Apple Is Giving College Students a Pair of AirPods When They Buy a Mac or iPad

Yesterday, Apple’s Education Store was down for a while. That usually means there’s something new coming to the store, and it turns out that’s exactly the case. And, it’s pretty good news if you’re a college student who might be in the market for a new Mac or iPad. When you buy one right now, Apple will give you a free pair of AirPods, or you can upgrade to a pair of AirPods Pro.

Courtesy Apple, Inc.

I’ve written on more than one occasion that I think the AirPods, along with the AirPods Pro are the best overall wireless earbuds you can get. It’s not that they’re the best sounding, though they do sound quite good. The reason is simplicity. They just work.

That includes the noise cancellation and transparency modes on the AirPods Pro. Sure, you can get earbuds from Sony with slightly better noise cancellation. Sure, there are higher-end wireless earbuds that offer better sound. But no other earbuds offer the same combination of features, sound, and ease of use.

Courtesy Apple, Inc.

College students already save $100 off the starting price of a MacBook Air. Now, you can get that same device + a set of AirPods, which should cost you $1159, for only $899. That’s a pretty sweet deal.

P&G's Powerful New Anti-Racism Ad Is A Model for How Brands Should Respond

P&G's newest ad isn't selling a product. In fact, it doesn't mention the company at all, other than a logo at the end, with a link to a page on the company's website that addresses its stance on racism. We'll get to that page in a moment because it's as important as the ad. First, take a moment to watch. 

Large companies, by the nature of their size, have large platforms. As a result, they have the opportunity--and obligation--to speak to the people who are connected with their brand. They also have the ability to mobilize those same people towards action. That's become more important than ever in what can only be described as an awakening to generations of injustice towards Black Americans that has come as a result of the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many, many others at the hands of police officers. 

For companies, this isn't a time to look for a way to insert your company into a conversation by posting some type of compassionate statement: It's time to reconceive and rearticulate your message to be a part of the solution to racism in all its forms.

In fact, in an interview with Inc. Editor-at-Large, Kimberly Weisul, marketing expert and TV host Bonin Bough said that brands "have to say what they're doing to drive change. It has to be about what you, as an organization, are going to do, versus what you feel and the compassion you have. How are you supporting people, donating, hiring, making board appointments?"

In other words, it's time to act.

I think that's the most powerful thing about the P&G ad. It isn't just a corporate statement on how bad racism truly is (and it is). It's a call to action.

In one of the most powerful moments in an overwhelmingly moving ad, the words overlaying images of differing skin tones list what viewers can do:

"Read. Listen. Donate. Plan. March. Vote. Speak Out. Step In. Step Up."

This is a very effective ad, and when large, multinational corporations do the right thing, it's worth mentioning and pointing out. When they devote resources towards action, it's not only worth mentioning, it's worth emulating.

P&G ran earlier anti-racism ads: In 2017, it created an award-winning ad called "The Talk"about how Black parents talk to their kids about racism. Another from 2019 was called "The Look," and was about racist assumptions some white people make. (The company also created a companion site and conversation guide.)  That ad ended with "Let's talk about the look so we can see beyond it."

The new ad, called "The Choice" is not advocating simply talking. As the ad says at the end: "Now is the time to take action."

When you visit the site P&G has devoted to action, you find that the purpose is clear: "Being a passive supporter of equality is not enough." To that end, P&G is providing resources to empower people to take action, with information on how to donate and get involved with causes. 

As a small business, you're probably not able to launch a national ad campaign. That's understandable. You can, however, lead by influence in your community through your actions and by leveraging your platform and audience to do the same.

As the ad reminds us, "how you use your power is a choice." Doing nothing is also a choice. It just happens to be a choice we can no longer afford to make.

Facebook Is Failing Its Biggest Test

Leading a company like Facebook has to be challenging, even without the President of the United States using your platform as his own personal chaos machine. Maybe throw in a virtual walkout of employees, and a rebuke from some of your earliest employees over your position allowing that chaos. Oh, and there’s still, you know, a global pandemic.

Source: Shutterstock

Interestingly, though, none of those are actually the worst thing Facebook is facing. They do, however, lay bare the core of what is most definitely Facebook’s biggest problem.

