THE WORK FROM HOME SUCCESS PRIMER

In 2008, I exited a career in the insurance industry to build a career in speaking and coaching. I no longer got in the car each morning to begin my day. Now, I would go downstairs, make a yummy breakfast for my family (and me) and wander into my home office to get to work.

For the most part, I’ve loved it. But there is one thing I very much miss—co-workers.

When I have a tough session with a coaching client or I put the finishing touches on my latest book, I look to share that experience. When I shared my space with other people, I waited to vent at lunch with a friend or shared my wins with peers in our weekly meeting.

Overnight, those opportunities melted away. It was just me. No one stopping by my desk to chat. No one to bump into on the way to a meeting. No quick conversation with a peer to bounce ideas between us.

I’ll be honest: even though I had chosen this path for myself, those first few months were lonely. I didn’t have anywhere to go with my thoughts, experiences, or feelings. As a result, the space felt hollow and sometimes negative.

I had to learn how to be my own co-worker. To feel fully satisfied, I couldn’t operate as an individual. I had to embody a team.

Today, you find yourself working from home. As a sacrifice for your community, and to protect yourself, you are tucked away in your home office, a bedroom transformed into a workspace or sharing a kitchen table with the rest of your family. Even with the best plans, you are still catching up to the idea of working remotely and doing your best to stay ahead of the curve.

You are doing great! This is a perfect moment to create a support system. To be the best co-worker…for you.

In this session, I am sharing a few tips for how to be a co-worker for yourself.