Hey, I’m Scott.
I’ve been working remotely since 1998 (it was cool back then, too) and moderated Twitter’s #RemoteChat for 5 years, concluding on December 15, 2021. I wrote The Art of Working Remotely (2019) and Handbook for the Modern Worker (2021).
I live and work 5 hours outside of New York City in a small town outside of Ithaca. I’ve built a custom home there, have an active lifestyle, and raised two wonderful kids with my wife. I’m a user experience designer and developer by day, and an artist and athlete at all other times.
So … what’s with this Substack?
This waterfall photo inspired this site. I took it during a run at Taughannock Falls State Park. I’m lucky to live nearby and run in the park most weeks of the year. One day I set my phone down on a rock, ran up to the wall that marks the terminus of the base trail, and gave that waterfall a big ol’ hug. In Algonquin, Taughannock means "in the trees.” The natural world has always had a special place in my heart. Experiencing nature and moving my body is a core part of me, whether it’s a short trip to this waterfall, hiking in Oregon’s Cascades, or running through the woods. These are all wonderful things.
Since I concluded #RemoteChat I’ve been thinking of a way to keep putting things out into the world. This is it. Using the waterfall analogy, this is my way of keeping things flowing, whether cascading over a precipice (who’s up for a risk?) or gently flowing downstream. Water is literally life-giving, and in a similar vein, so are advice, fellowship, anecdotes, and the things that make us laugh. This is about connection as we weave our way through life.
You’ll get a post when I post. No schedule, just like the ebb and flow of nature’s rhythms. In the spirit of Tim Ferriss’ 5 Bullet Friday I’m going to keep some of them brief, direct, and useful (if not entertaining). These dispatches will always contain a tip from my 365 Daily Tips book, which covers the entire range of concerns for anyone not working in a traditional office environment — communication, discipline, health, performance, managing up, managing others, leading meetings, professional development, quality workspaces, and networking. Other posts will be longer-form posts, oriented to one of my passions.
See? Fun! Go ahead and subscribe: I’d be really grateful to have a readership that appreciates the slow burn of modern work tips, musings, and observations. Be part of a community of people who share your interests. You won’t have to worry about missing anything, either: every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox, and you have access to the website, too. If you tire of it, though, you can always unsubscribe. We can still be friends!
If you subscribe and think to yourself — “You know what? I’m really enjoying this but my friend/coworker/family would really like it, too.” — please share this with them.