I wrote about that problem last year, and it turns out that nothing has changed. Facebook’s biggest problem its true believer founder, Mark Zuckerberg.

You really don’t have to look further than how Mr. Zuckerberg has handled the latest chaos. Which is, essentially, to do nothing. 

Kara Swisher, in her New York Times column, wonders what Zuckerberg means when he says he did some “pretty thorough” research on how to respond. I suspect all he needed to decide to do nothing was to look at how the President responded to Twitter. 

“Regulate Twitter if they are going to start regulating free speech.” @JudgeJeanine @foxandfriends Well, as they have just proven conclusively, that’s what they are doing. Repeal Section 230!!!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020

The President wasn’t thrilled, to say the least. Twitter, of course, decided it would take action by placing at least one of the president’s tweets behind a warning that it could glorify violence. That came after fact-checking several other tweets.

Fact check: there is someone ultimately accountable for our actions as a company, and that’s me. Please leave our employees out of this. We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally. And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make.

— jack (@jack) May 28, 2020

In Facebook’s case, the content isn’t nearly as important as the source. 

Zuckerberg’s biggest concern has always been preserving Facebook. I get it, Facebook basically prints money, and it’s gotten very good at it. So good that it’s made Zuckerberg one of the wealthiest people in the world. Time after time, response after response, one thing has been clear—Facebook isn’t going to do anything that could invite the ire of whatever administration writes the rules. 

Facebook is failing its biggest test, and, as a result, it’s failing us. It’s failing us because when you have a platform, and especially when you directly benefit from what happens on that platform, you’re responsible. That isn’t a question of what is legal, but rather one of accountability.

I do take issue with one point Ms. Swisher makes. She writes, about social media companies: “They fed unlimited amounts of sugar to him and now wonder why he is diabetic and screaming.” 

It isn’t that he became diabetic, it’s that they fed unlimited amounts of sugar to him and now wonder why he’s running around the house with a toy lightsaber, hitting his brother, and breaking things. If he had only become diabetic we could ignore it since it’s up to him to measure his blood sugar and take his insulin. 

Instead, Mr. Zuckerberg is content being his dealer. The rest of us are left picking up the pieces. 

Apple TV+ Is Shifting Away From Original Content and It Could Help It Win the Streaming Wars

It’s really not going out on much of a limb to say that Apple’s streaming service is a bit behind the game. Sure, it has more subscribers than Hulu. Of course, very few of them are actually paying for the service since Apple gave it away to anyone who bought one of its devices after the November launch last year. Finding paying customers, however, is sort of the reason you spend lots of money creating content and launching a new service.

Some of that content happens to be pretty good. The Morning Show earned a small handful of award nominations, and for good reason. Dickerson is quirky, but genuinely entertaining. The rest of the lot is curious, but no one is calling it poorly made. That’s because Apple spent plenty of money on original content in a play to take on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

That strategy, however, hasn’t exactly gone the way the company likely hoped. If you need proof of that sense, look no further than the fact the company is now adding classic content to supplement its existing library.

Honestly, there’s probably more than one reason for the shift. And, it is a shift. Tim Cook had previously said “it doesn't feel right for Apple to just go out and take a rerun,” when asked why the service didn’t try to get Friends. Instead, what used to be Netflix’s most popular show is coming to HBO MAX when it launches next week.

Now, however, things are different. Now the company is reportedly getting out its AppleCard and spending money on licensed content.

One reason is that original content isn’t really a thing right now. At least, not the big-budget, high production value shows and films Apple was making. All of those productions are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, and there’s only so much finished work in the pipeline before you have to figure out a different strategy.

Here’s the thing, Apple absolutely could dominate streaming video with the right content library. Disney+ is the runaway winner right now, with 55 million subscribers, half of whom signed on during the pandemic. And Disney clearly has what is arguably the best content library of any media company. But imagine if Apple started licensing everything else that was up for grabs. And it could.

I mean, let’s be honest, Apple has an enormous amount of cash it can spend on building up a content library—far more than Netflix or Disney or anyone else entering the fray. Apple could just buy a Netflix or a Disney if it wanted to. Especially Disney, especially right now.

