Is it a movement, or is it becoming a new way of life?
You sell your home or move out of your apartment, grab your labtop and head to a sunny location and blog remotely.
Today’s Lesson
As I travel through cyberspace I read blogging articles/comments about those who are in pursuit of working less, playing more, and/or wanting to escape the confines of their current situation.
It’ sounds like bloggers may be joining others who are finding more purpose in their lives, outsourcing menial tasks and working remotely.
In a recent article titled “Is This The Ultimate Entrepreneurial Dream”, Catherine Lawson shares links to places to go, and asks that burning question, “Is this for You?
Sterling Okura and Rebecca (a lawyer) have practiced working fakediamondwatches.re remotely and share how they do it, in this post titled : “How To Travel & Work Remotely As A Couple”
If you’ve ever spent time at the ocean, you may remember how it cleansed your soul. Mark, at Creative Journey Cafe, an artist who has never held a “traditional” job, shares: “Why Escape Is Good (Creative Advice From the Ocean)”
And Clay Collins, of The Growing Life, has taken this a step further and provides “47 Decent Lifestyle Design Resources”
Although working remotely has been a way of life for many years, it appears more individuals are dreaming of joining the movement.
Did it start with the “charm” of The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Are we looking for ways to simplify our lives, and go back to the basics,? Grab a pair of flip flops, swim trunks, digital camera, Blackberry and laptop, head to the islands, and blog as we bask in the sun?
Are we in pursuit of an elusive dream?
Are we running from “something, or to “something” better?
Do we really hate to work for “the man (or woman)” that much?
Is being able to work remotely , just a “carrot” that keeps us moving forward, with hopes e cigarety d??ín of a better life? Or have we not yet realized both happiness and (some of) our problems are “within us”. And we take them wherever we go?
Today’s Assignment
Do you think blogging, and the ability to make money with it, will spawn an alternative life style for bloggers?
Do you dream of beach blogging? Or has the dream become a reality?
Are you burnt out on the 40 hour (or more) work week and dream of a life in the islands?
Or do love the security of a home, and have no desire to work remotely?
Photo Credit Seo2 | ARTILLERIA PESADA’s photos
In some ways I fall into this category of wanting to work less, but my reasons are not to play more. I want to work more for my children so I need to find a way to bring in the income without putting in as much time. I am lucky to be the supplemental income in this family, so I don’t need to bring in as much. I have been on both ends, working for the man and working for myself. In many ways, I prefer to work for the man. As long it’s a good job with friendly people and bosses, there are less responsibilty on the “business” side. I hate the paperwork. I just got through putting all my tax paperwork together for my husband. Yuck. When I had a job working for someone I just handed over my w-2, now I have to put together so much more.
I’ve always been content with the simple life. Sure I like to have things and a few luxeries, but I don’t need “the best”. I don’t need to keep up with the Jones.
Debbie Yost’s last blog post..Busy, Busy, Busy!
A lot of bloggers might dream of beach blogging, but they have to keep reality in mind. Only 1 blog in 1000 makes $20 a month. That doesn’t mean beach blogging can’t happen, but it’s far from easy.
Like Mark said, I’m after freedom. I don’t really want to relocate to Belize or anywhere else, but I’d sure like the freedom to take extended vacations if I want to. I’m burned out, not by the amount of work I have, but by the lack of freedom.
P.S. my cousin went to Belize recently, but she’s not a blogger.
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..How To Book Airline Tickets Cheaply And Quickly
Very thoughtful post, Barbara.
(and thanks for the shout-out to my article about the ocean!)
It’s about freedom. I don’t know too many people who are thrilled to be working jobs for other people, doing things they’d rather not do.
In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, there’s a line that stuck with me. It’s about how most people would rather continue doing the same familiar things (job) with their right hand, even if it’s unfulfilling, instead of learning to use their left hand to become wealthy or self-sufficient.
If you have kids it’s understandable that you need a job with steady income and benefits for their security. But that doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in some time to explore a side business on the internet.
Freedom is what we all want. Not necessarily lounging at the beach all day. Just freedom of time, to do whatever we please with our lives.
