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Podcast "Digital Nomad" | “Lifehacker" Raymond: Improve Work Efficiency by Experimenting on Yourself First!
Do you ever feel like life is overwhelming, with a mountain of tasks piling up, never enough time, and constantly forgetting things? Do you also find that the software tools available on the market aren't useful, or you're unsure how to make the best use of them? Raymond, founder of the self-media brand "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker", may be the most systematic, organized, and even "technological" digital nomad I've ever encountered. For instance, he uses Notion, ChatGPT, or various computer software to enhance his work efficiency and manage effectively. He has a variety of smart devices on his computer desk and at home to optimize his life. He truly integrates the word "digital" into his lifestyle. In fact, if you ask Raymond casually about his expenses for the whole year of 2016 or which project had the highest expenditure, or where certain collaboration data from five years ago is stored, he can immediately find the answers amidst a vast amount of data just by opening his computer. Reflecting on the past, Raymond started freelancing as a student in university to earn tuition and living expenses. Despite being a student during the day with 10 hours filled with exams and classes, he began to "systemize" his work and life due to limited time and numerous tasks. Three years ago, Raymond founded the self-media brand "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker" to share various methods of improving work efficiency, self-management, and unpacking digital tools, which gained much popularity among readers. His online course "Notion 線上訓練營 "(Notion Training Camp) even accumulated over ten thousand registrations. Raymond jokingly says his memory is very poor. His ability to manage his work and life systematically and efficiently lies in finding the "right" tools and methods that suit him best! Especially as a digital nomad, when you have a better grasp of your work and life, it's crucial to manage your life well. So, what are the best tools and methods for yourself? This article summarizes them for you! First, How to Be Effective? Try Experimenting! Many people aim to enhance their productivity and efficiency by learning from successful individuals, yet they find those methods ineffective. For instance, you might have seen media reports about Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, who are productive and efficient due to early rising. Consequently, you attempt to emulate their practices by trying to wake up early, only to find yourself unable to do so or feeling groggy, leading to even lower efficiency. Raymond emphasizes: "You don't have to follow mainstream methods; personalize your approach instead!" During college, Raymond heard about the notion that "early risers are more productive," but is it true? He decided to experiment and find out! For a month, he woke up at 7 a.m. every day, and for another month, he slept until 3 a.m. and woke up at 10 a.m., documenting his work mood, focus, and other factors daily. And then? He discovered that he was naturally a night owl, achieving better focus and productivity at night. "Early rising for productivity" didn't apply to him, and he found the most suitable working hours for himself. Raymond suggests, "To find the method that suits you best, experiment and keep records, rather than adhering to mainstream definitions of 'how things should be done' or methods used by successful individuals!" You can also refer to Raymond's articles about Lifehacker to gain a better understanding of how to establish a systematized life that suits you. Second, The Key to Choosing Tools Lies in "Goals" Many people use tools like iPads or various life management software to organize tasks, but they often give up midway or find them ineffective. How can you find the most suitable and effective tools for yourself? Raymond suggests starting with a blank sheet of paper and jotting down everything you do from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. It could be a work flowchart or a mind map, nothing too complicated. Then, review your day. The key to choosing tools is to start from your needs and the goals you want to achieve. For example, if you enjoy reading articles online in the morning and often have many tabs open, wanting to manage your pages and data efficiently, you can use management tools or RSS to integrate information from different websites. "Identify what each work or life need is, and then find the corresponding tools. I believe this is the initial point of solving the problem!" says Raymond. Otherwise, when you have too many tools, you'll have to remember what Tool A is for, and what Tool B is for, leading to chaos in your life. "Your brain is meant for problem-solving, thinking, and creating, not for memorizing and storing information!" Raymond says. Trimming the fat, identifying your true needs, and using tools and methods that suit you can help you establish a more systematized life. If you're interested in Raymond's digital nomad journey and methods for systematic life management, feel free to listen to "JB's Small Talk" Digital Nomad SP1: Freelancers Need to Construct Personalized Systems for Long-term Balance Between Income and Freedom | Interview with "雷蒙三十 Lifehacker" Raymond. -- Follow the Digital Nomad Facebook fan page and stay updated with more recent articles on Instagram (＠digital.nomad.press)！
March 21, 2024
BI Analyst Angel Chen Exclusive Interview | The Value of Digital Nomadism Lies in "Choosing" the Lifestyle You Want
"In my digital nomad journey, I've met many extraordinary people. For instance, when I was in Hainan, I had a friend from Beijing who only worked about half the year. During the winter, he did marketing at a ski resort, and the rest of the time, he surfed in Hainan." As I expressed my surprise, Angel on the other end of the video call continued, "Yes, I was also like, 'Wow, is that even possible?'" Currently working as a Business Intelligence Analyst in a Singaporean company, Angel has been a digital nomad for about two years. Passionate about surfing, she has lived not only in Yilan and Taitung but also in cities such as Hainan in China, Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Bali in Indonesia. A few weeks before the interview, she embarked on a long-awaited journey to Sri Lanka alone with her backpack. At the time of the interview, she had returned to her "nomadic hub" in Bali. Talking about her nomadic life, she smiled and mentioned that she always loved traveling. Therefore, even with a nine-to-five job with demanding responsibilities, she found immense joy in the nomadic lifestyle. However, as her travel experiences expanded and she met more people, she realized that her happiness didn't solely stem from traveling itself. Delving deeper, she discovered that digital nomadism created a larger space than before, enabling people to freely "choose" the kind of life they want. Don't Let "Nomadism" Limit You; Life Can Be Diverse When discussing "digital nomadism," many people often have a misconception that it means constantly moving from place to place. But according to Angel, we don't need to be