I've had various workplaces in the last month, four of them to be exact, although I've also worked in the field at clients' locations at meetings I guess so many more in reality.
I have an office at the company's business location, a home office and when I was in Brisbane on my business trip I worked from my hotel and the company's head office as well. I suppose these days that's not too difficult with laptop computers, cloud-based software and live-office portals making information accessible virtually anywhere provided the internet is available. it's worked ok for me so far.
When I took the job I was careful to determine the level of autonomy I'd have and am pleased to report that I'm virtually my own man as far as work goes. I have office meetings on Monday mornings and the same on Friday afternoons but other than that I can be wherever I like as long as I'm getting the job done. Sure, I could shirk my responsibilities but, besides that not being my way, it would show up later down the track when I failed to reach or exceed my (considerable) annual target budget.
Homework
I'm lucky to have fast internet at home, and whilst the internet here probably isn't as fast as parts of Europe or the States, it's well and truly enough for me and what I need to do personally, and for work.
I've fallen into the routine of waking up around seven, checking Hive messages, getting out of bed and having coffee and breakfast, usually a shake rather than actual food, and turning my work computer on around eight o'clock. I forego getting dressed and, because I've no need to drive to work, save even more time.
Between eight and nine I set up my day, determine the phone calls, emails and meetings I need to get done, clear up anything from the previous day (usually nothing is left over though) and then around nine I hit the phone until about eleven; a solid two hours. This involves trawling for new work, following up on leads from previous days, putting deals together and the back-end administration work, data entry to my CRM and emails to customers and internally in the company. From there it's break time, coffee and a snack, and I also use that time to get myself dressed. By eleven thirty I'm in the company car and on the way to make face to face calls.
I'm on the road until about four o'clock and either call into the office or go back home to clean up the administration work generated by the face to face meetings I've had. There's also some time spent setting up the following day, reviewing the current one and measuring performance from a personal perspective, how I went in the meetings over the day, and in respect of my KPI's. I've been finishing around five o'clock although over the last couple days it's been six o'clock or slightly later.
Productivity
Thinking on my effectiveness, I'd have to say I'm going well. I find I tend to work better in this way as there's less distractions. My home office is a comfortable place to be, quiet, well set up and the bonus of being totally comfortable means I feel better and that all adds up to increased productivity.
It would be easy to slack off, sure. I could watch TV, play with Cleo my cat, build Lego, go shooting, get onto Hive or a hundred other things but I'm not like that, it's not my character to compromise the trust placed in me. I earn well and they pay for results and it's results all my actions, during my working day and week, are aimed at.
I don't want to go into it here, but yesterday the State manager said a few words to me that made me feel my efforts were noticed, appreciated and respected. This made me happy because in the month I've been with the company I've endeavoured to show I'm a quality operator, trustworthy, responsible and with the ownership of my role (and self) to do what's required of me to the best of my ability. I'm putting deals away and they're happy with that, as I am, but equally importantly is the credit my actions are banking with the company and those around me, above and below.
So what's your work scenario? Do you go to a workplace or do you work from home or on the road? Are you more productive from home or the office? I believe I'd be productive no matter where I work and I think all have their merits and downsides although I'd have to say that the current situation is a good one for me personally and for the company as it's driving productivity and results. How about you?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own