The #AnywhereOffice – Facilitating virtual workshops with sand between the toes

The ocean breeze gently rustles my laptop as I sip on a cold drink, I need sunglasses while looking at the computer screen, toes buried in the warm sand. Sounds like a dream? This was my reality over the last years. We mermaid & broccoli call this the #AnywhereOffice. This concept allows us to break free from the confines of traditional office spaces and embrace a world where work happens wherever we are inspired, focused, and connected.

Recently, I found myself reminiscing about the diverse places I’ve set up my “office”. My former colleague Thomas Biedermann had posted an article about how he likes his dedicated office and desk. He needs his work environment, because he is a designer and works with a calibrated monitor and other technical tools which don’t travel well. I luckily don’t need that. My work most of the days only requires a laptop, a good internet connection and my brain.

So, lately I was able to work from the beaches of the Indian Ocean in Ponta do Ouro and Tofo, a coffee shop in Panglao, boring hotel rooms in Katmandu and of course my home office located in Maputo as well as clients’ meeting rooms occasionally.

Each location brought its own unique energy, allowing me to stay productive while enjoying the perks of a change in scenery. This kind of flexibility keeps me personally very motivated, creative, and, most importantly, happy in my work. Others might not find that attractive.

The Freedom to Work from Anywhere

One of the most exhilarating aspects of the #AnywhereOffice is the sheer freedom it offers. For me, there’s a kind of magic in knowing that my productivity isn’t tethered to a single desk or location. Instead, it flows with me, wherever I go. Besides, this way I can go freediving in the early morning and still get my work done.

I think the view is an important element of a good work place

This way of working is not just for people who own their business or are self-employed. Reflecting on past experiences, I remember the days back at SAP in Berlin, working alongside my friend Alessandro Sposato . We had this tradition called Mitte Mittwoch, where every Wednesday afternoon, we’d explore different coffee shops in the Mitte district to work from. Those sessions were a breath of fresh air, combining productivity with the discovery of new, inspiring spaces. Our manager Tobias Haug was keen on learning from our experiences.

mermaid & broccoli: A Remote-First Culture

At mermaid & broccoli, this flexibility isn’t just a perk – it’s a core part of our company culture. We’re proud to be a remote-first organization, where the emphasis is on results rather than hours spent in an office. My colleagues, Susanne Schluckebier , Bernadette Büsgen and Kira Liedtke , are perfect examples of this culture in action. Susanne is based in Cologne, but she also likes to work from other cities such as Rome for example. Kira works for us in Cologne, but sometimes works from home, sometimes from the university and sometimes from other places. Bernadette lives in Lübeck. She probably – amongst all of us – keeps things most stable, when it comes to her work environment. But, even when we are all in Germany, we are usually not in the same city.

Our diverse work environments contribute to a richer, more innovative company culture. When we connect, we bring different perspectives to the table, informed by the unique places we’ve been and the experiences we’ve had. It’s this mix of ideas and backgrounds that helps us stay creative in ways a traditional office setup simply couldn’t.

The Challenges of the #AnywhereOffice

Of course, the #AnywhereOffice isn’t without its challenges. Time zone differences can make scheduling tricky, and staying connected with the team requires a conscious effort. In a project with Priyanka Kapar and Natalia Figge , who are based in Nepal and Silke Steinhilber who – similar to my own preferences – currently is working from Argentina, we always must think twice to be able to schedule meetings in the right time zone. Nepal is probably the only country with an odd time difference to the rest of the world. It’s 3:45 hours as compared to Germany in summer.

The other big challenge is internet connectivity. It is stressful when the internet doesn’t work as it should. But this can happen anywhere. Thanks to LTE networks and Starlink the location matters less and less. But limited internet connection can also have a benefit. Some weeks ago, I worked from Lago Niassa and the hotel only offered internet connection during daytime and in a dedicated area near the reception. The Starlink dish was connected to a solar system and the electricity simply did not last after the sun went down. Organizing your workday more based according to the sun seems actually a great strategy for better work life balance. I am curious to see how this will work during winter months in Berlin. ;-)

Moving back to Berlin: where to work now??

Since Dr. Caroline Silva-Garbade and I are soon moving back to Berlin, I am looking forward to finding new inspiring spaces. Silke Steinhilber already invited me to COCONAT - a workation retreat . I am curious to see what other locations you might suggest.

So, where’s the most interesting place you’ve worked from?

I’d love to hear your stories. Please, share your experiences in the comments. I hope to meet you in inspiring places starting November 1, 2024.