Why No One Really Wants to “Work from the Beach”

There’s been a recent backlash against so called “lifestyle design” lately and especially those entrepreneurs who wish to pack it all in, live on a mountain top, and sell their musings for $100k a year.

Some of these posts hit the mark, while others fall far from.

So tell me the truth, when your eyes were opened to the world of entrepreneurship, was it to the ideals of conference calls from a hammock on a Hawaiian beach or the realities of all night coding sessions and funding issues?

I’m willing to bet you bought the dream of freedom, flexibility, multitasking so you could work on your tan.

But truthfully, no one really wants to work from the beach. Here’s why:

First, sand. It’s everywhere. It gets between your toes, in the lining of your bag, stuck in little clumps in your hair and, if you’re not careful, under the keys of your laptop.

Sure, it’s beautiful and fun for volleyball and castles but no one really loves sand. So that image? The one of the tanned, fit, gorgeous entrepreneur typing away at the beach with a blissful smile, inspired by the crashing waves?

That’s a lie created in ignorance. No one wants to haul their laptop to the beach, plop on the sand and work.

Which brings me to reason two, life-work balance is critical, especially in the digital era.

I’ve talked on this subject before but here’s the realization that most, if not all entrepreneurs will have at some point: we need a break. An honest to god, no email, don’t worry about the bills, stop updating, relaxation break.

I know a little about this because my brain creates unnecessary work for me all the time. Going for a walk? Great time to take photos! At the gym? Bring a notepad and sketch out a blog post. Flying somewhere? Let’s read the backlog of books on my Kindle app. Driving and can’t read? Audio book!

We become the same way in our business and the beach is the ultimate reminder to put down the electronics (in a safe, secure place) and pick up the sunscreen, ice cold drink and head out to the warm sand, 3 things that don’t play well with electronics.

Several months ago I was on a beach “working” – actually listening in on my phone to a client’s call during a launch. As I walked, photographed the rolling surf, and thought about messaging for a follow up email (see what I mean about the multitasking work?!) I was interrupted by a woman in her 50s and her camera.

So I stood in the surf, snapping away on a camera phone as these 3 older women smiled, then shrieked, screamed and laughed as the wave came in much higher and stronger than anticipated, drenching them in the process. I wish I had copies of that moment on my camera! They were learning to be in the moment. Not be “on vacation in paradise” and on in their businesses as well.

Some people love the beach, I don’t deny that. Most entrepreneurs love a flexible schedule and mobile offices. Great! But the third reason why no one really wants to work from the beach is because “we think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Imagine you post a picture on InstaMyTwitFace of your legs stretched out on white sand, a cocktail on the arm of your comfy chair, the sun setting over the ocean, the dying light picking up in every cresting wave. Would your family, friends and followers ask how that new program in development is going or if your website updates look? Or would they hit like and post “living the dream, dude” over and over again?

To me that’s the real reason – even when you’re living the dream everyone has bought in to, it’s not perfect. But complaining makes you look ungrateful, considering the downsides a pessimist and instead of appreciating and living in the moment, you’re often trying to put on the lifestyle everyone says they want and expects you to appreciate.

If you’re not going to “work from the beach” then what?”

Well, I hope you see that “work from the beach” is a metaphor for any experience in this business: being in an accelerator, traveling every month, running an event, having corporate sponsors, skiing at Vail… anything you’re expected to want.

Instead of finding that elusive perfect place and circumstance, appreciate the one you’re in right now, whether it’s cramped in the corner of a coffee shop or amongst the clutter of your home office. Your entrepreneurial journey is unlike any other so do what makes you happy, instead of what you’re expected to do.