I have a confession to make. This time of year I tend to get distracted. I think it's the perfect weather that draws me away from my screen and towards the ocean or the first tee.

Can you relate?

The workshifting lifestyle is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to flexibility. True, you don't have to be chained to a cube breathing recycled air, but you still have responsibility to get work done.

To solve this, I've found it works best to create boxes of time in my day that are allocated with no distractions. I also leave time for getting outside or away from my laptop and phone. When I am in do-not-disturb mode, I don't check email, Twitter, blogs, Google+ or Facebook. I don't answer the phone or talk to people. I work.

This way, I can be disciplined and ultra-productive without driving myself crazy or burning out. When I take the DND sign off my desk, I'm looking to quench my everyday-is-Saturday thirst.

Timeboxing and quiet hours have been well documented. Here are a few good resources to help you stay productive:

• Pomodoro Technique
• Time Blocking
• The Interruption Tax

It may take some trial and error to find out when you are most productive and when you are most prone to distractions. I tend to work better in the mornings and late at night. A good friend of mine is the opposite - she likes to begin and end with downtime and crank through midday uninterrupted. Once you have a feel for your natural routine, set your calendar and turn yourself loose.

What are your 2 cents?

Photo Credit: lazylikewally

It is no mystery that leaders are readers. Warren Buffet once answered in an interview that if he could have one superpower, it would be to read faster. There is a ton of wisdom in that reply. Here are a few great reads for you workshifters out there (with 140 character reviews for you Twitter users, too):

• Enchantment (Guy Kawaski) - How to charm your co-workers, customers and others. Guy shares his experiences creating interactions with emotional pull.
  
  
• Today We Are Rich (Tim Sanders) - This part-autobiography, part-how-to guide to living life with confidence will never go out of style.
  
  
• Evil Plans (Hugh MacLeod) - Know what you want and why you want it. Hugh commands you to chase that one labor of love that changes the world.
  
  
• Poke the Box (Seth Godin) - Seth challenges you to take initiative. Stop waiting for someone else to give you permission to succeed.
  
  
• The Traveler's Gift (Andy Andrews) - Journey through time and learn the 7 principles of successful living from some of the most influential people in history.

Reading helps prevent us from getting stuck by keeping us in the learning mode, which I believe creates 2 benefits that will add value to your work and relationships:

1. You always have new ideas for solving problems.
2. You improve your listening and communication skills.

These are just a few of many great books out there. Please add yours in the comments.

Photo Credit: tr605

Customer service is an important skill for anyone. Your job description might not have the words "customer service" in it, but service is always part of what you do. Even if you don't face your company's customers, you still have internal ones. These people could be your bosses, other departments, or peers. Since this is the case, let's look at a few tips on how to provide excellent customer service.

Make It Easy

Give your customers clear channels to communicate with you. No matter what method you may prefer-- chat, email, or phone--you need to let people know how to reach you in times of need.

Respond

You need to be available when workshifting. Since you aren't in the office down the hall or the cube next door, stay accessible and respond in a reasonable amount of time. Set deadlines for when you will get back to people and then hold yourself accountable to them.

Solve Problems and Find Solutions

Reactive customer service is solving problems when they come to you. Proactive customer service, better yet, is about finding solutions to issues beforehand. Listening to customers allows you to anticipate potential issues before they arise. In being proactive, you come out a hero.

Remember

Find a way to keep track of customer interactions. On a small scale, a simple spreadsheet may suffice, but if you're a larger operation you may need to use a customer relation management tool. This accomplishes two things:

1. It shows the customer you are in it for the long term when you remember key information and communications.
   
   
2. It helps you save time when dealing with similar issues.

If you work, you are in customer service; it is not an optional commitment. These are just four tips to help you stay ahead of the curve. The sad thing is that customer service is so poor in most places that even if you are just average, you look like a star. And you are not average, so why not start providing excellent customer service now?

What are some of your customer service tips?

Photo Credit: nffcnnr

"The most expensive thing you will ever own is your ego."

These wise words were spoken to me several years ago by one of my mentors. Workshifting doesn't exempt us from working with others and in many cases places a premium on our ability to build relationships in non-traditional work environments.

One of the biggest hurdles to working with others is ego. I have seen more than one business fail because the owners, employees, or customers had ego problems. Small things that could have been remedied with a little humility and perspective cost them everything. Here are four indicators of an unhealthy ego. Learning how to spot these things will save time, money, and most of all, relationships.

1. Me-monster - I borrowed this term from Brian Regan. If a person's ego is bloated, they will talk about themselves too much. We've all seen that guy that turns every conversation into a story about him. Healthy egos listen more than they talk. Go [here] to listen to Brian talk about me-monsters.
   
   
2. Resent other peoples' recognition - Unhealthy ego's hate it when others get the recognition it feels like it deserves. Resentment and hurt is felt instead of congratulations. Healthy egos do the right thing and don't care who gets the credit.
   
