In case you missed it – you can watch the replay of  3 Secrets to Turning Your Office Into The Anywhere Office®. In this webinar I share three secrets to mobilize your workstyle and make your business and projects more flexible. These simple steps will allow you to work wherever and whenever you want.

We had a lot of questions during the webinar and not all were answered, so I answered the bulk of them in a 2 part guest blog post I did for the WebEx blog. There were some excellent questions – here are the links so you can check it out:

The Anywhere Office: Collaborating While Working Remotely (Part 1)

In this post I answer these questions:

• How can you stay connected with workmates and interact with your team in a virtual office while avoiding feeling isolated?
• What is the best way to convince ‘old school’ management that this will better for yourself and the company?
• How do you keep the team spirit and consistency in the quality of work when everyone is working from home?
• How do you convince a customer to trust in remote management of his/her data?

If you’re currently a mobile worker, or you’re starting to get more involved with virtual teamwork and remote collaboration the tools and strategies I discuss in this Q&A will help. The key to success is embracing the change about what defines work and taking the time to really think about how business gets done.

So check out the webinar and part 1 and part 2 of my Q&A blogpost on the Webex blog.

If you have further questions, you can post them as comments below or over at the webex blog and I’ll answer them there.

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Business as usual no longer involves working in a centralized office at set times. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, telecommuter or remote worker, modern workflow is far more dynamic and individual. There are smart ways to work without an office.

As you know, as a reader of this blog, I’ve created a blueprint for virtual work that I call The Anywhere Office®. In this webinar I’ll shares three secrets to mobilize your workstyle and make your business and projects more flexible. These simple steps will allow you to work wherever and whenever you want.

I’ll show you how to:

• Make your work location independent
• Improve communication and keep people connected
• Manage a virtual team, distributed project group, or ebusiness across time and distance

Click here to view Cisco's Interactive Infographic - The Future of Workplace Mobility

This recent Cisco interactive infographic  serves as  a great visual representation of The Anywhere Office® concept I’ve been talking about for the last decade and will be discussing on this upcoming webinar. It shows the current and future state of workplace mobility. As Cisco states “Long commutes and being in an office at a certain time with limited flexibility is gradually becoming a thing of the past. The future will see an increase in workplace mobility creating the “anywhere office,” a place where employees can work anytime from anywhere.” By 2013, mobile workers will make up 35 percent of the worldwide workforce. While that leaves out over half of the global workforce, it shows us a new world of opportunity.  Are you shifting your business to “The Anywhere Office®?”

Who should attend

This webinar is perfect for anyone who must coordinate with co-workers, clients, vendors, or contractors across time and distance: project managers, program directors, team leaders, project coordinators, or anyone in a leadership role for a virtual team or distributed project group. This includes freelancers, entrepreneurs, telecommuters and remote workers.

Make sure to signup today and reserve your spot.  Even if you can’t make the live event you will be emailed a link to the recording so you can still benefit from all the tips and strategies I’ll be sharing.

I’m looking forward to a fun webinar and I hope to see you there!

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On September 13, she’s presenting a free webinar called Telecommute Now! How to Get Fast Approval to Work from Home where she will be sharing secrets for the easiest way to ask for a flexible work arrangement and get your managers to say YES.

In our short interview Pat and I talk about:

• the importance of knowing how to negotiate the flexible work arrangement you want and how to ask with confidence.
• the different shapes and sizes of flexible work: including telecommuting, compressed workweek, part-time, and job sharing.
• the three-ingredient formula that gets managers to agree to a telework request — even where there are barriers. She also reveals a preview of two barriers that keep people from asking for a flexible work arrangement.

Listen to this 15 minute interview to learn more:

Pat’s expert advice on flexible work has been featured in several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and also on NBC Nightly News. I’ve been following Pat’s work in this space for the last 15 years and we first spoke many years ago when I was working on my book – Lose Your Commute.

Pat’s story, and why helping people find legitimate flexible work has become her passion, is very interesting.  I suggest checking out the about page on her site to learn more.

Like Pat, it has always been my mission to help people achieve their flexible or virtual work goals. What frustrates me is that there is plenty of information available on how to start a “flexible,” work from home business, but not everyone wants to be a small business owner or an entrepreneur. A lot of people want to work a job or develop a career with a company – but also want to take advantage of the flexibility of an alternative work arrangement. Finding legitimate flexible work is made even more challenging due to the scammers and fakes who prey on honest people; taking their money and giving little or nothing in return. One way to transition to a more flexible work schedule while avoiding scams is to approach the manager at your current job about work-shifting or working from home a few days out of the workweek.

