“I’m going to Argentina and I don’t know how long I will be gone. Any chance you will let me continue to prepare proposals for you while I am there?”

“No.”

“Well, I’ll be here for XX days, still. Will you think about it?”

Knowing I would return, I wanted something to return to for work. I had also worked hard for this company and felt I could continue to do the same from afar. After some thought and follow-up on my part, it was agreed I could work part-time for them preparing proposals.

From Argentina, and with questionable internet, I researched opportunities, laid out proposals in InDesign, assisted with marketing meetings, and, most notably, coordinated the company’s first conference booth. I believe it surprised all of us that a setup like this could work, but it did. There are always pros and cons depending on personalities and company culture, but it worked.

After nearly a year to the day, I returned to the office and worked in-house, regular hours for a few years, then requested to work from home a few hours each day. For years, now, I have worked 75% of a typical 40-hour work week in the office, completing the additional time (plus any overtime) remotely. I use the flexibility for family and health reasons and have successfully fulfilled my responsibilities with this arrangement for four different firms (small, medium, and large) since 2017. It can be done successfully with the right mindset and tools.

But, let’s go back to Argentina. I worked a “kiosko” (in-house convenience store) with my husband while we were there. My marketing was part-time, so I was able to weave in additional activities and still help the landscape architecture firm expand their outreach. During my time in Argentina, I was an advocate for the use of MS OneNote for transparency and better communication about marketing efforts (internal progress) and coordinated all of the logistics of the company’s first conference booth (external). They were not my only contributions to the firm’s growth, but they are the most notable for that time period. I was given an opportunity–a big one, I felt–and, in turn, I pushed the company forward.

I am still surprised and grateful that a small, traditional design firm supported my working remotely from another country when remote work was not commonplace. Growth is possible and contributions can be great “even” when working remotely.

What do you like or dislike about remote work as a manager or employee? Have you seen any benefits from remote work? Do you favor “all in”, “all out” or hybrid?