I'm not as adventurous as Scott Leonard, author of “The Liberated CEO”, who sailed around the world with his family for two and a half years while running his RIA firm. However, I love traveling and want to be able to work while enjoying my life. So, the big experiment happens in May.
I have rented an apartment in Paris for one month with my longtime friend/employee. We are planning to work remotely while enjoying all that Paris has to offer. The carrots: Paris, wine, crepes, museums, cafes, architecture, and, did I mention Paris?
The pros:
• There is high-speed Internet (wired and wireless) in the apartment.
• We can remote into our computers.
• Our work phone is VoIP, so phone communication will be “as usual.”
• With the time zone difference, work will start at 4 pm – that's great for a night owl like me!
• We have access to cool tools – cloud programs (TRX, MoneyGuidePro, etc.), GoToMeeting, and Skype.
The cons
• Will employees really feel connected to me and my colleague while we're in France?
• Will clients adapt to Skype meetings?
• Will I be truly able to work with all the wonderful distractions available?
In keeping with Murphy's Law, life has added to other significant obstacles: One of my key employees has decided to move back to Boston in mid-May. And, I broke my foot on Thursday. The good news is that I don't need surgery. The bad news — I will have to maneuver through Paris on crutches or with my new knee scooter.
Sheryl Rowling is chief executive of Total Rebalance Expert and principal at Rowling & Associates. She considers herself a non-techie user of technology.