Hey there! Damian here from Master of One Marketing, and today I want to talk about a topic that has been reshaping the modern workplace: work from home.
A Gen Xer’s Journey to Work-From-Home Advocacy
Let me start by saying this—I’m a proud Gen Xer. Growing up, I was raised by Boomers who instilled a strong work ethic centered around showing up. For years, the mantra was simple: go to work, put in your hours, then go home. That mentality shaped how I viewed the workforce, especially during the early part of my career.
From the Field to the Office: A Hardwired Expectation of Work
Before I got into marketing, I worked as an electrician. Everything about that job revolved around being out in the field. Whether it was troubleshooting circuits, locking out and tagging out breakers, or physically inspecting electrical systems, there was no way to do the work remotely. It was all about being present because the job demanded it. You needed to roll up your sleeves, grab your tools, and get hands-on.
When I made the switch to marketing, my first white-collar job was 40 hours a week in person at the office. This setup wasn’t surprising to me—it was exactly what I had come to expect from work. After all, my earlier experience had ingrained the idea that “work” inherently meant physically showing up to do something.
For a while, this made sense to me. The idea of needing to be in the office was just an extension of what I had always known. But here’s the thing: in marketing and many other white-collar jobs, the physical demands of being on-site simply don’t exist. There’s no troubleshooting circuits or handling live equipment. Instead, the work primarily revolves around a laptop and clear instructions. The tools are different, and so are the requirements.
Looking back, it’s clear that my blue-collar background had hardwired me to associate work with showing up. But in white-collar roles, that expectation doesn’t hold up when all you need is a reliable internet connection and good communication.
Work From Home: A New Way of Thinking
When COVID hit, that deeply ingrained idea of needing to “go in to work” was challenged. At the time, I worked for a company that monitored employees closely with keylogging software and other invasive tools. It was jarring at first, but I also started to realize something: most of my work could be done just as effectively from home—if not more so.
As that company transitioned to a hybrid model, with fewer days required in the office, I noticed a shift in how I worked. The efficiency was undeniable. Once I began working from home full-time, it became crystal clear: white-collar work doesn’t need the rigid structure of office life. The tools are different, and so are the outcomes.
The Benefits of Letting Go of Old Expectations
Now, in my current role, I’m fully remote. My company is highly organized, with efficient systems that allow us to get things done without unnecessary oversight. Making the transition to this kind of work environment wasn’t easy, though. For years, I was conditioned to believe that physically being at work was essential.
It took time to let go of the mindset that work was about clocking in and out. I had to shift my perspective to understand that results, not hours logged in a specific location, are what truly matter. My current boss summed it up perfectly: if the work gets done in fewer than 40 hours a week, that’s fine—as long as clients are happy, emails are answered promptly, and deliverables are on point.
Why Remote Work Makes Sense for White-Collar Roles
The contrast between my early days as an electrician and my current role in marketing couldn’t be clearer. In blue-collar jobs, like my electrical work, the tasks are physical and often require real-time problem-solving. If a breaker trips, you need to physically be there to assess and fix the issue. There’s no remote workaround for that.
But for roles like marketing or account management, all you need is a laptop and a clear process. There’s no breaker to lock out, no circuits to troubleshoot—just work that can be done from anywhere with a Wi-Fi signal. Once you embrace this shift, it opens up a world of flexibility and efficiency.
The Rewards of Work-Life Balance
This shift to remote work hasn’t just made my job easier—it’s improved my overall quality of life. I’ve discovered the benefits of a healthier work-life balance, including:
- Flexibility to structure my day: Whether it’s running errands, hitting the gym, or taking care of household tasks, I can integrate work with life seamlessly.
- Improved productivity: With fewer distractions and no commute, I get more done in less time.
- Reduced stress: Knowing that I’m part of a well-organized team means I can focus on my responsibilities without worrying about picking up slack for others.
In my previous jobs, I was constantly juggling responsibilities, often working 50-hour weeks and struggling to keep up. Now, I have the space to breathe and approach my work thoughtfully, without the anxiety of being stretched too thin.
A Message to My Fellow Gen Xers (and Boomers)
If you’re a Gen Xer or a Boomer reading this, I want to challenge you to rethink the way you approach work. I get it—the idea of working from home might seem foreign or even lazy at first. But let me tell you, if you’re in a job that doesn’t require physical, on-site labor, remote work is not only viable—it’s better.
A good company with solid systems can make the transition seamless. And once you embrace this new way of working, you’ll likely find yourself feeling more relaxed, more productive, and more in control of your time.
Final Thoughts
Work doesn’t have to be defined by showing up at a physical location anymore. The tools we have today make remote work not just possible but highly efficient. If you’re in a role where all you need is a laptop and clear instructions, give it a chance. You might be surprised at how much better it feels to work smarter, not harder.