What I Do for a Living
I no longer work in an office. It’s been years. Now my desk is glass. It sits in my living room in Chicago behind a Chinese rice paper screen. Out the windows behind me is Lake Michigan and, in the wee hours when I have a chance, I can look at the water and think about what I’ll write next.
My office is the Internet. It’s inside my computer and inside yours. It’s open 24/7. My friends will attest that I’m almost here. I like it when you stop by or interrupt. It’s kind of lonely when no one’s around.
When folks ask me what I do every day, I say I write about thinking, and writing, and strategy. They usually get what I mean by that. But what I really do is try to share what I’ve learned and have fun while I’m doing it. It’s a rule of business and of life —
If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.
What work did you do that was fun today?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
You might have heard of my new service for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and folks who are forging a path of their own. I’m calling it PVM, the Perfect Virtual Manager. We all need Managers. It’s perfect because you get to decide your manager’s job description. What could more perfect than that?
I’ve been out of the office environment for about a year now. However, I have yet to learn to describe what I am doing as working – which I should.
For example, if a friend calls me on the phone, I’ll say something to the effect that I’m surfing or otherwise downplay what I’m doing. I guess it stems from the fact that people don’t really know what I’m doing if I try to describe it.
I really need to change this.
I got to draw a picture – that was fun. I had to take a concept that I’ve been working on (in words) and put it in a picture.
While doing that I also had to feed the dogs, give the rabbit her antibiotics (yes, sometimes bunnies get sick), and move some laundry through – the pleasures (and occasional pitfalls) of doing it all at once!!! At the end of the day though – it’s all done.
Hi Grokodile,
What is that makes us not value our work at home? If I paid you, I’d want you to call it work for sure. You bet I would.
There’s an interesting psychology behind all of this.
Hey, Ann,
I’ve seen those dogs and I don’t know how you pull it off, making gorgeous deliverables while they’re telling you to pay attention to them. You’re one powerhouse!
Grokodile,
I think that we work harder at home than we did in the office and yet, we try to make it look like we work less — why is that?
Today I got to drive an hour down the road and crawl around a ship. Lots of ladders. It was a good workout! 🙂
Hey, Chris.
That does sound like fun!
It’s funny. I’ve always had somewhat unusual jobs that others sometimes see as exotic, though I’ve yet to have one that really gets me fired up day after day.
Don’t get me wrong, I love sunrises and they are especially lovely from the deck of a ship.
But even the exotic can become dull routine through repetition if we aren’t careful.
Yeah, part of the fun of working is making sure we pay attention to having it. You just can’t have fun if you’re too busy overlooking what’s fun about what you’re doing.
I often work the first part of the morning at home. This morning for instance I was enjoying my first cup of coffee, still in bed while talking to my new high powered blog-website-marketing strategy Queen.
Works for me.
Hey Jeff!
Great to see you here!
You’re too much. Glad to hear that you’re having fun! 🙂
I have been working from home for 10 years and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!! I love the flexibility and even more I love the challenge – i.e., no work = no pay. I love the path it has lead me down, the new people I have virtually met and have now been working for and with for years. I am ever so grateful that my kids have been able to stay at home with me and that they have been very understanding that sometimes I have to take a call and they can’t talk to me then. Ah, I could go on and on.
Technology makes it all possible.
The 50 minutes I spend most mornings writing a blog post or working on my book are really fun. I tune everything else out and work straight thru. It’s really fun to see how much I can accomplish when I’m single tasking.
Now if I can just transform the rest of my multitasking day…
BTW…I think a window overlooking a lake might be a little too distracting for me… But it does sound really cool!
John
Char,
It sounds like you’ve found the fun in what you do. Technology is a breakthrough for you.
Hi John,
Single tasking is all that I do these days.
AND I sit with my back to the view. 🙂
See, I work clientsite a few afternoons a week because I cannot deal with the isolation of working at home. Went back to school too, while I’m still 20-something (and tuition is an expense!) and not much older than your daytime undergrads.
I’m so much happier working with people in person. (Mind you I am networked with people online to the hilt, but it’s not enough. Also that whole single and live alone with dog thing doesn’t help.)
Fun was getting a phone call as I was leaving to go in about lunchtime asking me if I wanted sushi. 🙂
Excellent post, Liz and one of my favorite topics 🙂 Your home office sound wonderful. Mine’s always a mess, has at least one child traipsing through every hour, and usually contains a large dog. But I wouldnââ¬â¢t trade it for anything. Well maybe a more comfortable chair would be nice.