restricted by terminologies. The proclaimed freedom of the nomadic lifestyle offers various possibilities. "Some people like frequent changes of location, finding it refreshing, while others, like me, prefer staying in one place for a longer period, maybe spending a few months deeply exploring a destination. Some people can travel, but they choose to stay in Taiwan and travel occasionally," she explained. For her, these are all valid options. Some might wonder if being a digital nomad means a decrease in income. After all, the conventional perception of "success" often involves working in modern, tidy offices rather than traveling around. However, Angel suggests otherwise. With the right career strategies during nomadic life, it's entirely plausible to maintain or even increase one's income compared to before. Understanding digital nomadism in this light, it's not difficult to comprehend: It doesn't signify one "ideal" way of living but rather prompts individuals to contemplate the kind of life they truly desire and make choices accordingly. Angel working remotely by the beach. (Photo from Angel) "Moreover, embarking on nomadic life has exposed me to various lifestyles, expanding my imagination about life," Angel added. She elaborated that after graduating from university, she worked in Shanghai. In the fast-paced metropolitan city, her perception of what life should be like was similar to that of most people—working in tech giants or internet companies, earning a substantial income, and climbing up the career ladder. However, after embracing the nomadic lifestyle, she met many new friends from different backgrounds and countries during her journeys. She mentioned a few examples: Friend A, who works only half the year, spending the winter working at a ski resort and the rest of the time surfing in Hainan; Friend B, who quit her job in the tourism industry to run a homestay in Taitung, Taiwan; and Friend C, who moved from Spain to Indonesia simply because they loved the lifestyle in Bali. "I used to believe there was only one way to live life, but now I realize there are numerous possibilities. Whether one focuses on their career or pursues their interests, as long as their income supports the life they desire, it's the most important and fulfilling choice," Angel concluded. Choices Always Come with "Costs"; Accept Reality and Find Solutions Although Angel has gained a lot during her nomadic journey, she also acknowledges that every choice comes with its own set of costs. For her, there are two significant costs she feels in her current lifestyle: 1.It's challenging to establish stable new relationships because she typically stays in one place for only a few months. 2.Due to spending long periods away from Taiwan, she naturally has less contact with her old friends. However, over the past two years, she has developed coping mechanisms for these challenges. Regarding building stable relationships, she gradually reduced engagement in social activities that she wasn't good at or fond of, such as parties where she had to chat with large groups of people at once. Instead, she focused on connecting with like-minded individuals through shared interests like surfing. This not only provided surfing companions but also fostered deeper interactions and friendships. She also shared a memorable experience from her nomadic journey: "Last year, I celebrated my 30th birthday in Bali. I went diving with a Spanish roommate who brought a slate underwater with 'Happy Birthday Angel' written on it. Looking back, I was really touched. I never expected to make such close friends during my solo nomadic journey, let alone celebrate my birthday in such a surprising way." The Spanish roommate surprises Angel with a "birthday message" underwater. (Photo from Angel) Angel (front right) poses with roommates from Russia, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia in Bali. (Photo from Angel) Regarding the second challenge—reduced contact with old friends—her approach is to make the most of opportunities to meet with friends when she returns to Taiwan. After all, as adults, everyone has their own lives, and actively inviting important friends to hang out is more practical than waiting for them to reach out. Making "Choices" Rationally: Consider 5 Self-Assessment Aspects + 6 Nomadic Destination Considerations After weighing the feasibility of your job conditions, if you have a nomadic plan similar to Angel's, she offers five aspects for further consideration: What kind of travel/lifestyle suits me: Do I prefer frequent movement? Staying in one city for a few months before moving? Or mostly staying in Taiwan and traveling occasionally? Am I capable of living independently: Can I handle everyday tasks (like laundry, cooking, etc.) by myself? How capable am I of traveling alone: Can I solve various problems during travel alone? Is my language Do I have the ability to be alone: Does being alone make me uncomfortable, or do I enjoy it? How can I make friends: Do I enjoy participating in social activities? Or how do I plan to make friends during my travels? It's important to note that the implications of these five aspects are not "I can't do it, so I can't be a nomad"; rather, they help evaluate the corresponding skill requirements based on the type of nomadic lifestyle one is suited for or desires. If you currently don't meet the requirements, how can you enhance or adjust your travel/lifestyle? If you're unsure about some aspects, such as solo travel experience, you can start with minimal endeavors (like short-term trips) to test the waters. In addition to pre-departure assessments and improvements, when it comes to choosing the first nomadic destination, Angel shares her approach: "I think the priority is to determine whether I'm interested in this city and if there are places I want to explore here." Then, she evaluates factors such as internet stability, cost of living, safety, and visa requirements (including application difficulty and duration of stay). You can find this information on nomadic websites like Nomad List, or you can search using keywords like "city" and "digital nomad." "Besides, time zone differences are also crucial," Angel added. Although she wishes to nomad in Europe, she considers her current job requiring frequent collaboration with colleagues in Singapore, which might be inconvenient in different time zones. Therefore, she temporarily keeps this wish in mind, waiting for a time when it can be realized in the future. Thinking about the future, Angel said, "Nomadic life has brought me immense happiness. I may not stay in my current job forever, but I will find ways to maintain this lifestyle that I love." For friends who have been contemplating nomadism but haven't taken action yet, she encourages with a bright smile, "Just do it! After all, the happiness I currently enjoy also comes from the 'choice' I made two years ago, mixed with caution and a little impulsiveness." If you're curious about Angel's digital nomad journey, you can also refer to "JB's Small Talk." -- Follow the Digital Nomad Facebook fan page and stay updated with more recent articles on Instagram (＠digital.nomad.press)！
March 12, 2024
English Speaking Coach Mei Exclusive Interview | How to Travel the World on a "Limited Budget" ?