   
3. Unteachable - One of the first signs of a hazardous ego is when people stop learning. When you become unteachable you stop growing and think there is nothing new to learn. Learning is a sign of humility, which is a cornerstone of a properly aligned ego.
   
   
4. Critical of others - De-edifying and criticizing people instead of complementing and encouraging is a sure symptom. Tearing down of others happens because inflated egos like to judge people and their actions. Being secure in one's identity removes the need to compare yourself to others.

Successful workshifting is dependent on strong relationships among all the parties involved and great relationships hinge upon healthy egos. Have you dealt with any unhealthy egos in your organization? How did you remedy them?

Photo Credit: marioanima

A good friend of mine recently took a position with a company with a workshifting culture. He can do his job with a laptop and internet connection.  This is nothing new to us that have been living an office anywhere lifestyle for some time, but for him it is a whole new world.

I think it is important to be thankful and not take for granted the blessing of workshifting. It wasn't too long ago when most of us reported into an office Monday through Friday after an half-hour to an hour (or longer) commute. Do you remember all of the wasted time and meaningless office policy, "Did you get that memo"? There is a reason Mike Judge's Office Space resonates with all of us.

Here are a few things I am thankful for as a workshifter:

More time with my family

Being able to create my work environment

Being part of a great community

Increased productivity

Location non-specific lifestyle

Work is more fulfilling when you are thankful for doing the work the way you want to do it.

What can you add to this? What are you thankful for?

Photo Credit: mtsofan

2011 is in full swing. How are your new year's resolutions going? My guess is you are kicking butt and taking names. The key is for this to be the same answer after a week, a month, and six months from now.

Many of the workshifters I interact with regularly all made resolutions this year. The top three were to be more productive, get in better shape (hey, round is a shape), or become better organized. There are many more worthy and valiant choices.

This post isn't about how to do any of those things. It is about how to follow through and stay faithful to your resolutions. Here are three simple and practical steps.

One: Don't make resolutions. They are like rules that are meant to be broken and they usually are. Shift your mind. Start calling them goals or objectives. Doing this will make them more tangible and actionable. We are all accustomed to reaching goals whereas resolutions seem idealistic and ethereal.

Two: Stay in the Present. Nothing challenges the development of new habits like thinking about the long road ahead or worse, past failures. When you stay focused daily, moving towards your goals, you have greater success. It is what you do daily that ultimately decides your success or failure.

Three: Be Accountable. There is strength in numbers. It is lonely flying solo. Find at least one other person and form an accountability team. It doesn't have to be formal, complete with meetings and funny hats. It can just be a few other folks traveling a similar journey who you can lean on during the tough times and celebrate with during the successes.

If you follow these steps I believe you will find success in making your new year's resolutions goals stick. The final thread you need to weave through all of the steps is grace. Give yourself a break if you slip up or fail a time or two. You are changing habits that you have been ingrained and practiced for years. Enjoy the journey and this will be your year.

Photo Credit: Jeff Golden

Recently, I caught up with an old college acquaintance. Nick is new to the workshifting world. He is finding his liberation from the cube farm exciting and daunting. His background is in finance, where the office environments are notoriously "cheek in seat." He explained that everyone focused on keeping up with appearances instead of being productive.

Nick now has control over the productivity of his day but is so used to going to the office he feels like an alien in the outside world. He said he catches himself feeling guilty for working in a coffee shop or getting all of his work for the day done early. I let him know he was OK and the feeling will pass.

Flexibility Anxiety

Many new workshifters leave the confines of traditional office life feeling a little like Red as he left Shawshank Prison. It takes a little time to adjust to office anywhere life. I call the experience Flexibility Anxiety.

If you are new to working out of coffee shops, airports, hotels, or a home office, don't worry. You are OK. The sensation of being unplugged from the Matrix will pass. Here are a few posts from workshifting.com that will help you get acclimated to your new professional lifestyle.

How to Prepare for Becoming a Workshifter

7 Considerations for Setting Up a Home Office

Work/Life Balance When Work is Wherever You Are

The Greatest Benefit of Workshifting: The Life Shift

Cast off the need of waiting for the clock to strike five. You no longer need to lose hours sitting in traffic or in pointless meetings. Enjoy working in an environment you control. You now have the freedom of choice.

Take a deep breath. You are OK.

Photo Credit: Sterlic

It is amazing how quickly this year has flown by. The other day my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas. What?! Is it the holiday season already?

That being true, I want to go over a few holiday gift ideas for the workshifter. Please leave any of your ideas in the comments section (maybe you can help me out). Anyway, here are a few gifts that caught my eye.

ZOMM: This cool device is a leash for your phone. You will never lose your phone again. This gadget has a proximity alarm that sounds if you deviate too far. When you're a digital nomad, this could save you from leaving your phone at a coffee shop in Sri Lanka. It also serves as a hands-free device and is equipped with a panic button (which can be used for personal safety or to get you out of a pointless meeting). Approximately $75 range.

