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Tag: remote work

Why Behere is Not Another Remote Work Program

Posted on by Josh

Behere was created for all women who value flexibility. Not just for digital nomads or fully remote workers.

“Oh another remote work program, great.” We’ve heard this countless times as Behere has been compared to many remote work programs. Behere actually shares very few similarities though. With numerous programs in the market, and this being a new space, we understand the confusion. So we wanted to highlight what makes us so different and what Behere is all about.

What Behere is not…

A remote work program, a group tour, or a travel-while-working ‘tribe’. Behere is not a group that travels around with ‘participants’, or a traveling community that moves from location-to-location together.

We also don’t use the term ‘digital nomad’ because that eludes that we cater to an exclusive group of people. Behere was created for all women who value flexibility.

What Behere is…

A new way for women to live, work and travel.

Behere makes it possible for women to live, for a month at a time, in cities around the world, without the hassles of getting set up. We are helping women design a lifestyle that meets their individual needs and wants. Active in over 12 cities and growing, we have a supportive infrastructure in place, year round. This lets women choose when and where they want go.

What we’re creating at Behere is not just about remote work, it’s about the future of living and work. It’s about providing a sustainable way to thrive in your lifestyle.

What we’re about

A community of women, around the world, that share common goals and values. We’re helping women embrace flexibility, step out of their comfort zones and better meet their needs and wants.

Behere is striving to change the way we live and work. We’re providing opportunities to make flexible lifestyles possible for more women. Women that want to embrace flexibility and rid themselves of workplaces created by men, for men.

With the 9–5 work structure becoming an old paradigm, riddled in sexual harassment, unequal pay, sexism and lack of inclusiveness, women are looking for ways to live and work on their own terms. Millennial women especially, are playing a major role in shaping the future of work. They are choosing more flexibility in their careers. With millennials valuing experiences more than things, and majority of female millennials wanting to work abroad, we see the rising need for this.

It’s not about escaping your life, it’s about living your life, and one that you truly enjoy.

remote work program

But why just women?

We’re helping highlight the importance of women having independence and creating lifestyles that suit them. Women find it harder to have tough conversations with their managers, don’t take as many vacation days and still do not receive equal pay (& won’t for another 217 years!). Remote work is helping solve some workplace issues by helping women shatter the glass ceiling.

At Behere, we’re working to help women shed the days of being stuck in cubicles. Of being unproductive in open concept offices, waiting for vacations days or being locked into long leases. That’s why we share resources to help transition to remote or freelance work and this list of places to find remote jobs.

We’re helping women meet their desires and passions to explore, experience, connect and feel inspired.

Society’s definition of ‘work’, ‘workplaces’, ‘living’ and ‘lifestyles’ is being redefined. Our goal is to help women redefine those for themselves.

We hope to help you start living the way you want soon!

– The Behere Team

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Ready to experience more? Head to gobehere.com to learn more and get started with your flexible lifestyle.

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Join our free community here to hear about our events, meetups and more near you! They range from coffee catch ups to coworking events & more, like this women’s only coworking event we hosted in Chiang Mai & this one in Bali.

Creating Your Reality with Work-Life Balance or 'Blend'

Posted on by Josh

Whoever put the notion in our heads that we should have the perfect work-life balance is a liar. As if we all wake up every morning in perfect harmonious glory, in a pristine house, with a beautifully laid schedule and a career that never required after-hours work or thoughts…

I’m not sure what utopia set us up for this kind of failure, but I do know I don’t want to live there.

Perfect work/life balance is impossible – from early on in our careers to running the C-Suite gamut. (As digital nomads and entrepreneurs, we know better than anyone that circumstances are rarely cut and dry).

Work-life blend is the new “balance.”

It means work and personal lives are so closely intertwined that they might be indistinguishable at times. There’s no “split personality,” instead career and personal goals are correlative. Enter “The Blend“.

This was something I realized early on in my career in recruitment and sales. I found that the time I spent at networking events and coffee dates to accomplish “sales,” became fun. Because of my personality, I didn’t experience burnout from this. Especially within that time of my life, when meeting new people was something I enjoyed. Professionals became friends and, as they helped my bottom line, work partners, too. So my approach was to “work” as much as possible. Work didn’t need to end when I left the office. And my personal life didn’t have to end the second I sat down at my desk.

