Let’s talk about the romanticization of working remotely:
- I can travel anywhere there is wi-fi
- I can stay in my pajamas all day
- I no longer have a commute or office politics
- I’m my own boss – I make my own schedule
Sounds grand, right? While working from home (or anywhere) has its perks, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s freeing, but it’s also constraining. Still, as a group who work remotely, we do side with investing energy that frees you from being at a brick-and-mortar 40+ hours per week. Unless you’re the CEO of a company with offices, you should at least try to become one at home for your health’s sake. Before we get into that, let’s debunk the myths.
Myth #1: I Can Travel Anywhere There is Wi-Fi
If there is an internet connection, you really can travel anywhere. It requires insane discipline. Imagine going away with your family and looking out of your hotel window while your kids splash in the pool. Imagine camping and needing to drive to a library when the rest of your party is on an epic hike.
Truth is, you can travel anywhere, but the point of travel is to escape your career and explore the fruits of your labor. You’ll want to be strategic when you travel by getting much of the work done ahead of time and keeping the less important, but daily tasks to a short window of time. Travel itself can be exhausting, especially with jetlag and consuming new foods. Be proactive and prioritize rest over work. There’s no point in spending thousands to visit Barcelona if you’re stuck indoors.
The one great perk about working anywhere is you can move wherever you want. You can purchase a mobile home or live the vanlife, too.
Myth #2: I Can Stay in My Pajamas All Day
Or at least your bottom half can if you have video calls. Over time a frumpy ensemble takes over our minds. If you want to increase your productivity, at least change out of the clothes you’ve slept in. You don’t need to wear trousers and an iron-pressed shirt, but do try to make yourself somewhat put together. Try a loungewear set or even jeans and a teeshirt. Work is meant to be a part of our active moments of the day. Pajamas are meant for night-time activities. What we wear signals to our brain what we’re to be ready for next. If you’re still in the same clothes and underwear as last night, how do you think that’ll affect your energy and performance? You wouldn’t sleep in a tuxedo, would you?
Myth #3: I No Longer Have a Commute or Office Politics
That’s a huge win! But you’re not that free. You’re researching competitors for yourself and clients. Competitors cold-call and email your clients almost every day. Marketing is about beating competitors and a race to the top. It’s about strategizing and taking the path less traveled, with a hard entry. It’s exhausting, tedious, and ever-evolving.
Your competitors are telling your clients why you stink and they’re better. While you may not have to deal with Snooty Suzie talking smack about you in the breakroom, you have to deal with an unlimited number of competitors and emotionally-driven clients at times, who just love to blame you for why they didn’t convert the lead you sent them. (True story: We had a client give us a 30-day notice because he couldn’t convert his calls into new customers. We asked more questions and it turned out he told them they’d be better off calling his competitor. Why would he do this? He said he has a hard time charging people for services.)
About that commute… the drive through 8am/5pm traffic is over. You can plan your errands Monday-Friday when everyone is at work or school. However, it’s important to still get out. You can’t perform your job well if you don’t see what’s happening around you. Being online isn’t enough. If you want to find problems to solve, leave your house. Try to take a lunch break somewhere or visit the cafe once per week to work for just an hour or two. Look and listen. Even your grocery errand can be fruitful. See how the world is changing as it pertains to your field.
Myth #4: I’m My Own Boss – I Make My Own Schedule
Wrong! Your many clients are now your bosses and they make your schedule. Okay, it’s not that bad, but it can be. We’ve had a client for years who called frantically at 5:00am our time to tell us about a spam comment on her Facebook. Naturally, we addressed the issue, but needless to say waking up to your “boss” calling you that early isn’t exactly a fresh start.
Unless you have a process to screen prospects before you sign on, you’re probably taking any client you can get. Screen them first and be okay with saying no. We’ve worked with clients in the beginning who really needed a business advisor (like the guy who sent his prospects to his competitors). As well as some who need to have a call twice per week to check their status. Don’t believe us? Say yes to everyone.
Why work at home? Because it’s healthier. It is far better to have no cap to your income. Rather than exhausting yourself toward work you dislike, you get to invest your skills where you benefit the most. You have the luxury to prioritize your tasks based on energy levels. You get more exercise. You can make food at home. You can feel absolutely rewarded when your tenacious efforts pay off.
Remote work isn’t for everyone. If it is what you want, stop romanticizing. It’s a lot of work, discipline, and it can take a long time to earn a decent income, which is never consistent. There’s a risk in having a good job and a risk in working for yourself.