I sat down recently for coffee with a man who quickly informed me that he once hiked along the Great Wall in a pair of cowboy boots. I followed his gaze to his feet where two travel-worn boots were cooling beneath the table. I knew right then that this wasn't going to be any ordinary conversation.

Alex Bajwa brings this down-to-earth sense of adventure to his law practice. Specializing in wills, estate planning and small business law, you might say he's a man with a plan and a unique way of navigating the world.

He's traveled widely- from bustling cities in China to the remote hills of Kashmir - with a cowboy hat atop his tall frame. But when he gets down to business, he keeps it local. In fact, he's been workshifting from a home office since graduating from law school. He's quick to point out that early workspace renditions were more multi-use rooms - his first was an "office with a bed," then came "the dog room" and finally his wife's "craft room" complete with pink velvet bolts of fabric.

Today Alex primarily works from a fully-fledged office in his house. He also maintains a virtual office, which provides him with a business mailing address, receptionist, access to conference rooms and other à la carte business services. With a penchant for working paperless, he scans important documents into his PC and securely stores them in the cloud. That way they are always available when he needs them, whether he's meeting with clients in their homes or drafting contracts at his home office.

Flexibility is essential to Alex, who has designed his firm from the ground up just the way he wants it to be, determining his specialization, work times and locations. He keeps his overhead low by eliminating expensive office space, paralegal staff and unnecessary paper file storage. Packing light, so to speak, gives him a competitive edge. His rates are generally about fifty percent lower than other attorneys in the area. According to Alex, "it's harder to justify getting a physical office today."

Remember, this is the man who hiked the Great Wall in cowboy boots.

He explains that right now, traditional office hours at a law firm would not suit him, mostly because the obligation to report to work between fixed times would take precedence over actual output. Instead, Alex - a man who has chosen his own path and what he wears on that path - has successfully established a work routine that enables him to be highly productive while maintaining his independence and flexibility.

His advice to anyone contemplating a similar arrangement: Set up a segregated home office from the get-go.

I enjoy talking with people - particularly workshifters - about their working lives, and I continue to be impressed by the variety of jobs, personalities and working styles that are naturally accommodated by workshifting. What seems to be consistently present in those who choose the workshifting path is a strong intuitive sense of how to get work done no matter where they are, cowboy boots and all.

What commonalities among workshifters have you noticed?

Photo Credit: awyatt

Today we have a guest post from Brian deHaaff who is a Senior Product Line Director at the Online Services division of Citrix Systems, as part of the IT Services product group.

As the workforce becomes increasingly distributed, there is no reason that IT managers should continue to be chained to their desks. IT pros are people, too, and should also be able to benefit from the changing nature of work. Telecommuting and workshifting discussions to date have been oriented around the benefits of workshifting to knowledge workers of working from anywhere at anytime, but IT is not a 9 to 5 job and it's now possible to support remote workers and infrastructure from anywhere.

IT is needed more than ever

While IT continues to be a mysterious art (infrastructure and apps are complex and the movement of data is difficult to visualize), IT is far from dead. However, IT is becoming more difficult to manage. There are more devices and apps than ever before, and there are more remote workers, too. They often have a strong hand when it comes to selecting the technology that they will use to get their jobs done. Many sage industry analysts have called out this trend and described it as the "consumerization of IT." Well, if the employee gets to make consumer choices at work that also suggests that the IT pro has lost control and can no longer decide what devices and apps are used. It's not that IT is dead, it's just changing (as it always has been).

IT is needed more than ever to do what it does best - keep people and the computers they depend on productive. While end-user tech support may increasingly follow self-service and peer-to-peer models, someone will need to set that up and monitor it. And there will always need for a real human to assist when documents and/or peers fail to help. Also, as the enterprise borders expand and become soluble, IT remains the proper watch dog to apply safe policy and security mechanisms to ensure businesses hold on to their proprietary information and continue to meet compliance requirements.

What if IT could work from anywhere?