Hey Candice!
I understand what you’re saying. The interaction and collaboration are what gets my brain ticking. That’s why I had to make this blog one where people would be sure to come, where they’d have opinions and tell me what they think about things.
Ho, there! Tony!
Thank you! It’s just a little post that I thought would get things started. Let you guys have a little glimpse of why I like being with you so much.
I can see why you like your space too. 🙂
Great post, Liz.
I’ve been working from home for about 6 years, never been happier…..however I occasionally miss office/school life. I miss most is the interactions with my staff, students and the jokes my ex-students crack.
There are many times I’m tempted to go back to office life for the sick of having audible conversations, the smell of bad cologne and tasteless coffee. I even went for a few interviews and each time I ended up feeling more disgusted than ever.
I’m always asked “Why the 6 years of absence?” since I’m not a mom. When I told the interviewers that I need time off to write on blogs and books, they gave me an awkward look as if I’m either a criminal or mentally ill person.
I may feel a bit lonely working at home but far from those labels. Sometimes I wonder if these interviewers/employers have got any brain at all.
BTW, Mothers aren’t the only person who need long absence from work force.
Hello Renée!
I think that we could all use a respite from the work force. Then we might appreciate it. Maybe we should work like we go to school for only 9 months a year and have three months where we work at home. That would give everyone the best of both worlds.
Come to think about it, I don’t know the salary and work I’m interested in justified my time.
The problem when I work from home for a long time, I get quite complacent with the things I’ve been dealing with – such as freedom to allocate my tasks according to my liking.
Yes, Renee, I understand about that. It’s nice to choose the work that suits our talents and our spirit. That’s when we do our best, I think. Don’t you?
I couldn’t agree with you more, Liz.
“…choose the work that suits our talents and our spirit.” Bummer, why didn’t I think of that? 🙂
Now my questions to you …
1. How do I overcome that limited conversations with others, besides spouse and dogs.
2. How do I conquer that “loneliness” of working from home, besides taking breaks to places I frequent.
I love working from home but the two things that I dislike most are limited conversation and loneliness.
Limited conversation – I don’t mean talking aimlessly whole day long just for the sake of it.
Loneliness – I understand that we can also feel lonely when surrounded by people we know. I think you know what I’m referring to when home office is concerned.
That’s why I’ve chosen the jobs I’ve had. I wouldn’t deal well with the whole cubicle life bit, and I don’t like someone looking over my shoulder, so even though I work for someone else, I’ve able to find positions where I work alone and set my own routine during my worktime. Even when I was in the Air Force I found a job where I worked nights in a locked building by myself. The only time I saw anyone was in my off time.
Hi Liz, What a wonderful life!
I’m still commuting to a day-job. But I’m hoping to have a home-based business eventually. That’s my plan and dream.
Renee,
Those are the reasons that I started my service, because we all need feedback and interaction. . . .
I listen to music alot and climb into my writing deeply. It makes for a person who spends too much time living inside her head and your computer. Sometimes it skews my world view. I see things better than they really are. 🙂
Rick,
I understand what you’re saying. I’d rather be in a small space by myself than have the biggest office with someone else. It’s not that I mind their company. It’s that I don’t want to worry about them worrying about me. Too much over-analyzing. I think you know what I mean by that. 🙂
Being alone under the stars, I like talking to my cosmic cousins.
Yes, I know what you mean. It’s nice toI can relate to what Renee said, too. I was off six months between my last job and this one. It was good for about five months, then I started feeling the need for new faces. It’s just nice to be able to have the interaction when you want it, not when you have to.
(smile)
It’s so nice to know people who are living their dreams.
Rick, you said it the way I’ve in mind…
“have the interaction when you want it, not when you have to.”
…and you said it better than I could.
I thought this was strange.
Liz, all the comments are coming in my email (I subscribed to comments), but your’s aren’t showing up on the webpage, even after I hit refresh.
I agree with Renee. I’m glad your dreams have come true. 🙂
And to your post, “if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right” is true.
The server move probably explains the strangeness, at least in my case. I can’t see Aksimet doing this.
I’ve been in business for myself almost 30 years, and have worked out of my home(s) the entire time.
When I started, the home office was an economic necessity. After I became more successful, I traveled so much that it didn’t make sense to pay for space that I would be spending very little time in. And, after a little more success, I was able to create much larger home office(s) — currently about 1,500 square feet.