Mark – Creative Journey Cafe’s last blog post..Interview with Dale Stephanos
oh absolutely – I believe the potential for income through writing has fueled these dreams big time. I have other plans but one of my big dreams include doing well with my site…
Blogging from the beach sounds sweet- I must admit 🙂 What’s most attractive to me is the flexibility and the freedom..Doesn’t nec. have to be me stretched out on sand. But I do agree with your statement about taking our problems with us wherever we go. Its why healing the heart and working on ourselves is so important. I wouldn’t want to make such a big lifestyle change and discover that I am still feeling unfulfilled or unhappy. That calls for a big, panic inducing “Now what?!”
JEMi @ InMyHeels’s last blog post..Survival of a Broken Heart: A How-To Guide
I have to agree with Hunter in that blogging may not be the answer for as many people as we’d like to hope.
The ability to work remotely though is possible. And I suspect for far more professions than just blogging.
I can see blogging becoming a far more common feature of an existing business than just a business in its own right.
One of our employees works from us from Sydney, Australia, and we’re based in the UK. It works.
I think the location of where you work is becoming far less relevant. But only for a percentage of the people in a business.
I have experienced challenges at the other extreme – too many people working remotely. When we reduced the amount of remote working, productivity increased.
But equally for others, productivity increases when they are away from the office.
Getting the balance right is the challenge.
I suspect the 4-hour work week is only a realistic possibility for the skilled free-lancer who outsources much of what they do. Or the business owners/key staff who have a combination of resources at their disposal – employees, outsourced services, and the ability to manage a business like that to free them.
I work a fair bit from home. I can increase that in time, but at the stage we’re at in the business, I’m better being present – even though others are working remotely or from Australia!
As for pure bloggers, the medium is ideal for working from wherever you happen to be. The small percentage that break through that barrier so it becomes a higher-paying activity than being employed can work from wherever they want.
But whether they can outsource activities so they have true freedom from the business is another matter – maintaining the quality and readership is the key, and that’s difficult to fully outsource. Guest writers are one thing, but what percentage of the audience visit because of the personality of the blogger?
It’s a bit like McDonalds. It’s a franchise. Your burger is the same in the US as it is in the UK or pretty much every other place too.
We don’t visit it for the personality of the branch manager. We visit it for the certainty of product and speed of service.
If you can replicate that sort of relationship where your audience visit for content rather than individual personalities, then the blog owner can work from anywhere, and POTENTIALLY for only 4 hours a week.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..You Are The Best – So Why Don’t New Clients Beat Down Your Door?
Hi Debbie,
It’s ironic that you should mention “a simple life”. Often we dream of travels to far away places, dining in 5 star restaurants, lounging on a beach in a foreign land, etc…, and one day we “wake up” and realize we have paradise in our own back yard.
Hi Mark,
You’re welcome. In days past, the ocean was always a great place for me to clear my head.
Don’t you find that when you have more freedom (of time), it gets your creative juices flowing? Maybe it’s making time to be “still”, and listening to our inner voices.
Hi Hunter,
I would venture to guess, many bloggers also become discouraged with the fact they aren’t making money fast enough, so they just give up. Even if they make it into the “1000” category, $20.00 a month isn’t going to get you to Belize.
Hi JEMi
I have no doubt you will do well with your site.
Plus you’re the “go to girl” when it comes to finding out how to deal with major emotional issues in life. We could be free from obligations all day long, but if we’re struggling with “issues”, that freedom doesn’t mean anything.
Hi Ian,
I’m glad to stopped by to share your thoughts on this as I know you use remote employees in your business.
I think it’s interesting how you found that some are more efficient when working remotely, and others aren’t.
As much as it’s great to outsource, it’s also important to know that when you do, the job is getting done and meets up to your expectations.
As much as the four hour work week book has a catchy title, in reality, anyone with a business is essentially still working 24/7, as the progress and success of your business remains in the back of your mind even as your “playing”.
Hi Chris,
Welcome to the community here at BWAB.
Your comment saddened me. It’s a shame that teachers, individuals who spend so much of their time (and money) educating the children, would have to take on extra work to supplement their teaching income.
I just checked out your blog, love the name of it, and will be back to read more. With the quality of your writing, I’m guessing with patience and perseverance, your blog will succeed and relieve you of necessity to take on more teaching gigs.
