First question: Did you get up this morning and say, "Yes, world, I'm so excited to check my inbox! Bring it on"?

Trick question! No one says this--no one sane anyway. Being a happy worker doesn't mean you love your job every second of the day; it doesn't mean you enjoy every task you're given. It simply means you're satisfied with your work and life balance, you are more productive than others, and you find fulfillment in your work.

QUIZ TIME! Are You a Happy Worker or a Sad (Disengaged) Worker?

Select the answer that matches you best.

Do you have enough time in the day to complete your "to-do" list?

• A) I have time to accomplish the main priorities because I have workplace flexibility and can leave the office setting to avoid distractions
• B) I don't even have time to write a "to-do" list

Work gets in the way of my personal life and home responsibilities?

• A) Never to sometimes
• B) Often to Always

Are you thinking about other job opportunities outside of your company?

• A) I'm content with my work and there are unique benefits of working for my company
• B) I want outta here.

RESULTS

Mostly A's - You are a happy worker (yay, you!). Please refer to the left column of the infographic to find out why you are engaged and more satisfied with your work than others. Then refer to the right column to see why you have it better ;)

Mostly B's - You are disengaged and need the solution of workshifting to pump you up. Please refer to the right column of the infographic to see why you're disengaged and how you relate to your peers. Then refer to the left column where you'll learn what you need to do in order to make your professional happiness soar. And finally, submit a 30- second video to win the chance to workshift for free! We will give you 10K, an iPad and a year of GoToMyPC so you can work on the move.

What's your verdict - happy or disengaged??

RAISE YOUR HAND if you want the following:

Note: This is one of 5 real-life workshifting stories that we're sharing as part of Telework Week. If you enjoyed this story, make sure you check out the other stories.

As any worker knows, the holidays and work clash.  We want to enjoy time with family, overeat on Thanksgiving, shop like mad on Black Friday, but the demands of work get in the way.

For example, I work 1500 miles away from my family and Grammie.  While I love the beaches of Santa Barbara, I miss being close to them in the cowboy country of Oklahoma.

As my Grammie's health has been declining this year, my company and remote technology has allowed me to work from Oklahoma for the holidays.

This has made my Grammie happy and my life that much richer.  My Grammie has written workshifting a thank you letter as a result (below).

Thank you to workshifting (from me and my Grammie), and thank you to the innovation of technology that allows all of us to work from anywhere.

Your most loyal supporters,
Jessica and Grammie J

Over the past four weeks, I've crash-landed on a rocky beach off the coast of California, rocked out in the Windy City where music and skyscrapers ruled the air at Lollapalooza, and spent back-to-back weekends in a city of hippies and flowers, or nowadays, bums and hipsters--San Francisco.

All in all, it's been 5,714 hard, fun, and memorable miles--and how many days of work did I miss? Just two. Would you be able to do this at your job? If you had remote technologies and a policy that encourages the balance of work and life, you could. My company not only encourages this behavior, but it is the sole reason I can do this. Their remote access and online collaboration tools allow me to meet and work from anywhere.

Before I went to the Chicago Black Keys concert, I jumped on my Mac and sent off my latest work project. And, as I enjoyed a view of the Bay from my San Francisco hotel, I spoke in a webinar about GoToMeeting and could honestly talk about the benefits of web-based software because I was experiencing them firsthand.

Sound too good to be true? You're kind of right. There are a handful of pitfalls when workshifting, I have to admit. Here's what I learned, and hopefully you will avoid my mistakes and be able to work hard and play hard:

1. Have an Internet plan B
. There's not always WiFi; in fact, there's not always consistent coverage even when you do have WiFi. For example, while at Lollapalooza, the only place where my iPhone worked was by the port-o-potties. Who wants to reply to an email near that mess? Not me! Make sure, no matter where you go, you know the Internet landscape if you plan on working--not just accessibility, but reliability.
   
   
2. Anticipate distractions
. Just because you have technology that allows you to work from anywhere, doesn't mean you will. An exciting opportunity may pop up, like meeting Edward Sharpe of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. A more practical plan may be simply working from a hotel room. Make sure you put the "Do not disturb" sign up when you're in an online meeting or webinar. Nothing is more embarrassing than having 500 people listening to you and hear, "[knock, knock] Excuse me, housekeeping."

   
   
3. You're not alone
. Look around, lots of other people are workshifting too. In fact, most people have handheld devices that allow them to check their work emails. There are tons of resources for how to workshift better, how to get more accomplished, and what technology you should use. This blog is a good example of that (so pat yourself on the back; you're already enlightened ).

   
   
4. Focus on one thing. 
This is the biggest lesson I learned: you cannot do two things at once and expect the same quality for both. Focus on one thing at a time. If that's snorkeling and making fun of how your boyfriend looks in his snorkel mask, go for it. If it's talking with industry analysts about the latest market trends, dive in and be present. It's easy to get distracted while workshifting, but keep your focus on one track.
   
