I love remote working this obsession started about ten years ago when I was
started about ten years ago when I was
started about ten years ago when I was living in California and I belonged to a
living in California and I belonged to a
living in California and I belonged to a social group that was interested in the
social group that was interested in the
social group that was interested in the future technology and staying healthy we
future technology and staying healthy we
future technology and staying healthy we would meet up by going hiking together
would meet up by going hiking together
would meet up by going hiking together every week and there is this one guy in
every week and there is this one guy in
every week and there is this one guy in the group who was particularly
the group who was particularly
the group who was particularly interesting to me because he was trying
interesting to me because he was trying
interesting to me because he was trying to solve a strange problem he didn’t
to solve a strange problem he didn’t
to solve a strange problem he didn’t want to die now there are a lot of
want to die now there are a lot of
want to die now there are a lot of people out there who are working on ways
people out there who are working on ways
people out there who are working on ways to live forever some practice calorie
to live forever some practice calorie
to live forever some practice calorie restriction which is eating a very small
restriction which is eating a very small
restriction which is eating a very small amount of food some research cryonics
amount of food some research cryonics
amount of food some research cryonics which is freezing the body to be brought
which is freezing the body to be brought
which is freezing the body to be brought back to life later and as weird as some
back to life later and as weird as some
back to life later and as weird as some of this might sound the problem for my
of this might sound the problem for my
of this might sound the problem for my friend was that none of these people
friend was that none of these people
friend was that none of these people were talking to each other and sharing
were talking to each other and sharing
were talking to each other and sharing the results of their experiments so he
the results of their experiments so he
the results of their experiments so he decided he was going to build an online
decided he was going to build an online
decided he was going to build an online project management tool so that these
project management tool so that these
project management tool so that these people could share data collaborate and
people could share data collaborate and
people could share data collaborate and solve this pesky problem of not dying
solve this pesky problem of not dying
solve this pesky problem of not dying now in 2006 these tools were not so
now in 2006 these tools were not so
now in 2006 these tools were not so common like they are today so when he
common like they are today so when he
common like they are today so when he asked me to join his company I didn’t
asked me to join his company I didn’t
asked me to join his company I didn’t hesitate
hesitate
hesitate I loved the team I loved the vision and
I loved the team I loved the vision and
I loved the team I loved the vision and for me it was a dream job now three
for me it was a dream job now three
for me it was a dream job now three years later and this tool changed my
years later and this tool changed my
years later and this tool changed my life I was working at home when I got a
life I was working at home when I got a
life I was working at home when I got a phone call from a number I didn’t
phone call from a number I didn’t
phone call from a number I didn’t recognize it was the saxophone player
recognize it was the saxophone player
recognize it was the saxophone player for my all-time favorite band the
for my all-time favorite band the
for my all-time favorite band the legendary pink dots now I’d met the band
legendary pink dots now I’d met the band
legendary pink dots now I’d met the band years earlier and told them that they
years earlier and told them that they
years earlier and told them that they should call me if they ever needed
should call me if they ever needed
should call me if they ever needed anything but I never expected them to
anything but I never expected them to
anything but I never expected them to actually call it turns out they needed
actually call it turns out they needed
actually call it turns out they needed someone to go on tour with them to help
someone to go on tour with them to help
someone to go on tour with them to help seed sell CDs and merchandise I tried to
seed sell CDs and merchandise I tried to
seed sell CDs and merchandise I tried to act all cool and calm as I explained
act all cool and calm as I explained
act all cool and calm as I explained that I was gonna have to talk to my boss
that I was gonna have to talk to my boss
that I was gonna have to talk to my boss and arrange a few things but inside I
and arrange a few things but inside I
and arrange a few things but inside I was totally jumping up and down and
was totally jumping up and down and
was totally jumping up and down and screaming
screaming
screaming so the next day I wish Lee went into the
so the next day I wish Lee went into the
so the next day I wish Lee went into the office and approached my boss and I told
office and approached my boss and I told
office and approached my boss and I told him about my dilemma on the one hand I
