What Does Your Virtual Office Look Like?

The cool thing about having a virtual business is that your office can look however you like and be wherever you like, and we tend to set things up in a way that just works best for us. It seems like the variations of our virtual workspaces are endless.

For example, a couple weeks ago we were talking about how some online entrepreneurs were renting outside office space at cool co-working facilities. There are other folks I know who sail around the world and have their office on their boat. Others of us consider cafes and coffee shops our main office. Some of us are completely portable and like to work outdoors.

Whatever the case, I’d love to see what your virtual office setup looks like. For those who are always on the go, just take a photo of the office you're using today. 

Let's hear from ya--please post a picture or video to your blog or to flickr or YouTube (or whatever) and leave a link in the comments below and tell us about your "rig"--you know, your office setup  .

OR...If you're not blog or flickr inclined, just email me your photos and "rig" info.

I'll collect the photos and post them all here so we'll have a virtual office library of sorts!

I'll go first...

As you can see, my office is in a bedroom (puppy is lying on the bed). It's a pretty simple setup--desk positioned by the window so I get good light.

My rig:

• Computer: iMac 24 inch monitor, baby!
• No printer (it's in a closet--I never use it)
• Day planner/organizer sits at the upper right of my desk. This is where I keep my daily lists.
• Stop watch--I use this for productivity. I like to time myself doing stuff. Yup, I know that's weird. 
• Post-its just in case
• One notebook for my lists (Next Action lists, Someday Maybe lists)
• A tiny memo notepad for on-the-go notes--if I come up with the on-the-go note (grocery list, errand list, etc) I tear off the note and put it in my purse. I also have one of these memo pads in my purse for notes I come up with when I'm out and about.
• Framed motivational quotes to the left of my desk.
• Chair is just a dining room chair with a padded seat.
• Mouse pad -- has photo of various and sundry kittens.
• I also have a 17 inch laptop that I use sometimes.

My desk is about 30 years old (previously belonged to my dad) and purely functional--you'll see it has paint splotches on it, so I'm definitely not using it as a fashion statement!

The one piece of office equipment I can't live without: My blog mascot and office puppy, Rory Marie.  She has the daunting job of being Office Security, Office Greeter, and Relaxation Coach. This is why she's so exhausted!

Confession Time--I have to come clean, y'all (no pun intended). My office has not always been this neat.

Prior to 2 weeks ago my office was a pig sty! I mean it was getting yucky, big time. Boxes piled everywhere, fur all over the place (if you have long haired pets, you know what I'm talking about), office supplies scattered to and fro, etc.

But I woke up at 5am one Sunday morning 2 weeks ago to discover that ants had invaded my cat's food bowls in that bedroom! That was the last straw.

I was so fed up that I turned the room upside down and cleaned it from floor to ceiling, then cleaned out all the extra boxes, papers, and office equipment. I mean, I was a maniac about it, but I feel soooo much better now.

Now I actually hang out in the office, whereas before I used to just do my work in there. I love it being clean now, but I know how it is to have a messy office too. Sometimes things just pile up before ya know it!

eSoup Reader's Virtual Offices: Around The Globe!

Wilma Ham in New Zealand is a brave one! She sent me her office photos via email, and I'm assuming she doesn't mind me sharing them ;-) :

Dining room tables make great workspaces sometimes--they really let you spread out! Wilma's kitty is named Rusty.

This is Wilma's workstation--not bad at all! Looks like everything has a place. Maybe she just thinks it's messy because of the neatnik she shares her office with ;-) :

Yup, it's hard to compete with that level of neatness. It's like no one works there at all!

Wilma, thanks so much for sharing your virtual office photos!

*********************

And next is Dawn Goldberg whose virtual business is Write Well University.

Dawn's office is in her bedroom (that's one big room!) and she uses it for a variety of relaxing activities. She says:

"It's where I work on Write Well University.  However, it's also become a comfort space for me.  I read, cross-stitch (when I can), listen to music, watch 80s videos, and anything else that involves just BEing."

Thanks for sharing the link to your "creative space", Dawn!