Unfortunately, there’s not much information available on how to approach your current employer about telework or other flexible work arrangements. That’s why I was excited to hear about Pat’s Flexible Work Proposal Packages and the upcoming free webinar she is offering.

FREE WEBINAR
Pat’s Telecommute Now!  webinar is being held on Tuesday, September 13th. She always provides the kind of reliable, trusted information that so many people have been looking for but don’t know where to get. In this webinar she’ll reveal the three key ingredients for getting your boss to say ‘yes’ to your request to work from home. This is based on 18 years of experience with thousands of professionals, she can tell you what changes managers’ minds. If you want to know how to get your manager to say YES, register now.

All webinar registrants are eligible to win a free copy of the Telecommuting Proposal Package. You’re entered to win automatically when you register for the free Telecommute Now! webinar.

Don’t put your dreams of a flexible work schedule on hold another minute. Cut the commute and free up time for your family, your side hustle, your life. There are only 100 slots available so click here and sign up now before it fills up.

NEXT STEPS:

• Sign up for the Free Telecommute NOW Webinar (Sept. 13th)
• Get more info Pat’s Flexible Work Proposal Packages (Templates & Strategy)
• Follow WorkOptions.com on Facebook

This post contains some affiliate links, click here to read our full affiliate disclosure.

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Not quite there yet?  That’s OK – you’re not alone – and we’ve got you covered!

Below are some useful disaster preparedness resources including websites, an episode of our radio show, a free business continuity teleseminar,  and some recommended tools to help you weather any storm.

AUDIO (Radio Show Archive):

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail (Business Continuity in the Changing World of Work)
There are many potential obstacles that can interrupt a company’s ability to do business as usual: inclement weather, natural disasters, special events, transit strikes, and skyrocketing transportation costs just to name a few. In this episode from our radio show archive we took a look at the differences between business continuity and disaster recovery as well as some strategies and technology to help you and your organization prepare. Jason and I talk with Brian Donahoo of Citrix Online, makers of GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting, to explore how aspects of the digital lifestyle can address and overcome these obstacles. As the Zen proverb says . . . The obstacle is the path.

FREE TELESEMINAR:

Riding the Storm Out (Tips to develop a business continuity plan)
Consider this, almost 40% of small businesses that close due to a disaster event never re-open.

What would you do if the building your business is located within was damaged or destroyed in a disaster? Where would you go to continue providing your business services? Would you have the resources, databases, contact information and other necessary items to adapt to these changes?

The best time to respond to any disaster is before it happens. A well thought out business continuity or disaster recovery plan can ensure that you are prepared for any contingency. Our panel of South Florida experts discuss best practices, strategies, and tools to ensure your business can weather any storm or business interruption.

CLICK HERE for the Downloadable Audio and Handouts

WEBSITES:

Ready.gov
The website for The Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign. This site has comprehensive information about all aspects of Disaster Planning, Business Continuity, and Continuity of Operations planning. It is broken down into 3 main areas Ready America, Ready Business, and Ready Kids.

National Hurricane Survival Initiative
A coalition of a number of organizations including National Hurricane Center, National Emergency Management Association, The Salvation Army, and others. This is an exceptional site – well designed and full of resources.

Office Depot’s Disaster Preparedness Strategy
An excellent collection of articles and resources on how small business owners can prepare for unplanned interruptions. This site will get you up to speed and help prevent a crisis from becoming a full-fledged disaster.

Hurricane Preparedness
The official site of Hurricane Preparedness Week. Hosted by the NOAA and The National Weather Service.

FloridaDisaster.org
Florida Division of Emergency Management website about Business Disaster Planning. They have an online tool that walks you through creating a Business Disaster Plan in about 15 minutes.

MOBILE WORK AND VIRTUAL OFFICE SERVICES I RECOMMEND:

GoToMyPC Remote Access Service
Even if something prevents you from making it to the office, you can use your office PC just as if you were sitting in front of it. For a free trial CLICK HERE.

GoToMeeting Web Meeting and Conferencing
Web conferencing can be used for team meetings, webinars, sales demos, training, consulting, brainstorming, and much more. No worries if the office is closed due to storms or inclement weather. You and your clients and co-workers can even collaborate on documents in real time.

Skype (Audio and Video Conferencing/Screen Sharing):
One of the best tools for web-based video and audio conferencing.  Even has simple screen sharing and it’s Free!. If a disaster or storm prevents travel or anytime you work with others across distance – add this to your toolbox! To learn more about the power of skype check out my article “How to Embrace Skype to be a True-Blue Mobile Entrepreneur” over at VirtualBusinessLifestyle.com.