Now, imagine if IT professionals could work from anywhere. As long as they got the job done, would anyone really care where they worked? Would there be a benefit to the business? The reality is that IT pros already can work from anywhere. Remote support and monitoring tools make it possible for them to enjoy the freedom of working from anywhere while remaining in control. And some IT pros are just starting to take advantage of the benefits.

• Faster support of end users
• Faster resolution of problems
• Greater job satisfaction

In a recent survey, 35% of IT employees said they'd give up 10% of their salary for the chance to work from home full-time, reports IT Manager Daily, drawing on a recent survey by IT job board Dice.com (an IT job site). Some companies are looking for ways to satisfy IT employees without impacting their budgets. Working from home, says IT Manager Daily, is a no-cost benefit to the company and a perk to many employees. It's a win-win for both.

Unfortunately, workshifting is a rare perk for IT professionals, according to Alice Hill, managing director at Dice.com. Less than 1% of the total jobs currently posted on Dice mention telecommuting as an option. Given how difficult it is to find and retain quality IT professionals (the unemployment rate for technology professionals hovers around 4%) and current talent shortages in specific IT areas, employers would also benefit from changing how they think about workshifting.

Workers going mobile

As workshifters have spread across the globe, they have also rapidly adopted mobile computing devices. There are currently about 2 billion Internet connected users and over 100 million smartphones were shipped in 2010. Mobile Internet devices now out-ship desktop machines by about 10 times (source WSJ). And Apple is now projecting to sell over 30 million iPad tablets by the end of 2011. Two major changes have made this possible: high-speed bandwidth is now pervasive and processing technology has been miniaturized.

People expect to be connected wherever they go and mobile devices make that possible. IT will increasingly be challenged to support, manage and set policy for the emerging mobile platforms. We are likely to see the same challenges for IT as when dumb terminals were replaced with desktops. However, mobility also means that IT professionals can be better connected, more proactive and more supportive wherever they are.

Of course, IT will need to support these mobile devices and the applications that run on them, but just as importantly, they will also get to use them to keep employees and computers productive. Ironically, while IT pros are often the first to adopt new mobile devices and technologies for personal use, they've been slow to use them to get their job done. The time has come for that to change. There is a strong case to be made that rather than talking about the "Consumerization of IT" we should be espousing the benefits of "Consumerization for IT."

The IT pro's new best friend

Today, during Citrix Synergy, Citrix has announced the GoToManage app for iPad, which will be available for download soon.  GoToManage for iPad is a free application that enables any user to securely troubleshoot and provide real-time technical support to a computer user's system from anywhere.

GoToManage was built to meet the needs of IT managers and consultants. Coming soon as a free app for the iPad, IT professionals can conduct live end user support sessions and take control of a user's PC or Mac as if they were sitting in front of it. This application gives businesses a secure and reliable way to free IT from a physical location and empowers them to be more responsive when end users need technical assistance.

If you can't view the video below, you can view it on the Citrix Online YouTube channel:

Going mobile with IT services is easier than ever before. The tools are available - the GoToManage app is even free - and there's a great big web-connected world out there in which to use them. IT pros get more freedom, end users get faster service and companies increase retention while saving money. Everyone benefits from IT workshifting capability.

I don't travel a whole lot. Well, definitely not as much as some of you. But as I was getting ready for a trip to Chicago last week, I pondered my options for what type of technology I'd bring with me. Do I leave the laptop at home and go entirely mobile? Could I get by without a full-fledged computer with keyboard etc.? Or would I be able to do everything I needed to do with just a tablet and a smart phone? Perhaps now was the time to try a little experiment.

So, armed with only my iPhone and iPad, I trimmed the gadget fat and set off for the windy city. Though my trip was mainly about catching up with friends, I did have some work things that I knew I'd need to take care of. Dealing with my usual daily emails would be no problem, but I did have some blog posts to get out, and some social media work to do for a client. I also had a web site launching on Wednesday. In theory, anything I needed to do for these projects I could do with my mobile devices...but I wasn't 100% certain. I decided to take a chance. After all, if I got really desperate, I'd be hanging out with a lot of geeks. Surely I could find a laptop if I absolutely needed it, right?