Disney’s market cap is a bit over $200 billion as of today. Apple could cover that with cash alone and still have enough left over to save for more than a few rainy days.

The point is this: If Apple is serious about dominating streaming video, it has a lot of control over it’s own destiny. It will, however, have to make a shift in strategy, and maybe even swallow a little pride. That said, it appears Apple is playing for keeps, which, when you consider the stakes, would make me very nervous if I were Netflix or Disney right now.

Smart Home Assistants: Alexa vs Google Assistant vs Siri

There are a lot of reviews of the different smart speakers or smart home devices you can buy. For example, you can find plenty of reviews that compare the Echo Dot with the Google Nest Mini, or the Sonos One with the Apple HomePod. Most of them cover things like audio quality or other features that come built into the specific hardware. 

That's really helpful, but I want to zoom out a bit and give you a perspective on the voice assistants themselves and the overall ecosystem since that's where the real magic happens (or not). For context, in our home, we have devices with each of the three major voice assistants running. We have a Google Nest Hub, a Nest Thermostat (from before Google bought it) and a few Nest Mini speakers, which run Google Assistant and control the smart light bulbs throughout our home.

We also have iPhones and Apple TVs which run Siri. Finally, we have three Echo Dots with LED Clocks that are powered by Alexa. I also have a second phone, a Google Pixel 3a. As a result, we find ourselves frequently talking to all three voice assistants for different reasons. And, as it turns out, not all are created equal. 

Alexa

Alexa is certainly a good voice assistant. She can answer questions, and she usually does a good job of understanding what we mean. That's no small feat considering we have Echo Dots with the LED clock in our kids' rooms, and they are always asking her questions.

One of the biggest advantages of Amazon's Echo devices, where Alexa primarily lives, is that they support not only Amazon Prime Music, but Apple Music and Spotify as well. If you're a music lover, that could be a big deal. 

On the other hand, setting up other devices, like C by GE light bulbs, for example, has been far more complicated than with Google Assistant. In fact, despite the fact that it'd be great if our kids could control their own lights upstairs, I've mostly given up trying to connect them to Alexa, it's just too much work. You have to have a hub, sign in to a C by GE account, connect it to your Alexa app, and then search for devices. Google is far easier in this regard.

Google Assistant

While Alexa rules upstairs, on our main level, it's Google Assistant who powers most of our smart lights, and answers most of our questions. Frankly, for normal commands like "turn on the lights," or questions like "what's the weather?" Google Assistant does a great job. 

As an added bonus, on the Google Nest Hub Max, Google Assistant does a great job of pulling up relevant information, maps, weather, or even photos. It also makes it really easy to pull up TV programs using YouTube TV, and them stream them on our Living Room television using Chromecast.  

One of Google's biggest advantages here is the number of Google services we already use like Google Calendar, Gmail, Maps, and YouTube TV, plus the fact that it integrates so easily with services like Spotify or Netflix.

It is worth mentioning that I'm generally harsh on Google over privacy concerns, and I don't want to gloss over that here. Like the others, Google has faced criticism over how the company has used recordings of interactions with Google Assistant. On the positive side, the company has released changes to its privacy settings, and even rolled out voice commands to give you better control over what happens with your data. 

Siri

Oh, Siri. How we want to love you. You're built into our iPhones and Macs, and you're always there for us. In some ways, you're far more helpful than either Google Assistant or Alexa, but in others, you still fall so far short.

For example, adding reminders using Siri is one of my favorite things about iOS. Also, being able to send iMessages, activate Siri Shortcuts, or even get directions, are all very useful. And those tasks work really well. Where Siri falls short is asking her other questions or finding information. 

Siri just doesn't have the breadth of answers that you get from Alexa or Google Assistant. In fact, when we would ask all three services the same question (about a sporting event or the weather, for example), Siri was often the odd-one-out. The others just provide better answers more reliably. 

Which Is Best?

I really want to like Siri, mostly because of the integration into iOS. There are definitely a few areas where she excels--like the ones I mentioned earlier--but there's really no doubt that Google Assistant is the overall best, purely from a voice assistant standpoint.