Barbara,
This may or may not interest you, but as an IT support company with small business clients, we have recently seen a surge in demand for web-filtering software.
The cause? People bringing their home surfing habits into work. I have a theory that it’s caused by the recent explosion of Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, social bookmarking, eBay, chat etc.
I haven’t yet seen evidence of people blogging during the day in an attempt to forge an escape to Belize. Perhaps because bloggers are more careful and appreciative of the people who pay them!
The thing that fascinates me is the suddeness of the surge. We don’t do web-filtering/monitoring software (so people can’t see certain stuff, and the employer can see what they’re looking at).
But because we’re the IT department for a small business, we have to deliver solutions. Recently, a client noticed an exponential drop in surfing activity when we configured a solution we found for them.
Please don’t take this as commercial (even if anyone wanted it, I couldn’t offer it), but I had to write an article which I’ll circulate to our clients about it:
http://www.multisolutions.co.uk/index.php/internet-monitoring/web-filtering-is-it-big-brother-or-concerned-mother/
I’d love to go and see if any clients are experiencing blog-related down-time during the day. Unfortunately I can’t despite the temptation. We can’t pry. It’s private, and we hand over control of the monitoring/filtering to the client.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Why Don’t Businesses Sell To Me When I Ask Them To?
I have two passions, teaching and writing…I hope that eventually I can make money with my blogging so that I can use this income to supplement my teaching income. This way, I don’t have to take on extra teaching load.
Aside from the printing press, I guess the web is probably one of the best innovation…
Chris’s last blog post..The Number 1 Parenting Tool: Bribery
Hi Barbara – The idea of working less – rather than killing myself now in the hope of some kind of return later, has definitely begun to appeal to me.
I don’t know about blogging on the beach though! I tried working outdoors once, on a nice day a couple of years ago and i couldn’t see my computer monitor properly! I just don’t want to be here – it is dull and miserable for most of the year. Although I’m very much recovered from PTSD compared to how I was, the cold of the winter months and lack of sunlight make me miserable.
And since I began working from home again, it has got much worse. Plus I seem to have had one illness after another since working and living in the same environment.
And unfortunately, even though it’s April, it is still like winter where I live. The weather is not the only factor though – I have a whole heap of other reasons for wanting to leave.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..When Keeping Up With The Jones’s Is Bad For Business
Hi Ian,
Thank you for the link.. I’m guessing we’ll see a lot more web filtering software being used by businesses. Some are probably using it already, without the employees knowing.
Hi Catherine,
I sure hope you’re feeling better. I know that dreary weather is taking a toll on you.
Although you couldn’t physically conduct your plumbing business from the islands, there may be ways to outsource parts of it , take some of the stress off of you, and make some time for you to do that which you enjoy.
Hi Sterling,
That’s funny how you say you would rather be sick in paradise than at home….
I’m guessing we’ll be reading more posts from you as you perfect working remotely.
You’re welcome for the link. It was an informative post that many can learn from.
Hi Barbara,
I find it interesting that you pose questions about happiness and fulfillment at the end of your post. Is the grass really greener in a tropical location?
While in Hawaii for a couple weeks about a month ago, my fiancee and I got very sick. But, we decided it’s much better to be sick in paradise than sick at home.
Working is the same way for me. I don’t have a lot of income on auto-pilot yet, so I still have to work. But it’s more fun to work from somewhere different.
thanks for the link to my article. I really appreciate it.
sterling | bizlift’s last blog post..Update – New Champ, Paris-Nice and Full Feed
I love the idea. I have held a similar desire to travel around and blog, etc. (and since I had this before blogs were around). Spend 3 months in Belize. Then spend 3 months traveling to national parks in the west while working on my sites. Then go to Europe… Sounds great to me. Does it sound realistic? No. But it is still fun to think about.
John Hunter’s last blog post..Gen X Retirement
Hi John,
Welcome to the BWAB community.
Have blog will travel? We all can dream hey?
BTW: I love your blog. The information you’re providing on personal finance, investing and economics is so valuable and well documented. It’s also great to see a blogger who’s been at it for years, and still producing great content. Kudos to you. 🙂
Hope to see you again.