Well, it turned out that I WAS able to do everything I needed to do using only my iPhone and iPad. This was more a test of the limitations of the devices than anything, and of course, as with any technology, there are a few. I had to live without Flash (but I didn't miss it one bit). Uploading images to my blog proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I made do. Not every post has to have an image. I was able to deal with the social media tasks easily and efficiently. I edited a few documents. And, thanks to my awesome business partner and our fantastic development team, the web site launch went smoothly.

What I learned from this experience is that mobile is getting there. 2 years ago - heck, 1 year ago, it's not likely I would have felt like I had everything I needed to be able to comfortably travel without lugging a big old laptop with me. Nowadays, we can get an awful lot done with just our mobile devices. We can manage email, social networks, create and post content, work on documents, and myriad other daily tasks. It's not all perfect yet (Google Docs still has a ways to go to be fully functional on a tablet, and I still can't edit video), but it's getting there.

I think the more time goes on, the more mobile devices are going to become the primary way that workshifters work. Anywhere, anytime computing is more of a reality now than it's ever been, and I think this trend will probably continue. I am thrilled to be able to travel light when it comes to technology. After this trip, I've gained new confidence in my ability to truly work from anywhere.

How are you embracing the mobile era?

Photo Credit: bfishadow

Have you ever dreamed of a cross-country trip? Taking your time to go from state to state, meeting people, seeing the sites and...working? That's right, working!

On May 15th my Mom and I began our cross-country trip from Santa Rosa, CA to Atlanta, GA, for a cousin's wedding and then we'll be continuing our adventure north to Boston, MA, for my brother's wedding. (That's more than 3,888 miles!) Armed with my laptop, a wireless card, an iPad, my cell phone, GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC, my plan is to workshift along the way, mixing business with pleasure! (Disclosure: I work for GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC.) 

While I imagine the sites and experiences will be incredible, the trip actually came about because my mom has a lung disease and can no longer fly. While that may be the reason we're taking the trip, it provided a great opportunity for me to combine my love of travel with my ability to work from anywhere.

Having been a full time teleworker the past four years, I'm accustom to the challenges (and advantages) of working outside the office. However those won't compare to what's in store while travelling over rivers, mountains and through the woods. With intermittent internet and phone access, I will need to adapt to a work environment that is in constant flux. My experience will no doubt teach me new skills and I hope it will give you some ideas too.

We have a general plan laid out with some stops in mind but other than that, we'd love your input on the best places to stay/see/eat - the more random the better! And who knows - your suggestion might just inspire an impromptu Meet & Tweet!

Here's a snapshot of our route. You can also view it (and its updates) here:

I'll also be vlogging the trip, my experiences and workshifting lessons on YouTube, sharing photos and snippets on Facebook and tweeting out tips.

Have you ever driven across country or taken on a big workshifting trip? I'd love your tips, suggestions and lessons learned! Leave them in the comments below or tweet them out using the hashtag #WSRhonda!

Working from home is a great way to start a business while keeping costs down or to work for a distant employer. However, the danger of isolation has always been a big problem for workshifters, who can sometimes find themselves lonely and lacking motivation. Some home-based workshifters now have the opportunity to solve that problem by using co-working spaces.

But what if there are no co-working spaces near you and you're longing to get out and meet new people? Here in the UK, Jelly events are filling that gap for home workers, freelancers and small business owners, with more than 60 groups springing up in the last 18 months.

Two IT freelancers in New York dreamed up Jelly when they were complaining one day about the downsides of working from home, particularly the boredom of spending lots of time in the same place and the lack of opportunities to meet people. They decided to invite fellow freelancers to bring laptops and work in their apartment for a day, calling it Jelly because apparently they were eating jelly beans at the time!

Jelly is organized by volunteers sufficiently enthused by the idea to start their own group. There is no organization, structure or rules, just an understanding that the venue provides free Wi-Fi and that people come to work, chat, and share help and advice. Additionally, there is no selling at Jelly, which means people are more relaxed and open, and they build relationships quickly. It has a completely different atmosphere from any other business event I've ever attended.

