Okay, we’re told that if we have a location independent business we can work anywhere.
But how true is that?
In my time, I’ve said, Oh, but I need my desktop computer and I need to be in my office where all my stuff is.
On occasions I work from my laptop in coffee shops. I even once wrote a cemetery management plan in Sao Paolo airport.
But this is the work of apprentices.
Today, I’m testing it BIG time.
I’m writing to you as I walk through my local cemetery.
Welcome to St George’s…….
Here, my phone is my ‘computer’ and my ‘office’…. well, let me show you.
I’m not suggesting that we work in our leisure time. Space away from screens and our work is critical. Rather, I’m proposing that maybe we can work from anywhere.
Of course, it depends on the type of work you do, but how often do we stop ourselves before we’ve even tried something?
Typing this on my phone is not the quickest thing I’ve ever done, but I haven’t thought twice about not having my computer or all my stuff in my office.
And you know what?
It’s better.
It’s better because I’m feeding my soul.
Writing as I walk through a peaceful landacape is so much more enjoyable than sitting at my desk inside. It’s got me thinking about what else I can do to shake up in my day. What else could change that means I still deliver on work, but maximise the benefit to my soul?
Maximising Joy
As expats we’re very good at problem solving, developing strategies and adapting to change as our norm. I’m sure we’re evolving an expat gene somewhere in our DNA. If not, we should be. All that hard earned experience could be bottled up and sold for a fortune – especially in times of Covid19 quarantine and lockdown!
But I digress.
We tend to focus this incredible troubleshooting brain for life’s big decisions, but what if we shook things up and used it for daily improvement?
Little changes often have a much bigger impact than we first think they can. And when they accummulate, before you know it, a hell of a lot more in life has improved….. and far more than you could have ever imagined. It sneaks up on you.
Before anything sneaks up on me in this cemetery (it’s getting dark!), I’m heading home.
It’s now the next morning. 10.09am to be precise. Yesterday’s test had an impact. I’m in the garden sitting in the sun finishing off this blog. I’ve been here since 8.30am and I’m now wondering why I ever sit at my desk indoors if I don’t have to.
So often we defeat ourselves before we even try. There’s the vibrant spark of an idea, then that little voice starts telling us all the reasons why the idea won’t work.
Let’s thank them for their advice and for wanting to protect us, but say, No thanks, I’m going to try something different today.
My something different came to life in the cemetery. That’s normal right?!
I got to enjoy the dusk chorus of birds settling for the night. It unravelled into a morning’s work in the garden. The fluffy head of a dandelion made me smile – bringing forth childhood memories of fairies and making wishes by blowing the fluff into the wind. I saw sexy things between beetles. I’m sure there’s a joke in there about beetles banging, but that would be rude, so I won’t make that joke.
You see, this little decision to go up to the cemetery has brought me so much unexpected joy.
I’m not going to easily settle for my office again.
What about you?
What are you settling for which you know you can make better?
I have a hunch that you’re already thinking about some areas of your life that you’d like to change.
Why not set aside some time soon to manifest these dreams and ideas?
And to answer my initial question.
Yes, I think you can work anywhere with that location independent business. I know many who do. It’s about thinking creatively, making flexibility your friend and finding joy in day to day tasks.
I’ve now moved into the kitchen as coffee calls.
I know it may sound a little frivolous as I move around with my phone. I hear you saying, but that wouldn’t work with my business.
Is that really true?
You might need to be at a desk for some things, but there’s so much more to running a business. Planning, phone calls, strategising, emails, social media and marketing can all be done elsewhere.
And when I look at the photos above, I know where I’d rather be.
And so I challenge you, what’s the first thing you’re going change?
I’m excited to hear how you get on.
Let me know and we can celebrate your wins!