Additionally, working as a recruiter, trainer and field sales developer throughout my college career, meant that networking with other women my age, traveling to different states and playing with makeup was my “job.” I didn’t have a desk or an office, but I had a car and weekly accountability calls with my boss. The more I hustled, the more money I made, and simultaneously was able to grow an incredible network of women.

I didn’t know where work and play started and stopped, so that’s how I grew up in my professional life.

After all, here I am; co-founder of a startup with hefty, long-hour workweeks. My counterpart is a dedicated, marketing genius. She’s also a dear friend. When we shared an office every day (or in the humble beginnings, a couch…), our conversations would constantly seesaw from “friend-zone” to “work-zone.” We’d recap weekend plans over lunch and discuss client work between social events. I have an accountability factor to her and our company not only as a co-worker but as a friend. There’s double at stake and double the reward. Sometimes we work long nights and sometimes we close the laptops for long weekend adventures. We’ve built blended careers because our lives are far from black and white.

work-life balance
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Dixon

On top of that, now I have taken my portion of managing our business and channelled it all through a laptop in South America. Because my business partner and I are friends, we also continually have each other’s best interest in mind, including personal goals. It was a dream of mine to live and work abroad, and now it has become my reality. And as we’ve grown our team, these new faces have become friends. Our gab sessions now happen through a computer screen rather than over drinks at happy hour, but the sentiment is still there. I’m grateful for the blend and wouldn’t have it any other way.

To me, the blend also means doing something I love.

I enjoy my work; I enjoy the people I work with, the clients we service and the industry we’re in. My work is motivating to me. This didn’t happen by accident–I had to build it! This is part of the blend: having your career feel less like “work” and more like “passion.” It may take a step, and then a leap, but it is possible. It’s my life goal, from sharing my story, to have even one person know this to be true, too.

The blend is not perfect–this is just as true as the fact that balance does not exist. Now that I’m traveling full time and I maintain a crowded startup calendar remotely, my life is a big ball of “blend,” and it has its challenges. This morning, I hiked a mountain and now I sit working at a cafe, staring at said mountain. I’m not on vacation, but I’m not in a routine either. I often feel like I’m half-doing both working and traveling. This is a sinking feeling–that you should be in two places at once and always accomplishing two things at once. Feeling torn and never completely satisfied with your day because it’s so blended that it’s hard to distinguish the stop and start. Any feelings of accomplishment are buried by the rest of that to-do list. You want to keep up with everyone back in the office, but you also want to keep up with everyone here for the week on vacation. It’s an unattainable feeling that leaves you dissatisfied with your progress regularly. I’ll close my laptop one minute and be working on my new language in another, but my brain is still in my laptop.

Don’t get me wrong.

I believe in breaks, personal time, vacation, travel, family – all the warm fuzzies that “balance” brings to mind. However, it’s impossible for those things to not interrupt the flow of your “work life” and vice versa. If they are complementary, well then, that’s a step in the direction to satisfaction. It’s work/life blend.

Balance is boring. Balance is too neat. Order challenge, on the rocks, with an extra shot of chaos. Thrive in it. Enjoy grey-ness. Enjoy “the blend.” Strive to have work and life to embrace each other. Work for people you admire and create change with passion. You spend a minimum of 2,000+ hours a year working. Make it count.

Guest Post Written by: Kelsey Dixon

Kelsey Dixon is the “Dixon” of the female millennial duo who founded davies + dixon, a digital marketing firm that creates daring ideas to get stories told. Kelsey currently remotely manages her team and clients as she adventures through South America. Follow Kelsey’s journey on Instagram at @kelseyrileydixon.

Images and words courtesy of Kelsey Dixon.

Inspiring Women Who Made Working While Travelling Their Reality

Posted on by Josh

These inspiring women have made flexible lifestyles work for them

 
In 2017 we hosted our first women’s only coworking day event. If you read our post about our Women’s Only Coworking Space Popup Event you’ll know how wonderful the event and response to it was. We hosted it in Chiang Mai, Thailand and met so many inspiring women, we decided to share some of their stories. These women show it’s possible to create lifestyles you truly love, work from anywhere and thrive at it. Read their stories below!