him about my dilemma on the one hand I
him about my dilemma on the one hand I didn’t want to lose my dream job I
didn’t want to lose my dream job I
didn’t want to lose my dream job I really loved it and on the other hand
really loved it and on the other hand
really loved it and on the other hand there was no way that I was not gonna go
there was no way that I was not gonna go
there was no way that I was not gonna go on tour with my favorite band luckily
on tour with my favorite band luckily
on tour with my favorite band luckily for me he said I built this tool so that
for me he said I built this tool so that
for me he said I built this tool so that we can work from anywhere so here’s a
we can work from anywhere so here’s a
we can work from anywhere so here’s a mobile router have a great time and make
mobile router have a great time and make
mobile router have a great time and make sure to get your work done so during the
sure to get your work done so during the
sure to get your work done so during the day while we were driving long distances
day while we were driving long distances
day while we were driving long distances to get to the next venue I used the
to get to the next venue I used the
to get to the next venue I used the mobile router to log in and work with my
mobile router to log in and work with my
mobile router to log in and work with my team online and at night I sold CDs and
team online and at night I sold CDs and
team online and at night I sold CDs and t-shirts and I met all the fellow fans
t-shirts and I met all the fellow fans
t-shirts and I met all the fellow fans and I had one of the best times of my
and I had one of the best times of my
and I had one of the best times of my whole life and it was a total AHA
whole life and it was a total AHA
whole life and it was a total AHA experience that I could work from
experience that I could work from
experience that I could work from anywhere even a van for ages people have
anywhere even a van for ages people have
anywhere even a van for ages people have been working 9:00 to 5:00 but mobile
been working 9:00 to 5:00 but mobile
been working 9:00 to 5:00 but mobile devices centralized data and all kinds
devices centralized data and all kinds
devices centralized data and all kinds of apps and software are making it
of apps and software are making it
of apps and software are making it easier for us to connect with each other
easier for us to connect with each other
easier for us to connect with each other no matter where we are now not everybody
no matter where we are now not everybody
no matter where we are now not everybody is using the opportunity to run off with
is using the opportunity to run off with
is using the opportunity to run off with their favorite bands or travel to exotic
their favorite bands or travel to exotic
their favorite bands or travel to exotic locations it turns out most people just
locations it turns out most people just
locations it turns out most people just want a little flexibility in their
want a little flexibility in their
want a little flexibility in their schedule in fact most people prefer to
schedule in fact most people prefer to
schedule in fact most people prefer to work a hybrid schedule of some days at
work a hybrid schedule of some days at
work a hybrid schedule of some days at the office with colleagues and some days
the office with colleagues and some days
the office with colleagues and some days alone
alone
alone and the reason productivity I think it’s
and the reason productivity I think it’s
and the reason productivity I think it’s funny because a lot of managers won’t
funny because a lot of managers won’t
funny because a lot of managers won’t allow remote working because they’re
allow remote working because they’re
allow remote working because they’re afraid that the work won’t get done but
afraid that the work won’t get done but
afraid that the work won’t get done but one of the top reasons that people
one of the top reasons that people
one of the top reasons that people request flexibility is in order to be
request flexibility is in order to be
request flexibility is in order to be more productive remote workers aren’t
more productive remote workers aren’t
more productive remote workers aren’t trying to escape doing work we’re trying
trying to escape doing work we’re trying
trying to escape doing work we’re trying to escape the day prison we want to use
to escape the day prison we want to use
to escape the day prison we want to use technology to make better use of our
technology to make better use of our
technology to make better use of our time so we can spend more time doing
time so we can spend more time doing
time so we can spend more time doing things that we love and less time stuck
things that we love and less time stuck
things that we love and less time stuck in traffic but it’s not just about
in traffic but it’s not just about
in traffic but it’s not just about freedom for the employees
freedom for the employees
freedom for the employees companies have a lot to gain as well for
companies have a lot to gain as well for
companies have a lot to gain as well for centuries companies have been hiring the
centuries companies have been hiring the
centuries companies have been hiring the most qualified worker that just happened
most qualified worker that just happened
most qualified worker that just happened to be in a particular location this
to be in a particular location this
to be in a particular location this doesn’t mean that the teams are
