In 1990, I was one of two people responsible for writing the “Telecommuting Plan” at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
Little did I know then how much “telecommuting” would change my life.
In “telecommuting” I saw the perfect solution to many issues confronting society (and my own life). Chief among them is what I always strove to achieve: A BALANCED life to work ratio. Too much time at work (or time spent getting there) is not good, too much being at home is also not good.
Life BALANCE is the key.
With “telecommuting”, one could get the work done at work a few days a week, then stay at home and get even more work done (yes, productivity increases when you don’t have to spend 4 hours a day in the car or train getting to the central work location).
But what happens when you are home ALL THE TIME?
In my case, Lori is standing at the study door talking. Or I have to pick up poop (the dogs!), or I have to cut down a branch, or I have to mow the lawn, or I have to……OMG, stop, I need to work. The balance is not there. And what about adult interaction (other than with family), lunches with Clint, meeting Dwight Yoakam (I did!), having a beer (I never….), laughing with coworkers, and of course working….that is GONE.
COWORKING = BALANCE for the entrepreneur, freelancer, independent, consultant, start-up. I now spend my work days in our coworking space, AltmontCowork. I have found BALANCE once again. I am in the company of other adults who are not family, we bring in snacks, we laugh, and occasionally go to lunch and have a good time (Beer? I never…..), and oh yeah, we work.
Then, when the day is done, I go home.
BALANCE.
Working at home is great….a few days a week. Working at a central location is great….a couple of days a week, but, getting there sucks the life out of you (on a society level too: gas, pollution, traffic, etc). COWORKING is the perfect solution: Close to home, bike to work, but be at work.
BALANCE.
TechyMike: Technology Made Easy 