Wi-Fi Detector Shirt: Yep, a shirt that detects Wi-Fi signals. I hate it when I expect there to be a wireless signal only to fire up the laptop and discover zero signal. All you have to do with this baby is walk into the room and you'll know whether it's hot or not. Approximately $20 range.

Cloud Storage/Sharing: For anyone who has a computer with valuable information on it, these services are a great gift. For workshifters, these services are an amazing gift. I can't impress upon you the terror and pain that comes with losing important data. On the plus side is the peace and joy that comes with knowing your information is safe and easily shared or accessible. The more you travel the more you appreciate cloud services. There are a number of great services that you can choose from based on preferences and needs. Some of them include: Box.net, Dropbox, Mozy, & Carbonite. Approximately $5-$20 range monthly/for a minimum of 5GB. **A few other semi-related cloud based services that make great gifts are a premium Evernote account or GoToMyPC.

LiveScribe: Is it a pen or a computer? Both. Livescribe is more than a writing utensil. It is a pen that allows you to record what you write and then upload it to a computer later. As much as we use a keyboard to punch words into a program, most of us still begin with a notepad and pen. Here is a great bridge for getting the words on your page into your computer. Livescribe also has a digital recorder built into it for good measure. Approximately $75 - $130+ range.

Vans Custom Shoes: When your office is anywhere, wear the shoes that are "off the wall." The iconic shoe company allows you to build your own shoe. Nothing says personal brand like customized Old Skools or Eras. And if Vans isn't your style check out Converse to make your own pair of Chuck's or JP's.

The holidays will be here before you know it. Don't get caught waiting until the midnight hour to buy the workshifter you love, mildly like, or feel obligated to buy a gift for, a present. What is on your gift list?

Photo Credit: di_the_huntress

The conversation of sleep has recently come up in the last few weeks amongst some fellow workshifters in my town. All of us are notorious for pulling late hours and depriving ourselves of recharge. For some reason there is a common badge of honor associated with this practice. I believe this is a myth. Getting little or no sleep on purpose is not a badge of honor, it's terribly unproductive.

I was the guy that claimed my most creative and productive time was between 1am and 4am. Not true. It was only that way because I wasted time during the day and had to meet a deadline.

Can any of you relate?

Now I am not advocating you hold yourself to a 9-5 workshifting schedule where you go to sleep at 10pm and get up at 6am. Many of us left that way of life behind. I am recommending you build sleep into your life. I have a friend who goes to sleep at 4am and begins his day at noon. His lifestyle fits into this schedule and he is well rested.

Hopefully, you realize by now that sleep is important. If you're not convinced, here are a few resources to check out:

• Sleep Benefits
• 10 Things to Hate About Sleep Loss
• Sleep

You may not be at a point where creating a schedule for more sleep on a daily basis is realistic. I have been there. My solution was a sleep investment. I would choose a day (every week or two) and not set an alarm. I slept until I was done. This helped me restore some balance internally. This investment paid dividends. My body and brain loved me for it.

It is easy to get burnt out workshifting. The nature of working anywhere tends to have us working all the time. This usually eats into other areas essential to living a healthy life. 

Resist the temptation of sleep deprivation. Work hard. Play hard. Sleep hard.

Photo Credit: Paul Jacobson

Over the last few weeks I have met many folks new to the office anywhere lifestyle. Being new to workshifting is sometimes like leaving for college for the first time. You are in a new place with complete freedom over your time and environment. This can be overwhelming for anyone. Laying a good foundation will help you be successful as a new workshifter.

Creating C.L.E.A.R. goals will help you do this.

Communicate

Communication is oxygen to the workshifter. Staying connected with your team, manager, or customers is essential. It is nice to have folks on the other end for feedback and accountability. I recommend setting available hours your team knows they can reach you. Try to respond within 24 hours if possible to messages. The main thing is having a goal to keep communication open and easy.

Learn

Set an education goal. Keep in the growth mode. Stay current on tools and methods that will help you be more productive. Follow blogs and read books on topics that develop your skills as a digital nomad. You are either moving forward or backwards. Staying in the learning mode will keep you ahead of the curve.

Exercise

It becomes routine to camp out in a coffee shop or home office for days on end. Too many lattes or trips to the fridge can diminish concentration and clarity of thought. Developing exercise goals will help you stay active and increase energy levels.

Associate

Get out and meet other workshifters in your area. Form a mastermind to share stories, resources, and ideas. It also gets you offline where you can get some face to face interaction with like minds.

Refresh

Change your environment. Don't let your world close in like a cubicle. Set a goal to refresh your surroundings every so often. This helps keep the creative juices flowing and prevents drudgery from setting in.

Goals will make your transition to workshifting seamless. You will get up and running a lot faster and ensure the win-win relationship between you and your work. What are your C.L.E.A.R. goals?

Photo Credit: lululemon athletica