doesn’t mean that the teams are
doesn’t mean that the teams are populated by the best and the brightest
populated by the best and the brightest
populated by the best and the brightest just the folks that are nearby or
just the folks that are nearby or
just the folks that are nearby or willing to relocate now not only can
willing to relocate now not only can
willing to relocate now not only can companies get the best and the brightest
companies get the best and the brightest
companies get the best and the brightest they can also get people at a lower cost
they can also get people at a lower cost
they can also get people at a lower cost a software developer in San Francisco
a software developer in San Francisco
a software developer in San Francisco costs significantly more than a
costs significantly more than a
costs significantly more than a developer in Vietnam and that is revenue
developer in Vietnam and that is revenue
developer in Vietnam and that is revenue companies can’t ignore more than that
companies can’t ignore more than that
companies can’t ignore more than that though flexibility allows companies to
though flexibility allows companies to
though flexibility allows companies to keep their existing employees in a
keep their existing employees in a
keep their existing employees in a recent survey just this year 60% of the
recent survey just this year 60% of the
recent survey just this year 60% of the people said that they were quitting or
people said that they were quitting or
people said that they were quitting or they had quit or they were going to quit
they had quit or they were going to quit
they had quit or they were going to quit their jobs that didn’t offer flexibility
their jobs that didn’t offer flexibility
their jobs that didn’t offer flexibility one of my friends has to hire someone to
one of my friends has to hire someone to
one of my friends has to hire someone to take his daughter to school in the
take his daughter to school in the
take his daughter to school in the morning because the office where he
morning because the office where he
morning because the office where he works
works
works requires that he’s there before school
requires that he’s there before school
requires that he’s there before school starts even though there’s no particular
starts even though there’s no particular
starts even though there’s no particular reason that he needs to be there so you
reason that he needs to be there so you
reason that he needs to be there so you can imagine the loyalty that he feels
can imagine the loyalty that he feels
can imagine the loyalty that he feels for that company for the last three
for that company for the last three
for that company for the last three years I’ve been interviewing people on
years I’ve been interviewing people on
years I’ve been interviewing people on my podcast about how to bridge distance
my podcast about how to bridge distance
my podcast about how to bridge distance globally everyone from software
globally everyone from software
globally everyone from software developers to HR directors managers
developers to HR directors managers
developers to HR directors managers neuroscientists even a few folks at NASA
neuroscientists even a few folks at NASA
neuroscientists even a few folks at NASA I’ve been collecting their best
I’ve been collecting their best
I’ve been collecting their best practices and tips for how to make
practices and tips for how to make
practices and tips for how to make remote working not just workable but
remote working not just workable but
remote working not just workable but undeniably productive and I want to
undeniably productive and I want to
undeniably productive and I want to share a couple of the tips with you
share a couple of the tips with you
share a couple of the tips with you today as well as show off some of my
today as well as show off some of my
today as well as show off some of my favorite tools that I found along the
favorite tools that I found along the
favorite tools that I found along the way now to start with and this is gonna
way now to start with and this is gonna
way now to start with and this is gonna sound very basic but it’s kind of an
sound very basic but it’s kind of an
sound very basic but it’s kind of an issue everyone on a remote team needs to
issue everyone on a remote team needs to
issue everyone on a remote team needs to have a rock and fast internet connection
have a rock and fast internet connection
have a rock and fast internet connection we think we want to be in the same room
we think we want to be in the same room
we think we want to be in the same room with people but what we really want is
with people but what we really want is
with people but what we really want is fast communication just like talking to
fast communication just like talking to
fast communication just like talking to the person next to you and we can only
the person next to you and we can only
the person next to you and we can only have that when we have a solid stable
have that when we have a solid stable
have that when we have a solid stable reliable internet connection if we want
reliable internet connection if we want
reliable internet connection if we want to improve the conversation even more we
to improve the conversation even more we
to improve the conversation even more we put on a headset
put on a headset
put on a headset and minimize the background noise the
and minimize the background noise the
and minimize the background noise the barking dog’ and the coffee shop sounds
