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What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

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Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#141

Post by sergefaguet »

the article highlights very avoidable problems.

i have lived completely remotely for the last 2 years – hotels, different countries etc., have not spend over 60 days in a single location at a time.

i think it is amazing once you know how to do certain things well: - have a very well-adapted set of routines. - know how to maintain deep relationships everywhere - appreciate different places for different things - are busy

i use silicon valley for interactions with smart people and fundraising, russia for hiring and great social life, switzerland for deep work, asia for seeing very forward-thinking economic markets etc.

if you have good practices around arranging time with people in each location, mix in a bit of acid/MDMA/meditation – you can have it all – deep relationships, understanding of many markets/cultures, independence from annoying governments and their taxes, and the best of each location.

i would also argue there is a lot of value in training yourself to be independent of locations in the modern world – it feels like it increases your overall flexibility and ability to adapt. which is clearly worth a lot.

i write a lot about my specific routines for making this work here https://hackernoon.com/biohack-your-intelligence-now-or-beco...

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#142

Post by lukethomas »

diminoten wrote: post #106
lukethomas wrote: post #25

I've worked remotely for almost 7 years, for a few companies. Loneliness is a real thing, especially for people who are more outgoing/social. Here's what I've found works for me: 1. work at a coworking space/coffee shop. Be around people. Get out of the house some. 2. Watercooler conversations don't happen automatically. I try to schedule a coffee meeting 1x/week with someone. 3. If you manage a team, you need to und…

One of my fiancee's professors at Kellogg was all about performing a nightly reflection on his day, and the example questionnaire on your website reminds me substantially of the ideas he was preaching. I think his name was Harry Kraemer, you might find some inspiration in the stuff he's talking about.

Thanks for the recommendation! Will take a look.

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#143

Post by taurath »

d357r0y3r wrote: post #10

Great article that really highlights the negative aspects of Digital Nomadism. I work with some folks that do this, and when we talk about it, they can't understand why I would want to just stay in my medium-sized city and travel a few times a year. Like, why wouldn't you want to spend 6 months a year in Thailand? It's such a no-brainer! And for me, it's just sort of mind-boggling that you'd jet set around the world.…

> I work with some folks that do this, and when we talk about it, they can't understand why I would want to just stay in my medium-sized city and travel a few times a year.

I think the biggest problem is that if you DON'T want that, then society really isn't set up to allow you do that at all. Society is entirely set up for you to stay in one place, and begrudgingly gives you a few weeks vacation to see somewhere else. Even in tech, if you want to have a good chance of making industry median money you either need to be very specialized or live in one area. At the same time, even when the butts are in seats, half of meetings involve 2 or 3 different locations anyway.

Of course, what you value and want to get out of life may be very different than the average nomad.

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#144

Post by volkk »

sergefaguet wrote: post #141

the article highlights very avoidable problems. i have lived completely remotely for the last 2 years – hotels, different countries etc., have not spend over 60 days in a single location at a time. i think it is amazing once you know how to do certain things well: - have a very well-adapted set of routines. - know how to maintain deep relationships everywhere - appreciate different places for different things - are b…

i read your article, and im praying that it's satire. and if not, i'm extremely concerned that it has 34k "claps" or whatever you call it on medium

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#145

Post by GFischer »

acchow wrote: post #99
d357r0y3r wrote: post #10

Great article that really highlights the negative aspects of Digital Nomadism. I work with some folks that do this, and when we talk about it, they can't understand why I would want to just stay in my medium-sized city and travel a few times a year. Like, why wouldn't you want to spend 6 months a year in Thailand? It's such a no-brainer! And for me, it's just sort of mind-boggling that you'd jet set around the world.…

People glorify traveling way, way too much. It's even trickled down into actual work. New grads from college somehow think management consulting's traveling every week is a fancy perk. What?

I'm almost in my 40s and I was overjoyed when my company offered me the chance to travel for work.

Not everyone can afford traveling (I agree that's not as much true in the U.S.). And staying in fancy hotels is cool.

Once you have a family that changes quickly (I don't have children), but for 20 somethings it must be a real perk.

Edit: sibling comments says it wears out after 4-6 months.

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#147

Post by nerder92 »

devy wrote: post #2

What strikes me the most was this line: Encouraging people to use sick days for mental health when they need them. Can't agree more, because mental health is as important as physical health. And, Finding work-life balance isn’t about prioritizing your mental wellbeing at the expense of your work. It’s acknowledging that, in the long-term, all areas of your life are better off when you put your mental health first.

But how can you evaluate when you need to rest because of mental health recovery?

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#148

Post by cryptozeus »

subsection1h wrote: post #115
cryptozeus wrote: post #114

Great article and good discussion going on in the comments. I personally am going through very interesting transition. My company has decided to let people work remote or from the office so I have 2 days work from office (T,W) and 3 days work from home (M,Th,F) schedule. Here is my observation for last 2 years (working in bay area) Days I am working from home - I have better energy in the morning and evening due to n…

You "focus on personal diet" less when working from home? At home, you have 100% control over all the ingredients in all your meals. When I worked in a office years ago, I frequently ate donuts and pizza because they were free. LOL.

I know its crazy but at office I have whole food and other great options next door. I just walk over there to eat, at home I have to cook the meal or do doordash which does not have good options

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#149

Post by xabuq »

xfitm3 wrote: post #110
acchow wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People glorify traveling way, way too much. It's even trickled down into actual work. New grads from college somehow think management consulting's traveling every week is a fancy perk. What?

Traveling is like going to meetings. If you don't have a lot of work to do - great. If it gets in the way of accomplishing something good it becomes a pain point.

But there's also where you have to travel.

Middle of fucking nowhere? Oh joy.

Hot? Cold? Dangerous? Yeah, nah. Not so much.

Re: What Most Remote Companies Don’t Tell You About Remote Work

#150

Post by xyd »

We are the generation who will be responsible for introducing this new paradigm. We are the generation with all the tools and platforms. Let’s try to avoid adding unneeded layers of skepticism just because people can’t or didn’t think it through.

I suggest folks to try it with a critical mindset in evaluating the productivity and social interaction. With a mature sense of responsibility. If you miss meetings or don’t deliver, you’re making it harder for others who know how and love to do it. Be mindful, either if you’re a worker or a company.

I have been working remotely for few months every year. My director was skeptical initially. I told him that if I didn’t act responsibly, that would have been my last time. That happened almost 10 years ago. It’s really on us, folks.

For people that feel alienated, well, social (and social network) skills can be improved and put us on the stage of this kaleidoscopic beautiful world. : )

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