Stop Working from Your Bed: Remote Work Tips That Actually Move the Needle
By Derek — Money isn't complicated. People just make it complicated. ·
It’s October 2026. If you’re still trying to convince your boss that you’re 'just as productive' while doing laundry, answering emails from your bed, and watching Netflix in the background, we need to have a talk.
I’ve spent the last few years coaching founders and high-earners, and I’ve seen the same pattern repeat itself. People treat remote work like a permanent vacation, then wonder why they’re burnt out, underperforming, and stalled in their careers. Money isn't complicated, and neither is working from home. People just love to make it complicated by blurring the lines between their couch and their cubicle.
I’m writing this from my office in Charlotte, looking at my F1 calendar. If I treated my practice the way some of you treat your remote setups—with zero intentionality—I’d be back at Goldman Sachs wishing for a weekend. Let’s clean this up.
The 'Commute' Illusion
The biggest lie we told ourselves in 2020 was that the commute was the problem. The commute wasn't the problem; the transition was the solution. When you drove to an office, you had a psychological trigger. You put on your gear, you got in the car, you entered a space designated for output, not input.
Now? You roll out of bed and open your laptop. Your brain doesn’t know if it’s time to sleep, eat, or close a deal. You need a ritual. It doesn’t have to be a suit, but it does have to be ‘work clothes.’ I’m not saying wear a tie, but put on a shirt that isn’t the hoodie you slept in. Walk around the block. Make a coffee. Do something that tells your brain, 'The input phase is over; the output phase has begun.' If you don't build the gate, don't be surprised when your focus leaks out.
Stop Over-Communicating, Start Over-Documenting
I see so many remote teams stuck in 'Zoom hell.' They’re jumping on 30-minute calls to discuss things that could have been three sentences in a shared doc. This is where the 'people make it complicated' thing really hits home.
If you want to be indispensable in a remote environment, stop being the person who talks the most in meetings. Be the person who documents the most. If you’re a founder or a manager, build a culture of asynchronous communication. If you’re an individual contributor, be the one who summarizes the meeting, maps out the next steps, and puts it in a place where everyone can see it. Writing is the highest form of thinking. When you document, you clarify. When you clarify, you create value. Value is what gets you paid.
The 'F1' Strategy: Managing Energy, Not Time
I watch F1 religiously. People think it’s just about who has the fastest car. It’s not. It’s about tire management, fuel loads, and knowing when to push and when to preserve. You are the driver. You cannot run at qualifying pace for eight hours a day. You will blow your engine.
Use time-blocking, but don't just block hours. Block energy. I do my high-leverage coaching calls in the morning when my brain is sharpest. I handle the mundane admin and email cleanup when the afternoon slump hits. If you try to write a complex strategy document at 3:00 PM while you’re crashing from lunch, you’re just wasting time. Track your energy for a week. When do you feel like a Ferrari? When do you feel like a backmarker? Schedule your work accordingly.
Your Environment Is Your Asset Allocation
You wouldn't put your life savings into a volatile, unproven asset without doing the math. Why are you working from a space that makes you feel volatile and unproven?
If you don't have a dedicated room, fine. But have a dedicated desk. And for the love of all things holy, keep it clean. A cluttered space is a cluttered mind. Invest in a chair that doesn't ruin your spine. Get the lighting right. If you’re showing up to a client call with a shadow across your face and a pile of laundry in the background, you’re losing credibility before you even open your mouth. It sounds superficial, but in a remote world, your digital presentation is your office lobby. Keep it professional.
The Bottom Line
Working remotely is a privilege, but it’s also a discipline test. If you can’t manage your own output without someone hovering over your shoulder, you’re never going to reach that next level of wealth or freedom. Stop looking for hacks and start building habits.
Master your environment, respect your energy, and prioritize clarity over volume. It’s not rocket science. It’s just showing up—properly—even when no one is watching.
How are you handling the remote grind lately? Are you killing it, or are you just surviving? Drop a reply or hit me up on the socials—let’s talk about how to sharpen your setup.