   
5. Mind the field. 
This is a literal lesson. I tripped over a group of people at the music festival because I was too focused on my iPhone and work email instead of the people sitting Indian style in front of me. Be practical and realistic about where you work and what's going on around you. If there's construction, avoid it and move somewhere else. If you can see a big crowd about to enter the coffee shop you're working in, get outta Dodge City and head for quiet ground.

   
   
6. Keep it separate
. Just like keeping your focus and anticipating distractions, keep your work and life separate. If you mix the two, you will lose out on the richness of both. Plus, you can't fully engage in one thing because you're busy thinking about the other. I certainly learned to do this as I sat on a pretty beach watching the sailboats go by...no thoughts of work, or deadlines, or speaking engagements, just pure relaxation and a nice breeze.

What adventures have you been able to experience because of remote technologies like GoToMyPC or GoToMeeting?

Photo Credit: Smile My Day

Much like the shirtless dancing guy in the amusing but compelling video above, workshifting is a physical movement--but instead of flailing your arms, you seamlessly move the location of where you do work. One day, you're meeting your manager online from a coffee shop.  And the next, you're prepping a client presentation while sitting at an airport gate.  This is all possible thanks to the World Wide Web and its wondrous ways of allowing us to use remote technologies.

• www.workshifting.com ;)
• "Work Unchained: Workshifting and the Competitive Edge of the Anywhere Office" [podcast, eBook]
• "Leading Virtual Effectiveness: Four Strategies for Effective Communication in a Distributed Workforce" [eBook]
• "The Top Ten Strategies for Managers of Mobile Workers" [white paper]
• "Presenting the Business Case for Web Commuting" [white paper, podcast]

Where you work.
 
I know, I know--a cubicle is a far cry from a jail cell, but there are some similarities.  People who are outside of both are happier.

Telework Research Network reports that 41% of workers who have the option to workshift are "very satisfied" with their jobs, compared to only 27% of those who are office bound.*  And other research suggests that more virtual employees are "engaged" than their peers who work with their entire team present (34% vs. 28%).**

Clothing choices
When you work from home, you can wear what you want--that includes your most embarrassing (and comfortable) pair of sweatpants, something you'd never be caught dead in at work.

This flexibility, along with the other work-life balance benefits of workshifting, can secure your company the best, most talented employees, since 72% of employees say flexible work arrangements would cause them to choose one job over another.***

Driving to work.
 
Spare yourself the bird, please.  Workshifting saves you a headache and could take 10 million cars off the road, if a workshifting policy was in place in the U.S.  It's estimated this policy could also prevent over 95,000 traffic injuries and deaths, save over $11 billion in accident costs, and lower highway maintenance costs almost $2 billion a year.**

Now, let's put the brakes on for that!  Are you in?



I have to give credit where credit is due.  The concept of these graphics comes from Indexed (http://thisisindexed.com/). The ideas, however, were all me--so I'll take the blame for that.
*Lister, Kate. Workshifting Benefits: The Bottom Line. Telework Research Network, 2010.
**Preston, Camille, PhD. Leading Virtual Effectiveness. AIM Leadership, 2010.
***Montero, Phil. Work Unchained: Workshifting and the Competitive Edge of the Anywhere Office.  The Anywhere Office, 2010.
 

What the BP Oil Spill and My Grandpa Have in Common

Where the wind comes rushing down "the plain" (also known as Oklahoma), three windmills and a solar panel stand in my grandpa's backyard.  As a self-proclaimed "poor German immigrant," my grandpa uses his "every penny counts" attitude and self-taught engineering skills to build these energy-generating machines.  They power his house, they lessen his environmental impact, and his most valued benefit, they eliminate his electric bill.  "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe" is his mantra (and if I had a dollar for every time he said that to me, I wouldn't have to worry about my electric bill either).

His self-sufficiency through sustainability mentality has never been more practical than now.  As we pass day 65 of the BP oil spill, I believe America, and the rest of the world, now acknowledge the negatives of oil dependency and how it causes environmental and economic devastation.

It's time to re-wire -- the way we work, the way we get around, the way we consume -- all of it needs a positive charge.  Green technology and software that enables mobile work, along with small steps such as recycling, reducing consumption, etc., will enable us to paddle our own canoes and save the environment from unnatural disasters.

And this isn't just about hugging trees and saving whales -- it's about saving the American economy and putting more money on the balance sheet.
 
According to a 2010 Telework Research Network study, If U.S. companies were to implement a workshifting policy, America could:

• Save $23 billion a year in imported oil
• Reduce greenhouse gases by taking the equivalent of almost 10 million cars off the road
• Cut Persian Gulf imports by 37%
• Achieve 27% of the nation's 2020 goal for GHG reduction from light cars and trucks
• Prevent over 95,000 traffic injuries and deaths and save over $11 billion in accident costs
• Lower highway maintenance costs almost $2 billion a year

Additionally, workshifting could save employees between $2,000 and $6,800 per year in gas and other commuting expenses.  I don't know about you, but I'll gladly take that 2K and skip the commute, thank you very much.

