Thousands of companies are now remote first.
That’s why you need a personal user manual.
This manual will tell your remote comrades about you and how you operate.
- Do you love working late at night?
- Do you not take meetings before noon because that’s when you get your best work done?
That’s what a personal user manual is all about.
My personal user manual is below…
My Personal Mission
I believe life is an adventure.
My goal is to live a flexible lifestyle and enjoy the journey.
That’s why I’m always going on about destroying the box and not just thinking outside of it).
A Bit About My Working Style
Below are a few of my working strategies and philosophies in my personal and business life.
In my world, work and personal life go hand and hand.
I don’t really have a work-life balance.
I seem to live more with more of a work life rhythm.
New Things
I love starting new things and making multiple streams of income.
I often have to balance completing a project and scratching the itch of a new, exciting idea.
There’s a delicate balance, so feel free to keep me accountable when it looks like I might be pivoting too early.
Work Ethic
I work 24/7, but I also break 24/7.
This means you might find me unavailable while I’m keeping score at my son’s afternoon soccer game.
But it also means you might ping me at 9 pm, and I’m in the middle of a project and will answer back.
Phone Rules
I’m not too fond of phone calls.
I am always doing something.
Therefore, most calls are a distraction from whatever it is that I’m currently focused on.
This is my phone philosophy. Don’t take it personally if I don’t answer your call.
It lives on silent.
If necessary, just shoot me an email or leave a voicemail.
If it’s an emergency, call my wife or dial 911.
Availability
If I ping you or email you outside of our working hours, I do not expect an instant reply.
I’ve probably pinged you because I have a thought I need to share, and if I don’t, it will be gone forever.
Therefore, I ping.
My Meeting Philosophy
I believe in minimal meetings.
If we’re meeting, it’s because it’s the only way to accomplish what we need to do.
Let’s have a pre-planned agenda prior to the meeting so that we can be ready.
Remembering We Are People
Because so much communication is digital, it can be easy to forget that there’s a human being on the other end.
This is actually the first step in my manual on hiring VAs.
Maybe you don’t have this problem, but I do.
I think it’s the digital medium.
I’m typing into a machine, or talking to a camera. Not a person.
It can be easy to forget that it’s going to end up with you, a person!
I’m fun-spirited, but if I’m in a rush, maybe my responses can seem short or rude.
If that happens, don’t take it personally.
I was probably replying right before a meeting or in between working on projects.
That was my fault for responding then.
If there is a big issue, we will discuss it in person—email is typically not the best communication method for big-ticket problems.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you feel I’m not communicating with kindness!
My Strengths:
Starting New Things*
Developing Ideas
Big Picture Strategy
Being Willing To Take Shots and Adjust as I go
My Weaknesses:
Starting New Things* 
Taking a Project “to the next level”
Organizational Structure (my wife says I’m organized because I use spreadsheets, but I don’t think this counts)
Flying by the Seat of my Pants (I’m a napkin business plan guy)
Things I’m OK At But Want To Improve:
Public Speaking
Tracking KPIs
Building Teams
Staying Calm Under Pressure
Knowing When To Stay The Course vs. Pivot
Tools That I Like To Use:
Whatsapp (for quick communication)
Slack (we moved mostly to Slack)
Loom (for quick video feedback)
Should You Build a Personal User Manual?
Yep, I think it would definitely be useful if you’re a freelancer or you work on a remote team.
Heck, even if your company doesn’t do it, you could create one anyway and give it to your co-workers.
Maybe management will take notice and use it and make it a new part of their company strategy.
Or if you’re working as a freelance employee, it could help people just understand you better.
Good luck!
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