Comments on: Remote http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/ Think. Create. Write. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: » Combating the Vacuum, Part II http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3357 » Combating the Vacuum, Part II Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:35:30 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3357 [...] So, a bit more on combating the WorkFromHome Vaccuum. [...] [...] So, a bit more on combating the WorkFromHome Vaccuum. [...]

]]> By: Kim http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3344 Kim Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:38:25 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3344 @<a href="#comment-3334" rel="nofollow">Cecily</a>: I definitely hear you on "work". I think <a href="http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/#comment-3335" rel="nofollow">Donna</a rel="nofollow">'s approach—owning it as real <strong>work</strong>—is one way to feel better about it, and to really commit. I also think ditching the idea of "work" altogether can do wonders. We've all grown up surrounded by what it means to be "working" -- be it a 9-5 job, an office, a uniform of some sort (even creatives often feel they need to look the part, me included), income, networking, contacts, business cards, a title, a label... -- and I wonder if all of those definitions don't get in the way when the "work" we do is creative and doesn't fit into the molds we just assume must be filled. Who cares if you're "working"? If you're spending your time in a way you find fulfilling and satisfying and you're content and even excited about the contribution you might make to society, I think you're accomplishing more than many "working" folks. This might be a generational thing. We need our parents and parental figures to know we're "working" -- that we're earning a living and supporting our families and that we have health insurance. Of course those things are important, and even required. But it's also very, very important to *stop* working. It's important to value the creative pursuits we have when we're *not* working. And if we decide to take the scary plunge into making those creative pursuits the ones that sustain us full-time, then we should own it. Cecily, when you're ready, I can't wait to see what you've come up with. /jumping off soap box now. @Cecily: I definitely hear you on “work”. I think Donna‘s approach—owning it as real work—is one way to feel better about it, and to really commit. I also think ditching the idea of “work” altogether can do wonders. We’ve all grown up surrounded by what it means to be “working” — be it a 9-5 job, an office, a uniform of some sort (even creatives often feel they need to look the part, me included), income, networking, contacts, business cards, a title, a label… — and I wonder if all of those definitions don’t get in the way when the “work” we do is creative and doesn’t fit into the molds we just assume must be filled. Who cares if you’re “working”? If you’re spending your time in a way you find fulfilling and satisfying and you’re content and even excited about the contribution you might make to society, I think you’re accomplishing more than many “working” folks. This might be a generational thing. We need our parents and parental figures to know we’re “working” — that we’re earning a living and supporting our families and that we have health insurance. Of course those things are important, and even required. But it’s also very, very important to *stop* working. It’s important to value the creative pursuits we have when we’re *not* working. And if we decide to take the scary plunge into making those creative pursuits the ones that sustain us full-time, then we should own it. Cecily, when you’re ready, I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with. /jumping off soap box now.

]]> By: Kim Werker http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-7480 Kim Werker Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:38:00 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-7480 @<a href="#comment-3334" rel="nofollow">Cecily</a>: I definitely hear you on "work". I think <a href="http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/#comment-3335" rel="nofollow">Donna's approach—owning it as real <strong>work</strong>—is one way to feel better about it, and to really commit. I also think ditching the idea of "work" altogether can do wonders. We've all grown up surrounded by what it means to be "working" -- be it a 9-5 job, an office, a uniform of some sort (even creatives often feel they need to look the part, me included), income, networking, contacts, business cards, a title, a label... -- and I wonder if all of those definitions don't get in the way when the "work" we do is creative and doesn't fit into the molds we just assume must be filled. Who cares if you're "working"? If you're spending your time in a way you find fulfilling and satisfying and you're content and even excited about the contribution you might make to society, I think you're accomplishing more than many "working" folks. This might be a generational thing. We need our parents and parental figures to know we're "working" -- that we're earning a living and supporting our families and that we have health insurance. Of course those things are important, and even required. But it's also very, very important to *stop* working. It's important to value the creative pursuits we have when we're *not* working. And if we decide to take the scary plunge into making those creative pursuits the ones that sustain us full-time, then we should own it. Cecily, when you're ready, I can't wait to see what you've come up with. /jumping off soap box now.</a> @Cecily: I definitely hear you on “work”. I think Donna’s approach—owning it as real work—is one way to feel better about it, and to really commit. I also think ditching the idea of “work” altogether can do wonders. We’ve all grown up surrounded by what it means to be “working” — be it a 9-5 job, an office, a uniform of some sort (even creatives often feel they need to look the part, me included), income, networking, contacts, business cards, a title, a label… — and I wonder if all of those definitions don’t get in the way when the “work” we do is creative and doesn’t fit into the molds we just assume must be filled. Who cares if you’re “working”? If you’re spending your time in a way you find fulfilling and satisfying and you’re content and even excited about the contribution you might make to society, I think you’re accomplishing more than many “working” folks. This might be a generational thing. We need our parents and parental figures to know we’re “working” — that we’re earning a living and supporting our families and that we have health insurance. Of course those things are important, and even required. But it’s also very, very important to *stop* working. It’s important to value the creative pursuits we have when we’re *not* working. And if we decide to take the scary plunge into making those creative pursuits the ones that sustain us full-time, then we should own it. Cecily, when you’re ready, I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with. /jumping off soap box now.