barking dog’ and the coffee shop sounds
barking dog’ and the coffee shop sounds they’re cute at first but they quickly
they’re cute at first but they quickly
they’re cute at first but they quickly get in the way of a productive
get in the way of a productive
get in the way of a productive conversation when we work together at
conversation when we work together at
conversation when we work together at the office we know what each other are
the office we know what each other are
the office we know what each other are doing because well we can see and we
doing because well we can see and we
doing because well we can see and we hear each other but remote teams the way
hear each other but remote teams the way
hear each other but remote teams the way that we know at each other are doing is
that we know at each other are doing is
that we know at each other are doing is by working out loud this is the online
by working out loud this is the online
by working out loud this is the online version of working in an office instead
version of working in an office instead
version of working in an office instead of walking by people’s cubicles and
of walking by people’s cubicles and
of walking by people’s cubicles and seeing what they’re working on remote
seeing what they’re working on remote
seeing what they’re working on remote teams use tools to show each other what
teams use tools to show each other what
teams use tools to show each other what we’re doing most teams have some sort of
we’re doing most teams have some sort of
we’re doing most teams have some sort of a group instant message system so that
a group instant message system so that
a group instant message system so that they can talk to each other all day but
they can talk to each other all day but
they can talk to each other all day but one of the simplest and most powerful
one of the simplest and most powerful
one of the simplest and most powerful tools that remote teams have at their
tools that remote teams have at their
tools that remote teams have at their disposal is the webcam now I know I know
disposal is the webcam now I know I know
disposal is the webcam now I know I know a lot of people are cringing I can see
a lot of people are cringing I can see
a lot of people are cringing I can see it we don’t like turning the video
it we don’t like turning the video
it we don’t like turning the video cameras on but the sense of team and the
cameras on but the sense of team and the
cameras on but the sense of team and the camaraderie that we get when we see each
camaraderie that we get when we see each
camaraderie that we get when we see each other is way too powerful to ignore one
other is way too powerful to ignore one
other is way too powerful to ignore one of the teams at Spotify uses a Google
of the teams at Spotify uses a Google
of the teams at Spotify uses a Google hangout to work together they’re a
hangout to work together they’re a
hangout to work together they’re a remote team and when their time zones
remote team and when their time zones
remote team and when their time zones overlap they turned the video on with a
overlap they turned the video on with a
overlap they turned the video on with a sound off so this simulates what it’s
sound off so this simulates what it’s
sound off so this simulates what it’s like to be in the same room together and
like to be in the same room together and
like to be in the same room together and when somebody has a question or wants to
when somebody has a question or wants to
when somebody has a question or wants to say something
say something
say something they just unmute themselves now my
they just unmute themselves now my
they just unmute themselves now my remote colleague Gretchen and I we do
remote colleague Gretchen and I we do
remote colleague Gretchen and I we do exactly the opposite we have the video
exactly the opposite we have the video
exactly the opposite we have the video off because it’s too distracting but we
off because it’s too distracting but we
off because it’s too distracting but we have the sound on so we can hear each
have the sound on so we can hear each
have the sound on so we can hear each other and this simulates what it’s like
other and this simulates what it’s like
other and this simulates what it’s like to sit side-by-side and then there’s
to sit side-by-side and then there’s
to sit side-by-side and then there’s some wacky teams like the happy Mele
some wacky teams like the happy Mele
some wacky teams like the happy Mele team who used their webcams to have
team who used their webcams to have
team who used their webcams to have virtual dance parties so lots of things
virtual dance parties so lots of things
virtual dance parties so lots of things are possible
are possible
are possible then there are virtual offices and it’s
then there are virtual offices and it’s
then there are virtual offices and it’s exactly what it sounds like it’s an
exactly what it sounds like it’s an
exactly what it sounds like it’s an office that you go to online when you
office that you go to online when you
office that you go to online when you log in you see a floor plan with a bunch
log in you see a floor plan with a bunch
log in you see a floor plan with a bunch of rooms and the avatars of your fellow
of rooms and the avatars of your fellow
of rooms and the avatars of your fellow logged in colleagues you can move
logged in colleagues you can move
logged in colleagues you can move yourself from room to room just by
yourself from room to room just by
