These days, people are starting to understand and even embrace remote work, but back in the early 2000s, it was a source of consternation for many a customer. For instance, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) was once unwilling to accept a proposal from us because we didn’t have an office.
FAA: “So let me get this right, you work…in a cafe?”
Me: “Yeah, that’s right. The whole team does. Mostly they work from home.”
FAA: “Okay, but where is your office?”
Me: “I don’t go to an office, because we don’t have one.”
FAA: “That is going to be a problem.”
Fortunately these types of conversations—where I have to explain our distributed, officeless working model to a dismayed prospective client—are quickly fading in our rearview mirrors. Since this time, companies like Cisco have led a movement that’s opened up remote work as a credible option in the American corporate world. In fact, they’re unequivocal about it: distributed teams are the future of work.
To be honest, when we started Modern Tribe, our motivation was fairly simple. We wanted to have options for how we spent our days, which of course becomes how we spend our lives. Years ago, that meant I wanted the flexibility to surf when the waves were good and the tide was low. These days, I still surf most days—and I also treasure being present for my wife and kids.
Remote work has well-documented advantages, for both companies and employees. But if you ask me, the greatest benefit of remote work is that it allows you to design your life—to live with purpose and intention. What could be more important than that?
We’re always looking for people who want to live well and do good work as a part of our distributed team. If you want to learn more about remote work—the challenges and the benefits; the whys, hows and whats; and my advice for breaking into the remote workforce—you might be interested in this video, in which I’m interviewed about remote life by Nomad City.
Enjoy!