This video is about how I make the transition from personal thoughts to business thoughts and consciously put myself in the work zone every day. Because the freelancer’s commute to work is a state of mind.Freelancing is often equated with freedom, but the definition of freedom that most people tend to imagine is a world without boundaries, expectations or accountability. That’s not what freedom actually means. Freelancing freedom means the ability to decide when to work, how to work, who to work for and how to get to work.
How freelancers get to work is also called the “cloud commute”.
Contrary to the typical rush hour/traffic/parking commute that most office-goers endure, freelancers or work-at-home professionals get to their workplaces in a matter of minutes or seconds. Freelancers typically work from home offices, cafes, coffee shops or anywhere they can get a good wi-fi connection with minimal distractions.
In doing so, the most important part of a freelancer’s commute to work is not so much the physical journey as it is about the mental journey to a place conducive to work. For some people this journey starts as soon as they’ve reached their home office or place of work. For others it starts after they’ve checked email and social media. For still others this journey starts right after they’ve woken up and started to think about the most important work tasks to be accomplished for that day.
Many people, such as Leo Babauta, have morning rituals that allow them to focus on the workday ahead. Some people need to motivate themselves every day. Others such as Jonathan Fields like to start their day by helping others. Still others, such as Dave Navarro, force themselves to prioritize their work tasks.
Each freelancer’s solution for starting their “commute” is different; however what’s similar is the conscious decision to start work. Without a 9am deadline to get into the office, the only deadline that remains is in the freelancer’s mind. When and how are you ready to start work?
I like to start work every day with a simple to-do list on a piece of paper (my Elance post-it pad, if you must know) and tackle the most important tasks of the day. Most days I don’t even notice the transition from personal/family thoughts to work-related thoughts; the journey for me is so smooth. But once in work mode, I am definitely in work mode – no distractions allowed!
I believe that making a conscious decision to “go to work” every day is a trait that most successful freelancers and entrepreneurs practice daily. It’s right up there with other success factors such as making business plans and sales objectives.
So what’s your cloud commute like? Share in the comments below or put up your own video and participate in the Elance cloud commute contest. Hurry, contest ends Nov 15th 2010!
How freelancers get to work is also called the “cloud commute”.
Contrary to the typical rush hour/traffic/parking commute that most office-goers endure, freelancers or work-at-home professionals get to their workplaces in a matter of minutes or seconds. Freelancers typically work from home offices, cafes, coffee shops or anywhere they can get a good wi-fi connection with minimal distractions.
In doing so, the most important part of a freelancer’s commute to work is not so much the physical journey as it is about the mental journey to a place conducive to work. For some people this journey starts as soon as they’ve reached their home office or place of work. For others it starts after they’ve checked email and social media. For still others this journey starts right after they’ve woken up and started to think about the most important work tasks to be accomplished for that day.
Many people, such as Leo Babauta, have morning rituals that allow them to focus on the workday ahead. Some people need to motivate themselves every day. Others such as Jonathan Fields like to start their day by helping others. Still others, such as Dave Navarro, force themselves to prioritize their work tasks.
Each freelancer’s solution for starting their “commute” is different; however what’s similar is the conscious decision to start work. Without a 9am deadline to get into the office, the only deadline that remains is in the freelancer’s mind. When and how are you ready to start work?
I like to start work every day with a simple to-do list on a piece of paper (my Elance post-it pad, if you must know) and tackle the most important tasks of the day. Most days I don’t even notice the transition from personal/family thoughts to work-related thoughts; the journey for me is so smooth. But once in work mode, I am definitely in work mode – no distractions allowed!
I believe that making a conscious decision to “go to work” every day is a trait that most successful freelancers and entrepreneurs practice daily. It’s right up there with other success factors such as making business plans and sales objectives.
So what’s your cloud commute like? Share in the comments below or put up your own video and participate in the Elance cloud commute contest. Hurry, contest ends Nov 15th 2010!
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