She understands the greatest number of questions we ask, and most frequently returns the correct answer, or most helpful information. Google Assistant also does the best job of controlling our smart home, including lights. Unless you plan to limit yourself to one family of technology, and need to connect to Apple Music, I'd recommend Google Assistant as the best overall voice assistant. 

This article was first published for my column at Inc.com

The FBI Isn't Happy that Apple Is Protecting Your Privacy

It seems absurd that we’d have to start here, but let’s be clear: Apple isn’t on the side of terrorists. You wouldn’t know that the way the Department of Justice tells the story, with federal law enforcement loudly criticizing the company’s position on encryption and protecting your data.

The latest attack came earlier this week with Attorney General William Barr’s statements at a press conference where the FBI revealed it had been able to hack into the iPhone used by the shooter who killed three U.S. sailors, and injured eight others, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station last year.

Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

“Apple’s desire to provide privacy for its customers is understandable, but not at all costs,” said Barr at the press conference. “There is no reason why companies like Apple cannot design their consumer products and apps to allow for court-authorized access by law enforcement, while maintaining very high standards of data security. Striking this balance should not be left to corporate board rooms.”

The most dangerous part of this argument is that it sounds reasonable. Who isn’t on the side of preventing bad guys from doing bad things? Who wouldn’t want the government to be able to investigate crimes, especially acts of terrorism?

Except, once you open that door—or iPhone—it’s open.

Apple’s position has long been that privacy matters, and protecting your data with encryption is an important aspect of that value. There is no such thing as encryption that has some type of special secret access for the government whenever it thinks it needs to crack an iPhone. Either it’s encrypted or it isn’t. Apple believes that encryption is important enough that it’s willing to stand up to the government.

And it should.

This isn’t the first time, either. It made a point in 2016 of refusing to unlock another iPhone, this one belonging to one of the attackers in the San Bernardino mass shooting. The government was eventually able to access that phone using a third-party tool that is able to guess a passcode while bypassing some of the device’s security features. Apple, however, didn’t budge.

Regardless of the protests by the country’s top law enforcement officials, that’s exactly how it should be. Apple has made protecting your privacy its core brand value, and it stands behind that with its actions. No matter how much pressure, no matter how much criticism, we’re all in big trouble if Apple ever gives up that principle.

That’s because encryption protects your personal data, your business data, your photos, your conversations, your text messages, your financial records, and your health information. It makes it so that hackers with bad intentions aren’t able to access take advantage of that personal information. In order for that to be the case, it means the feds can’t have a backdoor.

The FBI and DOJ aren't the only government agencies, by the way, that take a different stance on user privacy than Apple. I wrote this week for Inc.com about how states have decided to bypass the contact tracing technology developed by Apple and Google, and are instead designing their own apps which collect and track far more information.

While those decisions have nothing to do with criminal investigations, there is a similar thread, which is that government agencies don't particularly like that Apple is protecting your privacy even when agencies want your information. And, before you think this doesn't really matter because it doesn't directly affect you, let me remind you that there has never been a more important time to get this right.

Keeping your personal information private, whether it's banking records, or your company's customer data, or just personal photos of your kids, matters. So does keeping your health or location information private--which is suddenly extremely relevant. 

There has never been a more important time to remind ourselves that whatever access the government has to the iPhone belonging to a terrorist, it will have for everyone. And, even more importantly, whatever access the government has to a backdoor can also be exploited by people with far worse intentions. That, ultimately, is why it matters.

REVIEW: The 11-Inch iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard Really Is That Good

I already wrote a review of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro plus the Magic Keyboard for my column at Inc.com, but it turns out that the 11-inch deserves its own. That’s because, as much as I enjoyed the Magic Keyboard on the larger version, on the smaller iPad Pro it’s a completely different experience all together. I mean, of course the keyboard is smaller, but that doesn’t quite get to why it’s so much different.

Credit: Apple Inc.

First Impressions

I’m currently writing this review with the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard. I don’t know if that matters, but it seems like every review of an iPad keyboard starts with that acknowledgement.

