If I have to be in front of them to get a promotion, they’re not the right leader for me.
– Roger on the importance of in-office face time and career advancement
Listen to the Work From Home Forever Podcast
Meet Roger, Systems Architect
On this episode of the Work From Home Forever podcast, we chat with Roger. Roger is a Systems Architect and he views remote work as working where you work best. He’s been working fully remote the last two years and started his work from home journey as a hybrid work environment the last 10 years.
Roger talks about claims that remote work stifles creativity in the workplace. We talk about his tenacity and how Roger advocated for the right to work from home and how career aspirations are unique to each individual.
- If you want to find more about Roger, you can connect with him via LinkedIn.
- If you want to share your Work From Home Forever story, please visit our website and complete the survey and we will reach out to you shortly.
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Q & A with Roger
Why did you want to Work From Home Forever?
- So I’ve always been a proponent of working where you work best. I like to call it work flexibility and I think if people recognize where they work best (which can change daily) then people who employ them will get some amazing results. I took advantage of the Covid pandemic to push this change of mindset in front of as many people and entities as possible.
How long have you been Working From Home, Forever?
- I have worked remotely, on and off, over the last 10 years. The last 2 years, however, I have worked full time from home.
What trade offs, if any, did you make in order to Work From Home Forever?
- I was fortunate in that we purchased a larger home in 2019, not knowing that we would need the increased space. If anything the trade off has been that I have cut down on socialization inside the workplace, mainly because the vast majority of people are only familiar with virtual socialization in their personal spheres or on surface apps like Facebook, SnapChat etc.
How do you manage work/life balance Working From Home, Forever?
- It’s a challenge for sure – having physical barriers like doors, or specified times when working definitely helps. I also think it’s much tougher or, perhaps easier, for parents of younger non-school age kids because of the inherent distractions. There is always the dreaded “always on” phenomenon, which occurs when you don’t have enough separation from work. That’s probably the pro-company premise’ best defense is that the physical location creates a mental “break” when you leave the office door. Unfortunately with mobile technology there’s always the possibility of “being on”.
What’s your best advice to others who want to Work From Home Forever?
- Be realistic about the challenges as well as the advantages. Also, don’t crow over people who don’t want to work from home, because they have legitimate needs that can only be met by their employer. They may need specialized technology that they can’t manage in a home, or their careers may require a lot more “physical sharing” like a modeling team for a car manufacturer.
How can people get a hold of you?
- The best way is to reach out to me via LinkedIn
Roger’s home-office must-haves
Alignment
Everyone should be on board
Office Space
Dedicated work space
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Right Tech
Tech that works for you
From Cocktails to Content: Navigating Career Shifts in the Remote World (Best Of) – Work From Home Forever
As we wind down season two of the Work From Home Forever podcast for the summer, we will bring you some of our favorite episodes from seasons one and two.
In this Best Of episode, we want to replay our original episode with Maria Healey. Maria has a great story about how the pandemic forced her to rethink priorities and how she sought out remote work and is thriving in a fully remote environment.
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Maria Healey shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to working in various industries, including gaming and employment law, before finding success in remote work.
Maria discusses her background, including her experience in the gaming industry and her transition to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility and networking in finding remote opportunities, highlighting her use of platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
As an "ex-introvert," Maria shares how she pushed herself outside her comfort zone by taking on roles like a bartender to improve her social skills. She emphasizes the significance of building relationships with team members through one-on-one meetings, even in a remote setting, to foster a strong team environment.
To connect with Maria Healey:
LinkedIn
Maria's website
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Discover the best remote jobs to work from home.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/workfromhomeforever/message
- From Cocktails to Content: Navigating Career Shifts in the Remote World (Best Of)
- 2.19 From Landscaping to Coding: Thriving with Autism in a Remote Environment
- 2.18 From Corporate Disillusionment to Entrepreneurial Empowerment
- 2.17 Building Belonging: The SAIR Collective Story with Corey Williams
- 2.16 Yvette Estime, Co-Founder of Dirty Celebrity: From Toxic Corporate Culture to Fashion Entrepreneur
