A workshifting life can be a life spent largely in the confines of one's own head, whether at home, driving, on planes or in hotel rooms. It's one of the workshifting realities. I recently met someone at a networking event and we were discussing the drawbacks of this much solitude. He said he used to spend hours alone every day in his car and although an introvert by nature, in the end he grew to hate his own company.

I find that a big disadvantage of spending time alone is the danger of losing perspective. The lack of exposure to other people's ideas means my own thoughts and opinions get rather too well reinforced. For example, I remember being very motivated by Harvey Mackay's book Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty and particularly struck by his exhortation not to 'say no for the other guy'. In other words, never assume you can't ask somebody something, don't talk yourself out of a possibility by assuming they will say no.

I took this on board for a while but over the months I've slipped back into believing my own assumptions. Ever since my book was published almost two years ago, I've been meaning to ask a few people to put a review on Amazon for me. I know they like and recommend the book, they've said so, but somehow the moment passed and it seemed awkward to do it so long afterwards. I kept putting it off, saying no for the other guy, until my publisher nagged me about it a couple of weeks ago.

It's weird what you'll keep putting off until someone else asks you to do it, isn't it? I sent a couple of emails and immediately got a cheery reply - 'Of course I'll post a review, loved the book etc etc.' And the review appeared a few minutes later. I haven't heard from the other recipient, but maybe they're just busy. They either will, or they won't, but at least now there's an equal chance they will!

Assumptions - don't you just hate the way they come crawling up without you even noticing, until they've taken up full-time residence and it needs a big push to get rid of 'em?

What assumptions have you conquered to become a more effective workshifter?

Photo Credit: Justin Levy

The tools that enable us to workshift are important, but it's the human aspects of workshifting that make it successful.

I recently switched from a company where workshifting is in their DNA, to a new company, where the value of workshifting is still being defined. I find myself having the same conversations we all had a few years ago. I'm talking about a Results-Only Work Environment; I'm touching on productivity improvements, employee moral and satisfaction, and so on.

Invariably, the "tools" conversation is pushed front and center. I reframe the conversation and tell people not to get romanced by the tools, and instead, focus on the desired behavior and outcome. Which, in my opinion, a successful outcome is one in which the employee, team member, staff, spouse, rodeo clown or whatever you want to call them, are blissfully happy and productive.

Anyone that has the freedom to work from anywhere understands exactly what I'm talking about. A typical day of workshifting is dramatically different than a day in the office. For example, as I'm writing this post I'm wearing my gym clothes, boiling some eggs, monitoring my community on Twitter and all while listening to the sounds of spring outside my window.

I know it sounds idyllic, and it is. Now, my typical day in the office is great, but different. I need to physically see and be around the people I work with. It's very important to maintain a personal connection that simply can't be derived via digital tools. It's the in-person relationship building that makes me appreciate workshifting that much more.

So next time you're staring down the "tools" conversation, bring it back full circle and focus on the behavior and desired outcome, the rest will work itself out.

Photo Credit: InfusionSoft

I've worked from home for over 20 years and found that being able to pick and choose my time with other people suits my tendency to introversion. Despite being happy with my own company, however, I've always been surprised by how often I need to 'top up' by getting out and talking to others. But often I've abandoned plans for trips out because I felt I couldn't afford the time or the expense involved.

I changed my mind recently, as I'm currently on Daniel Priestley's Key Person of Influence programme and, as a way of preparing for joint ventures and partnerships, he encourages us to pick up the phone and invite someone we'd like to know to meet up for coffee. The people I wanted to meet are all in London so I went up for a couple of days - and lots of coffee!

I was blown away by how much energy and inspiration I got just by talking to people who have clever ideas and run successful businesses, and I'm sure the investment will repay me many times over. I'm so convinced of that I've made a resolution to repeat the trip regularly.

I was recounting all this to a friend and he replied, 'Ah yes, Barbara Sher says that isolation is the biggest killer of dreams.' I had only vaguely heard of Barbara Sher, but those few words hit me right between the eyes.

It is a fact of life that left too long in its own company (and everyone has their own limit), the human brain seems to circle inward on itself, making horizons narrow and possibilities disappear. The danger is that the process is so imperceptible that you may not even realise it's happening until something happens to bring you up sharp.