Regus BusinessWorld Gold Card (6 months free)
Having to evacuate, or losing access to your office or workplace are only a couple of the scenarios where a virtual office or touch down space can be an invaluable resource. Regus is the world’s largest provider of outsourced workplaces for businesses of any size.  A Regus businessworld Gold card gives you many privileges, including complimentary access any of their 1,100+ global business lounges and cafés, with complimentary internet and refreshments.
CLICK HERE to get a FREE 6 Month Regus Businessworld Gold Card

Wi-Fi Center and Hotspot Locator
If you’ve lost internet service at home or the office use our Wi-Fi center to find hotspots so you can get online from coffee shops, airports, bookstores, cafes, and other public locations. Quickly find a place to use your laptop, tablet, or mobile device and get online.

I hope this collection of disaster preparedness and business continuity resources and tips helps you develop a more flexible business approach so you can deal with whatever emergencies or business interruptions might come your way.  With some forethought and a strategy you can ensure that you are prepared.

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Let me start by letting you know, in the spirit of transparency, that I was contacted by the folks at FedEx as they were looking for bloggers in the mobile work space to review this new service.  They sent me a “test kit” which included a 512 MB USB flash drive pre-loaded with instructions on how to use the service and a $25 FedEx Office gift card to cover the cost of anything I chose to print with the service.  They also offered to provide a similar “test kit” for me to giveaway, so make sure you read to the end of this post to find out how you can enter to win.

With FedEx Print & Go you can print from your iPhone^®, BlackBerry^® smartphone,  Android^TM phone, or USB flash drive. I tested the service with my iPhone 4 as well as the USB flash drive they sent me.

Their service allows you to print to any of their self-service machines. What can you print you ask?

• Accepted file types include Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe PDF documents. (Update – the service now also supports JPG, TIF, and other image formats)
• To print other formats, or for binding and other finishing options, you can see a FedEx Office employee at the store.

To begin using FedEx Office Print & Go from your iPhone, BlackBerry smartphone, or Android device you first have to download the HP ePrint app.

I jumped to the Apple App store and downloaded the HP ePrint app. This app lets you do more than print to the FedEx Print and Go service.  It also lets you print to other public print locations as well as to wireless HP printers that support AirPrint.

The app wanted to use my current location to find nearby public print locations so I clicked OK.  It then asked me to create an account with my email address. I receive an activation code via email and enter into the app and clicked activate to complete the registration process.

I was then presented with a screen of what I could print using the app:

I choose the email option from my iPhone and was presented with the choices of Google Gmail, AOL, Mobile Me, or Other IMAP.  I choose Gmail and was asked for my login credentials. I then took the following steps:

• It showed me my inbox. I could then click on a message and choose to print the message body or the attachment.
• I choose an email with a PDF attached and clicked ATTACHMENT (PDF). It generated a preview along with a PRINT THIS button.
•  The app then showed a select printer screen with options for local printers, search, and near me.  One click of the “near me” option showed the closest FedEx Office location which was only about 5 miles away.
• I was then able to view the document preview again and it told me a release code would be required (so that only I could get the print job). It also gave me the address and phone number of the FedEx Office location, showed me their business hours, and allowed me to add this location as a favorite.  After reviewing this information I clicked PRINT.
• I then had to accept some standard terms and agreements. At that point it created the print job. The app told me the job was submitted and would be available for printing with 15 minutes from time of submission. I was a bit confused on where I could choose the number of copies, but it turns out you do this when you are actually at the printer at the FedEx Office location. It also gave me some other details including the Release Code (a series of letters and numbers) I needed to get the printout. Conveniently, with one click on my iPhone I could call the store or find it on a map.

I then tried to print a photo I had taken with my iPhone. It followed the same basic steps but I was eventually greeted with an error message saying it couldn’t handle JPG files.  This surprised me but after I called FedEx they told me that functionality should be added within a few months time. (UPDATE: Since writing this initial review I have been informed the Print & Go service now supports JPG, TIFF, and other image formats)

I also wanted to test printing from the USB Flash drive they sent me so I copied a few PDF files from my laptop onto the drive and headed to the local FedEx Office location I had chosen to print to from my iPhone.

Upon entering the store I quickly found a printer clearly labeled for self-service with the Print & Go Service:

I followed the prompts to insert  a card for payment.  I used the $25 dollar gift card FedEx had provided me.  I then was able to choose to print from a download (the files I sent using my iPhone) or a USB Flash drive.  I tried them both and the steps were easy to follow.  In each case I was prompted to choose color or black and white, 1-sided or 2-sided, and the number of copies. When choosing to print from the download I was asked to enter the release code to verify the print job.

