with Anthony Newcombe 👀👀
October’s topic:
The “Cottage Industry” has caught up with me (finally)
20-plus years working in a remote setting … and wouldn’t change a thing!
Well, it took a while, but what can I say: I TOLD you so! Well, not entirely. I spent much of my time since 1999 believing I had to keep some sort of secret or something. I asked myself:
- Will they ever find out that I tend to wear shorts and sandals during my business calls and videos?
- Do you they know that have no interest in driving downtown for any reason at all? Including closing giant deals?
- Will they be mortified if one of my little ones barges into my home office and vomits mac and cheese all over my desk in real time? Did I care even if something like that happened?
The answer to the above and many other questions, is, well, NO. I didn’t care. I don’t care today either. And I probably won’t care at any time in the future. I mean, let’s face it: Nobody I know out-works me. In fact, I haven’t been on a real vacation since the end of 2017. Oh yeah, we probably shouldn’t even count that one because I was finalizing my book, Sorry, 50 is NOT the New 30, during that trip.
I look around and see Congress on break most of the calendar year. I see neighbors who can barely roll out of bed by noon and spend their weeknights getting high and drinking all night. I come across those on social media pretending they’re working, but still, can’t figure out what they’re even working on. Working on their tans?
I suppose, though, it took the Covid pandemic to convince more than a few professionals to “hang up their car keys” and settle into whatever makeshift workspace they could create within their 4 walls. And looking around, it’s hard to see many other benefits of this whole health scare period in the United States and beyond.
However, one thing I do know is the cottage industry is here to stay and that’s a good thing because it will keep me plugging along, my sanity in check, and, of course, my dry-cleaning bill will remain where it belongs – in the home office shredder! Ciao!
So, what’s your story?
We’ll catch up with you again in about 30 days … I’m out!
-A.N.