Many people aspire to be digital nomads, longing to work while exploring various places, but most hesitate to take the first step due to budget concerns. Mei, 37, manages to travel the world by being a digital nomad and practicing minimalist travel. Her experience might offer some reference for those with limited budgets who also wish to try digital nomadism and travel extensively! Mei , who has traveled to 42 countries and countless cities, was an office worker five years ago, teaching English and handling digital marketing in an English school in the United States. With a passion for backpacking and a dream to travel the world, she persuaded her boss to allow her to work remotely, embarking on the journey of digital nomadism. Initially, with a monthly salary of about NT$ 30,000 , Mei started her journey. She might work four to six hours a day and spend the rest slowly exploring a city. She might get to know local wildlife in Australia or attend a friend's wedding in India, spending a month deeply immersed in Indian life. Since last year, Mei has visited places like Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Los Angeles in the United States. More than two years ago, Mei even established her own English teaching brand, teaching English online. With a computer and internet connection, anywhere in the world could be her office. Many people yearn to be digital nomads, like Mei, working and exploring the world simultaneously, but various worries hold them back. A common concern is, 'Without a substantial budget and a stable income, how can one afford to travel?' However, Mei, an experienced traveler, said, 'People always talk about work and income, but few discuss the travel aspect. Actually, if you are already accustomed to traveling, the pressure regarding income is quite minimal.' 'Being good at traveling' doesn’t mean you have to be good at enjoying yourself, but under limited budget circumstances, it means knowing how to travel smartly and economically in terms of food, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment, and so on. Before Starting, Set Aside Time and Budget for Travel Before embarking on digital nomadism and even discussing how to work to support one's living and travel expenses, Mei emphasized that one should clearly understand what they want to achieve by choosing digital nomadism. Everyone has different objectives for choosing digital nomadism. Some choose it to have a steady income while sustaining long-term travel, while others might be pursuing their desired work style, among other reasons. However, Mei mentioned that she met many people during her digital nomad journey. Some want to travel the world while also aiming to earn a lot of money or find it hard to let go of work, constantly postponing travel or sacrificing travel time. But when invested in work, they are always distracted, ending up with dissatisfaction in both, resulting in a not-so-good overall journey quality. 'If you want to travel the world, please be sure to allocate time for travel,' Mei emphasized. If travel is one of your goals in digital nomadism, manage it as an important aspect, incorporating it into your schedule. Regardless of how much time you give to travel, the most crucial part is to balance the weight of work and travel according to the purpose of your digital nomadism. By planning a certain proportion of time and budget for travel, you can enjoy the journey more comfortably. Break Free from Monetary Limitations, and Travel Smartly on a Budget Once you've clarified your initial intentions and budget for starting as a digital nomad, and if your purpose is to travel to various countries, you can start thinking about how to travel on a limited budget. In the beginning, Mei relied on remote work, with a monthly income of about NT$ 30,000. Even when she later started taking projects or began entrepreneurship by establishing an online English teaching brand, and her income increased, she knew that if she wanted to travel for a longer time and visit more places, she must travel in a more smart way. 'Many people think that they have to be rich to travel, but I knew early on that this was wrong because many experiences don’t cost money,' Mei said. Despite a limited budget, Mei has many money-saving tips. Typically, the most significant travel expenses might be on transportation and accommodation, but Mei has always kept these expenses to a minimum or even completely free of charge. For accommodation, Mei chooses couch surfing, staying in cheap youth hostels, and even proactively proposes to hostels to work in exchange for accommodation or meals, saving on accommodation and meal expenses. In terms of transportation, Mei also saves on fares by hitchhiking to various places. Since digital nomads are not restricted by time or work location, they can choose inexpensive long-distance buses or trains for commuting and work during the journey. When flying to different countries, she also compares flight prices on websites like Skyscanner or Google Flights, choosing to fly during off-peak times. Even concerning food, Mei has participated in 'food sharing' movements, obtaining 'soon-to-expire' or 'expired' items that are still edible from many supermarkets and bakeries. Just search online for the city name along with the keyword 'food sharing,' and you can get information about 'food sharing' in that city. Mei has many money-saving methods, and she said, 'If you dare to try new things, sometimes money really is not a problem!' If you are just starting with a limited budget, you can begin from cheaper regions, such as cities in Southeast Asia. For instance, Chiang Mai in Thailand is a top choice for many. Reducing Material Desires, Valuing Priceless Life Experiences Mei sets out on each journey carrying only a backpack, keeping material desires to a minimum and not spending money on unnecessary souvenirs and