you remote office – have dedicated wifi. And if you’re like me and live in paradise – even your dedicated wifi will fail you. Electricity goes out, speeds slow during periods of heavy use. One solution is to purchase a cell for your back up.
3. HAVE A DEDICATED AND CLEAR PHONE LINE
My phone system of choice is MagicJack. You can purchase a jack or download a free app. But see above – no wifi or electricity and this could fail you as well. Pay a little extra to have your own US phone number. This is preferable so you always have the same call back number. I’ve had conference calls to the US while I was in Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala and Costa Rica …and no one has any idea I’m not calling from the US. Skype is another good option. There are more so find your favorite. Be certain you find the sweet spot for good coverage. I’ve been in certain places where I had to stand near a bathroom to get clear coverage after walking throughout a house repeating “Can you hear me now?” Experiment and have a few practice calls BEFORE you take the clients call.
4. MANAGE YOUR TIME
Focus Focus Focus. This was the most difficult for me. After a year off I struggled with getting my head back into critical thinking. I sent in work with inexcusable typos and at first it took me more time than normal to draft creative and effective legalese. Not the way to impress your boss. Block out time. Block out several hours to devote to your work and do not allow distractions. Stopping and starting several times is one of the least productive ways to work. Turn off your phone, don’t check emails and stay away from Facebook (admittedly my Achilles heel). You still need to be available to whomever you’re working for so it is very appropriate to let that person know you’re going to be working on their matter and will get back to them periodically with questions or comments. And if you know you cannot work one day due to other commitments, then by all means you may want to work late the night before.
Work when you are most productive. This is different for everyone. The beauty is you don’t have to work 9-5 so find the window that work best for your mind and lifestyle. Big surprise, my head is a little foggy the morning after a big night out or late afternoon if I’ve spent the day at the beach. I’ve also learned that I lose steam around 3-4p so I try to avoid those times if possible.
5. MANAGE YOUR SPACE
It is essential to find a clutter free, distraction free, and element free space to work. If you’re on the road, keep your file, laptop and notebook in one secure spot and work in a space that allows you to spread out and work ergonomically with little distraction. Again, poolside in the sun with loud piped in music and kids playing Marco Polo, while you stare at your friend’s frozen margarita, may not be the best space. If you work around friends, family or fellow travelers you need to respect their right to space and request them to show the same patience for your time. Setting out all your papers on the kitchen table and expecting quiet does not bode well for those around you. You may need to come up with workable schedules for “renting” space.
6. DON’T PROMISE WHAT YOU CAN’T DELIVER
If asked whether you can review a document by the following day and you know you are not willing to cancel your plans that evening, do not accept the assignment. Again, you need to be honest. Saying no is always better than missing a deadline. But you should consider whether you're committed if this happens more than a couple of times. If you need supplies or tools that are simply not available where you are then explain this and attempt to modify your deliverables. For me that means I am able to review and draft document, but I cannot attend a closing or prepare mailings from abroad. As long as you are clear about your abilities and limitations, you may find people are willing to work with you to find solutions.
7. DELIVER EXCELLENCE
Always do your best. As I mentioned before, my best took a little time. I was lucky to have a great support network who cut me a little slack. Also I am never afraid to admit my mistakes. Find the tools that increase your productivity. For me, I was encouraged to use a printer to better catch typos. Not so easy to travel on short trips, but worth the money if you’re somewhere for considerable time..