The Office of the 20's... the 2020's
Updated: Feb 11, 2022
I was sitting in a cubical knowing that I had a lot of data to sort through, segmentation to get complete, and a couple of gamification items to build... but I was leaning back in my chair checking my social media accounts.
That is a scene from a job I was working in at a corporate office sometime before I began a new job working remotely. It looks unproductive, right? I was not doing my job, I was surfing social media, right? The truth is, I was trying to distract my mind from the intense feeling of how to complete my tasks accurately and in a timely manner because at this point in time, I had a meeting beginning in just five or ten minutes and there was no point in starting up any one of these intricate and detailed projects just to stop for a meeting.
The meeting would last about an hour to an hour and a half, then there was a handful of us that would walk across the street to get our afternoon Starbucks drink - I do love my coffee. By the time all was said and done, I probably had 2 hours out of my 8 hour work day as being actively unproductive. That was the norm for the office; find a breaking point to stop working for a meeting, have the meeting, "water cooler talk" aka get coffee, return and begin project. This was just for one day of the week.
Jason Fried in his TEDxMidwest Talk, "Why work doesn't happen at work", asks his audience the question, "Where do you go when you really need to get something done?"
I don't know about you, but for me, I will often go out to my back yard and walk around the garden or water my plants for about 20 minutes to stimulate my brain and then sit at my desk, at home, turn on some classical music and pump out my work. THAT is my process. THAT is usually my most productive ritual in my work day. No meetings, no calls, no bosses checking in - just me, with my mind zoned or calibrated and my physical self in my space. I will probably spend the next 3-4 hours not even knowing that 20 minutes will pass by, let alone the rest of the afternoon.
What about you? Where do you go? How do you prep? Jason said that most people answer with choices like the porch or deck, kitchen or basement, plane or train or car, or they choose times of the day like super early or super late. Humans don't thrive in the office, they thrive in their preferred environment. Choosing a distraction like walking in my garden prepares my mind for an intense workout of thinking, analyzing, and creating. Its like the stretching before an activity. A meeting at an office is often just sitting around day dreaming about what I need to get done.
Working remotely as a marketing professional, specifically, has even more meaningful benefits. Thanks to social media, the internet, phones, and all our gadgets - marketing is a job that goes beyond the four walls of an office.
Here are some reasons why a remote marketing professional is a perfect option for a growing business:
Its an access thing... With remote work, marketing agencies, professionals, and consultants can expand their talents and expertise beyond the restrictions of where they are located. 'A Marketing Thing' may be located in Las Vegas, Nevada but we're connected to everyone that needs a strong professional marketer. Businesses in small rural towns no longer have to loose out on great marketing because the skill set may not be in town.
Its a productive thing... We're more productive. Working in an environment that a professional chooses because he/she/they feel empowered, motivated, and in the zone makes him/her/them happier, and happier people get more done at a quicker, more efficient, and more accurate rate. In fact, studies show that happy professionals are 12% - 13% more productive.
Its a cost thing... Using remote workers can help keep overhead costs down which in turn can help keep marketing dollars focused on reaching the target audience and improving your bottom line and return on investment. Don't pay for office space, pay for results and growth.
Its a talent thing... Remote work opens up for a wider choice of professionals. The remote model allows a company to select from individuals with an array of different backgrounds and experiences. Marketing professionals can be experienced in one industry or have worked throughout multiple industry preferring to focus on the consumer market and target audiences to better prepare a business for long term growth.
These are just a few of the benefits that a company can get from working with a remote group such as 'A Marketing Thing' and why we strive when we work in our new offices of the 20's... the 2020's that is.