Survey Time! What's Your Favorite Part About Working Virtually?

  Winter seagull at Lighthouse Beach- Chatham, MA 
  Originally uploaded by Chris Seufert

An interesting thing has happened since I got that first media blitz with that Penelope Trunk article about a year ago--now sometimes journalists will contact me when they're looking for an "expert quote" when they're writing articles on working virtually and virtual companies.

This just happened again on Friday, and I always get excited because it gives me a chance to share with mainstream society what this whole "nomadic web worker" lifestyle is about.

By "nomadic" I mean that our office locations can vary from day to day--one day it's the cafe, the next it's a coffee shop, the next we're working from the beach or a vacation home or our backyards or wherever. Even if we don't move around constantly, we have the potential to do so if the mood strikes.

Sometimes we get so used to this freedom that we forget that there are folks out there who still work in tiny cubicles under fluorescent lights ;-), but it is our duty as virtual company owners to share the amazing secret of what it's like to work without being tied to a geographic location.

A Multi-Dimensional Life

If I have to say what my favorite part about working virtually is (aside from not having to work in a tiny cubicle under fluorescent lights ;-)) I would say it's the possibility of living in multiple locations and environments.

Here's my dream:

It seems like folks who are tied to one location for work tend to buy a house in their town and just live there, but I'm thinking that since I have the freedom it would be cool to budget my finances so that I could own smaller properties in a few locations, spend part of the year in each spot, and then when I'm not living there I could rent the place out and have additional income.

For sure one of the places I would live would be my hometown (this property would be my "home base" which wouldn't be rented out), and then the other properties would be in resort like areas--places that feel like a vacation and have a high income rental potential.

For sure one of the places I want to live is by the beach. I could get a condo down there, live there during the off season and rent it out during the vacation season. That way my desire to live in a different setting for part of the year actually becomes part of the way I earn a living. Anyhoo--this is the plan!

I was wondering if anyone else has dreams like this, or perhaps you love working virtually for a different reason. Can you share with us:

What is your favorite part about working virtually?

I can't wait to hear what everyone says--I know we all have different reasons and they're all compelling!

Comments

[Wilma]

What is your favorite part about working virtually?
Fun question Sharon, here I go.

I am planning to live on a sailing yacht roaming the planet which could not be possible without this ability to work virtually. If that doesn't beat working in a cubicle I don't know what does :).
Via cyberspace we are communicating and then when it is time we rock up at the events we have been planning and organizing virtually while cruising.

My favourite part of working virtually is also the ability to connect with a larger network outside the country we are living in. So instead of only working in New Zealand we can tap into a potential (tropical) overseas market and sail dutifully to our clients who happen to live in great locations.

Do you think there are still people working in cubicles? :)

[Get Paid To Filll Out Survey]

Yep I definitely have that dream and have already begun investing in making it come true. Within the next two years I will be off for beautiful Thailand. In addition to the great beaches, weather and people it also has sufficient infrastructure to continue working virtually. And the cost of living is about 1/3 to 1/2 what it is here in the States.

I also like thinking that each thing I do to improve my web presence brings me closer to my dream. Works as a great motivator!

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Wilma,

Aha, sailing around the world in a yacht---you can't get much farther from a cubicle than that! :-)

And yes, the ability to connect with friends/clients outside your country boundaries is an amazing gift. I have an absolutely amazing client who happens to live in the UK (I am in the USA). We never would have gotten to work together if either of us hadn't decided to work virtually.

Thanks so much for taking the survey. ;-)

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Get Paid To Fill Out Survey (is this supposed to be some sort of subliminal hint? :-) Should I be paying you guys to answer my survey question? Sorry, not gonna happen :-))

I love your dream of living and working virtually in an exotic land--it is an amazing motivator, and incredibly exciting when you realize that you can totally create whatever type of lifestyle you want.

Everyone needs a dream. The cool thing is I think for virtual workers the dream very often becomes the reality.

Thailand is a beautiful vision to focus on. And so very far away from a life of fluorescent lights and cubicles :-)

[office hair]

The best part? Definitely being able to sit around all day in my matching blue tracksuit/slipper combo and not having to work to anyone's schedule but mine. I've even taken up watching Days of our Lives again. After a 15 year hiatus, I still know most of the characters!

[Cathy]

Ah so many things, but not having to deal with office politics would top my list. I also like that I can toss in a load of laundry, have plenty of time to get dinner started and I have a 12 step commute.

[David Krug]

I love the ability to be my own boss and set my own hours all the while having a good day and setting my own mood.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Office Hair--Yes, being able to have every day be Casual Friday is the best! (But slippers and a track suit may even be more casual than Casual Friday ;-)

The flexible schedule rocks also--I'm surprised I have resisted the soaps, but I have to admit that at lunch time sometimes I turn on the Food Network and watch Giada do her thing.

And what's crazy is that some things never change--I think it's hilarious that we can stop watching a soap for years and then see one episode and be back up to speed!

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Cathy--oh yeah, you hit the nail on the head! No office politics saves so much time (and annoyance).

You can also get more done around the house when our day is so centralized. I could never go back to a driving commute, that's for sure.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

David, I'm with you. I find that I have more "good mood" happy, organized, productive days now that I'm working virtually and have my own biz.