yourself from room to room just by double-clicking on a room but you can
double-clicking on a room but you can
double-clicking on a room but you can only see and hear the people that are in
only see and hear the people that are in
only see and hear the people that are in the same room
the same room
the same room with you just like at the office being
with you just like at the office being
with you just like at the office being able to see where everybody is on this
able to see where everybody is on this
able to see where everybody is on this virtual floorplan gives us a real sense
virtual floorplan gives us a real sense
virtual floorplan gives us a real sense of togetherness and it makes our remote
of togetherness and it makes our remote
of togetherness and it makes our remote team more accessible so instead of
team more accessible so instead of
team more accessible so instead of scheduling a time to talk to somebody we
scheduling a time to talk to somebody we
scheduling a time to talk to somebody we just knock on their virtual door and if
just knock on their virtual door and if
just knock on their virtual door and if you thought virtual offices were far out
you thought virtual offices were far out
you thought virtual offices were far out let me introduce you to telepresence
this simple device allows me to beam in
this simple device allows me to beam in just like on skype except I can move
just like on skype except I can move
just like on skype except I can move myself from side to side or I can nod my
myself from side to side or I can nod my
myself from side to side or I can nod my head up and down now this may not seem
head up and down now this may not seem
head up and down now this may not seem like very much but this movement has a
like very much but this movement has a
like very much but this movement has a very powerful effect for the person
very powerful effect for the person
very powerful effect for the person beaming in I can add it if I’m in an
beaming in I can add it if I’m in an
beaming in I can add it if I’m in an in-person meeting I can move myself to
in-person meeting I can move myself to
in-person meeting I can move myself to see who’s talking or maybe I just want
see who’s talking or maybe I just want
see who’s talking or maybe I just want to look at the whiteboard and for the
to look at the whiteboard and for the
to look at the whiteboard and for the people who are in the flesh this
people who are in the flesh this
people who are in the flesh this movement actually humanizes the person
movement actually humanizes the person
movement actually humanizes the person and gives them a sense of presence in
and gives them a sense of presence in
and gives them a sense of presence in the room and of course it opens up a
the room and of course it opens up a
the room and of course it opens up a whole new form of office humor now other
whole new form of office humor now other
whole new form of office humor now other telepresence robots are bigger and
telepresence robots are bigger and
telepresence robots are bigger and drivable so you can beam into what is
drivable so you can beam into what is
drivable so you can beam into what is basically a tablet on wheels and drive
basically a tablet on wheels and drive
basically a tablet on wheels and drive yourself around using the arrow keys on
yourself around using the arrow keys on
yourself around using the arrow keys on your keyboard half of the people at the
your keyboard half of the people at the
your keyboard half of the people at the suitable technologies office actually
suitable technologies office actually
suitable technologies office actually beam in to work every day and if you
beam in to work every day and if you
beam in to work every day and if you were wondering what it’s like to say hi
were wondering what it’s like to say hi
were wondering what it’s like to say hi to somebody in a robot we can’t shake
to somebody in a robot we can’t shake
to somebody in a robot we can’t shake hands of course what we do instead is
hands of course what we do instead is
hands of course what we do instead is much more 2d with fist bump so it’s
much more 2d with fist bump so it’s
much more 2d with fist bump so it’s clear that the technology has opened up
clear that the technology has opened up
clear that the technology has opened up all kinds of new opportunities for
all kinds of new opportunities for
all kinds of new opportunities for work-life freedom and what’s so
work-life freedom and what’s so
work-life freedom and what’s so particularly exciting for me is that now
particularly exciting for me is that now
particularly exciting for me is that now more than ever we can work on the things
more than ever we can work on the things
more than ever we can work on the things that we like the most while living the
that we like the most while living the
that we like the most while living the lifestyles that we want I mean I got to
lifestyles that we want I mean I got to
lifestyles that we want I mean I got to go on tour with my favorite band while
go on tour with my favorite band while
go on tour with my favorite band while keeping my day job and my colleague Sam
keeping my day job and my colleague Sam
keeping my day job and my colleague Sam she’s pursuing her dream of becoming a
she’s pursuing her dream of becoming a
she’s pursuing her dream of becoming a war journalist in South Sudan while
war journalist in South Sudan while
war journalist in South Sudan while doing mark
doing mark
