-time remote consultant
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Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant
I can work with the people that I want to work with, because of what I do. A lot of the time, I get to collaborate with people because they are the person I want to be working with.
This is mainly around writing, podcasting, and online training. A lot of what I do is still in-person, so actually, I still need to have people who can be in the same room as I am at a certain point.
However, for a lot of short projects or just advocacy initiatives, it is nice to be able to work with people you want to work with.
Hear about Pilar's flexible approach to managing Virtual Not Distant and the career-changing advice she received from a friend.
Read full interview from Interview with Pilar, director of Virtual Not Distant .