Hello. I’m Scott.
I’ve been working remotely since 1998 (it was cool back then, too) and moderated Twitter’s #RemoteChat for 5 years, concluding on December 15, 2021. I wrote The Art of Working Remotely (2019) and Handbook for the Modern Worker (2021).
I live and work 5 hours outside of New York City in a small town outside of Ithaca. I’ve built a custom home there, live a fit lifestyle, and raised two wonderful kids with my wife. I’m a user experience designer and developer by day, and an artist and athlete at all other times.
So … what’s with this Wanderfull substack?
This waterfall inspired the title. I took it during a run at Taughannock Falls State Park. I’m lucky to live nearby and run in the park most weeks of the year. One day I set my phone down on a rock, ran up to the wall that marks the terminus of the base trail, and gave that waterfall a big ol’ hug. In Algonquin, Taughannock means "in the trees.” The natural world has always had a special place in my heart. Wanderlust is a core part of me, whether it’s a short trip to this waterfall, hiking in Oregon’s Cascades, or running through the woods. These are all wonderful things.
Wanderfull is a conflation of wanderlust, waterfall, and wonderful. Since I concluded #RemoteChat I’ve been thinking of a way to keep putting things out into the world. This is it. Using the waterfall analogy, Wanderfull is my way of keeping things flowing, whether cascading over a precipice (who’s up for a risk?) or gently flowing downstream. Water is literally life-giving, and in a similar vein, so are advice, fellowship, anecdotes, and the things that make us laugh. This newsletter is about connection as we wander through life.
You’ll get a post every Monday (well, most Mondays, since I’ll give myself wiggle room). It’ll be chock full of all kinds of wonderful things. What are they, you ask? In the spirit of Tim Ferriss’ 5 Bullet Friday I’m going to keep them brief, direct, and useful (if not entertaining). Here’s a preview.
A tip for the modern worker — A tip from my 365 Daily Tips book, which covers the entire range of concerns for anyone not working in a traditional office environment — communication, discipline, health, performance, managing up, managing others, leading meetings, professional development, quality workspaces, and networking.
A drawing from #365DayDraw — I called the project #365DayDraw, but since 2016 was a leap year, I churned out 366 days of drawings. No judgment, no revisions. With rare exceptions, I remember the circumstances around each drawing: where I was, what I was thinking, and if the accompanying quote on Twitter preceded or was inspired by the drawing.
Commentary — Personal stories, observations, or something popular or fun from my web design or development work.
Miscellanea — Things I’m reading/watching/listening to.
See? Fun! Go ahead and subscribe: I’d be really grateful to have a readership that appreciates the slow burn of modern work tips, drawings, and observations. Be part of a community of people who share your interests. You won’t have to worry about missing anything, either: every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox, and you have access to the website, too. If you tire of it, though, you can always unsubscribe. We can still be friends!
If you subscribe and think to yourself — “You know what? I’m really enjoying this but my friend/coworker/family would really like it, too.” — please share Wanderfull with them.
I’m excited about what’s ahead and will meet you in the very first edition of Wanderfull.
