This week’s podcast is with my longtime friend, Mark Montano! And he is going to give us work from home tips from his new book, Get Off Your Ass! The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home.
This is a book Mark has been working on well before the pandemic happened. Little did he know it would come in handy for so many people. One of the many reasons why I’m drawn to this book is because I’ve always looked up to Mark as a successful creative professional. He’s had a boutique in NYC, he’s hosted several TV shows on different networks and is extremely consistent when it comes to serving creativity. Everything he creates is very polished and well-thought-out. He makes it look so easy, but really it all comes down to the guidelines and goals he puts upon himself.
I’m the type of person who can be distracted so easily. I love chatting with Mark because he has very specific boundaries that help him stay on track. I’m always inspired by him, I’m sure you will be as well!
Mark has been a full-time artist and designer for twenty years and is one of the most productive people I know. Week after week, he turns out the most amazing DIY tutorials that, seriously, are so beautiful could be sold in retails stores far and wide. Step-by-step, he guides us through the process until we have a successful item to show off.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uSyMdJ3ZE/
He does the same with his new book. In it, you’ll find his work from home tips about staying productive and prolific. From planning your day to organizing workflow to finding time for self-care, he covers everything!
Check out the episode and let me know if it helps you!
From the back cover:
Mark Montano has been working from home for 30 years. In this book, he shares his tips and tricks for successfully getting the most out of your at-home workday. Get Off Your Ass! The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home will help guide you through creating a productive work environment and routine to help you easily accomplish your workload. You’ll learn everything from scheduling to creating a work uniform and arranging functional office space. You’ll also get useful insights from other people who have been successfully working at home for years.
A few of Mark’s work from home tips!
You’ll have to buy the book to read all his suggestions, but here are a few. Also, there are more in the podcast episode!
- Always dress for the day. This will help your mindset to take the hours ahead seriously. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to act like it! No jammies at lunchtime!
- Limit your social media during specific hours so you can focus on completing tasks and being present 100%. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook – they will all be there when you are done and it’s easy to catch up. Mark says the reason why it’s important to put your phone away is that one five-minute check-in can turn into an hour!
- Put a daily schedule together and stick to it. Mark says, “if it’s 11 a.m. and you are still sipping your coffee and watching TV, you’re in trouble!” Create a routine that works for you.
- Breaks! Don’t forget to schedule a time to eat and stand up – and CRAFT…..!
- Be camera ready! Learn the art of video conferencing. You’re going to be wheeling and dealing with clients, so find a space in your house with a nice background. Make sure the light is facing you. Wear something nice for the camera. Most importantly, place your camera level with your face or even a bit higher.
Mark’s work from home tips are about taking yourself seriously as a working professional, making the most of your time so you can get the job done and move on to projects you love to do, without any guilt! Buy his book, you will love it and you’ll learn so many new ideas to be more productive!