In each instance it quickly processed the job and printed without a hitch. I have to say that my overall impression is that the FedEx Print and Go service was easy to use and would be a big help to any mobile worker.

Currently, the service is limited to Adobe PDF, MS Word, and PowerPoint files up to 50MB in size. While this might seem limiting being the PDF format is supported, it means you can print just about anything as long as you take the initial step to convert it to a PDF file first.

I would have liked the ability to print a photo directly from my iPhone, but as I stated earlier, that feature is coming in the very near future. With more than 1600 FedEx Office locations to choose from (you can find them at http://www.fedex.com/office) you are never far away from a place to print your documents on the go.

Services like this are what make The Anywhere Office possible!

ENTER OUR CONTEST TO WIN A FREE ‘PRINT ON THE GO TEST KIT’ AND TRY THIS SERVICE OUT FOR YOURSELF:

Want to give the FedEx Print & Go service a try yourself for free?  FedEx was nice enough to offer me a “test kit” to give away to a member of The Anywhere Office tribe.  This includes a 512 MB USB flash drive pre-loaded with instructions on how to use the service and a $25 FedEx Office gift card to cover the cost of anything you choose to print with the service.

To enter the contest, post a comment below with the answer to this question: “Who originally coined the term ‘Telecommuting?‘”  The contest will run till next Friday – August 19th at midnight EST.  I will pick one winner at random from those that correctly answer the question.

(Hint if you’re stumped you can find the answer in our Special Report – Work Unchained)

UPDATE: I am happy to announce that Dick Robinson was the lucky winner of the FedEx Print & Go Test Kit – congrats Dick!  He successful answered our question “How first coined the phrase telecommuting” – the answer was Jack Nilles.

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In this edition of the show we talked about things like how to build trust with clients you may never meet face to face, working in virtual teams, what effect technology has on the shift from employee to freelancer and the future of the “anywhere lifestyle” – being able to do the work where and when you want.If you already work where you want or if you’re thinking about it, be sure to watch or listen to this episode. It will be worth your while. We all shared some great resources and strategies for collaborating and staying productive.

Freelance Jam is the brand-new show for independent professionals who build the web. Episodes are recorded live every other Tuesday evening, offering viewers a chance to discuss and ask questions during the live show.

Be sure to catch future episodes of FreelanceJam. It airs every other Tuesday night and the show includes interviews with guests from across the web industry and beyond. Topics include freelance business, web design, entrepreneurship, working from home, killer apps, marketing, web trends, and even music!

It’s a laid back interactive discussion I know you’ll enjoy – and they keep introducing me to new music!

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This mobility and anywhere access has caused the lines to blur between our work and personal lives. For most entrepreneurs and small business owners, the two are forever intermingled. If done right, mobile work should be empowering: providing you more freedom and flexibility than you ever imagined as you easily manage the shifting flow of tasks, responsibilities, and communication that are part of your daily life.

But it’s easy to let the technology, and our work, start to take over and demand more and more of our time.

I discovered that in today’s eBusiness world, pure “work/life balance” doesn’t seem to work (at least not for me). What seems a better, more dynamic, fit is a zen-like approach which aims for “work/life integration” instead. This quote called “Master the Art of Living” sums it up.

So how do you do it?  How do you handle the demands of today’s fast paced, 24/7 business environment, along with all of the commitments and enterprises in your personal and family life?

Here are my top 5 tips for a zen approach to mobile work. They will help you achieve “work/life integration,” and ensure that technology is your tool and not your master.

Know how your technology works. Turn off audible or visible notifications so they don’t provide unnecessary interruptions when you are not working or need single-minded focus on a particular project or task.

Setup clear communication guidelines. Make sure everyone knows what is expected of them with regard to accessibility. These include prioritizing communication channels and determining expected turnaround times for different modes of communication (ie. 3 hours for emails, 1 hour for voice mail).

Centralize email and social media messages. Find ways to filter these messages into as few programs as possible so you can easily and quickly check and reply to them without feeling overwhelmed by too many systems.

Consolidate Technology. Find one tool that can serve multiple purposes. Smartphones and tablets can take the place of many devices such as point and shoot cameras, video cameras, laptops, voice recorders, and more. Finding ways to consolidate several tools, and information, into one device lets you travel lighter and stop wasting time switching between multiple platforms or programs.

Unplug and Turn off. Just because you can work from any place at any time doesn’t mean you should. These tools have an off switch – use it! Give projects their proper focus and attention. And don’t be so distracted that you fail to stay present with family and friends.

Following these simple steps will help you navigate the flow of digital information in your life.

Do you have a great tips or suggestion for clearing digital clutter?  Don’t keep it a secret! Post a comment below and share it with the rest of the tribe here on The Anywhere Office.

