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

Whenever I'm out of the office, it never fails that I need a file I don't immediately have access to.  A typical example is I'm at a conference or job site and a prospective client wants some info about my company.  Instead of saying they need to wait until I get back to the office to send something, I've been looking for a way to have a couple of files on my iPhone.  That way when I get a call, I can just email the information.

So I've been trying out a few iPhone file storage apps to hold everyday documents.  The ones I looked at were GoDocs, Box.net and Dropbox.

Very similar to my last post on note-taking apps, all of these apps provide tutorials or help documents to get you started.  And good news!  They are all available for the iPad.

GoDocs ($3.99) is a great app if you use Google docs on a regular basis.  I have a few assignments where the team is using Google docs to report project results and this app gives me access to those files.  You can view files online or offline.  And I really like the ability to email files.  I didn't see a way to edit a document - hopefully that will come in future versions.

Dropbox (Free) provides a lot of flexibility when it comes to storage.  It's easy to use - simply drag/drop files.  It also supports multiple file formats.  If you have a group of people who need access to a file, Dropbox also has a collaboration feature. 

One thing that was interesting about Dropbox is the ability to earn extra storage space with referrals.  So if you're part of a group looking for a file storage app and leaning toward Dropbox, be sure to check out their referral program details.  You can also share a referral link with your Facebook and Twitter friends
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Box.net (Free) offers many of the same features as Dropbox (i.e. drag/drop files, multiple file format support and collaboration options).  A couple of additional noteworthy items include being able to email a file link and the ability to edit documents.  The free version gives you 1G storage and a premium versions can boost that storage to 10 - 15G for a fee.
 
Having a good file storage app can make life easier for any workshifting situation.  The three things that seem to set file storage apps apart are (1) how much storage space you need, (2) what file formats you work with most often, and (3) if you need editing capability.

 
What kinds of file storage apps are you using?  Leave us a note in the comments.



Photo Credit: jazzmasterson

Here's a story.  About a month ago I was at a wedding in the Florida Keys.  

It was a great night that ended with everyone, in full wedding gear, jumping in the pool. My little brother also happened to jump in the pool.  Unfortunately he had his iPod Touch, his phone and my phone (my precious G1) in his pocket.

So for a month, I went without a phone.  It was during this time that I realized just how much I use my mobile for actual workshifting.  It's beyond  just novelty, I was probably half as productive last month without my phone.  I missed meetings.  I couldn't connect with my team.  I was late to meetings.  I wrote less blog posts.  I created less content.  My twitter friends thought I was dead ... more than once.

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

During the recent Ash clouds over Europe and the ensuing workplace disruption, we logged a record number of online meetings and remote computer access sessions.

I'm always fascinated by usage stats during a crisis.  Year after year, be it an act of God or that of man, hundreds of thousands of people suddenly scramble to connect remotely.  This speaks to our general lack of preparedness.  I'm not immune to this either.  I've been procrastinating for months to put together a home emergency kit.  At best, I've gathered enough supplies to last about an hour...not good.  

It's not only the headline worthy events that disrupt our lives.  In most cases, it can be something as simple as a car problem or a broken laptop that will cause workplace disruption.  The difference between me, and many of the people caught in the Ash, is that I'm ready for it.  Bring it on!

Let's play out a scenario and you tell me if you'd be ready.  You're alarm clock didn't go off because the power is out.  You wake up because the light coming in from the windows is hitting your square in the face.  You scramble for your cell phone and check the time.  Simply put, you're late.  Then you realize that no power = no computer, no lights, no breakfast, etc.  In this scenario, what do you need to be productive when everything around you is failing?

1. A fully charged Smartphone with email access and backup battery
2. Two designated workshifting locations (in case one is not available)
3. The nearest hotel with wifi and/or a business center
4. A license of a web based remote access service, and one for web conferencing
5. Protein bars
6. A good sense of humor

Did you notice that "laptop" is not on the list?  Many hotels and co-working spaces will let you use their computers for a fee.  All you need to be armed with is access to a web browser and your passwords (memorize your passwords).  

Lets play out this scenario even further.  Your laptop is busted so you decide to workshift at the business center at the local hotel.  While en-route, you drop and break your Smartphone (it's happened to me).  Believe me, this isn't that far-fetched.  Could you still work?

If you remember your passwords, and have the right web based apps, you're good to go.  If your web conferencing service has integrated audio, even better.  Now you can access your important documents, have meetings and make phone calls, all from a computer.

The last couple of tips are equally important.  Leave a couple of protein bars in your backpack or travel bag.  Being hungry is very distracting and will effect your mood.  Lastly, keep your sense of humor intact.  The first few places you try and workshift from may be a bust, so keeping your humor intact will help keep things in perspective.  

Lets reverse engineer this and put things in order of priority:

1.  Access to the web (hotel, co-working space, friend's house, etc.)
2.  Web based remote access and online meeting services with integrated audio
3.  Sense of humor
4.  Food
5.  Designated workshifting locations
6.  Smartphone

My Smartphone is the first thing I grab in the morning, so I was surprised when I put it last on the list.  In a pinch, you could get by without it and in most cases, you'd be just as productive.

So next time you walk out the door, think about your workplace disruption plan.  Think about what you would need, what your family would need, your employees, etc., and then put it to the test.  Walk out the door with your wallet and keys, and see if you could successfully workshift for a day.  

What is your workplace disruption plan?


Photo Credit: BBC World Service

Today's post is from Jennifer Marcus Newton, a freelance writer located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She routinely works from all the usual workshifting haunts--cafes, park benches, airports--and also maintains a tidy writing studio and messy home office. Her most remote work location was among the yaks in Shangri-La. Work/life balance for her means using both a Mac and fountain pen. Contact her at fidhlear@gmail.com.

