The laptop lifestyle: Mr. Wonderful vs Elon Musk.

By Slavica Zlatar-Banika

The laptop lifestyle: Work from anywhere?

The debate rages on about creative nomads. Will the remote, ‘laptop lifestyle’, replace the traditional office setup? Two of my favourite, eccentric billionaires go head to head in this arena. I’ll share my professional insights as a location-independent creative, too.

Mr. Wonderful: Why remote is the future and 9-to-5 is finished.

Most of you have heard of Mr. Wonderful — Kevin O’Leary. He’s one of my favourite Sharks / Dragons. He oozes with charisma. He’s also funny. He has a great personal brand and is well-spoken. Of course, to the super sensitive, he can be polarizing.

Some see him as harsh but, to me, he is the epitome of a free-thinking entrepreneur. And, I like it. What’s his take on remote work?

1. Increased efficiency and happiness.

Mr. Wonderful says that remote work has led to increased efficiency. Employees can focus on tasks without the distractions of a traditional office environment.

2. Reduced overhead.

Why would any business want to increase their expenses? They save money by not maintaining physical office spaces.

3. Broader talent pool.

It used to be you had to find the best in your location. Now, companies can tap into a global talent pool. They can find the best fit for specific roles regardless of location.

“The ‘best talent’ are done going back to the office”
—Kevin O’Leary

4. Improved work-life balance.

Remote work can contribute to a better work-life balance. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and — wait for it — productivity.

5. Flexibility for employees.

Employees can customize their workday. They can include family into the equation.

6. Emphasis on results.

Remote workplaces place a greater emphasis on output and results. It is not about being physically present in an office.

7. Reduced commuting stress.

The elimination of commuting can reduce stress levels and contribute to a better overall quality of life for employees. And, a more even population distribution and less congested cities.

8. Technological advancements.

Advances in technology have made remote work more viable and efficient than ever before. There is a consistent push in the technosphere to keep improving it.

“Frankly, if you say everybody has to come to the office, you’ll get the third-tier candidates … I want great team members. And if they tell me, ‘I don’t want to work in an office, but I’m number one at what I do.’ I’ll go with number one at what I do.”
—Kevin O’Leary

9. Cost savings for employees.

Employees can save money on commuting costs, work attire, and other expenses associated with in-person work. Most are willing to take a significant pay cut for the option!

10. Environmental Impact.

Reducing the need for daily commuting and office energy consumption sounds like a good thing.

Elon Musk: “Get off the goddamn moral high horse…’’

I find Elon Musk likeable and eccentric. Of course, what billionaire isn’t? His view on remote work is original. He feels it is a ‘moral’ obligation to work in person. If one person has to commute to do their job, everyone else should too. Of course, he also sells cars.

“People should get off the goddamn moral high horse with the work-from-home bulls—,” adding that the laptop classes are living in ‘la-la land’.”
—Elon Musk

1. Emphasis on in-person collaboration.

Musk believes that in-person collaboration is crucial for innovation and problem-solving.

2. Strengthens company culture.

He has mentioned challenges in maintaining a strong company culture and sense of belonging among remote workers.

3. Productivity.

Elon has expressed concerns about ensuring high levels of productivity and accountability when employees are off-site.

4. Preference for on-site problem-solving.

Musk values the ability to address technical issues and challenges on-site, especially in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. He wants to see the problem solved in real-time. Live.

5. Views remote as temporary.

He sees remote as a response to extraordinary circumstances rather than a sustainable long-term solution.

My insights.

Contrary to some stereotypes about creatives and designers — we tend to be introverts. Design is a problem-solving activity and — past the initial brainstorming stage — it requires you to sit down and think deeply about a problem.

Designers and writers need quiet and a good chunk of uninterrupted time to do their best work. After all, what great novel was written in a group? What master painting?

Corporate environments — in spite of their efforts — can’t help but be conformist and encourage ‘group think’. And, that doesn’t always work for creatives. Check out this interesting analysis done by Harvard Business Review as to why group brainstorming is a waste of time.

For me, working remotely has resulted in design bliss. I organize my day early, briefly connect with colleagues and then focus on the design tasks at hand. I avoid the unproductive meetings of the corporate world. I maintain my free-thinking, non-conformist style. My energy is better throughout the day. I don’t feel drained. And, I can travel and work from anywhere in the world.

So many companies talk about diversity. In actual practice, homogenization begins on day one. This may work for people who enjoy seeing themselves as part of a group — but not for individualists or defiant creatives.

The funny thing is, some companies do get remote wrong. It’s because they don’t trust their employees unless they are seeing them via Zoom for hours every day. This is unnatural and counter-productive. Yes, a team needs to connect on projects but that doesn’t mean spending the day gazing into each other’s eyes via Zoom.

It’s that same ‘fear’ mindset that insists employees come into the office to sit in their cubicles. Just because a body is there, doesn’t mean it is being productive. Free your thinking. Trust your employees or don’t hire them in the first place. Their results and output are what you should focus on.

I have worked remotely with people from around the world — as far as Nigeria, Portugal, Columbia, and Serbia — with successful results. And, when we met, it was as if we had known each other for a long time. Why? Because nothing brings you closer than a creative endeavour. Working together on a project brings you closer than any corporate team-building exercise ever could. The world has opened up and we can now set up teams internationally to work on projects. This is stimulating for creatives — leading to innovation and different perspectives. Cost-effective too.

Do I miss going to the office, spending time in traffic, and the extra expenses? Can’t say that I do. Do I miss my colleagues on a social level? No, because I still interact with a diverse group every day.

As for productivity — the volume of my creative output has increased. Most creatives are driven to produce great work — let them.

Conclusion.

The bottom line is that you need to know yourself well to decide whether remote is right for you — or your business.

Is going to the office the highlight of your day? Is the social interaction you gain there necessary for your well-being? A lot of extroverts need constant interaction with people. Is the type of work that you do physical in part — as for chefs, mechanics, plumbers, engineers? Or do you sit at a desk with a computer all day? Be honest with yourself!

Ultimately, the world needs both business models. Just as e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail will continue to exist — so will remote and in-office setups. And, fear not, if you are a fence-sitter — there is always the hybrid option.