Even though this is designated as a proper holiday, the day I walked into an amazing summer cottage by this lake in the middle of Finland, I got my first taste of what working on the road will be like.
I got an email and a phone call from a freelance client about a last-minute issue that needed to be solved same-day. I was actually amazed I had enough reception where I was for this stuff to get through, but get through it did, and since it’s MY client rather than the company I’m on official holiday from, of course it’s my responsibility to do what I can, whatever that is. Because I want to be awesome. Because that is how you get hired and paid.
At first I was annoyed, not really at anyone or anything in particular, just that I was shaken back to the money-makin’ real world the very minute I walked into such a relaxing, remote place. However, the world marches on, and I realised that while what I’m working towards involves switching off the 9-5, it does mean I’ll be doing a lot more of this problem-solving down a patchy interweb connection, quite often from places that people usually go to get AWAY from technology and work.
So. As work emergencies go, this wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was cake.
But there were also the all important LIFE/WORK LESSONS here.
One: I should have for seen the possibility of this particular issue before I left and done more to avoid the last-minute scramble it caused. It was no one’s fault, but I could have been more proactive.
Two: PASSWORDS. Remember them. And have an even better filing system for freelance info in general. I needed to sign into a service that I had no info for accessible from my phone. I found a way around it but again, I could have done better for myself with PLANNING.
And three: Readjust my idea of what work is like and where and when it should happen. I want to work less, but that will probably mean working in non-worky places. I took a breath, took my phone down to the dock, stuck my feet in the water and gave myself 15 minutes to focus and solve it. And that’s what I did. And it was much nicer than doing it from any desk.
Then I put my phone down and had the most chilled out day I’ve had in a very long time.
