The point of this article is to give you a glimpse into the world of the "disconnected" mobile roamer. I'll be talking about the pros, the cons, the challenges we sometimes face, and ways you can make a working nook out of the places you visit. There is always something to take away from this interesting experience.
One of the biggest benefits of being a mobile worker is you're not tied to one place. Changing the space you work in can bring you sources of inspiration. From the decor and atmosphere to the unique exchanges you have with others you meet along the way, you begin to develop in a new, unexpected direction - and this just may be the thing you need to produce content that is original. It's original, because it's coming from your experience you're sharing this with the world. I would mention a spend to saving ratio, but each scenario is different and cannot be generalized. Simple engagements with your experiences add value to your life. It can be a conversation you had with someone, observing others, or going inward and paying attention to how you respond to the stimulation around you. How does it all make you feel? What are you thinking in the moments that catch your attention? Is the negative or positive experience conducive to your work? A bonus I need to mention is you build up your confidence as a professional when you focus on this.
If your experiences don't add value to the work you do, you may need to continue on your search for the right places to stop by. Do not in anyway allow one experience with one particular thing or person ruin the prospect of making one location a mobile spot to work in. Your search may become longer than what is needed and now you're just sabotaging yourself or being a little arrogant (if I dare to say so). Keep records of what you spend (if you spend anything) throughout the duration of your work day(s). You need to keep accurate accounting and this will be a reflection of your spending to earning ratio. Always take a hard, realistic look at it. Have you earned enough this week to spend a small 10%? If not, you may be at a loss for securing a place to work. That is, unless, you're willing to spend your days working in local public libraries or other public spaces that don't require you to purchase anything. Always consider the question, "Is the negative or positive experience conducive to your work?" This spot may not charge you anything, but are you stimulated enough to create? If so, go with working at that free spot. If not, admit to yourself that the best is never for free. It may seem like I just created an endless cycle there. The truth is, you need to determine what works best for you and the type of work you do or the type of work you're doing on that day.
The challenge here is allowing enough room for creativity while figuring out which type of work you're doing on a particular day. Now that you figured out where you're working and when, are you focused? I'll create a realistic scenario. You normally would go to a local cafe to take in the beautiful atmosphere and this inspires writing that pertains to the subject matter this place renders from you. So you would deligate this task to this type of day accordingly. It can be any day of the week as a variable. You suddenly get an urge to shoot short video clips to edit into a final production. So you shoot and save them to a file. What happens now? The ideal thing would be to "push the file aside" to sift through later and continue writing about your subject matter until you are finished. This is ideal, because you complete your work and revisit those clips you shot when you're in the necessary mind frame ("the zone") to derive a final piece from. This may happen on the same day or another day depending on how long your stay is welcome. That part depends on your networking efforts. I would never in good conscious cite a challenge without offering a solution and this comes to mind so easily.
Now that you have figured out where you're working, when, and which project you will tackle on the day you're working, it's time to make this place or these places your "home". I promise if you are considerate enough to not allow yourself to become a dust bunny in the corner that can't be swept out, the businesses you conduct your work in will appreciate your business in return. That general rule of buying a beverage every hour will never go out of style. Note that I didn't leave it to coffee as the only choice. You may even decide to take some work to the barber, salon, or spa. Cafes and restaurants aren't the only places you can work. The goal is to be comfortable where you are while demonstrating that you are a good customer. In your mind, this place is a comfortable nook and it should be ...for you. At the same time, you're not exactly at home and the innovative idea of working in a shared space is just way too expensive (Kearny Point, 2017). You're not trying to feel or be pushed out. What you're doing on the outside/at face value is showing the business and its staff that you are a preferred, friendly customer. This will always guarentee you a seat and essentially your nook.
Quick tip: Mention to the manager or owner that their place of business will be referenced or featured in your work as free publicity when appropriate in your content. This opens more doors to more places that bring out more in you and the business you visit do benefit from it when the effort is authentic. By keeping things content appropriate this tells management or the owner that any mentions will be positive - and why wouldn't they be? You do plan to return.
Know that being a mobile worker offers so much more than sitting in your home office looking at the same four walls and possibly facing stalemate as a result of lacking inspiration. Since you are networking while making yourself comfortable in as many places you would like to work in, the possibilities are endless here. Just make sure your adapter is always working and your devices are up to par. Bolstering up your hardware and software security in anticipation of some severe issues is always a bonus while on public networks. Bringing a pair of headphones will help you to stay focused when you're first starting off. Researching a few concerns and being proactive rather than reactive will save you a lot of headaches. You don't have to be Ms. or Mr. "perfect" in the eyes of the public. You're just walking into a place as a customer, but do keep the aforementioned key things mentioned here in mind. You will go much further than you think. Allow others' opinions of you being a mobile worker be opinions. Again, are they conducive to your work? Hit the enter button and go to the next paragraph on that sentiment. Being a mobile worker isn't only necessary, it's also enjoyable when you remain focused.
If you haven't attempted going mobile with your work, why is that? If you are currently a mobile worker, what have your experiences been? If you are in a situation that forces you to become a mobile worker, has your confidence in yourself risen yet? If so or not so, why? Share your comments with me as I read them all and lets have a discussion.
References: Kearny Point, Hugo Neu Realty Management, 2017 http://www.kearnypoint.com/coworking/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G%7CKP%7CLocal%7CNB%7CCoworking%7CBMM&utm_term=coworking&utm_content=Phrase&matchtype=p&network=g&device=c&adposition=1t1&keyword=coworking