All in all, my grandpa's lessons of self-sufficiency and sustainability, along with the negatives of dependency on oil, make me realize that a new form of energy and work is necessary, now.  We can't wait, because nothing is slowing down -- not the fast pace of business and, sadly, not the oil spewing into the Gulf.

Do you workshift to A) reduce your environmental impact, B) create more work-life balance, C) save money for you and your company,  or D) all of the above?

Aside from the latest iPhone or gossip magazine, Millennials need instant information, instant communication, and of course instant stimulation.

As a Millennial, I had my first AOL Instant Messenger chat at 11, created my first blog at 15, and downloaded thousands of free songs from Napster (which wasted thousands of hours with my 56K connection) in high school.  My young adult life was filled with navigating the Internet for information I wanted, whether that involved making plans with friends or getting band recommendations from a music Website.  It was singular as well as collaborative, but it all involved the Web and technology.

My mouse-click away mentality shaped my perspective on how to get things done in the workplace and how to communicate with others.

I believe this is the case for most Millennials (those born between 1977 and1996).  We've taken our technology upbringing into the workplace as we balance cubicle life and social interactions.  Most of us work with our Facebook accounts open, Google Chats visible, Pandora stations playing, and Outlook emails flowing.  It's a multi-tasking, multi-browsing business world, and this is how we roll.

A study by Mr Youth and Intrepid, "What your company will look like when Millennials call the shots," highlights the distinctive work style and digital dynamic that my generation brings to the future of business. Key aspects include:

• Saying goodbye to the boardroom - Millennials choose a roundtable environment versus an authoritative approach.  Over half of Millennials surveyed said that decisions should be made by consensus.  Open meetings can be held through an online meeting platform or in-person, as both allow for flowing communication and the ability to share documents and information freely and in real time.
• Technology has feelings too - The integration of technology and human interaction has changed the way Millennials communicate.  Think about it: as a Millennial, what was the last interaction you had with your best friend?  Was it a text, an email, a Facebook message?  And for those older than the Millennials, what was the last form of communication you received from a Millennial?
• Conversations are not one-way - No one likes to be talked down to, and for Millennials this means no one likes to be talked at.  Since the inception of instant messenger, blogs, and other social networking sites, the style of communication and selling has changed.  Marketing a product is no longer done by holding up a sign; it involves a social strategy that will initiate and influence a conversation to engage a response.  Millennials understand this innately.
• Move or be smushed - In the world of technology and business, nothing stays the same.  Workers are more mobile than ever, with 75% of the U.S. workforce projected to be working outside of the office by 2013 (IDC).  With this forward momentum, companies need to move - movement in the type of technology they employ and movement in the way they think about business strategy and processes.  Technology like GoToMyPC allows access anywhere, which fosters agility and forward-thinking.

Work and technology evolve just like the latest shoe fashion.  The penny loafers of the past will soon be the Converses of the future.  It's not about the style, it's about the utility and ability to keep moving forward

What do you think?


Photo Credit: Vancouver Film School

When you have a flight delay, it's annoying.  When you have to pay 20 bucks to check in one bag, it's ridiculous.  But when you have WiFi on your plane, it's perfecto.

Thanks to the innovators at Virgin America, anyone can now access the Internet while sitting in their cramped, overpriced seat.  Delta, American and Southwest are even catching on to this fabulous trend.  Finally, an airline perk and not another snack charge (5 dollars for a bag of chips--come on now).

This new Internet option will drown out the crying baby two rows behind us, end the armrest war with our neighbor and get our jobs done faster.  Accessing our office computers and meeting remotely with co-workers is now possible from the air, thanks to GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting.

Technology lets us synchronize our work and lives once again.  So my fellow road warriors, tweet to your heart's content; update your Facebook page with video of your cat flushing the toilet, or whatever you consider funny enough to share with the world; and meet with colleagues and access your work applications and files.  Getting the job done and harmonizing your work-life balance are now possible no matter the altitude.

It's a new age--with a new flexibility to work, play and connect from anywhere, even 30,000 feet above the earth at 600 miles per hour.

Here are the advantages I see from having Internet access on planes:

• Travel updates: letting family, co-workers and clients know if there is a change to my itinerary
• Finishing projects: accessing my office computer to work on projects using GoToMyPC
• Keeping in touch: replying to the emails I've been meaning to get to, sending eCards, etc.
• Meeting with a colleague or client: using GoToMeeting's screen-share capabilities, chat, etc.
• Entertainment: watching my new favorite TV show, "Modern Family," or sending a picture of my aerial view to friends
• Staying in the loop: what if a natural or political disaster occurs while traveling?
• Studying up: catching up on industry trends, reading blogs, opinion articles, etc.
• Distraction: focus on the stuff I want, while tuning out the pains and discomforts of modern-day travel

As we know, the advances in technology and the benefit of mobility keep us connected.  The balance and mix between life and work will only become more integrated as the options to access our office computers, social networking sites and email accounts are available no matter the location.  So now, it's a coffee shop, it's a cubicle, it's super work in the sky.

Do you find any other advantages to having in-flight Internet?


More about Internet in planes


Photo Credit: davipt