the like. Instead, she chooses to be close to nature and values interactions with people, experiences that are free yet priceless. Upon arriving in a new city, the first thing Mei does is search on Facebook for local communities involving hiking, writing, language exchange, etc., based on her interests. She meets locals or foreigners who have lived there for a long time, exploring the city’s people and things with them. Fortunately, she might also find like-minded friends in these people. Meanwhile, to break free from monetary constraints, Mei bravely tries hitchhiking and couch surfing, among others. These experiences have given Mei precious life experiences that she cherishes deeply. She said, 'If you pay money to buy a travel itinerary, it seems to create a barrier between people.' Even when we go to foreign places, it’s still quite challenging to establish deeper connections with the locals. For instance, in the United States, Mei and a traveling companion hitchhiked to their next destination, meeting a very friendly driver. Before Mei found a place to stay, the driver generously offered his camper van for Mei and her friend to stay temporarily. However, after getting to know him better, they discovered that he was a former drug addict who had become a debt collector after quitting drugs. Although it sounds a bit scary, for the driver, this wasn’t something he couldn’t share openly. His generosity and friendliness remain one of Mei’s most impressive memories from her travels. Many people worry about the dangers of hitchhiking, staying in a stranger's house, or going out with strangers in foreign places. Mei said that there are always risks in traveling, but the risks of hitchhiking, couch surfing, etc., are not as high as people imagine. 'After traveling for a long time, you actually become quite good at judging people,' Mei mentions. She would assess a person’s safety through their words and deeds, and she wouldn’t go to particularly dangerous places or do dangerous things. Often, she would also have companions with her. By staying alert and avoiding people or things that seem dangerous, the risks are actually quite low! Excitedly, Mei listed places she still wants to visit in the future. Next year, she plans to explore Central and South America, and when summer comes, she wants to visit Scotland to learn about the whiskey culture that she has always admired. Having traveled to 42 out of nearly 190 countries worldwide, Mei continues to marvel at the vastness of the world. Free from material and monetary constraints, Mei’s digital nomadic journey around the world continues. You can find more stories about Mei's digital nomad lifestyle on Super Mei Travel! -- (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.)
December 5, 2023
Podcast "Digital Nomad" ｜Entrepreneur Zoey: Worrying but Never Taking Action, the Success Rate is Zero!
Have you ever thought about what your ideal life looks like? Many people often complain about the monotony and lack of freedom in their 9-to-5 lives, but they rarely think about what kind of life they truly desire. They may know that they aspire to a certain lifestyle but seldom take steps to change it. After all, the concept of an "ideal" life sometimes remains a mere thought, as we find it difficult to achieve or believe that change is possible. In the episode 425 of "JB' Small Talk," we are excited to have Zoey, the host of the podcast 「佐編茶水間」, as our featured guest. Through bold trial and error, Zoey has managed to bring her ideal life to fruition. Even before graduating from college, Zoey had set "remote work" as her career goal. She started from hybrid work to remote work, working for companies in Taiwan and South Korea, and finally moved to the United States to establish her personal brand. Currently residing in the U.S., Zoey is a self-made entrepreneur, sharing content related to "personal brand management," "remote work," and "design thinking" through her brand 「理想生活設計」、Podcast 「佐編茶水間」. She has authored two books, 《啟動遠距工作，設計你的理想生活》、《工作必須有錢有愛有意義！》, sharing her experiences in remote work and digital nomadism, with monthly income over $3000. Reflecting on her journey, Zoey acknowledges that the path to digital nomadism and remote work was challenging, marked by trial and error. However, she adhered to Elon Musk's words: "If you don't try, the probability of success is absolute zero." Zoey relied on taking action to explore more possibilities in her career. You Don't See The Opportunity Doesn't Mean It Doesn't Exist While studying fashion design in college, Zoey, attending night classes, experienced the 9-to-5 work life during the day. It became clear to her that she didn't enjoy the restricted office life. Even then, she contemplated the possibility of remote work in her future. In her senior year, Zoey started taking freelance projects, using her design skills to create logos and websites. This experience confirmed her love for the flexible work model. However, freelancing posed the challenge of unstable project sources. Upon entering the workforce, Zoey explored whether Taiwanese companies offered remote work opportunities. Remote work wasn't a popular concept in Taiwan at the time, especially eight years ago when it was not as prevalent as it is now. Zoey, who had interned in New York and witnessed the remote work culture in the U.S., knew that such opportunities were often found in foreign and startup companies. In Taiwan, she began her search in these two directions. During this period, Zoey worked part-time, took on freelance projects, and searched for a job. However, things did not go as smoothly as she had hoped. She faced the practical challenge of finding remote work in her field of "design," which wasn't as straightforward as she anticipated. Undeterred by the challenges and unwilling to compromise due to practical constraints, Zoey didn't give up. Instead, she