After reviewing the larger model for a few weeks, I’m now testing the 11-inch version on my 2018 iPad Pro. (Quick aside: The fact that the keyboard is compatible with both recent versions of the iPad Pro is very cool. I feel like it’s worth giving Apple kudos for making that possible.)

One thing that’s interesting to me is that the reason I love the 11-inch iPad Pro so much more than the 12.9-inch version is that it’s a much better tablet. What I mean is that it’s more portable, and something you’d want to use to read a book, watch a video, or simply mess around with. The larger iPad Pro is probably better if it’s your only device—the extra screen real estate no doubt comes in handy, especially with multitasking—but the smaller Pro is my favorite.

The 11-inch version isn’t as good as a primary device, but in my opinion, it’s the best combination device. When I tested out the 12.9-inch version, I almost never took it off the Magic Keyboard case. For me, it’s just too large to really feel comfortable with it as a tablet in my hand or on my lap. The 11-inch, on the other hand, is what I use 80 percent of the time.

Keys

I’m pretty used to typing on the smaller keyboard size, since I’ve been using the 11-inch version with the Smart Folio Keyboard for almost a year and a half. Compared to that, this is inarguably a better experience. I didn’t even hate that keyboard, to be honest, but this is so much better, for all the reasons you might think.

The scissor-switch is back, and it’s what you’d expect from a keyboard that costs more than an entry-level iPad. It’s a little software than the Bluetooth Magic Keyboard that comes with an iMac, and it’s a little less firm than the updated version on the MacBook Pro. Still, it’s the best typing experience you can get on the iPad. The backlit keys are a nice feature as well.

That said, there are a few things I don’t love. For example, the “-“ key is smaller. I don’t know exactly how much smaller, I didn’t measure, but it appears to be about half size. It’s not the only one either. The “+”, “opt”, “]”, and “\” are all smaller than their neighbors. I get that in order to get a usable keyboard into this form factor, you’re going to have to make compromises. Maybe it’s just that I use the “-” a lot, that I actually care.

The other thing that I’ve heard a lot of people complain about is the lack of function keys along the top. I agree, it would be nice to have dedicated keys for volume, brightness, media controls, and such. Of course, if Apple had put them there, there’s no doubt that we’d be complaining that they were basically useless hidden under the floating iPad as a result of the nature of the overall keyboard design.

Trackpad

The trackpad is small, let’s start there. Compared to what you’re used to on a MacBook Pro, it’s maybe 40 percent the surface area. It’s also an actual button, and as many other reviewers have pointed out, it’s really quite good. It’s substantially better than the trackpad on the Surface Pro keyboard case, which suffers from the “diving board” effect, where the trackpad clicks really only at the bottom.

Despite its size, I found myself using the trackpad naturally without much thought. I really never ran out of space, whether I was scrolling through documents, moving the cursor to edit text, or swiping through gestures. It was large enough for my fingers, even when three-finger swiping through slide-over apps.

Hinge & Viewing Angles

Two main thoughts on this. The first is that the viewing angles, while better than the Smart Keyboard Folio, are still quite a bit less than I expected. That said, it’s an improvement, and it works fine for most uses. The one area it’s not great is if you actually want the iPad near flat, say for drawing. In that case, you’ll have to just take it off.

Which, leads to the other thought. The hinges (and for that matter, the magnets) are no joke. When you open the case up, it really becomes a stand with a keyboard attached. The iPad Pro stays exactly where you set it, and the hinges don’t give.

The hinge in the spine is what opens up and supports the iPad Pro. The upper hinge controls the viewing angle, and honestly, I’m not sure how Apple managed to create enough tension in such a small inline hinge to keep the angle intact.

Final Thoughts

My last real thought on this is that the Magic Keyboard shouldn’t really be thought of as a case. Technically it is, and you can definitely carry around your iPad with the Magic Keyboard on it. But, it’s not something that’s easy to just open up and pop your iPad out of. In that way, it’s more of a stand.

Almost every review has made a point of commenting on the overall weight of The Magic Keyboard. On the 11-inch model, the keyboard pretty much doubles the weight, but it doesn’t so much feel heavy as it does solid. It feels substantial in your hand in the way a hammer with a real wooden handle feels like it’s ready to get the job done.

