Learning how to work Remote
The first step to living the life of Pacho, is to learn how to work remote. It sounds easy, but it is probably the most difficult component of finding balance - especially if you have employees and key management of your business.
If you work alone and do not have anyone dependant on you physically being around than you are going to have an easier time putting in place systems. However, both require a mental shift in how you work.
Step #1
Establish an emergency process document. This document should be shared with a person on your team (if you are solo, find someone you trust that would help if needed). This document include details on how to execute certain key tasks if for some reason while traveling you find yourself with no internet and shit hits the fan back home. This document can include important logins, key contacts or anything that you believe "If X happens and I am not around, it would be a prpblem.". Once you complete this document you can also ask yourself "Is it possible for me to automate fail safes to fix these issues and also automate alerts to let me.know when they occur?"
Here are some common things I have done to ensure we have fail safes in place
1. Server and web services logins. One time I was in Cuba bringing back cigars. We had no Internet but was able to text. My server went down and I got an alert on my phone. I called my wife (who has limited tech experience with servers) and she used my emergency doc to reboot my server. Crisis averted.
2. Banking. It is important to be able to receive money and also pay bills remotely. Most people have online banking, but sometimes you may need to wire money or do something less traditional. Setup your banks so it's easy to move money around (especially if you go on a long trip outside the U.S.).
3. Customer Communication. It's also important if you have a business that requires an open line with customers to have someone on standby to respond to any incoming issues .if you have a support team or employee you should be fine. But if your running solo, you may want to setup a virtual assistant that answers the phone, takes messages and ensures you receive all communications in a complete and organized manner. There is nothing less efficient and more frustrating than a series of email threads send to you with no clear objective or prioritization that you have to filter thru to see if you are actually needed. It becomes a distractor and many times creates more confusion than clarity when working remote.
This is the first step to living the life of Pacho. Make your BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY document now.
If you work alone and do not have anyone dependant on you physically being around than you are going to have an easier time putting in place systems. However, both require a mental shift in how you work.
Step #1
Establish an emergency process document. This document should be shared with a person on your team (if you are solo, find someone you trust that would help if needed). This document include details on how to execute certain key tasks if for some reason while traveling you find yourself with no internet and shit hits the fan back home. This document can include important logins, key contacts or anything that you believe "If X happens and I am not around, it would be a prpblem.". Once you complete this document you can also ask yourself "Is it possible for me to automate fail safes to fix these issues and also automate alerts to let me.know when they occur?"
Here are some common things I have done to ensure we have fail safes in place
1. Server and web services logins. One time I was in Cuba bringing back cigars. We had no Internet but was able to text. My server went down and I got an alert on my phone. I called my wife (who has limited tech experience with servers) and she used my emergency doc to reboot my server. Crisis averted.
2. Banking. It is important to be able to receive money and also pay bills remotely. Most people have online banking, but sometimes you may need to wire money or do something less traditional. Setup your banks so it's easy to move money around (especially if you go on a long trip outside the U.S.).
3. Customer Communication. It's also important if you have a business that requires an open line with customers to have someone on standby to respond to any incoming issues .if you have a support team or employee you should be fine. But if your running solo, you may want to setup a virtual assistant that answers the phone, takes messages and ensures you receive all communications in a complete and organized manner. There is nothing less efficient and more frustrating than a series of email threads send to you with no clear objective or prioritization that you have to filter thru to see if you are actually needed. It becomes a distractor and many times creates more confusion than clarity when working remote.
This is the first step to living the life of Pacho. Make your BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY document now.
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