Before Covid, Brendan was living and working full-time in San Francisco. He had an apartment in Presidio Heights and took the bus into work every day. Now, he works remotely and splits his time between the Bay Area and Boise as a digital nomad. As a Product Manager at Autolist for their Android app, Brendan can work remotely as long as he has his computer and a good Wi-Fi connection.
Senior Project Manager in San Francisco & Boise
Autolist
The Bay To Boise
When Covid hit, San Francisco shut down, so Brendan decided to not renew his lease in the city and spend part of his time in Boise, where he grew up. “I get the best of both worlds. San Francisco and Boise are very different, and I enjoy both, so traveling back and forth has been great.” When he made the change, there were still many unknowns about when the office would reopen, and luckily Autolist did not require a hard and fast return.
Onboarding Is Critical
However, remote work isn’t for everyone. It is no secret that some employees have felt isolated while working from home, perhaps more for those onboarding remotely. Autolist has had to be proactive about bringing on new, remote staff. “If you had already been established at a company before the company went remote, it’s easier to keep strong relationships with other teammates. But if you are starting new at a remote company and don’t know anyone, it is more challenging. At Autolist, we believe onboarding is critical for new hires to meet the broader team. Each new hire has a 20-minute casual meeting scheduled with every other teammate (we only have twenty-five people), which helps the new hire meet everyone within a couple of weeks.”
Set A Strick Calendar Schedule
For those used to the office, transitioning to a full work-from-home experience was not easy, and Brendan learned a few lessons along the way. “I learned how important it is to set a strict calendar schedule. When working remote, there is not a natural end to your workday like leaving the office to commute home. Work and personal time can blend together, and it can be hard to keep these priorities separate. I learned to set a strict schedule and put both work and personal responsibilities on my calendar in order to achieve a healthy work-life balance.”
“I recommend people invest heavily in their home office space. If you are going to sit in a chair and use a desk all day, getting the right equipment to create an environment for success is super valuable.”
Brendan Spillane
Create A Productive Environment As A Digital Nomad
Brendan’s favorite thing about working from home is his office. “I like that I can customize my home workspace more than I could in an office. With a stipend, I can buy anything from wall art to a desk plant, which allows me to set up an environment where I can be most productive. I recommend people invest heavily in their home office space. If you are going to sit in a chair and use a desk all day, getting the right equipment to create an environment for success is super valuable.”
Check “The Great Workplace Compromise Part 1” now!
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