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 E8 How Pampered Chef Helps Marlee Kivens Achieve Work-Life Balance with Spina Bifida – Work From Home Forever

In this inspiring episode of the Work From Home Forever, host Don sits down with Marlee Kivens, a Pampered Chef Independent Consultant who turned a simple kitchenware party into a thriving remote career.Marlee shares how Pampered Chef’s accessible products helped her gain independence as a person with Spina Bifida, allowing her to cook without assistance.She discusses her transition from in-home demonstrations to fully virtual events, the skills she had to learn—like social media and Zoom—and how working remotely gives her the flexibility to manage her health.Marlee’s story is a powerful example of how remote work can empower individuals with disabilities to build successful, fulfilling careers on their own terms.Connect with Marlee:Pampered Chef: KivensKitchenKornerFacebook: KivensKitchenKorner⁠________________________ Do you love the show? Check out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠official merch page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠on Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support the show!________________________

1. S3 E8 How Pampered Chef Helps Marlee Kivens Achieve Work-Life Balance with Spina Bifida 38:18
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