It does take away from some of what is great about an iPad Pro, which is the feeling that this thin, lightweight device has as much power as most laptops, without the bulk or weight.

Instead, the Magic Keyboard is something you leave on your desk, and attach your iPad Pro when you want to do work that requires a keyboard and trackpad. It just happens to be very good at that, and it turns your iPad into something you can really use to get work done. Which has been my point all along.

A Brief Guide on Managing a Remote Team

Right now, remote working--or, working from home--has become more than a trend. It's now a necessity for companies all across the globe. As a result, there are thousands of team leaders and managers who find themselves suddenly managing a completely remote team. Honestly, that can be scary, especially if it's the first time you've ever had to do so and didn't have a lot of time to prepare.

Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

If that's you, this list of tips will help you set up yourself and your team for success:

1. Have a Daily Check-In

Whenever possible, this should be one-on-one, and face-to-face via video. Phone conversations, email, and Slack go only so far. Your team needs to see you, and you need to see them. The good news is that services like Zoom or Google's Team Hangouts make this relatively easy. At first, this should be every day. The purpose is simple--set the agenda and provide the feedback and resources your team members need.

2. Communicate a Lot

It probably goes without saying that you should be in regular communication with your team. One of the hardest things about working from home, especially if you're used to an office environment, is the sense of loneliness and isolation that can set in. That's especially true considering that many people are practicing social distancing. 

3. Take Advantage of Technology

As a manager, your job is to keep your team connected. Communication tools are a simple way to keep everyone engaged. While email and text messages might be a short-term solution, tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams are far better suited for collaboration and communication. Some of those collaboration tools are even available for free right now.

4. Manage Expectations

Help your team figure out what they should do, and create realistic expectations for their work. By the way, "managing expectations" applies to you as a manager as well. Set yourself and your team up for success by clearly stating both the tasks and the reasons behind them, and help your team understand exactly how you will measure success.

That means defining the scope, deadlines, and deliverables for each task or project your team is working on. Otherwise, don't be surprised if a few weeks from now you find yourself wondering what everyone was doing. Which brings us to ...

5. Focus on Outcomes, Not Activity

It's not possible to manage every aspect of the work done by a remote team. For what it's worth, you shouldn't be trying to manage every aspect of any team's work, but especially when your team is distributed across different locations. Instead of focusing on activity or hours worked, focus on the outcomes and measure your team accordingly.

6. Resource Your Team

Make sure your team has the technology it needs to get the work done. If you suddenly have a team of remote workers, that means there's a good chance they need tools like laptops, software, mobile devices, or even a high-speed internet connection. It's not reasonable to assume that everyone has all of those things, and it's your responsibility as a manager to make sure they do. 

7. Be Flexible

Understand that, especially in the current environment, your team has a lot going on. That's not an excuse for not getting things done, but it is a reason to reconsider what productivity really means. Punching a clock for eight hours is out. Regular work hours are also probably out for many people. Instead, trust your team and give them the freedom and flexibility to get work done on the schedule that helps them be the most productive. That's good for your team in the long run anyway.

This post was originally published at Inc.com.

Remote Working Isn't the Same as 'Working from Home.' Here's Why That Matters

Both remote working and "working from home" are popular workplace trends that have real benefits for your team. In fact, there are huge benefits for your company as well, especially when you think about the ability to add talented team members regardless of their locations.

There's a problem, though. Working from home and remote working aren't the same, so it's time to stop talking about your remote workers as though they're just not in the office.

There's a difference. One is considered a benefit, while the other is simply a way of working. "Working from home" is a temporary situation, while remote working is an entirely different approach to getting things done. That difference is an extremely important distinction that deserves some attention. Everything about the remote work environment is different from that of your office, where team members have a desk and workspace provided by your company.

Working From Home

Work from home is what you do when you work in an office but stay home on Thursday because you need a change of scenery. Or perhaps you don't have any face-to-face meetings tomorrow, so you decide to avoid the office for the day. It's also something you might do on occasion when you need a block of time without the interruption of co-workers poking their heads in your office. 

