Redefining the Daily Grind
Remember when it used to be commonplace to warn people that you may be out of touch for a few days because you were going on vacation? It’s tough to recall such a lifestyle, now that you can be just about anywhere in the world and have at the very least a wireless signal. Additionally, remember how traveling was revered as an impractical luxury for most? Well, I am happy to be in the modern world. If there is one thing this fragile economy and the multitude of rapidly changing industries have shown us, it’s that there isn’t just one way or place to work these days. One of the greatest advantages of modern technology – and its widespread acceptance – is the ability to truly work around your life and not vice versa. As a freelancer and avid traveler, I am proud to call myself a mobile bohemian.
The greatest thing about being able to plug in, literally and metaphorically speaking, no matter where you happen to be at the moment means you can travel, making everywhere you go your work space for the duration of your stay. Wanderlust and hard work now go hand in hand, as setting up shop for a few hours of work or checking emails and tweets on your smart phone can happen anywhere! Among my favorite experiences with this phenomenon was a jaunt to Hawaii.
Clean ocean air, an abundance of outdoor activities and everything from volcanoes and waterfalls to gorgeous tropical flowers and pristine beaches made Hawaii an easy place to feel like I had stepped into another world. Having been accustomed to setting up in various hotel lobbies and coffee shops around my native San Francisco, I wrongly assumed I would have some difficulty staying connected in the islands. I was wrong. Staying in Honolulu, I was able to have wireless access almost everywhere I went, from any number of hotels and restaurants to literally whilst I caught some rays on the beach.
What’s more, in between getting some real work done, I was able to completely forget about it when I took off for some “real life” activities like hiking and snorkeling. Having your virtual office at your fingertips creates an entirely different relationship with work. Knowing that popping in and out of the scene is no longer considered flaky but actually more productive is exactly what I need.
When I prefer to settle down for a few days, I like to check into a place like the Modern Honolulu, which not only offers the now requisite complimentary wireless access, but a host of other work conducive amenities including iPads for loan, studios to hold meetings in and audio and visual services to facilitate presentations. A stone’s throw away from the action of downtown and lovely beaches, the resorts of Honolulu help you get your dose of city life when necessary. Modern life enables us to indulge our spontaneous and entrepreneurial spirit, so we can move on whenever the mood strikes.
Author: Michael Spense.