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Today I chose one comment at random and I’m please to announce that Russell Milland will be the proud owner of The New Small – congrats Russell!

If you didn’t win – you should definitely get yourself a copy of Phil’s book.  It is a hand in a glove with all the tools, strategies, and shifts we talk about here on The Anywhere Office.  And if you haven’t watched the interview yet – check it out.  Phil and I had some great discussions.

BTW – In looking for a way to pick a random comment as a winner I used one of the 5 enablers Phil mentions in the New Small – Free and Open Source software!  I went to the iPhone App store and found Random NumGenerator – a great free app that let me put in the number of comments and then with one tap choose a random number.  Gotta love it!

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At the end of this post (and the video) I explain how you can enter to win the free signed copy of Phil’s book that he graciously gave me for a lucky reader of The Anywhere Office!

In his book Phil Simon describes “The New Small”: a dynamic breed of  small businesses using 5 key emerging technologies to grow, thrive, and compete with larger companies. Phil breaks it down to these 5 enablers:

• Cloud computing
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Free and open source software (FOSS)
• Mobility
• Social technologies

I have long talked about these technologies here on The Anywhere Office – but I love the way Phil Simon codified these 5 as the core that level the playing field. By making smart, strategic use of these 5 enablers, your small business can be flexible, lean, and fun. And as he points out – meaningful work is a big part of what makes up The New Small.Many of the business owners he profiles in the second section of the book left larger companies – stymied by the slow change and beaurocratic red tape that binds every decision – to start (or join) smaller more dynamic companies. Companies that know, as Phil so aptly puts it – “Work doesn’t have to suck”!

The companies he profiles aren’t your usual suspects either  (tech or online companies) – his profiles include a dentist, a law firm, and a restaurant (among the 11). I’ve long said that any small business can take advantage of today’s technology and Phil’s small business stories/case studies prove it!

Our discussion is filled with strategy, philosophy, and tips about how to succeed as a small business. We share some stories and plenty of  laughs. For more information about Phil Simon and his book visit http://TheNewSmall.com or http://PhilSimonSystems.com

In another nod to social media – Phil Simon and I met thanks to Twitter.  Although we have never met in person we have had many skype video chats.  Thanks to video, social media, and the same technologies we discuss in this video – we have quickly become friends.  Without these technologies we might never have met each other. Powerful stuff!

BOOK GIVEAWAY – HOW DO I WIN?

Good question! Of the 5 enablers that Phil discusses in The New Small I feel one of the biggest game changers is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). My clients are amazed at how affordable it can be to run a business today thanks to things like Gmail, Google Apps, Dropbox, and other free mobile work or virtual team tools.

To win the signed copy of “The New Small” you need to post a comment below answering this questions: “What is your favorite or “must have” piece of free or open-source software for running your business and why”?

Some companies make a free version of their service or software available and allow for upgrading to a paid version for extra storage or enhance features.  For the purpose of this contest I want to hear about those that are/were able to make good use of the free version by itself (even if you eventually upgraded because you loved it so much).

The contest will run all week through Friday night at midnight EST.  During the weekend we will pick, at random, a lucky winner and announce it Monday, April 4th.

I’m looking forward to your comments and learning about new software and services I don’t know about. More tech to play with!

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I met Karl late last year we instantly hit if off.  As we talked further he told me he wanted to embrace a virtual business model for Smart Company Growth. Shortly afterward I started working with Karl to help him refine his business model and choose the best strategies and tools that would allow him the flexibility to work from anywhere, keep his costs low, and work with clients from all over the world without the expenses and headaches of all that travel.

One of the things we discussed was how to use Skype for video conferencing and remote interviews as Karl wanted to include a series of these interviews with noted authorities on his blog. So after getting the technology in place he figured what better way to kick them off than by interviewing me about the strategies and technology that help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and solo professionals to work virtually.

Click below to watch the interview is broken down into 2 parts:

• Video Interview Part 1 where we talk about the shift toward mobile work, how and why companies are embracing this type of work, some of the challenges, and what  it means to work with people you don’t see every day.
• Video Interview Part 2 where we talk about some of the non-tech elements critical for success when leading virtual or distributed workforces as well as some of the key gadgets and technology that help you and your team stay connected.  We also talk briefly about my on-demand webinar The Art of Virtual Leadership and how it helps managers learn to lead virtual teams.

I hope you enjoy the interview and find it informative.  Karl did a great job and had some great insight from his own experiences about what it means to work virtually and work with clients and team members remotely.

What do you think is the biggest shift in working virtually?  Please share your thoughts by posting a comment below.

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