1.5 Haley, Program Manager & Community Builder

Within a three month span, I had gotten laid off as a result of COVID, gotten married and moved to follow my husband to grad school. So all of those really big life events really shaped my perspective on things that I wasn’t willing to miss out on anymore as a result of being in the office.

– Haley on the life events that shaped her view on the importance of remote work

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Listen to the Work From Home Forever Podcast

Meet Haley, Program Manager & Community Builder in transition

Haley shares her story on this episode of the Work From Home Forever podcast. In a three-month span, Haley faced the uncertainties of COVID, experienced a lay off as a result of the pandemic, got married and moved for her husband’s grad school.

These life experiences, along with the arrival of her first child have shaped her perspectives on the importance of being present and not willing to miss out on experiences as a result of being in an office.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Criticism towards remote employees and the perception these workers are less dedicated to the job.
• Work From Home roles offer broader opportunities for those who may not be located in a big city. Conversely, remote workers bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds to businesses that may not operate in regions outside their traditional headquarters or established office spaces.
• We discuss if working from home stunts professional growth.
• Haley talks about her approach to finding remote-only roles in a landscape where organizations are communicating return to office and hybrid arrangements for their teams.
• During our rapid fire segment, we talk about the work spouse debate, the adoption of the four-day work week and how Chat GPT and AI is perceived by creative teams.

To connect with Haley, you can reach her on her LinkedIn profile.

• 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 Haley

Why did you want to Work From Home Forever?

• COVID really opened up my eyes to what was most important to me and the things I was no longer willing to miss due to being in an office. WFH allows me to prioritize my personal life events while still contributing my skills and creating meaningful work. If I can pop in my Airpods and tune into a meeting while feeding my kid and folding laundry, why wouldn’t I?

How long have you been Working From Home, Forever?

• Just over 2 years.

What trade offs, if any, did you make in order to Work From Home Forever?

• I’ve only had positive tradeoffs, but I’m sure my introverted personality is a big part of that. Since I live in a remote area, targeting WFH roles actually opens up more opportunities than would be available in-office.

How do you manage work/life balance Working From Home, Forever?

• It’s not always easy. Since I have a baby, the only way I’m able to be successful WFH is if flexibility comes with the role. I love being able to work in the wee hours of the morning or evening. I’ve also learned how to challenge the necessity of meetings so that I could have as much “head down” time as possible.

What’s your best advice to others who want to Work From Home Forever?

• Be honest with yourself about what your challenges with WFH might be so that you can get your systems and processes in place so that you can be prepared and successful.

What are your three must-haves to Work From Home, Forever?

• Flexibility, a calm work space, and time set aside to socialize.

S3 E5 Corey Walker: From Marketing Specialist to Instagram for Dummies – Work From Home Forever

In this episode of the Work From Home Forever podcast, we chat with Corey Walker, a social media agency owner and co-author of "Instagram for Dummies" and "Instagram for Business for Dummies." Corey shares her journey from working in a corporate cubicle to running her own successful social media agency from home. The catalyst for her transition was the desire to spend more time with her young daughter, who was in daycare while Corey felt unproductive in her office cubicle. Determined to find a better work-life balance, she began freelancing and eventually established her agency, The Marketing Specialist. Corey highlights the importance of having a dedicated office space at home and setting clear boundaries with clients to maintain a healthy work-life balance. She discusses how the rise of short-form video content has transformed digital marketing, noting the challenges small business owners face in creating engaging videos. Despite the obstacles, she emphasizes the necessity of leveraging platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn to connect with clients and grow their businesses. Corey also touches on the importance of maintaining personal connections and taking breaks to avoid burnout. She shares strategies for managing client expectations and stresses the value of networking and continuous learning to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of social media marketing. Throughout the interview, Corey provides practical advice for those considering a transition to remote work, whether for a company or as an entrepreneur. Connect with Corey: Website: The Marketing Specialist Instagram: ⁠⁠CoreyCWalker ________________________  Do you love the show? Check out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠official merch page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠on Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support the show! ________________________

1. S3 E5 Corey Walker: From Marketing Specialist to Instagram for Dummies 32:24
2. S3 E4 Stay Fit While You Sit: Ergonomic Tips with Mike Jones 30:57
3. S3 E3 Creating a Kind Workplace: Michael G. Neece on Leading with Kindness 36:30
4. S3 E2 From Family Therapy to Bestselling Author: Jack Lawrence's Career Pivot 30:05
5. S3 E1 Building a Remote-First Culture: Insights from Danielle Cuomo of Virtual Assist USA 27:52