explored different possibilities. She smiled, saying, "Just change your approach if the road is not turning where you want it to." Zoey took inventory of her other skills. Throughout, she enjoyed writing articles, observing new knowledge, and had operated a blog for some time. Content marketing became another viable option. Ultimately, Zoey found a job at a Taiwanese startup in the tourism industry, where she could work remotely for a few days each week. Later, she was fortunate to discover a part-time position as a remote visual designer for a Korean company through PTT. Though it wasn't a full-time remote job, Zoey proved that finding remote work in Taiwan was not entirely impossible. If You Don't Take Action, The Success Rate Is Absolute Zero In 2017, circumstances led Zoey to move to the United States with her significant other. She negotiated with her Korean employer to transition from part-time to full-time remote work, finally realizing her long-desired fully remote job. However, the story didn't end there. Zoey embarked on another endeavor — entrepreneurship. After work, she started brainstorming her personal brand and recorded her podcast, 「佐編茶水間」 exploring various monetization possibilities as a side gig. Unfamiliar with advertorial at the time, Zoey began by affiliate marketing，recommending products to her audience. If someone made a purchase based on her recommendation, she earned a commission. Zoey also turned her expertise in design thinking into online courses. Surprisingly, her first online course received positive feedback, earning her $4,000. Rather than immediately quitting her full-time job based on this one-time success, Zoey invested the earnings in upgrading her equipment. It was only after the success of her second online course that she decided to leave her job and fully commit to her personal brand. A successful person cannot be too reckless, placing all bets on one throw, nor can they be too timid, too rational, because being overly rational means not daring to do anything. Throughout her journey, Zoey continuously validated the possibilities of each path. She said, "While you spend time worrying about whether what you're doing is right, is a waste of time, you should also know that if you don't take action, it(the success rate) is absolute zero." Many people fear failure, but Zoey believes that although making a wrong decision may consume time, energy, and money, these concerns are not unfounded. However, making a mistake in one decision doesn't determine your entire life. Bold trial and error can open up more possibilities. Today, Zoey has realized her vision of an ideal life. If you want to learn more about Zoey's journey in practicing full remote work and digital nomadism, along with detailed examples, just check the episode 425 of "JB' Small Talk" . -- Follow the Digital Nomad Facebook fan page and stay updated with more recent articles on Instagram (＠digital.nomad.press)！
February 9, 2024
Amazon Ad Manager Jessica Exclusive Interview | How Should Remote Workers Deal with Bosses Who Love Con-Calls?
Since 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has swept the world, and the high transmissibility of the virus has made remote working the new norm. However, in Asia, this new working model also faces new challenges. Meaningless progress meetings, frequent online check-ins, and even occasional phone disturbances have disrupted work rhythms, leading to delays in progress. What's worse, the feeling of being monitored all the time adds a lot of pressure when working. Jessica currently works at the well-known e-commerce company Amazon, serving as a senior sales strategy and operations manager for advertising. She is responsible for data analysis and strategic planning for advertising business. During the pandemic, she worked remotely for up to two years and has had remote working experiences in companies in China, Taiwan, and the United States. Therefore, we have specially invited her to share her observations and how to adapt to the remote office culture in Asia. "Enterprises in Asia tend to be more process-oriented," Jessica said. In the United States, the work culture leans more towards a responsibility system. As long as you can complete the tasks within the deadline, managers and bosses don’t really mind whether you are online during working hours. For example, Jessica shared a situation when working remotely in the United States, where a colleague would be offline for one to two hours every working day because she had to pick up her children from school. Sometimes, due to traffic jams during the pick-up, the offline time would be even longer. However, in the working culture of Asia, even if you can deliver results on time, managers still hope that you stay online during work hours, allowing them to follow your work and project status at any time. In other words, they expect you to stay online all the time when working remotely. Even if communication software does not have to be on call all the time, it is still necessary to maintain an online status, as this is the only way they can ensure that you are actually solving problems. “In the past when we were in the office, we would hold a progress meeting once a week, but after starting remote work, the supervisor suggested changing the progress meeting to be held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.” Jessica believes that, generally speaking, most enterprises in Asian countries tend to be more process-oriented. This trend stems from Asian leaders' lack of trust in employees. They believe that as long as employees are not supervised by managers, they will definitely be lazy. Even in foreign companies in Asia, or foreign managers working in Asia, under the influence of Asian culture, they still hope to see employees obediently staying in one space on call during working hours. So, how do we reduce this