Interested? Check out the Jelly Wiki for more background information and for the group closest to where you live. If there's nothing happening yet near you, consider starting your own using the comprehensive "How to Start Your Own Jelly" guide on my website. I've also provided information for prospective attendees so they know what to expect and for work hubs that want to start a group in their premises.

I highly recommend you think about Jelly if the home office is becoming claustrophobic - it's fun and straightforward, and it will bring you into contact with new people in a uniquely relaxed way.

P.S. In March I helped organize the first national Jelly event in the UK, The BIG Jelly, a not-for-profit event that was hugely successful and has inspired many of its delegates to update and implement plans for their small businesses. Read about The BIG Jelly 2011 here.

Photo Credit: mokolabs

Sorry Basecamp. Stay away QuickBooks. No thanks, Harvest, because I'm a paper girl at heart. Maybe it's my roots with my dad's old college typewriter, the non-electric one in which you had to pound the keys one by one so that the work of writing was truly work.

Or maybe it's because I just can't figure out why I should go to the cloud to track an expense I can just as easily mark down in my (big paper) calendar.

Yes, I know--these online programs don't just track stuff; they make it easy to sort, file, and make pretty reports. And they let the entire team track timelines, tasks, milestones, and budgets. They're systems--they're just not my system.

For all the systems out there, I haven't found one that is easier for me than "me, paper, and pen."

I crave simplicity.

I was on the #solopr tweet chat the other day when the question arose:

What do you use to track clients/campaign progress and keep it all straight? Paper? Software? Project management tools?

Here's the surprising thing: Apparently I'm not alone. A lot of the workshifters on the tweet chat said they similarly use paper for more than you might think given our early adopter status and propensity to tweet, chat, comment, and like stuff.

Kate Robins called us "neo-Luddites" (I think her exact phrase was neo-Luddites are great thinkers.) I'd define a neo-Luddite as a techie with one hand still holding a pen.

There's a reason Moleskine notebooks are so popular.

Are you a neo-Luddite?

Photo Credit: C.C. Chapman

Two days a week I am 5 minutes from my office workshifting at home. This lets me see more of my children and helps me better understand both the products I market (GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting, mainly) and the audience I market them to. Sometimes it's convenient to be just 5 minutes away - if something comes up that requires my physical presence, I can change out of my pajamas and go in.

But sometimes I wish I lived farther away. I think I would commit more fully to being a workshifter then, because I wouldn't have the security of an easy out. I would be less likely to accept in-person meetings on my workshifting days. I would create a better home office environment. I might even get dressed before noon.

One thing I'm sure I would do is devise a workplace continuity plan.

Most people think workplace continuity is only for big corporations that need to minimize losses in the case of weather disruptions, natural disasters or epidemics - for which the solution is commonly workshifting. But if you're already workshifting, you can have disruptions, too. And whether you're an independent contractor or an established employee, when people depend on you to get a job done, you can impress them by delivering the goods in spite of obstacles that may come your way. Plus, if you're not salaried, you keep the money rolling in.

What kind of obstacles would you need to plan for? Here are a few common ones to think about:

You lose your Internet connection.

What do you do? Go to a friend's house, a coffee shop, the library? Designate a Plan A location that's close by and a Plan B that's far enough away that you can escape regional outage problems.

You lose electricity.

Is it just you (go to Plan B then) or is your whole area affected? For the latter, plan who you'd need to call to tell them you couldn't work - and make sure their numbers are not just stored in your computer.

Your computer crashes.

If my work-owned laptop crashes, I drive to my office, request a new one and work there while the order is processed. Then I'm usually back to workshifting in a day or so. When you own the computer you depend on for work, you've got to rely on yourself. If it's not economically feasible to have your own back-up computer, plan how you would continue working until you could fix or replace yours. Does a friend have a computer you could borrow? Could you work on a public computer at the library or somewhere else?