There are three things that have worked especially well for me:
1) make sure the work area is away from the family area (if possible) so that when you’re working, you’re working;
2) generously invest in the office machinery to make yourself productive (don’t skimp); and,
3) make sure you have a regular daily schedule that gets you out of the home-office (for example, I swim from noon to 1 every day, and build my errands and meetings around that time (if possible).
I’m with Rick — I don’t see your comments Liz (I see those in the email) but I see his and some from Renee & Rick here.
A server move?
As much as I talk to people over the wire, I still wasn’t happy working alone all the time. I tried for several months and ended up in a really dreadful emotional state, even lost boyfriends and friends to the weird mindset I ended up in. It’s just not for everyone.
That’s not to say I can’t work for myself. I’ve been full-time consultant since getting pushed off the edge into it after yon hurricane. (Been 1099ing off and on since I was 21.)
I actually have an office in a gorgeous 1840s building when I do go to work at my clients’ office, and those few afternoons a week of face-time make lots of things go more smoothly. And there’s people around and a really cool little deli a short walk away. (And Emeril’s is two blocks off, but who needs him.)
Actually make that a year and change, I’m trying to remember it as shorter.
Is this like a personal cloning device? Because if that’s the case sign me up.
Liz,
Compared to the rest of the commenters I feel like such a piker working in a cubicle for most of the day! A fun thing I did at work yesterday was stopping by a colleague’s cube to remind him of all the great things he’s done during a particularly stressful period and to let him know how much he’s appreciated. Way more fun (and effective) in person!
Since this is my first comment, let me say thanks for all your great writing. I’m particularly enjoying the series on creating Phil’s next book.
Cheers,
Mike
Heh. It’s very funny to me considering I’m trying hard to get an office some day.
But I understand the interest of being able to work from home.
Renee .. re: Q’s #1 & #2 .. besides music, it helps to talk periodically to people in the same line of work that you do (not just friends and acquaintances) .. to talk about jobs, situations, maybe co-consulting opportunities, etc etc. It helps keep you in tune with your peers.
I’ve been working out of my home since March 2003 and I don’t have a view of any Lakes but a parking lot so I keep the blind down. But all in all, personally, I would trade it all away for a winning lottery ticket and early retirement! But, as long as my banker keeps letting me live here – I have to maintain the mortgage payments and still work for a living.
I love working at home. It allows me to spend as much time as I want or need to “working” and I can still take care of the necessary stuff that life requires. If I have to work till the wee hours of the night to meet a deadline, I can do that and then get my hair or nails done while everyone else is at work. I have found the biggest challenge is to remember to take personal time for yourself. That said, technology rocks!
Erm, I hope everything is okay with Liz. Here we are at Friday evening, and she hasn’t made a post all day. Anyone hear from her?
Scorpia & All .. apparently there is some problems today – moving servers. Aaron was complaining about Spam Comments and inefficiencies .. and there might be some name server issues (why there is no posts here) .. I think it will probably be resolved soon and just an oversite on “Tech-Dept”.
or maybe.. .. the guys@b5media decided Liz deserved a Long Weekend and is giving her the day off 🙂 like it or not!
Liz works too hard 🙁
I just found an email in my box from Liz, so she’s okay. As Hart mentioned, there seems tro be some sort of problem and she mentioned her blog being moved.
So I guess we’re looking at a ghost here. Just hope that it gets fixed soon and we can see the new stuff.
Liz – I was able to work with a really excited and passionate group of people to help them design the future of their department. We had disagreements, misunderstandings, pontifications, and miscommunications… but in the end we had fun and we accomplished an end result that they all believed in. Your simple mantra – “if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right” is the cornerstone of my value system, so your post really struck a chord with me. Fun should be an integral part of our work (and our lives); otherwise, why are we working (and living)?
OK, Scorpia, now I feel guilty. Liz’ one-day-old post is not considered “new stuff”… and I have not posted since Monday. Sigh… guess I’ll have to get on the stick lest I be perceived as stale 🙂
Glad to hear Liz is OK
Hi Liz, I, too, enjoy the flexible schedule I keep by woring on the Internet. This evening I took a break to see a new movie, “The Queen.” Wow – a thoughtful slice of life behind the scenes of British Monarchy and politics at the time Tony Blair came to office and Princess Di died. The acting was the very best and I highly recommend this one.
I’m back!!!
I’m having fun catching up on what everyone has to say!