kind of situation? First of all, we need to understand the reasons behind the excessive questioning behavior of managers. The Root of Distrust Comes from the Opacity of Information As mentioned earlier, the reason many Asian companies adopt a process-oriented approach is due to the distrust of higher-ups towards the grassroots. This sense of distrust actually stems from anxiety about a lack of transparency in information. When working in the office, supervisors or bosses can find you at any time, and can constantly check on your work progress and whether the current results meet their expectations. However, when working remotely, the inability to communicate face-to-face in real time can easily make them feel a loss of control over the progress. They fear that the project may be delayed due to employees slacking off, or that they may only discover that the results do not meet their expectations at the final stage. Not only would the previous efforts be wasted, but the cost of subsequent modifications could also be significant. So, what should we do if we want to reduce managerial interference and alleviate anxiety caused by opaque information? "Proactive reporting" would be a better approach. Key Points and Framework of Proactive Reporting Proactive reporting refers to preparing a "work progress and results report" in addition to regular progress meetings. The content of the report must include three key points: 1. Completed Projects This Week This part is mainly a simple report of the achievements of this week. We can discuss what problems have been solved and what tasks have been completed this week. If there are closed cases or data reports, they can be attached to the email for the manager to review. 2. Ongoing Projects This Week Here, we can briefly mention the progress of the tasks underway this week. It's not necessary to detail how much percentage of each task has been completed, but we can mention what stage we are currently at, and whether there is a need for the manager to provide assistance. If there are difficulties or bad news, we can also explain the situation in the message. For example, if the project is delayed, the client increases requirements, or there are errors in data verification, we can let the manager know. This way, the manager will know that we will not only report good news but also know how to provide help. 3. Tasks to Be Carried Out Next Week Finally, we can tell the manager about the tasks we plan to carry out next. If resources are needed, they can also be proposed at this time to let the manager know. This not only allows the manager to understand the work progress but also plan the resource allocation in advance. Building a sense of security forms a virtuous cycle You might wonder: "The boss will actively hold meetings to ask questions, why do I still have to take the initiative to report?" Although progress meetings are held every day, such meetings usually involve the entire department, and everyone takes turns reporting what they do every day. However, the boss may not remember all these routine reports. Therefore, our weekly reports actually serve as a record of individual daily progress meetings, with integrated information value. Moreover, taking the initiative to report seems to increase the workload, but it provides an excellent opportunity to shape one’s image when working remotely. When you proactively provide project progress every week, not only can it reduce the insecurity felt by leaders due to lack of information, but it also allows them to develop an impression of you as someone who "continuously solves problems" and "continuously creates value." Over time, this will generate a sense of trust, and when better opportunities arise, they will naturally think of you first. In fact, whether it is remote work or working in the office, managers' anxiety about information has always existed. However, when working remotely, because they cannot see the working conditions of employees, this anxiety may turn into doubt, leading to intense scrutiny. However, if we choose to proactively provide information to make up for this information gap, then their monitoring intensity will naturally be reduced, thus forming a virtuous cycle. -- (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.)
December 7, 2023
Corporate Consultant Elva Lee Exclusive Interview | How Does Travel Magically Relieve My Work Anxiety?
“It was such a coincidence! I had just booked a flight to Toronto on October when I received your invitation!” Dressed casually, a change from her usual formal attire when teaching project management courses, Ms.Elva Lee came to our office. Even though the topic this time was relatively relaxed, her tablet was still filled with densely written notes. Traveling alone to other countries for the first time when she was young, she has 24 years of travel experience. She has visited nearly 70 countries and over 600 cities. Aside from a few group tours (like choosing a group tour to Egypt for safety reasons or coordinating with friends' plans), most were solo free-and-easy travels. What is the charm of traveling that makes her insist on making time for it despite a busy schedule? After some thought, she said that travel was an exceptionally essential form of rest in her hectic daily life, “I want to emphasize that it is the kind that is felt profoundly.” Why emphasized that “is felt profoundly”? She explained that people inevitably feel physically and mentally tired amidst busy lives. Sufficient sleep might ease physical tiredness, but mental exhaustion is more challenging to resolve with rest or idling. The issue is that many people often don't realize this, thinking that sleep or idling will help, only to feel more tired. As time is wasted, mental anxieties deepen. In her view, the first thing to do when feeling tired is to identify whether it's physical or mental, “If you