Comments

[Faux Wood]

You put a smile on my face seeing your office with the bed and your puppy curled up close. My office has 2 special chairs where my 2 furry girls curl up beside me (2 cats). When I leave the office they follow me to the next venue whether it be the kitchen or the bathroom. They are great office partners:-)))

Cheers...Di

[Wilma]

Sharon, I am sooo jalous, I cannot send my photo now. I am scattered all over the house. At the moment I am using the dining room table which means no dinner guests to send out near 200 invitations for our annual party and I have my laptop there as well so I can have the wood fire close. The real office desk in the real office (which usaed to be a bed room), which is a large trassle table, has the tax papers and the accounts spread out all over it plus the petrol dockets etc, the kitchen bench has my diary. Oh Sharon, should I go back to the discipline of an office cubicle?
I also am told I cannot use that much room once we are sailing.
How do you do it?
Now do you want the photos?

I love your dog by the way, the name is lovely. I have an office cat who does nothing as you can see from my chaos. Is that it, should I get a dog instead, Rory Marie seems to do a lot more.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Di,

Probably the biggest driving factor for me wanting to work virtually was that I wanted to work with my dog by my side. :-) Cats are wonderful too! I have 3 cats. They sleep on various parts of the bed as I work or sit on the windowsill. It really is a relaxing way to work. You're so right--they are great office partners!

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Wilma,

You know, someone else told me that--he said he couldn't submit a photo cuz he was working off of his kitchen table which is all messy and has his cat on it too! I say send it in! I love photos like that. Even if it looks disordered, it's reality at least at this point and time.

Yes, I want to see your photos! :-)

Wilma, you have inspired me to make a confession about the neatness of my office, which I will add to the end of the post. Actually it's my cats that are responsible for the uber clean office...will explain in the confession.

[Dawn Goldberg]

http://www.writewellme.com/2006/11/finally_sactuar.html details how I added a creative space to my bedroom, and for me, that's more interesting than my office. :)

My creative space is where I do all my writing and some of my fun r&d projects for Write Well U. It contains, in no particular order, the following:

-one desk
-two bookshelves (one with a complete set of the Oxford English Dictionary)
-one comfy chair where I can read and research
-one large bulletin board that my husband and I made so that I could be more creative (call me weird)
-an altar to creativity
-an iPod speaker dock
-a MacBook laptop

Now, we have a wireless network, so if I need to print something, I hit "print," and pages magically appear out of the printer downstairs. That's about the extent of the technology.

:)

Dawn

[Gavin Heaton]

My office is always messy. Doesn't matter if I am at work or home ... there is always a measure (a large one) of chaos and disorder. I have tried and failed in my efforts to keep everything neat and tidy. And when I do tidy up, I lose things.

Does your study/office say much about you. I believe it does. But sometimes I don't like the story it tells ;)

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Dawn,

Thanks so much for sharing! I looked at your photos of your "creative room" and it's HUGE! It looks really nice too (I think I have a big comfy red chair just like yours!)

Will post a photo of your Write Well Univ space in this post...

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Gavin,

A messy office--you? I guess I should have expected this from the Servant of Chaos! :-)

[Video Conferencing]

Really like this post on Virtual Office.

[Benefits of Video Conferencing]

The first time when I used the video conferencing I was really nervous about how do I look or how do I speak through the equipment, but it was a great feeling.

[video coferencing]

I personally chose the bedroom office for myself... easy to work comfortable for sleep...

[virtual office space]

Even when we are working from a home office or virtual office we can maintain an organize and clean office. Its up to us though.

Margarette Smith

[VirtualOfficeMontreal]

Virtual offices have become especially popular during the recent economic downfall, particularly with small businesses - creating a virtual office is a cost effective solution for almost any business.

[Akash]

Virtual Offices are now a days an important part of small to large businesses. It helps Business owners to run their businesses smoothly in various locations without having any hassles.

Regards-

Akash
Opus Virtual Offices

[Lhady M.]

Hi Wilma, I like the set up of you virtual office. It's so neat!! :)

I also love working in a virtual office, it saves me money and gives me flexibility. Our business has been able to grow by using this technology and the costs are less. Here are some of the lists of the most useful tools for virtual offices. http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2011/01/19/virtual-office-software