Wow – never in a million years did I imagine I would be writing this blog about my business while in isolation. It’s absolutely insane that we, as a country and a global community, are facing a pandemic of this size and scope. Recent events have forced me to reflect on the type of work that I do. I am so grateful that my business is relevant, robust and most importantly, done in isolation or in other words…remotely.
I currently see many of my peers pivoting their business model to something that is more conducive to social distancing; taking their business online and working remotely.
While much of the world is in utter chaos, I wanted to share some of the techniques and tricks that make my business run smoothly and consistently. My hope is that this information may help other business women who are currently transitioning into remote working.
- Set up your technology in an optimal way. This includes hardware like wifi, phones and computers and software like video conferencing apps, booking apps and email. Make sure you’re comfortable with the systems you set up and if something is not working, fix it or change it. Your technology should make work life easier but so often, I speak to clients and other business owners who feel frustrated and annoyed with their technology. There are an abundance of online resources if you are struggling, such as business facebook groups and sub reddits. Trust me, there are people eager and waiting who are full of helpful advice and eager to help you with your specific challenge. I am one of them. If you’re having trouble with any systems you’ve set up, get in touch and I’ll help you out. By the way, despite recent events, Zoom is still my preferred video conferencing app for a variety of reasons.
- All the basic do’s and dont’s of the business world still apply. Actually, I would suggest that showing up on time, sending meeting invites, following up on video conference calls with meeting notes and being available by phone is even more important when working remotely. When you provide excellent customer service, you get repeat customers, excellent testimonials, a higher rate of hire and referrals. It is also nice to still “dress up” for work, even if it is only from the waist up! Yes, not wearing uncomfortable shoes and professional slacks is one of the perks of working remotely for sure!
- Separate personal time from work time. This can be difficult to do, especially now when many of us have children out of school and daycare. In fact, my hours have been reduced from between 40-50 hours some weeks to about 10-20 hours at the moment. My toddler needs my attention and my clients need my attention too. Did I mention, I have a nursing 5 month old? Still, being able to separate personal time and work time is key for managing your workload and your state of mind. When the isolation period started in Mid-March, I struggled with maintaining the same level of productivity while keeping my children fed, happy and stimulated. I drove myself nuts until I realized it’s one or the other. Now, I give my kids my full attention when I’m with them and when I’m able to carve out work time, I’m fully in the work zone! Go easy on yourself – as I said, this is a difficult task and requires constant evaluation and flexibility.
- Be proud of working remotely – I always tell my potential clients that working remotely is a choice. We are able to save money on our overhead costs and we pass those savings on to our customers while still providing the highest quality of work. Choosing to work remotely means making a conscious effort to avoid commuting and thereby maximizing the number of hours in a day to devote to your emails, client calls, self care and family.
Well, there you have it! In this crazy coronavirus world, these are some ways that I’ve been able to maintain my business, my sanity and my family’s well-being. I wish you all the best as you navigate this new environment. Working remotely has many benefits and I wish you all the success in the world as you transition into a remote work world. Stay healthy. Stay happy. Stay home.
If you are interested in a site audit, speed test or need any other kind of web design or development help, feel free to reach out through my website or via email at aimee@cleanforest.co. As Canadian Small Business Women, we must support each other. Message me today to set up your free consultation and learn how to best optimize your site!
Aimee Eppel runs CleanForest Consulting, a web design and development agency based in Mississauga, Ontario. Along with a highly experienced team, she creates high quality and affordable web solutions for huge organizations such as MIT, Mount Sinai Hospital and BMO as well as local start ups such as hockey schools, law firms and home organizers. Aimee is a mother of two beautiful children, both still in diapers!
For any sort of web related help, please email her at aimee@cleanforest.co or through her website at https://cleanforest.co/.