still feel tired despite getting plenty of sleep, and feel desperate and powerless when a new day begins, it might not be physical tiredness, but mental exhaustion.” Physical tiredness requires doing less, but mental exhaustion might require doing more: finding a suitable “state-changing track” to distance oneself from work pressures. For Elva, travel is a fabulous way to change her state. “Travel is just like project management. Initial planning involves cost, schedule, risks, etc., but unexpected changes often occur after setting off, such as missing a ride or a restaurant being closed, requiring quick adaptations.” She explained. Limited travel time and unfamiliar external environments naturally lead us into a “relaxed yet focused” state of flow during travel. This so-called “state change” is inadvertently practiced during this process. (Photo by Elva Lee) The adaptation process has its wonders, simplifying to a “think repeatedly about what you want (like what to eat or where to go) and then quickly satisfying yourself” process. Compared to the frequent feelings of helplessness at work, these opportunities for freedom and self-satisfaction often bring significant healing effects. “Many people look forward to the destination when it comes to traveling, but I am most fascinated by the journey itself, whether by boat, plane, train, or car...” Besides relieving stress, travel holds another crucial value for Elva - it aids in thinking. She stated that long-haul flights, a nightmare for many, are her favorite time for contemplation and reading. Even being idle during these times feels like being infused with new energy. “When the plane is high in the sky, it feels like a magical environment where time and space cannot be clearly defined. I can filter out distractions and receive new insights in this environment filled with white noise. It might be due to being forced to widen my horizons!”she explained. What does “filter out distractions” mean? She provided an example from her experience as a junior manager, where she frequently faced tough decisions, such as resolving a "human" issue for the organization. Immersed in the work environment, she was constantly preoccupied with immediate concerns like workforce allocation and the team's reactions to changes. However, during a long flight, in the enchanting environment thirty thousand feet up in the air, she entered a different perspective: looking back years from now, what decision would be best for the organization? This perspective helped her to make a decision finally. (Photo by Elva Lee) “It's fine if you can't go abroad; taking a train in Taiwan can create such an environment too.” She shared. She has a routine annual train trip around the island, a practice maintained for eight years, sometimes even making a round trip within a day. For her, the journey has one purpose: not for leisure or entertainment but to create an undisturbed environment allowing for focused reading, thinking, and complete rest. In her journeys, she gains another form of thinking. Many often say that travel experiences and observations can broaden one's horizons. However, to her, broadening their horizons isn't merely about visiting various attractions. It's about personally experiencing different cultures and lifestyles, leading to lesser egocentrism and more gentleness and understanding. This is, in fact, crucial training for becoming a mature adult. After all, we encounter various people and need to manage different relationships. In an era where global teams prevail, we must collaborate with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds. Everyone knows that empathy is essential during such times. However, it is often challenging to truly empathize with others, primarily if we mistakenly believe that our perspective is the sole truth. Immersing oneself in other cultures and having on-ground experiences and observations, according to Elva, is a great way to enhance empathy. For instance, during our travels, we might experience the intense heat of summer in Taiwan while another region is enduring winter. While Chinese culture treats the concept of ghosts with considerable caution and reverence, Halloween in the United States adopts a different approach. Taiwanese people consider it thoughtful to serve hot tea in restaurants, while Japan prefers to offer cold water to guests regardless of the cold. Elva noted that frequently navigating such diverse scenarios enables her to intuitively consider others' perspectives, attempting to understand their thoughts and reasons behind their words and actions. “Whether facing divergent opinions on social and political issues or encountering vastly different viewpoints and activities from colleagues at work, I would adopt this approach rather than immediately assuming others are wrong. This is the first step towards empathy.” Although deeply feeling travel's relaxation and transformative effects, she added at the end of the interview that what might be truly important is not whether one travels but whether we can find a suitable way to change our state in the face of an inevitably exhausting life. If the mere thought of embarking on a journey overwhelms you with stress, then this method won't allow you to enter a restful state, and there might be other options more suitable for you. How do we find them? She suggested, by showing her tablet, to try and create more special experiences within acceptable limits and feel which activities allow you to gain new energy or become peaceful after completion. “It can be on a small scale or very time-consuming. It could be as simple as taking a different route home after work, watching a movie you've never chosen, or staying overnight in a hotel near your house to create a short, utterly personal time. These have unexpectedly restful effects.” -- (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.)
