1.8 Brian, Creative Thinker & Art Director

A wise man would’ve set metrics. A smart person would’ve had milestones…mine was more kind of based on providing for the family.

– Brian’s response on how he measured success when he first started his business

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Meet Brian, Creative Thinker & Art Director

Brian joins us this episode to talk about his transition as a Creative Director for large corporations to running his own creative agency, ⁠Space Monkey Designs⁠, for the last 7 years.

Brian talks about his early manual labor jobs and how he witnessed the output of his hard work and earning his check for the week. This strong work ethic has been key to Brian’s approach in his corporate work career and running his own business.

On this episode, we talk about:

• Brian’s initial foray into running his own company presented some challenges early on
• He talks about his “brand of you” approach to his career and how he presents himself from his work with clients, colleagues and how he presents himself on social media
• Work-cations he and his wife take as they combine offsite work assignments and mini vacations

If you want to connect with Brian, you can find him on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ or his website, ⁠spacemonkeydesigns.com⁠.

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Q & A with Brian

Why did you want to Work From Home Forever?

• I wanted to be able to pick and choose the projects that I worked on without having to conform to the narrative of companies that I didn’t align with 100% of the time.

How long have you been Working From Home, Forever?

• Going into year 7 of being self employed.

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

• A paycheck every two weeks, benefits, the all elusive ‘off button’, social interaction at an arm’s length.

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

• All work, no life… honestly my kids are grown, it’s just my wife and I. We can work from the road, so we have redefined work life balance by going on ‘work-cations’.

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

• Get an accountant, track your taxes, and clearly define ‘the brand of you’ and stay true it.

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

• Designated work area, designated non-work zones, and comfortable chairs.

2.19 From Landscaping to Coding: Thriving with Autism in a Remote Environment – Work From Home Forever

Welcome to the Work From Home Forever podcast, and on this episode, we have Bret Bernhoft, a full-stack developer who has been working remotely for the last three years. Bret's journey into remote work is unique as he is neurodiverse, finding remote work to be the perfect fit for his professional needs, especially as someone with autism. Bret shares his story, highlighting his self-taught journey into coding and how it opened up new opportunities for him. He emphasizes the life-changing impact of remote work, particularly for individuals facing challenges like neurodiversity. In this conversation: Bret discusses the distractions and challenges he faced while working in an office environment compared to the focused, simplified setting of working from home. He shares insights into his daily routine, emphasizing the importance of tools like Microsoft Teams and GitHub for seamless collaboration with colleagues. The discussion delves into the misconceptions surrounding neurodiverse individuals in the workplace, with Bret advocating for the support and understanding needed to unlock their full potential. He emphasizes the value of skills as "force multipliers" in remote work, encouraging others to explore technology as a gateway to remote careers. Reflecting on the future, Bret envisions continued growth in remote work, fueled by advancements in technology. He dismisses concerns about AI taking over jobs, embracing technology as a tool to enhance productivity rather than replace human workers. Throughout the episode, Bret's positive outlook and pragmatic advice shine through, offering valuable insights for anyone considering or already navigating the world of remote work. To connect with Bret Bernhoft: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ________________________  Do you love the show? Check out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠official merch page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠on Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support the show! ________________________ Remote.io is one the most viewed job boards by remote job seekers. Reach tens of thousands of monthly visitors searching for remote jobs and work-from-home careers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discover the best remote jobs to work from home.⁠⁠⁠ ________________________ — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/workfromhomeforever/message

1. 2.19 From Landscaping to Coding: Thriving with Autism in a Remote Environment 34:28
2. 2.18 From Corporate Disillusionment to Entrepreneurial Empowerment 47:13
3. 2.17 Building Belonging: The SAIR Collective Story with Corey Williams 45:03
4. 2.16 Yvette Estime, Co-Founder of Dirty Celebrity: From Toxic Corporate Culture to Fashion Entrepreneur 31:09
5. 2.15 Alex Freeman, Balancing W2 Employment and a Freelance Voiceover Career 31:20