So, with reports of another ice storm possibly headed our way (we are in TX btw), along with the absolute havoc winter weather has wreaked throughout so much of the U.S. this winter, I’ve been thinking about what a difference a few years can make…
Not all that long ago, a winter storm meant I was dead in the water productivity-wise. I couldn’t get out and see clients. All my systems/info were at my office (which I couldn’t safely get to)! And even if I had the necessary contact with me, you didn’t want to make business calls from your home phone.
Fast forward to earlier this month. Our “Ice Day” was one of the most productive days I’ve had in a long time. I still couldn’t get out, of course; but I had access to everything I needed! I locked myself in my home office, hunkered down, and focused. For like 6 hours!!! This worked because all our systems are virtual. I have access from anywhere with a web connection, which is practically anywhere. And there happens to be a damn good one at my house. (Thanks, AT&T U-verse!) Plus, with VoIP technology, you can call from all sorts of places, from your laptop, smartphone, maybe even your tablet, and it looks like you’re sitting at your desk. Not only that, but enough other people are also using these solutions that you can actually reach someone. Someone who is also probably sitting at home in sweatpants, but creating the illusion that they’re in the office, too. All through the miracle of modern science. And with things like Google Voice, ZoHo, Dropbox, Sugarsync, Google Apps, Office 365, etc. it doesn’t even have to cost an arm and a leg. Heck, some of those are free.
Guess what? This stuff isn’t just good for ice days. It’s 2014. You pretty much have to be productive and effective outside the office. Do you know ANYONE who goes to the office and sits at a desk for 8 hours a day anymore? Yeah, me neither.
A little research and some cheap/free tools can turn you into a remote beast!
Enjoy the weather.