December 9, 2023
Athletic Trainer Pei-Chun Lin Exclusive Interview｜2 Actions Boost Customer Growth! My Experience in “Selling Professional Services”
In sports events, we often see that when athletes get injured, someone conducts emergency checks and treatment for them; in the behind-the-scenes footage, you might also see athletes lying in the locker room, receiving massages and relaxation from someone. This person, often the “most familiar stranger” to sports fans, is the athletic trainer. Initially, they specifically served athletes, being responsible for ensuring appropriate training volume, handling sports injuries, and planning the method of returning to the original training mode after an injury. However, due to the increase in amateur sports enthusiasts in recent years, many Athletic Trainers have also changed their service targets, helping the general public manage sports injuries through courses. Even the long-term aches caused by poor posture may improve after taking their classes. However, like many jobs, such as doctors and consultants, this kind of business that doesn't sell physical goods but provides services based on professional abilities is particularly tricky in marketing. One reason is that material goods can be sold through proactive and large-scale promotions. Still, if overly promoted, professional services can quickly raise doubts, making people wonder, “Is the service quality could be better, which is why it's on discount?” Without relying on such promotions, how can professional services be sold? Pei-Chun Lin, co-founder of “Ninety Percent Athletic Train”, will share how he increased monthly teaching hours by seventy percent within three months, not only boosting revenue but also helping to expand the team subsequently! (Photo from Pei-Chun Lin) Everything Starts From Choosing a Specialized Sub-field Pei-Chun Lin was originally a wrestler, and during his training, he came into contact with the profession of “athletic trainer”. He was deeply attracted by its feature of dealing with injuries and connecting back to the pre-injury sports mode and decided to delve deeply into it. After obtaining his certification, he also began to provide one-on-one services. In the early stage of his practice, his business was relatively stable, relying on customer referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations from seniors. 'But honestly, I had no idea how to do marketing,' he said. It was not until later, when he participated in a course, that he began to understand the marketing of professional services. Based on the goal of 'being the one customers think of and trust to seek help from when they have a problem,' he took two actions to regroup and strengthen his efforts. “The first action I took after the course was to select a specific ‘sub-field’ to specialize in,” he said. Many people intuitively think that promoting multiple abilities will attract customers, but having too many miscellaneous abilities makes it unclear to customers when to seek help. Choosing a “specialized sub-field” in a vast professional area, that is, finding a type of problem that one can solve, coupled with the correct promotion, gives a better chance of coming to the minds of customers when they encounter specific issues. For Pei-Chun, although he is capable of solving many sports injuries, he eventually chose to focus on dealing with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries of the knee. Why choose to focus on this issue? He shared, “My initial consideration was that after the ACL is injured, there is a high proportion of cases requiring surgery, and after the surgery, a rehabilitation period of nine months to a year is still needed. This injury is obvious and has a significant impact on life.” Pei-Chun initiated his second action after choosing a “clearly demanded” sub-field. Accumulating "Trust Assets" to Shape a Reliable Impression There needs to be more than just setting up a sub-field to make customers think of us when they encounter a problem and feel secure in entrusting us with the solution. As mentioned earlier, this still requires the correct promotion. In the so-called correct promotion of professional services, one of the strategies is to accumulate “trust assets,” which means continuously producing content related to the problem we want to solve, such as observations or solutions to the problem, establishing a clear and reliable impression in the minds of customers. Compared to aggressive advertising, accumulating trust assets is more fundamental and practical for selling professional services. After all, most professional services are costly; customers always want to find someone they trust to provide the service rather than purchasing because of a random advertisement they saw. “So, I started managing an Instagram account, posting information related to 'knee injuries,' such as what actions are likely to cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and so on,” Pei-Chun said, showing the content of his account on his mobile phone. He also shared that he chose Instagram as a channel to share content because images convey the Before and After of a student's progress in class better than text. Therefore, considering what medium to use to share content should be determined based on the nature of the service. A month or two after managing Instagram, the most significant progress was not just more and more people coming to ask about knee injury issues! Pei-Chun excitedly said, “Most people who take the initiative to ask usually have a need. They trust me through the content, and, as long as there is no significant problem in the communication process and their doubts can be removed, the probability of them purchasing the course can be as high as eighty to ninety percent.” Through these two actions extending from the core of selling professional services, Pei-Chun's customer numbers and monthly teaching hours quickly grew within three months. Initially, teaching 80 to 100 hours per month was quite good, but later, the monthly teaching hours increased by seventy percent, reaching nearly 170 hours. In addition to earning more income, he helped team members by sharing experiences. In the past, only one person was teaching; now, three more partners are teaching, and they have even opened a store. How do we eliminate customer doubts during the communication process? Here are two suggestions: “Just now, an essential point was made, which is the communication with customers before the service!” Communication with customers before providing the service is crucial for two reasons: first, it helps to clear their doubts, making them more likely to purchase the service; second, a correct understanding of the service results will significantly affect their subsequent satisfaction. So, how should we communicate effectively with customers? Pei-Chun added two practices at the end of the interview. First, summarize the frequently asked questions by customers and clarify doubts beforehand. For the services provided by Pei-Chun, commonly asked questions include “What is the difference between you and physical therapists?” and “How are your exercise classes different from those at a gym?” etc. He prepared answers for these questions to explain clearly before the customer asked. From the customer's perspective, doubts might be resolved earlier, but they can also feel the professionalism and dedication of the service provider. Second, clarify the effectiveness of the service and establish correct expectations. To sell the service successfully, many people claim they can solve whatever problem the customer encounters. But this is risky because if the issue still needs to be resolved afterward, the customer will likely not repurchase or recommend it to friends and family. If we want to maintain a steady business later on, the only option would be to keep adopting the costliest method, which may only sometimes be the most effective: attracting new customers. The professional services available are diverse and varied. Only some who adopt these practices will see quick results within three months, like Pei-Chun, or find everything going smoothly afterward. Pei-Chun shared that, although the current operation is still going OK, he is also trying to overcome new challenges. These include how to make team collaboration more efficient and standardize products to save time customizing each one for clients. “However, we will continue to work hard, hoping to achieve our goal of having service locations in every city and county soon.” He also encourages professional service providers striving to find their footing to refer to the concepts and practices learned in his courses. By doing this while overcoming various challenges, they can at least ensure they are putting effort into the right direction rather than being stuck in common marketing misconceptions! -- (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.) Follow the Digital Nomad Facebook fan page and stay updated with more recent articles on Instagram (＠digital.nomad.press)！
January 10, 2024