Did you know that since 1963, the U.S. President has declared an official National Small Business Week every year? This special designation is a way to "recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America," as stated on the National Small Business Week Web site.

Contributing to the economic well-being of America is a tall order and, quite frankly, an extremely critical task. From Boston to Berkeley, an estimated 27.2 million SMBs in the U.S. conduct business, create products and provide jobs and services every single day. It's difficult to fully appreciate the enormity of a number like 27.2 million.

While we're talking numbers, consider this:
 

• "More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60 - 80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness."
  

• "Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy."

  http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com
  

As the 2010 National Small Business Week kicks off, Citrix Online is abuzz with the topic of SMB mobility and productivity. In a recent survey, Citrix Online polled SMB employees on their work habits. Survey findings paint an intriguing disparity between mobility and access to productivity-enhancing tools. In the last 5 years, the majority (54 percent) of survey respondents have become more mobile. Yet, 60 percent of those surveyed report that their current employers do not provide mobile tools and resources to increase productivity.

That's kind of appalling, especially when you consider IDC's predictions about the mobile workforce: "The U.S. is expected to remain the most highly concentrated market for mobile workers, with 75.5 percent of the workforce mobile by 2013." Mobility has certainly taken root in the U.S. workforce, and the demand for greater mobility will only continue to grow in the near future. So, too, will the demand for productivity-enhancing tools.

This week is an ideal time for SMB organizations to think about how to strategically address the mobility and productivity needs of their current and future employees. There's no denying that the economy is showing signs of recovery. Companies of all sizes - including SMBs - will be looking to hire top talent in the coming months. In the candidate pool, there will be plenty of Gen Y workers, a group increasingly identified by its attraction to workshifting.

Indeed, SMBs (all 27.2 million of them) play a critical role in the economic recovery. And to make the greatest possible contribution to the well-being of America, mobile SMB employees need the right tools to be as productive as possible.

What do you think?


Photo Credit: ThinkPanama

I was asked recently by a good friend on mine what was in my bag.  It was part of a blog post she wrote, What's in Yo' Bag, and I have decided to respond in a video.  My bag consists of many things to keep me inspired, connected and able to be on the go.



What's in your workshifting gear bag?  Empty out your workshifiting bag, take a picture, upload it to Flickr, tag it "workshifting" and link it up in the comments below.  We'll gather all of the photos and blog posts together for a future post.

Today we have a guest post from Sean Ryan.  Sean is a research analyst with IDC focused on mobile enterprise software.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS), may be another buzzword for the road, but there is a very real shift underway towards adoption of SaaS-based solutions for mobile devices. This includes SaaS-based solutions with mobile client add-ons, such as the case with Salesforce.com for the BlackBerry and the iPhone. It also includes SaaS-based mobile middleware platforms that extend multiple enterprise applications to mobile devices, as is the case with vendors like Antenna Software and Spring Wireless.

Many factors are contributing to the MaaS trend, but here are a few of the biggest drivers:

• The flexibility of enterprises to easily scale up and scale down users based on an on-demand subscription pricing model.
  
  
• The ability for enterprises to start small, in terms of number of users deployed and cash outlay, with certain apps and then grow them across the organization. This equates to being able to run a pilot on your own terms without time constraints or an obligation to purchase a set number of seats at a given time.
  
  
• A lightweight client can often be provisioned down to devices over-the-air (OTA).
  
  
• The challenges unique to mobile deployments -- e.g., limitations of wireless connectivity, limitations of small form factors, and the variety of smartphone Oses -- are a real headache for already overburdened IT departments to deal with, as they require different skill sets as well as different management and security tools. It is much easier to farm this out to a vendor that specializes in mobility.
  
  
• It is becoming very difficult for developers to keep up with the array of mobile OSes that are viable candidates for mobile workers -- i.e., BlackBerry OS, Windows Mobile, Symbian (Nokia 60, etc.), iPhone OS, Google Android, and Palm webOS. Combine this with the multiple versions for each OS along with different hardware reference designs, and the complexity is overwhelming unless the company takes a draconian approach to drastically limit the types of devices it will allow employees to use. Again, a vendor specializing in mobility can do a much better job of staying on top of a rapidly moving, complex space. In most cases, the near real-time updating of OS versions, bug fixes, etc., can be included in the service-level agreement (SLA).
  

While mobility as a service is not widely deployed today in large enterprises, it is expected to grow rapidly in the coming year.

A recent IDC survey of 309 IT and business professionals for large enterprises in the United States and the United Kingdom, responsible for enterprise mobility purchase decisions, found that only 9% of organizations have already embarked on a large-scale deployment of mobile SaaS-based solutions (see pie chart). However, the same respondents indicated a growing acceptance of this delivery model for extending enterprise applications to mobile devices. Almost 40% of organizations plan to deploy a SaaS-based mobile solution in the next 12-18 months. Another 19.7% have already done a pilot and plan to roll out a larger deployment in the next 12-18 months. Furthermore, 15.5% of organizations have no plans to roll out any aspect of mobile SaaS-based solutions in the next 12-18 months, with another 8.4% that did run a pilot but have no plans to roll the solution out to other employees.

Of course, this does not mean that all on-premises solutions will be displaced, as many organizations will likely run on-premises solutions for certain applications that may need to be more customized or strategic in nature, or deal with data that is very sensitive, particularly if it is in a highly regulated industry. But, overall, the advantages of a SaaS-based model for mobile deployments align well with the needs of mobile workers and the IT departments supporting them.