Why I need to work from anywhere: Banks, Physical Therapy, Doctor’s Appointments and Everyone Else You Have to Work Around

July 30th, 2010 by admin Posted in Uncategorized

Have you ever noticed that you always have to go out of your way to make it to the bank on time? You’re always the one who has to leave in the middle of your day to visit the doctor? It’s like everyone in financial and health services has decided their hours are going to be 9-5 only (with a 2 hour break in the middle, of course).

Well, when you are able to work from anywhere, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to make your appointments.

This week alone, I’ve:

Taken 3 conference calls on my way to the physical therapist (tendonitis, long story)
Worked a total of 6 hours at coffee shops while waiting for traffic to die down (3 virtual meetings took place during this time)
Presented a web conference in my car on my mobile phone (while parked on the street and plugged into the car)

While I know this won’t happen all the time, this week has been a shining example of how today’s technology provides us the ability to work around everyone else’s strict 9-5 schedules, from anywhere. And for me, going to the doctor in the middle of the day doesn’t feel like so much of an inconvenience anymore.

meetings, mobile meetings, online meetings, PGi, Work from anywhere, working from home

Reasons to work from anywhere: Because I am pregnant

July 28th, 2010 by admin Posted in Audio Conferencing, Conferencing, Virtual Meetings, Web Conferencing

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The light ahead is fast approaching. I am in my last two months of my first pregnancy and let’s just say I have learned A LOT on the way. In the beginning, most of the other moms I talked to went on and on about how wonderful it feels to be pregnant. The reality is that it is not all basking in the “glow” of being with child. Dealing with the extra pounds, queasiness, discomfort, hunger, and breathlessness can make maintaining a normal work schedule a challenge. Oh and did I mention it is one of the hottest summers I can remember in Atlanta? Or at least it seems like it. Anyhow, I honestly feel like telecommuting and virtual conferencing technologies have saved me this summer. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

1 – Heat. Avoiding my commute means I don’t have to arrive at work drenched in sweat from sitting in Atlanta traffic. Not a pretty sight.

2 – Sleep. I get that much needed extra half hour of sleep when I work from home as I don’t have to figure out which of my clothes still fit, are appropriate for the office, and won’t make me completely uncomfortable after sitting in an upright office chair for 8+ hours.

3 – Food. Telecommuting means I have access to my fully stocked pantry and fridge. Enough said.

4 – Sitting options. Sitting in an office chair isn’t always the best when you have something pressing or punching your lungs and bladder pretty regularly. At home, I have the option of taking my conference calls propped up in bed if that is most comfortable.

5 – Work Anytime. I can work at all hours of the day. One thing no one told me was that pregnant ladies can’t sleep. So I take advantage of my 3am wake ups by getting caught up on email and getting ready for the next work day.

Meetings conferences, online conferencing, online meetings, PGi, web meeting

Reasons to Work from Anywhere: Tips for Telecommuters

July 26th, 2010 by Trisha Zimmerman (@Trish_Zimmerman) Posted in Uncategorized

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Working from home brings to mind bare feet, fuzzy slippers and pajamas. And while you’re working, don’t forget to put in a load of laundry.

Whether it’s for comfort, the opportunity to get more done in less time or any other reason to Work from Anywhere, telecommuting is a lure for many. While it does offer many benefits, doing it full-time requires more organization than the occasional work from home days. As a full-time telecommuter, I consider having structure in your day essential. One way to do that is to have an office space. While the dining room table may work fine occasionally, full-time telecommuters need a designated office. I have a home office that’s considered a “free-space,” meaning we don’t try too hard to make it look nice. It’s cluttered with work papers, reference books, two computers, a printer and a fax machine. When visitors come over, we close the doors and hope they don’t peek in.

Along with your office space, you should have designated work hours. Sure, you may sneak in an occasional load of laundry or even take the dog for a short walk, but work time is just that. Have regular hours and stick too them. On the flip side, just because you work from home, don’t let it take over your personal life.

I enjoy working from home, but it wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have an office space and regular hours. I’ll share more tips for working from home soon, but now, I’ve gotta run … the washing machine just buzzed.

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Meetings in Coffee Shops

July 22nd, 2010 by admin Posted in Meeting Tips

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Anyone who’s been to a coffee shop in the last few years (which is about 99.7% of the population) knows that many people use them as virtual offices. They arrive in the morning, laptop in tow, and spend the day drinking coffee, eating muffins, and getting work done.

But is a coffee shop really the right place for a meeting? I give it a thumbs up for in person meetings- but only for gatherings of 4 people or less. According to a recent article on GigaOm, any meeting bigger than four can’t get around a single table. And let’s be honest- ten people gathering at Starbucks for a meeting are going to be loud.

Keep your face to face coffee shop meetings to a reasonable size

And as for taking a conference call at a coffee shop- thumbs down. We all talk at a higher volume when on a cell phone, and for the others on the call, the background noise can be really irritating. Add the complete lack of privacy, and you’re better off going home (or to your car) for anything but short calls.