]]> By: Donna http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3335 Donna Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:18:02 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3335 The vicious circle of being overwhelmed and procrastinating used to plague me. For me, it would start small (a couple of unanswered e-mails, a few undone tasks) and grow into a many-tentacled, smothering beast (sometimes quite quickly). I think dealing with this (and learning how to avoid it as much as possible) is a major part of successfully working from home. I still experience it sometimes, but to a lesser extent. Now that I'm the mother of a small child, I have such limited time in which my physical and mental space are my own, I'm chomping at the bit to work, and so I can usually hit the ground running when I'm able to eek out some time for myself. Even so, I have to keep a well-updated to-do list so I can stay on track and do the most important things first. Otherwise it's easy to plop down and work on whatever is on my my mind at the moment. I also identify with what Cecily said. When I'm working on something that isn't yet earning me pay, I have a difficult time justifying it as actual work. I finally started calling it work out loud, and it's starting to fit better and feel better. The vicious circle of being overwhelmed and procrastinating used to plague me. For me, it would start small (a couple of unanswered e-mails, a few undone tasks) and grow into a many-tentacled, smothering beast (sometimes quite quickly). I think dealing with this (and learning how to avoid it as much as possible) is a major part of successfully working from home. I still experience it sometimes, but to a lesser extent. Now that I’m the mother of a small child, I have such limited time in which my physical and mental space are my own, I’m chomping at the bit to work, and so I can usually hit the ground running when I’m able to eek out some time for myself. Even so, I have to keep a well-updated to-do list so I can stay on track and do the most important things first. Otherwise it’s easy to plop down and work on whatever is on my my mind at the moment.

I also identify with what Cecily said. When I’m working on something that isn’t yet earning me pay, I have a difficult time justifying it as actual work. I finally started calling it work out loud, and it’s starting to fit better and feel better.

]]> By: yarntomato http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-7473 yarntomato Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:18:00 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-7473 The vicious circle of being overwhelmed and procrastinating used to plague me. For me, it would start small (a couple of unanswered e-mails, a few undone tasks) and grow into a many-tentacled, smothering beast (sometimes quite quickly). I think dealing with this (and learning how to avoid it as much as possible) is a major part of successfully working from home. I still experience it sometimes, but to a lesser extent. Now that I'm the mother of a small child, I have such limited time in which my physical and mental space are my own, I'm chomping at the bit to work, and so I can usually hit the ground running when I'm able to eek out some time for myself. Even so, I have to keep a well-updated to-do list so I can stay on track and do the most important things first. Otherwise it's easy to plop down and work on whatever is on my my mind at the moment. I also identify with what Cecily said. When I'm working on something that isn't yet earning me pay, I have a difficult time justifying it as actual work. I finally started calling it work out loud, and it's starting to fit better and feel better. The vicious circle of being overwhelmed and procrastinating used to plague me. For me, it would start small (a couple of unanswered e-mails, a few undone tasks) and grow into a many-tentacled, smothering beast (sometimes quite quickly). I think dealing with this (and learning how to avoid it as much as possible) is a major part of successfully working from home. I still experience it sometimes, but to a lesser extent. Now that I’m the mother of a small child, I have such limited time in which my physical and mental space are my own, I’m chomping at the bit to work, and so I can usually hit the ground running when I’m able to eek out some time for myself. Even so, I have to keep a well-updated to-do list so I can stay on track and do the most important things first. Otherwise it’s easy to plop down and work on whatever is on my my mind at the moment.

I also identify with what Cecily said. When I’m working on something that isn’t yet earning me pay, I have a difficult time justifying it as actual work. I finally started calling it work out loud, and it’s starting to fit better and feel better.

