Confessions of a Telecommuting Dad.

I started on this journey a little over eight years ago right after my divorce. I wanted to be able to take care of my daughters and be there for them as they grew up. Knowing what it was like growing up in a house with divorced parents I was committed to not letting that happen to my kids. The good news is I have almost made it. With one graduating high school this year and going off to college to join the medical field and a second getting ready to enter high school this year it felt like a good time to look back and share some of the stories from the road.

The Myth of Telecommuters. - I know few if any that really get to represent the picture below. 

I would look at these images and ask myself what I was doing wrong. Mind you I live not more than 30 minutes from beaches that have been ranked #1 in the world. Yet I spend very little time there. People pay thousands to come and enjoy these beaches and for me it is just a $6 toll to get across the bridge, yet I rarely have time to go there. Why?

• Because as a telecommuter one of the mis conceptions is we get to enjoy working from anywhere. The truth is we could if we want to destroy out investment in the equipment we use to make a living. I have a hard time feeling comfortable taking my MacBook Pro on the beach for fear it will be rendered useless by the drifting powder sand. Cellphones, iPads and other devices are equally susceptible to the drifting grit. 
• Telecommuters find themselves actually working more hours to make up for the stigma that has been created by pictures like the one above and those that get jobs telecommuting and don't actually do anything. The truth is I am in my chair at my desk many days from 8am when the kids go to school to 7 or 8pm working West coast and East Coast Hours. Because many of the contracts I have had in the past have been West Coast this has been the norm for me, which leaves little if any time to enjoy the beach.
• Another thing to be prepared for is nothing is paid for. The flip side of that is that everything is a write off. So if you can afford to buy a nice laptop, iPad and smart phone to use for your daily equipment you get to write those off....eventually. There are a number of upfront costs that need to be budgeted for. Also make sure to negotiate travel or have a credit card with a large enough balance to cover everything until you are reimbursed.

In Defense of Telecommuters. - Many companies I speak with today when applying for positions immediately ask "are you looking to relocate?" From my perspective the first thought in my mind is to do the math. I live 30 minutes from Sanibel Island in a state where there is no state income tax and we get a weeks notice for most if not all of the natural disasters that could befall us. The temperature here is almost always above 70 with maybe a week of two exception when it gets down to 60. I can walk to my desk every morning with no rush hour commute. When I articulate this it is always interesting to hear the defense for what they are offering. Keep in mind for the right offer I am willing to leave it all behind. But as a telecommuter it is a tough argument to want to give up this way of life despite the points mentioned above. I have the freedom to focus on my kids when an emergency arrives or my day clears out. I can show up in whatever is clean if I have not done laundry and my desk is decorated just the way I like it without offending anyone. I don't have to deal with too much office gossip or politics and when I need quiet to concentrate there is usually a spot I can go. My "office" is at home or at Starbucks or anywhere that has wifi or cell connection and is free of hazards. Yes technically I could work from the beach as long as I could afford a backup laptop with the same set up as the one I have in case it is over come by sand creeping inside vents and openings. Telecommuters who are worth their salt are also some of the hardest working and loyal employees you could hire as well. Who wants to leave a job that gives them this type of freedom as long as the work gets done? Those who telecommute and get this point know they have to put in the hours to make it work and will do it. Most will go above and beyond to make sure their employer / client is happy. 

The bottom line - Telecommuting is not for everyone. It is typically not the images you see portrayed online. But what job really is when you get down to it? The hours are often long, the stigma is really and often requires hard work to overcome and the up front costs can be difficult. But the perks are worth it in the ned as long as you dedicate yourself to doing the job, ignore the distractions and get the work done. Make sure you are careful on both sides of who you hire and who you go to work for. There are those looking to take advantage on both sides. Due diligence is key for both sides. Make sure you're worth it and the company is legitimate.

Thoughts? Feedback? Feel free to engage each other here and keep this an open forum. Comment here so we can keep the conversation going. If you enjoyed this article please see my others at https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/articles/650596?trk=mp-reader-h

Bryan Gissiner has been in Digital Advertising for over 20 years in everything from retail to Founding his own tier two ad network. Currently, he help companies utilize the right mix of current advanced technologies and marketing to outperform all of the other available alternative solutions in their target markets. He is a regular contributor on LinkedIn with a large following of other experts from a number of different areas.

Bryan Gissiner has worked on both the publisher and advertiser side helping them to find ways to save budget and increase return on those budgets, often making them 2-3x more successful. For the complete story, please go to www.linkedin.com/in/bryangiss, @bryangiss on twitter or contact directly bg@bryangissiner.com to discuss how he can bring his experience to add value to your company and help it continue to grow revenue and ROI.