WebCasting vs. Web Conferencing

July 20th, 2010 by admin Posted in Web Conferencing

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You say “ta-may-toe”, I say “ta-mah-toe”…… this is a common expression used to describe the different ways people can use the same word.

But webcasting and web conferencing are different- even though many people use them interchangably. Here at PGi, we’re meeting experts, so let me explain!

Web conferencing: Interactive online meetings

Web casting: Virtual events

PGi offers a great web casting product called ON24. On24 Webcasting makes it possible for companies to broadcast to large audiences over the web and allow audience participation at a fraction of the cost of other methods.

This product is really fantastic- whether you’ve attended or hosted webinars in the past, or haven’t but are thinking about it… check out On24 from PGi. It’s got tons of features and really stands out from the webcasting competition!

meeting expert, meetings, webcast

Reasons To Work From Anywhere – Waiting for the Cable Guy

July 13th, 2010 by admin Posted in Audio Conferencing, Web Conferencing

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I happen to believe that all things in life can be tied back to a Seinfeld episode. My reason for working from home certainly does- waiting for the cable guy. Just like Kramer says , you are given a very large window of time to wait, hoping that he’ll even come at all.

When I have to be home half the day in anticipation of a 15 minute service call, I work from home and don’t have to use any vacation or personal time. With products like audio and web conferencing, it’s easy to be flexible about where I’m working.

I’m just hoping that when the cable guy finally shows, it’s not this one!

web meeting

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Business Meetings in Bars

July 9th, 2010 by admin Posted in Meeting Tips

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An article in the July issue of Entreprenuer magazine discusses the choice of a bar for face to face business meetings. I agree that meeting outside of the office setting is a great way to get people to relax and to get to know colleauges or clients better. But is a bar really the best choice for off site meetings?

I give it a thumbs up- with a caveat. Do your homework ahead of time to make sure the atmosphere will be appropriate. The Entreprenuer article provides some great tips on selecting a bar for a meeting. Just as you would spend time making sure a conference room is supplied with coffee and the right technology equipment, make sure the bar you choose for a meeting has the atmosphere you need to get the job done.

And, even though this goes without saying it, I’ll say it anyway- drink in moderation. You may be meeting in a bar, but it’s still business.

When it comes to a business meeting in a bar, think classy, not frat party

meetings

Why I need to work from anywhere: Because I am visiting the In-laws

July 8th, 2010 by admin Posted in Telecommuting, Virtual Meetings, Web Conferencing

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EDITORIAL NOTE: Coming to an office is important, but sometimes telecommuting gives you that extra ‘quietness’ to be productive or the flexibility to meet deadlines without wasting time sitting in traffic. Here are some reasons why the PGi Blog Team thinks the ability to work from anywhere is crucial in today’s world!

Ok for the record, I love my in-laws. They are great and I really do love to visit them. But the problem…. They live in the middle of nowhere Louisiana. To get there equates to either a 12 hour drive from Atlanta, or a flight to a teeny weensy airport with 2 terminals and a 2 hour drive from there. Not that any of this matters. I only get to see my in-laws once or twice a year so it is worth it. But is it worth using a week of vacation when, let’s face it, there is nothing really to do but hang out in the house and visit? I am thinking not. This year I plan to take my work with me and work during the day. My two cents: I think this actually will strengthen my relationship with my in-laws as I will be ready for some human interaction after a day of virtual meetings. They will have my eager and undivided attention. Heck, one could even say having the technology to take my meetings on the road may actually enhance my relationship with my in-laws. How is that for a fringe benefit to virtual meetings?

Work from anywhere

Reasons to Work From Anywhere: My Hubby Got a Transfer! Do I Need a New Job?

July 6th, 2010 by Trisha Zimmerman (@Trish_Zimmerman) Posted in Uncategorized

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Although I’ve been working from home for three years and really enjoy it now, it began out of necessity rather than choice. After all, my co-workers were half the reason for working. I enjoyed my office friends and was one of the few people I knew who didn’t want to leave the cubicle environment. Who would I chat with on Monday mornings about my weekend? With whom would I discuss prime time television?

When my husband got a job transfer, I assumed my PGi career was over and I was sad to leave the company. But wait … aren’t we the meetings experts? Don’t we connect people around the globe every day? I suddenly had, what all my co-workers believed, a wonderful opportunity to telecommute. My company was very flexible in allowing me to set up a home office. I appreciated it, and knew it was a benefit, but I still dreaded that first day in anticipated isolation. And, admittedly, the first few weeks were a little quiet. But then something interesting happened. After becoming more ingrained in our conferencing products, it wasn’t so lonely after all. Thanks to web conferencing, I could share documents and my desktop as easily as in person. And what about discussing weekend activities and favorite t.v. shows? Automated conferencing easily became part of my daily work tools.

According to Forrester Research, 34 million Americans work from home at least occasionally today. That number is expected to rise to 63 million in 2016! Collaboration tools such as web conferencing make it easier than ever to stay productive. What’s your experience with telecommuting? Does your company provide you with the tools you need to be one of the 63 million?

telecommuting, teleconferencing, working from home