A Hitchhiker s Guide to the Internet
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory Other.
A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet
Word Count: 697
Summary:
Working on the Internet is like sharing office space with millions across the globe. Here are some tips for thriving in the digital workspace.Article Body:
"Where do you work?"
"Planet Earth."
As more people work remotely via the Internet, this might become a common exchange. When you venture into the world of online work, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind.
First, your virtual office can feel both incredibly small and quite lonely. I've explored this topic in my [hermit articles](http://www.thehappyguy.com/hermit.html).
Second, your digital office is vast, filled with people from all corners of the globe, mostly engaged in selling something to one another. This is because working from home means your office, like theirs, spans the entire planet.
Consider this: a person in Ukraine provides Sydney’s weather forecast to users in Chicago. No need to look out the window anymore.
I have a client in the UK selling machine parts via a website that offers [ceramic & ball bearings](http://www.gm-exports.com) worldwide?"except to the UK itself. Is this the end of the local hardware store?
With so many virtual clients crowding my space, I could definitely use some [stress-relief techniques](http://www.thehappyguy.com/articles/stress-relief.html).
Office Politics in the Global Workspace
My clients hail from nearly every continent, and the main obstacle to seamless communication is often time zones. (If Columbus had stayed put, even this might not be an issue!)
Moreover, not all my clients or their websites operate in English. Can you say [netzwerk berwachung & netzwerkberwachung](http://www.dotcom-monitor.de/network-monitoring.asp)? I do search engine optimization in English, French, Spanish, and German, illustrating the truly global nature of my client base.
There are other complexities to navigate in the global office. Apart from missing out on water coolers and washrooms, the world largely uses the metric system while the largest Internet market doesn’t. Some clients are unfamiliar with miles, while others don’t understand kilometers.
Then there’s spelling. Is it "honor" or "honour"? "Center" or "centre"? "Folks" or "peeps"?
Luckily, I live in Canada. Ninety-five percent of Canadians are just a stone’s throw from the US border. (We all say "folks," by the way.) Officially, we spell and measure like the British, though Americanisms often slip across the border, likely due to budget cuts in border patrols. At least I understand what a mile is?"it's the distance people take when you give them an inch.
As for currency, I keep it straightforward by using US dollars, which is essentially the Internet’s currency. I also accept [Paypal](http://www.paypal.com) payments, allowing clients to pay in their preferred currency while I receive US dollars. More payments would be useful?"I could always use more dollars!
Time zones can also be challenging. Just as an Australian client is waking up, a client in the US may be heading to bed. Reaching you during off-hours can be tricky, but tools like [email to phone](http://www.email2phone.net) can be helpful. Insomnia also has its perks.
Twenty years ago, who would've thought we could earn a comfortable living by typing words on a screen from the comfort of our homes? Welcome to my office: Planet Earth.
Currently, I'm reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I wonder if remote Internet work is possible from other planets...
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: A Hitchhiker s Guide to the Internet.
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