So close and yet so far

The growth of online connectivity has provided new ways to work. For two years, my job was in Winnipeg but 50 percent of the time I lived in Edmonton, some 1200 km away. But using e-mail, a virtual private network (VPN) connection, MSN Messenger (with video) and call notification my home office was instantly part of the head office in Winnipeg. Most of the time, people contacting me were never aware of my exact location. It was virtually seamless. That was four years ago.

Last weekend, a Board of Directors committee member and staff representative attended the Winnipeg meeting by Skype. At one point it was a video Skype call where the staff member in Nicaragua and the committee members could see each other.
The ability to telecommute or work from a home office also has a downside. You miss the camaraderie and interaction with fellow staff members. This is even more pronounced for people who work for themselves.

Three friends of mine have solved this problem. One is in North Carolina, and two own a video production company in Dallas. A couple of times a month, they have “lunch on line.” They gather through Skype and spend the lunch hour discussing whatever comes to mind as if they were sitting across from each other at the lunch table, which they often did when they worked for the same organization. Their businesses are complementary and often serve similar clients. It’s a great opportunity to bounce ideas around and share concerns and challenges.

I’ve been invited to join the next lunch. So there will be four of us, who used to share a physical lunch table 15 years ago, meeting at a virtual lunch table. Friendship across the miles takes on a whole new dimension!