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.
• If you liked this episode, please leave us a positive review, subscribe to our show and share this episode with a friend. Thank you!

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 E6 Founding Virtual Not Distant: Pilar Orti’s Journey to Support Remote Teams – Work From Home Forever

On this episode of Work From Home Forever, Pilar Orti, a writer, podcaster, and the founder of Virtual Not Distant joins us on the show. Pilar shared her journey into remote work, which began in 2011, driven by her need to travel frequently to visit family. Initially trained as an actress, Pilar transitioned to remote work, finding comfort in working from home and utilizing coworking spaces when necessary. Pilar discussed her experience with coworking spaces, noting the practical challenges such as commuting time, costs, and temperature discomfort. She ultimately found working from home more comfortable and convenient. Pilar has set up a cozy home office with a standing desk and plenty of natural light, sharing the space with her husband, who prefers coworking spaces. Pilar emphasized the importance of maintaining work-life balance, avoiding work apps on her mobile phone, and setting boundaries with clients regarding availability. She highlighted the need for understanding individual work preferences and creating a work environment that supports personal well-being. In founding Virtual Not Distant, Pilar aimed to support remote teams and small businesses in utilizing online spaces for effective collaboration. She underscored the growing acceptance of remote work and the importance of flexibility in today's work environment. Pilar’s approach to work-life balance and her commitment to creating a supportive remote work culture are central to her philosophy and the success of Virtual Not Distant. Connect with Pilar: Website: Virtual Not Distant LinkedIn: Pilar Orti Listen to this episode from Pilar's podcast, Adventures in Podcasting, where I was her guest and we talked about my start in podcasting. ________________________  Do you love the show? Check out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠official merch page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠on Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support the show! ________________________

1. S3 E6 Founding Virtual Not Distant: Pilar Orti’s Journey to Support Remote Teams 44:11
2. S3 E5 Corey Walker: From Marketing Specialist to Instagram for Dummies 32:24
3. S3 E4 Stay Fit While You Sit: Ergonomic Tips with Mike Jones 30:57
4. S3 E3 Creating a Kind Workplace: Michael G. Neece on Leading with Kindness 36:30
5. S3 E2 From Family Therapy to Bestselling Author: Jack Lawrence's Career Pivot 30:05