Meet Lola: a full-time traveler and freelance writer  

Lola Méndez is a full-time traveler and freelance writer sharing her adventures on Miss Filatelista. She travels to develop her own worldview and has explored 53 countries. Passionate about sustainable travel, she seeks ethical experiences that benefit local communities.

“I left my life and career in New York City in March of 2015 and have been traveling and working remotely ever since. I decided to take off after being told I was up for a very competitive promotion and raise. When I heard the news I did not feel ecstatic. Instead, I felt doomed. I loved my role as a fashion publicist but knew there must be something more meaningful out there waiting for me in the world. I’d been working with clients that benefited various global charities and wanted to shift my lifestyle and career towards one that was more sustainable and allowed me to use my skills towards developmental projects.
I did exactly that when I worked pro bono as the communications officer for a women’s empowerment NGO in India for 3 months. I developed a relationship with Visit.org and worked on the social travel marketplace’s business development and communications efforts. Through them I began to work with charities and other do-good organizations around the world to help them create tourism activities to support their causes. I also began to work with nonprofits in the travel sector directly to help share their stories on my blog, Miss Filatelista, and other digital publications. In 2018 I focused mostly on freelance writing gigs but am always open to projects that can benefit from my branding and marketing expertise.
Without traveling I wouldn’t be able to learn firsthand the unique stories that I get to share as a freelance travel writer. I am inspired daily by cultural phenomenons, local cuisines exotic flavors, traditional handicrafts, and the incredible people I’m fortunate enough to encounter around the globe. These experiences have allowed me to continue to support my travels by being paid to write about travel-related topics. But I am a traveler first and would never travel simply to sell a story. If I lost access to the internet tomorrow I’d simply find another way to fund my explorations.”
Follow Lola’s journey on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Meet Lynn: an online English teacher and podcast host

Lynn Hulver is an online ESL teacher from the US, who also started her own podcast and hosts a podcast where she interviews women paving their own path.

“I think traveling and working from anywhere in the world seems like this weird, mystical unicorn that sounds great but isn’t actually possible long-term. The truth is anything is possible, you just have to decide what you want and learn from the people who are doing what you want to be doing.
I knew in college that Corporate America wasn’t for me, so I spent most of college researching unconventional ways of living. Then I became involved with Network Marketing, and though I realized it wasn’t for me, I’m grateful for it as it opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship.
Currently I’m teaching ESL online and building my e-commerce business. I’ve also launched a weekly, interview-style podcast showcasing young people who are living life on their own terms, to show others how they can do so too. I’m also a blog contributor for @bossbabe.inc, which I love. This winter I spent 3 months in Thailand, a week in the Philippines, and then moved to Bali for spring! My goal is to show people my age, anything is possible.”

Meet Brenda: a freelance health and lifestyle writer

Brenda DeGroote is originally from the Netherlands and writes books and articles on healthy and plant-based lifestyles.

“As I child, I always had the dream of traveling forever, being free and unbound to a specific place. I love to discover new places, not knowing what is literally ‘on the other side of the mountain’. As a writer and illustrator, all I need is a pen and paper, a computer and WiFi. Just like that I realized, I could make my childhood dream come true. So I booked a one way ticket to the other side of the world.
To make this lifestyle possible, I write books and articles for several websites on health, food and a plant-based lifestyle. I love creative work, and it is helps enable me to focus more on my passion projects: monkeys and art (in progress).
Many women dream of traveling and exploring new places but I’ve found that most, come up with excuses not to pursue their dreams. Excuses like, “I’ll never be able to do that.” “My boss / job won’t let me.” “I don’t know how to do it.”
My response to these is; 1) don’t think you’re a special case – lots of people have done it, and you can too, 2) if you don’t like it, then just book a ticket back, 3) Tim Ferris’ overhyped bestseller book has some great tips, and 4) write down your dreams and make a plan for how to get there.
But remember: the most important of all is to book that ticket. Otherwise your ‘yea, ever’ will become a ‘nope, never’. Don’t be afraid, that is fantasizing in the wrong direction.”