You might bring your work laptop home and set it up on the kitchen table or at your desk. In general, it represents a significant change from your normal routine and your normal pace of work--which can be a very good thing once in a while. It's effective mostly because it's different from normal. You still have the framework and structure of your office, and the people who work there adjust their work given your absence. 

Also, no one forgets to include the boss on an email just because he worked from home yesterday. He still has an office right over there, and you know that if you mess something up you'll probably be invited in for a conversation. The same isn't always true when you work remotely, especially if you aren't the boss.

Remote Working

Remote working, or working outside of your company's office all the time, is fundamentally different. It requires a different set of abilities, resources, and skills. It requires a self-starting attitude and insane levels of time management skills. It also requires proactive communication and an almost hyperfocus on what's happening with team members since you don't have the regular face time with them. 

Remote working requires creating your own work environment, which certainly has benefits since you can establish your space so it works best for you. At the same time, you don't have the safety of an office, or cubicle, or desk to land at when you have to hunker down--unless you create it yourself. 

The office perks are incredible, as long as you're willing to make your own avocado toast or triple-Americano. Oh, and there's life and all of the other things that happen during the day. You know, like family members who forget, just because you're there, that you're actually working. 

Don't get me wrong. I work remotely, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the freedom to work how and when it best fits into my life. And, when I need a change of scenery, I can work from Starbucks (or wherever) for the day. 

With the right set of tools and a few productivity tips, working remotely can be an incredible way of working. It's just different than working from home, so let's stop talking about them as if they're the same. 

This article was first published at Inc.com

A Guide to Working from Home for the First Time

A lot has changed since I first published this guide. What hasn’t changed is the fact that these five tips can help you make working remotely work for you.

There's no question, working remotely has plenty of benefits. To me, working from home means that I'm able to do things I couldn't if I worked in an office. I'm able to see our four children off to school every morning, and I'm here when they get home. Still, if you're used to working in an office, the transition can be a bit of a shock.

With more companies starting to allow their employees to work remotely, there's a good chance that you might be considering whether it's right for you or your team. In addition, with growing concerns that the Coronovirus may become a pandemic, now is a good time to start preparing for what it might mean to work from home for a few weeks--or longer.

If that's the case, here are a few tips to help you be productive.

1. Make a Space

If you find yourself working remotely, especially if for an extended period, the first thing you should do is create a landing spot. That doesn't mean you always work in the same place, but it does mean that you have somewhere to go when you need to hunker down and get things done. Have a spot where you can feel organized, with all of the tools you need to get work done. 

By the way, this shouldn't be the kitchen table. That doesn't mean you can't get good work done there, but it does mean that you should have at least one place that is set apart just for work. Even if you like working in the middle of the chaos of life, there will come a time when you'll be glad you have a place to go when you're facing a deadline or need some time to think.

2. Shut the Door

Speaking of having space, it should be one with a door that you can shut. Just like working in an office, remote working has plenty of interruptions--often from your family. Sometimes that can be great, but it's a good idea to let everyone know that if the door is shut, it's work time. That's especially true if your work requires lots of video meetings or phone calls. 

3. Keep in Touch

When you aren't working in physical proximity to your team, it takes a little creative thinking and an intentional effort to stay connected. Tools like Zoom, Slack, and Basecamp make that relatively easy. The important thing is to create a plan and have the tools in place so that you and your team know how you're going to communicate.  

4. Organize Your Day

One of the challenges of working from home is that you're far more responsible for managing your own workload. That means creating a plan each day. In fact, I prefer to make a plan the night before, which allows me to get started first thing in the morning.

I also prefer to "chunk" my time by creating blocks on the calendar for different tasks. That helps me organize the things I have to do, and keeps distractions at bay. It's also a great way for individuals who don't work normal office hours to account for how and when they'll get things done.

5. Turn off the Noise 

Finally, when you really have to get work done, it can help to turn off interruptions like notifications. Set your devices to "Do Not Disturb," and schedule a time to check email and respond to important messages. That will help you stay focused, and not get sidetracked by endless Slack threads about things that can wait until later.

This column was first published at Inc.com