My resolution for 2011 is not to let my dreams be killed stone-dead by too much time on my own, tempting though that may be. They need to get out there just as much as I do, encounter other thoughts and ideas, and start to find expression in the big, wide world.

Don't you think it's worth a try?

Photo Credit: CC Chapman

How you delegate work is critical to the successful execution of your goals.  Workshifters can be at a disadvantage if they work through others, or rely on people not within their control. You need to persuade people to do a task which is in your interest and moves you closer to the successful completion of your project. 

In many cases, what I find is that people are asking for favors instead of asking for deadlines.  The basis of a favor relies on the relationship, and the burden.  This is extremely limiting. If you lack a personal connection or a mutually shared objective, the foundation of your request is weak.  If you're successful in getting the person to accept your request, they still don't have a burden, or skin in the game.  If they don't deliver, they can play the same personal-connection favor-card that you just lobbed at them.  It would go something like this, "...so sorry, I just couldn't get to your really important thing, because my really important thing took priority."

Now flip this.  Using that same charismatic demeanor, simply ask for a hard deadline.  You've convinced Jack or Jill that your project has merit and is of value.  Now, don't just lead with please, finish with a hard date for completion.  They won't be offended; in fact, this helps them as much as it helps you.  You can both sync your calendars and set realistic deadlines and milestones.  You won't' be bugging this person with endless emails asking about your project, and they will be able to prioritize the work along with their other priorities.  In the end, there is accountability, and you are both more efficient.

Do you ask for more favors than deadlines?

Photo Credit: energeticspell

It's that time of year again! The dog days of summer are over, the kids are back at school, and it's time for us grownups to pull up our socks, get out of vacation mode and get back to work. For lots of people, that means picking up the daily commute once again. As the freeways fill with cars,  our minds fill with schedules, deadlines, and projects yet to be finished.

Us workshifters have all the deadlines, schedules and projects, but isn't it nice that we don't have the commute? I breathe a sigh of relief just thinking about it, as I sit here in my pajamas, sipping my coffee, making my own schedule, while a warm kitty naps in my lap. This IS the life!

I wouldn't trade this lifestyle for anything - but I do realize that there is a time and a place to be a digital nomad. There are times when you really do need to put on some real pants and get out of the home office. There are just some situations where workshifting isn't the best approach. As comfy as it is curled up next to the gas fireplace in the coffee shop, sometimes we have to shift our work to a more traditional environment. Fortunately, identifying these times isn't that hard - but it is important to remind ourselves every now and again when NOT to workshift.

Kicking it Off in Style

At my company, our project team works entirely remotely. I have video editors, graphic designers, writers, and web developers all happily  workshifting away in their own little corners of the world. They know what needs to be done and by when, and they do their work well. We chat via text, Skype, email, or on the phone if need be. It works very well. But I think it would be less effective if we didn't see each other face to face once in a while.

My partner and I find the best way to make sure the whole team is starting from the same place is to all meet in person at the beginning of a project. With everyone in the same room, we can articulate better, sketch ideas, and show examples much more efficiently. Everyone gets a chance to talk and ask questions. The in-person dynamic allows us to gauge peoples' comfort level because we can read body language and see expressions. Plus, in my experience, people tend to work together better if they've at least met in person once.

So, try to encourage  your teams to meet in person occasionally, even if it's just at the beginning of a big project. It might mean people need to travel, but if it's a really big project and you've got a budget, it's totally worth it to make that face to face connection.

Look Your Clients in the Eye

I have done projects for people I've never met in person, and they have gone well. It's amazing what can be accomplished over the phone, or via Skype, or by using collaborative workspaces. But, I think there's a point in every client relationship where you simply have to meet face to face. Sometimes, you can get away with doing a project remotely, an often, budgets and deadlines demand it. But if you're going to do follow up work with a client, make an effort to meet them face to face. There's a level of trust and clarity that can only be built through in-person contact, and it's vital to your client relationships that you maintain that over the long term.