I think it stems from a sense of freedom and being able to arrange work around my life, rather than the other way around.

[Perfect Life Project]

Sharon....your mobile living (and working) dream is one I have haboured for most of my life. Recently I have actually begun working towards it. I own a business and have slowly been removing myself from the necessity of daily attendance, whilst increasing its profitability.

Now I am starting to work out of office more, and taking considerably more holiday or non-work time. (I am based in Australia). My year currently looks this way...two weeks in Queensland for a beachside holiday. 10 days in Thailand for complete R&R. 6 weeks in Colorado over Christmas just skiing and hanging out with some work via correspondence. 1 week in Sabah Borneo for total R&R. I also have planned next year a week on tropical Aussie island and potential boat trip along Aussie coast to Great Barrier Reef working from a laptop and cellphone.

Step by step I am divorcing myself from the daily grind.

I guess my biggest challenge for longer relocations is accommodating a young family too. My kids still need to attend school and my wife has a job she loves. Any suggestions on this?

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Perfect Life--your lifestyle already sounds great and something anyone would be jealous of! :-) Way to go!

Yeah, that's tough trying to be a nomad when you've got a family. All the nomads I know are single, so you've got your work cut out for ya!

If you come up with a solution where its a win-win-win (you-wife-kids) for everyone involved, let us know. Maybe someone else can learn from your ingenuity. :-)

[ChierGirl]

Oh I cherish the thought of experiencing different countries when my kids have grown up and moved out. I am so glad I have the opportunity to earn a living working virtually. I have always wanted to spend time in Greece. I have to laugh at my recent visit to the chiropractor. His response when I told him I was a virtual assistant was "Oh thats interesting, is it something you just thought of yourself? Now that I am involved in the virtual world it is hard to remember that there are so many people who aren't even aware of the possiblities.

[KG]

It's already been mentioned, and I have to agree one of the BEST things about working virtually is:

NO (time-wasting, energy-sapping, morale destroying) OFFICE POLITICS!

Another thing I don't miss is time-wasting, badly-run meetings featuring unreadable PowerPoint presentations given by people who ramble on and on and on.

On the plus side, lots of things:
- I feel I'm more focused working in my home office. No random interruptions by random people.
- No sapping commute.
- I have more time to explore work-related things that will benefit. I can really figure out where I want to go next, and it doesn't have to be approved by a higher-up. I'm lucky in that I always had great bosses, but I'm still my best boss so far! ;)

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey ChierGirl,

Oh, Greece sounds amazing. Now you've got me wanting to go there too!

And yeah, it's nice that we have the internet where we virtual workers can connect with each other--it helps us to forget sometimes that mainstream society is not real familiar with what "virtual" means, and to work closely with folks you never see in person is just hard for a lot of people to wrap their minds around.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey KG--you are so right about office politics. Now that is not only a major time sucker-upper, but it also produces negative vibes, which I try to stay away from. We can just work from home in harmony, which improves our quality of life.

I think there were just some folks who are cut out to be their "best boss" :-). I'm like that too--I prefer to collaborate and work *with* people rather than have that work hierarchy.

[Alfa]

My favorite part about working virtually has got something to do about my experimental habit. I love doing all sorts of stuff, working in the wee hours of the morn, then sleep all day. Or work in the afternoon then sleep all night.

And the love for challenges, since if you're a freelancer you'll starve if you don't know how to sell yourself which 9 to 5'ers in offices don't usually have to do.

[Bruno Roldan]

Condo in europe - hacienda in mexico and im still not sure where im getting my place in asia - ooooooh the hard choices coming up ahead in life ;)

[Andrew]

So many reasons... here's a few :)

I get to live in a small town in New Zealand while working part-time in Finland, part time in the US, and part time locally.

No-one cares if I don't get showered and dressed until just before lunch.

I can go for a 'bike ride in the middle of the afternoon if I feel like it.

I have multiple part time 'jobs', so I can spread what I do across a wider variety of tasks than if I had a traditional job.

There's no-one to mock my dress sense, so I'm comfortable all the time.

I get to select the hardware and software I use, rather than having corporate 'standards' inflicted on me.

My commute rocks.

Waking up early and getting an early start on your day doesn't attract dirty looks when you decide to take a nap in the afternoon.

Working from the beach is still work. Just more pleasant.

More time with my beloved (we both work from home).

The cats get less lonely.

The fridge is better stocked.

Lastly - I'm happier, more relaxed, less stressed, and generally healthier.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Alfa,

Oh you're so right about the coolness of flexible hours. That rocks!

Like you, I also have the theory I'm using more of my brain than when I worked in a corporate office--more freedom means more responsibility (we must figure out how to market and sell our services!) and also more creativity.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Bruno,

Wow--Homes in Europe, Mexico and Asia? I know your friends are envious of you. :-) It's great to have the freedom to live multiple lifestyles in multiple cultures.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Andrew,

You've summed it up beautifully. I agree with you 100%!

Something that you pointed out that I think means a lot to most virtual business owners is the opportunity to do a wide variety of projects and tasks--you never really get bored because you have no set job description. We get to decide what our job description is!

An occupied, creative mind makes a happier person. :-)