Rick,
Iââ¬â¢m with you on what you said in #29. Wouldnââ¬â¢t it be great if we could pick when we could interact and when we could work alone. The one commodity that the organizational structure doesnââ¬â¢t understand is that time doesnââ¬â¢t account for human need to have space to relight our fuses.
__________
This is the point where the server got moved I think.
I know I wrote comments back to these yesterday.
___________
Katie,
I have not a doubt that youââ¬â¢ll be living your dreams . . . or that your dreams will change by the time you start living them.
Renée,
It doesnââ¬â¢t surprise me that you agree with Rick on the interaction point ââ¬â or that you so graciously mention how well he said it.
#32 Thanks for missing me, Rick. I appreciate that. The comment about the server move helped to explain things.
Itââ¬â¢s about this time that I realized I was in another time and space. 🙂
#34 Roger, your three rules are a great way to make your environment at home into a working space. My one rule is simpler — when the headphones are on everything else is off, even if I’m not listening to music. 🙂
Thanks for looking, Katie.
Candice, Your solutions are so different from Roger’s and yet they solve the same problem. I know exactly what you mean by the mindset that can overtake someone alone. It’s the opposite of having too much family around when you’re trying to work. Too much quiet can make me just as unable to focus.
(I’m still wondering whether you were 2 blocks away when I ate at Emeril’s)
David, two blogs on one day? That’s an occasion!
Hey Mike,
Welcome! If you’re having fun that’s all that counts. I think it’s spectacular that you found time to tell someone that you valued him. And thanks for saying the same to me!
Now that you’ve found your voice I hope you’ll find your way to Tuesday nights to meet all of us and hang out. 🙂
Hi Corine!
I remember what it was like to have that first office with a door. It’s really cool. I don’t blame you for looking forward to having one. 🙂
Hey HART,
Everyone SAYS they want to win the lottery, but I really do. 🙂
#43
Hi Rox!
Nice to meet you!
You’re right most folks who work at home don’t know when to stop and when we do, we feel just a bit worried. . . . 🙂
Thanks Scorpia and HART for letting folks know that I hadn’t disappeared into cyberspace YET. 🙂
Hey Timothy!
Don’t be so hard on yourself!
I love to write and to talk to people. It’s what I do. Thanks for wishing me well. 🙂
Robyn,
I’m so delighted you’re becoming a regular here. You bring new thoughts and new tidbits every time you arrive. I hadn’t even heard of that movie. Now I want to see it!
Hey Liz, it’s entirely possible. You also were probably cooked for by a couple of my friends, or possibly waited on by my ex-boyfriend.
I’m mixed on him myself. Hate his shows, my mom didn’t like the food at Emeril’s but other people I know did, etc. That and his staff doesn’t hate him, and will praise the food to other locals. (Even though E cooked at Commander’s for so many years, he’s still not entirely one of us.)
Hey, Candice,
We still tell the story of Emeril’s, when I — someone who doesn’t eat much — looked down at my pork chop and said, “Uh, in my family we call this a roast.” Yeah I think I did meet at least one of your friends . . . he was the cool, funny, handsome guy who escorted me to the ladies room. 🙂
I like it when you write, “share what Iââ¬â¢ve learned and have fun while Iââ¬â¢m doing it”.
That’s what I do too.
This week the added bonus came when we conducted a session for a communications company that has the same view of life and work.
The combination of my work with their work, their fun and generous spirit with the same that I seek to deliver resulted in taking the entire event to a new level.
Thanks for extending the vision of sharing and fun.
Hi Michael,
How nice to meet you!
That must have been so exciting. There must have been so much energy in that place! Everyone geared up and focused on work, fun, and making things happen. Whoa! Wish I’d been there with you!
Liz,
Thanks for the invite. I’ll talk to you Tuesday!
Mike
YEA, Mike!
See you then!
Liz, Sounds like him. 😉 The problem with New Orleans is all the good looking guys my age are cooks and waiters.
Yeah, nice to have them cook and wait on you. . . . I suppose that would take two though wouldn’t it? 🙂
Almost all men cook here. (Pretty much everyone knows how to, you tend to get drafted into chopping vegetables at age 10 or so, if not earlier…) Most of them have worked in a restaurant at one point or another.
Problem with the cooks and waiters thing is the drug habits, and they get insecure when they find out I make twice as much as they do.
C’est la vie.
Hey, Candice,
So pay ’em to cook for you and tell ’em to use the money to go see a shrink to work their problems. 🙂
Sorry, I’m just feeling clever after trying to code a complex table in a WordPress blog. 🙂