If your client is far away (I've worked with folks in Australia), and traveling to meet just isn't feasible, then at least make a point of video chatting with them on a regular basis. It's the easiest way to keep the relationship strong and healthy!

Workshifting is wonderful, and I think as time goes on, more of us will be jumping into the fun. But we do have to remember that face to face contact is still a vital part of building successful teams, partnerships, and projects.

Photo Credit: tvol

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

When the student is ready, the teacher appears-- Buddhist Proverb

I consider myself a life-long  learner. I TRULY enjoy the process of learning about new   ideas, concepts, recipes, languages, cultures, and ways of being. As a person with a portfolio career, who has worked/continues to work in different arenas, I have learned the power of informal and formal education.

My father often says, that he received his degrees from  U.C.L.A > The University of the Corner of Lenox Avenue in Harlem.  A great deal of his education came from growing up in Harlem.  The "lesson plans" were not always structured, planned, or even safe, but they were life lessons taught by people, situations, and life experiences. They were lessons that have shaped my father, and in turn me and my sisters.  The important early childhood message of valuing informal education is one for which I am very grateful.

I have been fortunate to experience a very good "formal education." I also have been able to be a participant in wonderful professional development sessions that have spanned topics areas including coaching, "difficult conversations," educational reform, human trafficking, project management, the art of Zen cooking, among others.  I attend film festivals, university lectures, and discussion groups. These structured programs and workshops have truly enriched my personal and professional life.

And yet, I am a firm believer in the teachers and teaching situations that present themselves to us on a daily basis as we life or mobile lives on planes, trains, in coffee shops, in the nail salons, and on the "corners" of streets around the world.

The skill for many of us, involves being open to hearing "life lessons" from people who may look and sound different, and as my father says "may not have a lot of letters after their name." 
 
We can go many places with this conversation. We can focus on organizational structures that may only value certain voices; we can acknowledge that many of us have been taught to value specific social capital; we might even be able to venture into the area of multi-tasking, where we are often texting, tweeting, updating our status, or talking on our mobile  phones - -keeping ourselves busy, and not available to connect with people. Or, we can focus on gratitude, and being grateful for the opportunity to meet so many different people who in their different lives bring richness to our learning and day-to-day living.

It has happened more than once, that I have been going about my day, and have come in contact with someone who has helped me see something differently, shared their story with me, or simply showed a sense of warmth and sincerity that can be a treasure in our fast paced world.

I once titled a piece that I wrote "the Sheroes and Heroes Among Us."  I think many of us have heard of stories from people that are our neighbors, colleagues, etc. that are powerful.  Sometimes, the stories are not BIG, or even about heroism.  Sometimes, the stories are very simple, and the learning just as important.

Some recent stories and teachers for me:

• Engaging in conversations and learning from the taxi driver in Washington, D.C. who has been driving in a city for over 30 years, who has experienced the issues of gentrification, race relations, and the changing of political parties as an insider;

• Learning about the current substance abuse counseling work of the car service driver that worked in the fire department in downtown Manhattan on September 11th;

• Hearing the fascinating story of the woman in the nail salon that came to the U.S. for a better life, and took the dangerous journey familiar to many immigrants;

It can mean reflecting on the life of the young soldier on the plane, who was heading back to base, after coming home to bury a friend.

Their stories, sense of humor, and commitment to what they do, are part of my ongoing learning.

Questions to ponder:
-    How do you value our informal education?
-    Where are your "corners" of learning in the world?
-    Do we value some voices over others?


Photo Credit: Jeff

Today's post is from Josiane Feigon, author of the bestselling book Smart Selling on the Phone and Online, the sourcebook for inside sales. Her Cubicle Chronicles blog is voted among the top 25 sales blogs. She is founder and CEO of TeleSmart Communications, a 20-year veteran and thought leader of the industry, Josiane is recognized as one of the world's leading experts on inside sales team and manager talent, providing consulting, coaching, and training solutions for hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies. Visit Josiane's website: www.tele-smart.com to read her blog, purchase her book, and download her latest e-books and white papers.

Guilt is a funny thing. It's amazing how quickly that nagging voice can kick in, leading us to question our actions or feel that we have fallen short of some kind of accepted standard. Workshifting comes with its own set of guilty feelings.