Your home office is invaded by unexpected guests.

Insects or in-laws (you may consider them synonymous, but I happen to like my in-laws) may make your home office temporarily unworkable. If you can't find a way to divert them elsewhere, make an escape to your Plan A or B location.

This is just a start. What other disruptions would you recommend workshifters plan for?

Photo Credit: stewf

When I gave up my bricks and mortar office 5 years ago, I underwent a significant lifestyle change. No longer was I "heading into the office" every day. I was a free bird, able to flit around at my own pace, on my own schedule, where and with whom I wanted. It was blissful for a while, having all that freedom. However, I felt as if I was always ON... always dealing with work on some level or another - whether it was taking a client phone call at 9:30 at night, or replying to emails in bed on a Sunday morning. Everything I did, even when I was supposed to be having fun and relaxing, had a continuous undercurrent of work in the background. The result of this feeling of work pecking at me all the time was STRESS, and lots of it. Before I knew it, the bliss I'd felt at not being chained to an office gave way to the anxiety of not having boundaries between work and play.

I learned the hard way that there's a better way to work when your office is anywhere.

There's something to be said for 9 to 5.

Okay, well maybe not 9 to 5 exactly, because having totally regimented work hours would kind of defeat the purpose of having the freedom that workshifting allows. But, making a distinction between "I'm working now," and "I'm not working now," is definitely beneficial.

Your work schedule doesn't have to be consecutive. Maybe you want to work from 6am to 9am, then take a break till noon, then work again from noon to 2pm, nap till 4, and work again from 5 to 8. See, it's up to you. That's the beauty of this lifestyle. You get to set it up. But it's important that you set it up, every day. The best thing to do is put it in your calendar. Block off the chunks of time when you need to work, and something interesting will happen. In between you'll see gaps on your calendar. I call these gaps "Inches of Time." These inches are your own - time when you don't have work or other commitments. It's time just for you, to focus on a labor of love project, blogging, learning something new, reading, or just... doing nothing.

Make your schedule each day and stick to it (I sometimes use a timer to tell me when it's break time). You'll find that the routine of making a schedule makes you shut off when you need to.

Have a morning routine.

Human beings are creatures of habit, just like the rest of the animal kingdom. So when you don't adopt good habits, you can easily get out of rhythm. If you just jump up every day and dive into whatever gets thrown at you (say, the emails in your inbox or a bad story on the news), it can spin you off in totally the wrong direction. That's why a morning routine is important. Here's the one I've been following with great success.

• 6:00am: Wake up. (I try to wake without an alarm as much as possible, letting my body tell me when it's had enough rest.) Drink coffee in bed and read (not the news, not Twitter, but an actual book).
• 6:30am: Check in on the web (read articles, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. - NOT news or emails).
• 7:00am: Take the dog for a run (and me for a good walk).
• 8:00am: Have breakfast and coffee #2.
• 8:30am: Shower and get dressed.
• 9:00am: Check emails and get to work.

Now, I don't have kids to feed, dress or get to school in the morning, so I have a bit more flexibility in how I do things. You need to come up with what works for you. But some important things in my routine that set me up for the day are:

• I eat breakfast. ALWAYS.
  
  
• I get out with the dog. This is a new thing for me, as our dog was recently introduced to the wonders of off-leash dog parks. But the time I spend in nature every morning now really clears my mind and sets me up for a good day. Not to mention I'm now walking an hour a day. My pants are looser already!
  
  
• I read every morning, even if it's just for 1/2 an hour. This could be any book - business, fiction, non-fiction, self-help - but it's not the Internet, it's an actual book. That is time for me, every day, to enjoy something and get inspired by new ideas.

The point is, having a morning routine is critical to being more effective in all things. Think of your morning routine as the set-up for your day - the one thing in your day that you get to have total control over, because as we know the rest of our days can be anything but controlled sometimes.

Even when you workshift, routine is important. If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed by all of the flexibility your days now afford, consider how you might start to rein that freedom in by settings some boundaries of time and activities.

Photo Credit: jailman