Ready to join these inspiring women in living the way you want? Fulfill your dreams of travel and live in a new city for a month using Behere. Learn more about booking with Behere and our locations here.

How Remote Work Helps Shatter the Glass Ceiling

Posted on by Josh

Why working for a distributed company can increase your opportunities for professional advancement – especially for women.

“Only 35% of women working in traditional office environments reported a promotion in the last year, while 57% of women working remotely reported the same.” – Ultimate Software’s 2019 State of Remote Work report

We asked Laurel, the COO of Yonder, to share her thoughts on remote work and female professionals.

Not surprisingly, remote work is on the rise throughout the world. Choosing where you roll up your sleeves for the day includes a lot of perks, like arriving to the “office” in your jammies, clocking in as early or as late as you want, or logging in from a cafe. Yes, it can be just as relaxing and indulgent as you imagine it to be. But, it’s not just valuable for your ability to get your beauty rest. It can be equally as valuable for you to give your career the professional boost that you’ve been working so hard for.

Distributed companies are often based on a ROWE management strategy. This means leadership doesn’t care when or where you do your work, they care about your results. This doesn’t mean your boss will be insensitive (actually, most virtual companies have even better culture and relationships than co-located teams!). It does mean the barriers that have been supporting the glass ceiling are being hammered down. This is because the factors that contribute to discrimination are removed from your work environment.

Sound too good to be true? Here is a breakdown of how that ceiling becomes just a sky when your team is geographically dispersed:

Everyone wants flexibility, not just you.


Unwilling to relocate? Family responsibilities at home? Time off needed for hobbies? These aren’t sacrifices any more. They are standards. Almost everyone with a remote job is seeking a better work-life balance. Not only is it acceptable to take breaks, it’s celebrated. Trust me, no one will care when you tell your team you’re headed to the dentist at 2:00 pm, except to wish you luck.

Interaction is equal.


Didn’t get invited to lunch with the boss, or to the golf course with that big client? Good news: no one else did either. When you’re limited to virtual interaction, the playing field is levelled in terms of gender, race, religion, orientation, and physical limitations. You are just as capable of sending an email to that big fish as anyone else on your team, so go for it.

Evaluation is based on results, not time.


Managers have developed a reputation for being “head counters” because, in their mind, productivity means seeing heads in the cubicles around them. In reality, those heads might be focused on solitaire and Facebook. The future of work doesn’t include this loophole. We treat adults as responsible and self-disciplined individuals, so how many hours you spend in your chair is up to you. (Spoiler alert: It’s still usually around 40 per week.) Remote workers are able to work at their own pace and on their own schedule, as long as they meet their deadlines.

Salaries are based on industry averages.


Throw your salary discrimination complaints right out the window. In remote work, compensation is usually based on national averages. This is because Company A doesn’t want to change the compensation of Employee M based on the cost of living in the 10 countries they’ll be in that year. So the average is calculated, and… done. It’s as simple as that.

We often hear about the technological, economic, and sociological benefits of the future of work. We rarely hear about the impact on equality. What an incredible result to overlook! Women, or any other commonly prejudiced demographic, can now be empowered to choose the role, the company, and the lifestyle that matches their goals. This is regardless of their age, geographic location, or familial status. As long as you have (and are willing to develop) the skills it takes to be a great remote worker, you can have the freedom to excel in any professional role. And I hope that you do!

If you’re interested in transitioning to remote work, but have unique concerns or questions, visit Yonder. With resources  including a podcast, articles, even one-on-one mentoring – they educate and support as you navigate into the future of work.

About the Author: Laurel Farrer works remotely from her new home in rural Connecticut so that she can balance her passion for business operations and event planning with her life of traveling, home improvement, and snuggling with her husband and two kids.

6 Major Benefits to Offering Flexible Work Arrangements

Posted on by Josh

Flexible work arrangements are a hot topic right now, and rightfully so. Employees have a need, and want, for more flexibility that extends well beyond the desire to sit at home in pjs all day.

