The Internet: where nuance goes to die.

About that remote work piece

The Internet: where nuance goes to die. As is the case with remote work discussions.

A week ago, I wrote about the real trade-offs between remote and office work (then followed it up with a 10 Minute Talent Rant episode with Jeff Smith). It’s just a different world than it was in 2020.

Our takes ruffled some feathers. Because in the hive mind of Angry LinkedIn, there is no trade-off: you’re either pro-remote because it’s perfect for everyone in every way… or you’re a corporate ghoul.

Mind you, I wrote that piece and recorded our podcast in the same place I’m writing from now: my basement. In my house. Remotely.

A few things stood out:

👉 People only digest topics through their own lens.

“You’re wrong because this doesn’t apply to me!”

I never said it did, dum dum.

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to any policy. And frankly, I don’t think I should have to state that out loud. It’s implied that the 8 billion people on Earth are all different.

When discussing any topic—work policies, economics, leadership styles, whatever—there’s always nuance and individual variation.

But if you can’t detach from a self-centered worldview, everything feels like a personal attack.

👉 Socialization in business is different from socialization in your personal life.

One of the biggest gaps in remote work (notice I didn’t say “reasons why everyone should work in an office”) is the lack of social development.

The biggest challenge in modern work, by a mile, is getting people to work together effectively. Full stop. This is another Hill I’ll Die On™️.

Hanging out with friends and family isn’t the same. You can hang up the phone. You can leave the party. You can ghost people. Conflict avoidance strategies are endless.

But you can’t do that at work. You have to collaborate with people (who are often more different from you than your friends and family), work through problems, and—most importantly—have difficult conversations. While still getting the job done.

The irony? The people losing their minds in LinkedIn comment sections are exactly the ones this applies to most. (Maybe that’s Alanis Morissette irony. Can I get a judge’s ruling?)

👉 We can all look at our own lives and see the inconsistencies.

In 2013, my year was mediocre as hell. Probably the first time my results went backward.

My solution? Work from home two days a week.

And it worked. In 2014, my productivity and billing numbers skyrocketed. I started a new division at Hirewell (our marketing recruiting practice). Then, after a couple of years of talking to marketing execs all day, I asked, “Why are we doing all this?” and started our internal marketing function. Then I focused on selling more. Then I started creating content.

Next thing you know, I’m a Chief Growth Officer.

All because I decided two days of remote work would help me grind harder, focus more, and get more done.

The catch? No way in hell I could have done that in my 20s. (Again, talking about me here. Not everyone.) Back then, I hadn’t developed the business socialization skills, the time management skills, or the focus needed to stay on task.

I, myself, am proof that someone can both thrive and struggle in a remote setting, depending on the stage of their career.

Because nothing in life is one-size-fits-all.

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You can check out the full discussion Jeff and I had on The 10 Minute Talent Rant, ep 106, “The Price of Staying Home” here.