]]> By: Cecily http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3334 Cecily Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:24:34 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3334 The biggest challenge I face in my work life might have something to do with the air quotes I feel in my fingers as I say "work". Why the air quotes? There are several reasons, the biggest reason is the projects I currently consider my "work", the things I hope will eventually earn me pay currently earn no cash**. Indeed, whoever will pay me for these projects doesn't even know I or these projects exist. Few of my friends even know what I'm working on. I've been holding my cards close to my chest while I convince myself it really is time to finally take the leap and develop these projects (notice I won't even admit to what they are) that have rambled around in my mind for years. **Actual monetary reward isn't the issue, perhaps most important in this situation is that there is no audience, no one needing this "work". It is a vacuum I feel daily and it is only relieved in the moments I am truly working on a project or right after. Thinking about them doesn't count, after a certain point, I find the thinking sucks any air left in the room... The biggest challenge I face in my work life might have something to do with the air quotes I feel in my fingers as I say “work”. Why the air quotes? There are several reasons, the biggest reason is the projects I currently consider my “work”, the things I hope will eventually earn me pay currently earn no cash**. Indeed, whoever will pay me for these projects doesn’t even know I or these projects exist. Few of my friends even know what I’m working on. I’ve been holding my cards close to my chest while I convince myself it really is time to finally take the leap and develop these projects (notice I won’t even admit to what they are) that have rambled around in my mind for years.

**Actual monetary reward isn’t the issue, perhaps most important in this situation is that there is no audience, no one needing this “work”. It is a vacuum I feel daily and it is only relieved in the moments I am truly working on a project or right after. Thinking about them doesn’t count, after a certain point, I find the thinking sucks any air left in the room…

]]> By: Cecily http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-7475 Cecily Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:24:00 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-7475 The biggest challenge I face in my work life might have something to do with the air quotes I feel in my fingers as I say "work". Why the air quotes? There are several reasons, the biggest reason is the projects I currently consider my "work", the things I hope will eventually earn me pay currently earn no cash**. Indeed, whoever will pay me for these projects doesn't even know I or these projects exist. Few of my friends even know what I'm working on. I've been holding my cards close to my chest while I convince myself it really is time to finally take the leap and develop these projects (notice I won't even admit to what they are) that have rambled around in my mind for years. **Actual monetary reward isn't the issue, perhaps most important in this situation is that there is no audience, no one needing this "work". It is a vacuum I feel daily and it is only relieved in the moments I am truly working on a project or right after. Thinking about them doesn't count, after a certain point, I find the thinking sucks any air left in the room... The biggest challenge I face in my work life might have something to do with the air quotes I feel in my fingers as I say “work”. Why the air quotes? There are several reasons, the biggest reason is the projects I currently consider my “work”, the things I hope will eventually earn me pay currently earn no cash**. Indeed, whoever will pay me for these projects doesn’t even know I or these projects exist. Few of my friends even know what I’m working on. I’ve been holding my cards close to my chest while I convince myself it really is time to finally take the leap and develop these projects (notice I won’t even admit to what they are) that have rambled around in my mind for years.

**Actual monetary reward isn’t the issue, perhaps most important in this situation is that there is no audience, no one needing this “work”. It is a vacuum I feel daily and it is only relieved in the moments I am truly working on a project or right after. Thinking about them doesn’t count, after a certain point, I find the thinking sucks any air left in the room…

]]> By: Yarn Thing http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3330 Yarn Thing Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:37:44 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3330 Go, have a great weekend! You totally deserve it! xoxox marly Go, have a great weekend! You totally deserve it!

xoxox
marly

]]> By: Yarn Thing http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-7474 Yarn Thing Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:37:00 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-7474 Go, have a great weekend! You totally deserve it! xoxox marly Go, have a great weekend! You totally deserve it!

xoxox
marly

]]> By: Ellen Gormley http://www.kimwerker.com/2008/06/28/remote/comment-page-1/#comment-3329 Ellen Gormley Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:48:46 +0000 http://www.kimwerker.com/?p=173#comment-3329 I totally agree with Stacey's "overwhelmitis" and it usually coincides with the the UPS man delivering a huge box of yarn. I get into a quandry, do I finish what I was doing? Do I drop everything and work on what just arrived? Do I hide the box and pretend it didn't arrive? Do I finish what I was doing while THE BOX stares at me from the corner? Then, I eat a cookie, figure out what's "due" first and jump in, hooks flashing. I totally agree with Stacey’s “overwhelmitis” and it usually coincides with the the UPS man delivering a huge box of yarn. I get into a quandry, do I finish what I was doing? Do I drop everything and work on what just arrived? Do I hide the box and pretend it didn’t arrive? Do I finish what I was doing while THE BOX stares at me from the corner? Then, I eat a cookie, figure out what’s “due” first and jump in, hooks flashing.

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