What do you like about remote work?
Interview with Andrew, a freelance writer who works remotely
In a word, I love the freedom of it.
I like being able to go at my own pace, work the hours when I want to and have a flexible schedule and life.
I enjoy all of the little things too, the lack of dress code, working out of my house, and the ability accept and refuse jobs based on my interests.
To me, remote work extends beyond a job, it becomes a lifestyle. Instead of having to order my life around my job, I have the ability to order my job around my life. For an individual who values freedom highly, it’s perfect.
Andrew became a full-time freelance writer after experimenting with freelance marketplaces. After the first month, he was already earning more than his full-time job.
Read full interview from Interview with Andrew, a freelance writer who works remotely.
Interview with Pamela, a travel writer adjusting to freelancing
Not being expected to sit in a cube for 8+ hours a day, whether there’s work to be done or not.
I feel like being out in the world more allows ideas to come to me more freely.
I have time to research what other people and companies are doing in the area of communications. And I have the opportunity to network and take classes – things that would often get bumped for urgent deadlines.
Pamela is new to the world of freelancing. In this interview, she shares the ups and downs of adjusting to the gig economy.
Read full interview from Interview with Pamela, a travel writer adjusting to freelancing.
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 .
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 Deborah, a remote entrepreneur changing perceptions about remote work
Having the freedom and flexibility to work where and when I am at my most productive. It helps me to enjoy my work more, which is good for me and great for my clients. Unfortunately, they don't always see it that way, though, but that will change, I have no doubt.
Deborah has traveled the world sharing her research about the pros of remote work. See how she is helping companies and clients understand the importance of location independence.
Read full interview from Interview with Deborah, a remote entrepreneur changing perceptions about remote work.
Interview with Steven Wade, a software engineer working on a remote team
The flexibility. I can work from anywhere in the world and I can switch up my hours on the fly if I need to.
In my opinion, there's nothing like remote work. I don't think I could ever go back to an office.
Learn more about how Steven works remotely, including his work routine, habits and how he found his remote job
Read full interview from Interview with Steven Wade, a software engineer working on a remote team.
Interview with Leon, a journalist teaching the world to play chess
It just feels natural. Yes, work gives me discipline and structure in my life that I want to benefit from, but working in an office, particularly the office I worked in, was tough.
I know it was wasn't exactly scratching a living down the local coal mine but the stressful nature of my previous job, the travel and the time away was getting me down. My job was like a totally separate part of my life, and it was difficult to keep sight of why I went to work.
Leaving the house when it's still dark when you have a girlfriend and kid who are still asleep, and then returning when it's dark again while your kid is just going to bed did not seem natural at all.
In fact, it seemed brutal. The number of times I missed giving my son a bedtime story because my train home was canceled was ridiculous. You don't get those times back, when they're gone, they're gone. However, since I started working remotely, I haven't missed a single bed-time.
But it's not just about my personal life, working remotely fostered in me a far better attitude to work.
My job feels connected to the rest of my life. It is something I do because it is part of my being instead of something I do out of sufferance.
I work in an environment of my choosing which is comfortable and non-threatening (trust me a busy newsroom is threatening!). I know that people have had to work away from home for hundreds of years all around the world, but surely if you are able to work remotely it is a better way. For me, at least, it definitely is.
Leon James Watson is a former journalist who has found the intrinsic value of remote work while teaching the masses to play chess.
Read full interview from Interview with Leon, a journalist teaching the world to play chess.
Interview with Mehmet, a nomadic digital maker and entrepreneur
Owning my own time. I absolutely love to be able to shape my own week and days. I often take a yoga break in the middle of the day. I often stay screen-less on Fridays (just pen and notepad). Sometimes I attend to my kids in the middle of the day and work later in the evenings.
We don’t have formal work hours in our company. The only single thing on the calendar everybody is asked to attend is a 5-10 minute daily standup.
We generally do the traditional standup format in a very light and fast format like 5 minutes (under a minute per person if nobody is blocked), and almost always go over the 10-minute mark just because someone opened or drag the conversation to something in their lives.
Mehmet has embraced his remote team leadership style. Hear about his most helpful productivity trick and why he has "quiet" days for his staff.
Read full interview from Interview with Mehmet, a nomadic digital maker and entrepreneur .
Interview with Emma, a freelance marketing consultant
There are so many things! Mainly I love the flexibility it affords and the fact that I don’t waste time commuting and can use that time to get more stuff done.
It’s taken me a long time to realise that I’m much more productive in a calm and quiet environment without the distractions of an office.
And if I ever feel like I need some human contact, then the great thing is there are so many co-working spaces or even coffee shops that I can go to now.
Emma is thriving as a freelance marketing consultant—see her tips on managing client demands & making yourself marketable as a freelancer.
Read full interview from Interview with Emma, a freelance marketing consultant.
Interview with Cecilia, a content writer managing her remote career in Dubai
I think it's a fantastic option for many people. It gives us more flexibility and more control of our schedule. It eliminates the commute and creates opportunities for people with disabilities and parents with young children.
It's presented us with more options to work with amazing companies anywhere in the world and develop our creativity in unexpected ways.
However, I don't think it's for everyone. For other people, going to an office works just as well, and that's okay.
Cecilia got her start translating blog posts, and in 2018 she went fully remote. See her tips for managing an international remote work career.
Read full interview from Interview with Cecilia, a content writer managing her remote career in Dubai.