doing mark for a remote company I want this
for a remote company I want this
for a remote company I want this opportunity and this freedom for
opportunity and this freedom for
opportunity and this freedom for everyone
everyone
everyone many governments have put permits and
many governments have put permits and
many governments have put permits and visas in place in order to restrict
visas in place in order to restrict
visas in place in order to restrict where people can do their work but in
where people can do their work but in
where people can do their work but in the age of borderless technology these
the age of borderless technology these
the age of borderless technology these restrictions are quickly becoming
restrictions are quickly becoming
restrictions are quickly becoming outdated and I’ll end with one of my
outdated and I’ll end with one of my
outdated and I’ll end with one of my favorite an example from one of my
favorite an example from one of my
favorite an example from one of my favorite interviews and that was with
favorite interviews and that was with
favorite interviews and that was with the our loop team in 2015
the our loop team in 2015
the our loop team in 2015 SpaceX announced a competition for the
SpaceX announced a competition for the
SpaceX announced a competition for the Hyperloop pod so they wanted someone to
Hyperloop pod so they wanted someone to
Hyperloop pod so they wanted someone to design a Hyperloop pod now the Hyperloop
design a Hyperloop pod now the Hyperloop
design a Hyperloop pod now the Hyperloop is a super-fast transportation system
is a super-fast transportation system
is a super-fast transportation system that can take a seven hour commute and
that can take a seven hour commute and
that can take a seven hour commute and squeeze it into 30 minutes someone on
squeeze it into 30 minutes someone on
squeeze it into 30 minutes someone on the online platform reddit posted online
the online platform reddit posted online
the online platform reddit posted online that he wanted to join this competition
that he wanted to join this competition
that he wanted to join this competition and asked if there was anybody else who
and asked if there was anybody else who
and asked if there was anybody else who was interested one year later with a
was interested one year later with a
was interested one year later with a team of over 400 remote volunteers from
team of over 400 remote volunteers from
team of over 400 remote volunteers from all over the world most of whom who had
all over the world most of whom who had
all over the world most of whom who had never met each other
never met each other
never met each other they came in finalists in the
they came in finalists in the
they came in finalists in the competition so you can see that we no
competition so you can see that we no
competition so you can see that we no longer need to ask for permission in
longer need to ask for permission in
longer need to ask for permission in order to solve important problems we can
order to solve important problems we can
order to solve important problems we can take solutions into our own hands from
take solutions into our own hands from
take solutions into our own hands from everywhere so maybe you just want a
everywhere so maybe you just want a
everywhere so maybe you just want a little flexibility in your schedule so
little flexibility in your schedule so
little flexibility in your schedule so you can avoid the commuter train for a
you can avoid the commuter train for a
you can avoid the commuter train for a triathlon or walk your kids to school in
triathlon or walk your kids to school in
triathlon or walk your kids to school in the morning and maybe your company needs
the morning and maybe your company needs
the morning and maybe your company needs to expand because you can’t find the
to expand because you can’t find the
to expand because you can’t find the people locally and maybe you want to
people locally and maybe you want to
people locally and maybe you want to design a Hyperloop pod or end aging with
design a Hyperloop pod or end aging with
design a Hyperloop pod or end aging with the current technology it is absolutely
the current technology it is absolutely
the current technology it is absolutely possible to work online as if we’re in
possible to work online as if we’re in
possible to work online as if we’re in the office together and it’s up to us to
the office together and it’s up to us to
the office together and it’s up to us to optimize the technology and learn these
optimize the technology and learn these
optimize the technology and learn these new ways of working I want everybody to
new ways of working I want everybody to
new ways of working I want everybody to be able to work on the things that they
be able to work on the things that they
be able to work on the things that they love the most and I want companies to be
love the most and I want companies to be
love the most and I want companies to be able to hire people who love what they
able to hire people who love what they
able to hire people who love what they do versus people who are just doing
do versus people who are just doing
do versus people who are just doing their jobs because I think that it’s
their jobs because I think that it’s
their jobs because I think that it’s this kind of collaboration that gives us
this kind of collaboration that gives us
this kind of collaboration that gives us superpowers
superpowers
superpowers thank you
”
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