Mobile Working Experiment: From The Flat

Like yesterday, today I’m working from my ‘flat’, as they call it here in the UK. I have decent wifi which allows me to use my 8X8 VoIP soft phone, as well as Gchat, Skype and Facetime (on my iPad). It does kinda suck that Pandora is blocked here, but at least I have my iTunes database on my laptop.

I woke up this morning bright and early, made a tasty continental breakfast and immediately started working while eating and sipping my coffee. It’s 3:30am EST! As I mentioned in my previous blog, I thought I could make this five hour time difference work for me. For the next five hours I can work uninterrupted without a slew of emails and phone calls coming in. Brilliant!

So I’m making my to-do list, responding to yesterday’s emails, reviewing our pipeline, researching, delegating tasks, blogging, reading blogs, scheduling tweets…wow it’s now 8:30am EST (1:30pm local time). I’m on my fourth cup of coffee and I get pinged on FaceTime from my business partner to discuss today’s agenda. “Well sir, while you were sleeping I was able to…” Like I said, making the time difference work for me!

Now that the business day has started in the U.S., I’m taking calls, making calls, shrinking my to-do list, being super productive thanks to technology. My soft phone enables me to make and receive phone calls over the internet through my laptop as if I’m sitting at my desk back in DC. When I call my clients my direct line office number shows up on caller ID. (I also downloaded their free iPhone app which enables me to do the same thing from my phone as long as there is a good wifi signal). When I’m at the office, I use the handset (which was a one-time fee of $100). The monthly service runs about $20 per extension.

I’m lovin’ this mobile working lifestyle!

While FaceTime and Skype allow me to connect with my colleagues and see them, I do have to admit that it’s not a true replacement for meeting with them in person. Further, being in the flat for 8-9 hours in front of my computer for a couple of days straight has gotten a little lonely and boring. It’s great for concentration since I’m alone, but I’m no introvert. I think I’ll work from a coffee shop tomorrow…

Cheers!