First off, there's that little thing of the commute. My husband and I live in Chicago, a city that is renowned for its gridlocked highways and nightmarish commutes. While most days I have a commute of about 1.5 seconds - the time it takes me to walk from our bedroom to my office - my husband spends anywhere from an hour and a half to more than two hours commuting from our home just north of the city to his office out in the suburbs.

On most days I get up later than him and still start my work day a good 45-60 minutes before he even reaches his desk. While I jokingly tell people that he's commuting "for the both of us," there's not a day that goes by when I'm not marred with guilt about our huge discrepancies in commuting time.

Working from home can also lead to a pretty interesting mix of feelings of guilt. On the one hand, I often feel guilty about focusing exclusively on work when there are things to be done around the house. On the other hand, if I'm doing laundry or running errands, I often feel guilty about not working. 

I still find it hard to step away from my desk during the work day - even if it's for something like running to the bank or picking up milk. I know this probably doesn't make much sense. After all, I'm not taking advantage of the very things that attracts so many people to Workshifting. I guess there's just something about the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday that is so ingrained in my system.

Finally, I also often feel guilty when I feel I'm not working "hard" enough. This is especially the case when my workload is low. There's just something about sitting alone, without deadlines and pressing projects that makes me feel extremely uncomfortable and almost "worthless." It's completely different than when you're in an office and everyone around you is having a slow day.

I wonder if these things will change the longer I work outside of a traditional office environment. What about you guys? Do you share similar feelings of guilt?


Photo Credit: Music2Work2

Just recently, I found myself lying in bed at 1:30 am with my iPhone in hand answering emails and responding to people who I missed on twitter and Facebook that day. After switching off the device I realized that I was then spending another hour laying there thinking about the next day and how I might be able to work on the issues, problems or ideas presented in the emails. This sounds somewhat absurd doesn't it? I mean it wasn't more than a few years ago that you shut down the computer and that was the end of your day. Now we have mobile devices following us around and I know that I am not the only one perpetuating this issue!

I suppose you think that the rest of the article is going to be tips on how to find balance. Well, maybe a bit of it will be but I would really love to poll the readers of the workshifting blog on how you find balance! As remote workers and workshifters it feels second nature to pick up your phone during dinner to check your email. It feels natural to want to check the status on a project when you're really supposed to be focused on your kids school play. So what gives? Do we need to start setting up rules for ourselves? Here are two things that I am trying to reclaim a bit of sanity and hopefully make me more efficient with the time I am spending working.

1. Morning and Evening Email Redux - I remember hearing advice years ago saying that the worst thing you can do to yourself is watch the news first thing in the morning and just before you turn in at night. After all there is rarely anything good or uplifting on the news so why inundate yourself with that energy to start and end your day. I am going to apply this advise to email and social networks for now on. My advise would be to spend 15 minutes in silence each morning. Maybe visualize your day and set your wheels on the right track to move forward. Maybe it is talking a brisk walk before the morning shower. Either way I recommend clearing the mind every morning to get aligned. For those evening email and social media stints I recommend a good book. Read something enjoyable that settles the mind and leaves you with positive feelings. If you find yourself grumbling about the world forces around you each day, change the forces!

2. Reclaim the Weekend - Ok, so not all of us can afford to ignore our work life all weekend and maybe some of us are even scheduled to be actively working on the weekends. For those of you in that situation this should be called Reclaim a Day. I love my job and I love what I do. That being said it's important to disconnect and recharge for a day a week. I find this helps me immensely. Every Sunday i turn off the computers and leave the mobile devices to play sweet tunes in my ears rather than being a email machine or work device. I can't give you specific to do's here as we are all different but after chatting with a friend recently about this topic I told him to rekindle a passion. We grew up together golfing and fishing on the weekends as kids. Why not revisit some of those things? There is always time for yard work and chores. Go rekindle a passion.

These are two of the things I am doing to keep me fresh and creative. I would love to hear your thoughts. Are you able to put away the technology for a bit or are you checking your email at 1:30 am each night? What rules or habits have you created to help you stay fresh?


Photo Credit: Jorge Quinteros