These flexible work programs range from:

  • flexible hours
  • telecommuting
  • remote work days, weeks, months
  • full time remote-work

 

Does Your Industry Have Flexible Work Arrangements?

These industries are at the forefront of flexible work and have already implemented flexible working programs. While that is great it’s clear, more industries and employers have to recognize that flexible work is essential. In order for organizations to attract top talent, they must provide these options.

Plus, the benefits to both organizations and the employees are overwhelming:

  • Increased productivity
  • Huge cost savings
  • Improved physical and mental health
  • Environmental benefits and more!

So we’ve put together a list of some of the largest benefits for employers. (Trying to convince your boss you should work remotely? Read this.)

  1. Higher Productivity:

    •  93% of employees say they are most productive when working outside the office due to less office distractions and 75% of managers agree remote employees increase company productivity

  2. Reduces Employee Turnover:

  3. Decreased Costs:

    • Companies save on average $11,000/year for each remote working employee with less overhead, office supplies, electricity etc.

  4. More Engaged Employees:

    • Technology gives us the ability to connect with people anywhere, at anytime. Remote employees use this technology to stay engaged with their teams. Added bonus: their various work environments foster more creativity.

  5. Healthier Employees and Environment

    • Cutting out a 30 min commute daily saves over 20 wasted hours per month. Those hours can instead be spent on tasks and the lack of emissions provides massive environmental benefits.

  6. Lower Stress Levels and Improved Mental Health

    • With no commuting stress, there’s more time for productive work and more time to dedicate to physical fitness; all benefiting employees mental health

For companies, implementing flexible work arrangements make them a more desirable place to work and creates happier, healthier employees. These employees translate into an overall better organization, with higher productivity and increased innovation.

Many studies have shown, our best work is not done in the office, so it’s time to allow employees the flexibility they need.

Landed that flexibility to work from wherever? Pick your dream city and get started living abroad.

Creating a Work Schedule that Leaves Room for Travel

Posted on by Josh

Balancing work and travel might seem unattainable for many, but these days it isn’t as challenging as it seems. In fact, as we become more globally connected, more people are ditching office desks and embracing flexible lifestyles. Striking a balance between travel and remote work isn’t always as easy as packing your bags and charging your laptop though. So we’ve compiled some tactics to help you balance your work schedule while finding time to explore.

Tactics to make remote work and travel your reality:


Build An Effective Budget

Traveling and working can be entirely feasible on even the strictest of budgets. To start, calculate how much you need to live in the locations you want to travel to. If you’ve already received the remote-work-stamp of approval from your boss or found a gig that allows you to do so, sign up for a program that does the planning for you. On Behere you can book a private apartment, coworking space and even extras like fitness classes.

Create A Powerful Time Management Strategy

Don’t limit budgeting to just your finances. Working remotely while traveling has a numerous perks, though these can lead to endless distractions. After all, finding new business leads and contacting clients can be tricky when there’s a ruin bar waiting just outside your door. Having a time budget that allots for work hours will help you keep your mind on track and free time open.

Chunk and Bundle Your Tasks

Having a budget can do wonders for your remote experience, but a bundled schedule will be the key to staying in your boss’s good graces. Bundle your check list to help you tackle your chores one at a time. Work on projects that need hyper-focus during one block and take calls by the piazza for the next.

Schedule Personal Days 

When you’re working remotely it’s vital to give yourself enough downtime. Being constantly connected can take a toil on you and leave little time for real exploration. Having a day to dive into the local culture will keep you alert when you get back, increase your productivity and allow you to truly indulge in the experience side of remote working. Though it may seem counterintuitive, if you’re returning from a holiday or long weekend, give yourself a chance to refresh, before jumping back in. Appreciate the time you had away and use your refreshed feeling to tackle new tasks.

Transitioning to a flexible lifestyle can be quite an adjustment, but you don’t have to disrupt your work life to see the world. In fact, you shouldn’t have to. Keep these tactics on hand and you’ll be on your way to managing your inbox from a new city in no time.

Ready to start traveling while you work? Learn more about how Behere can make it a seamless process.

Written by Alexandria Portee

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