Can Long Distance Work?

Last October, I made a commitment to work with a law firm in the Bay Area this summer. Meanwhile, in January, I co-founded a startup based in New York. The idea we had at the startup is that it wasn’t completely critical that I be in New York to make the company work, and we’re in the process of that experiment right now. Even with phone calls, text, email, Skype, gchat, facetime, etc, it’s hard to keep on the same page with my partners and make sure our business is going in the right direction. Read on for notes I’ve made to myself.





What you should know as background is that we have a pretty strong division of labor. The other guys handle most of the product elements, while I take care of most of the Biz Dev and back-end corporate operational detail. Because we’ve defined our roles pretty well, we know what we need to get them done. For me, that’s usually breaks down pretty simply into communication media. For him, a laptop to code. So, the problem isn’t really with our handling our own responsibilities, it’s with remaining on the same page as we move forward so we’re functioning as a cohesive unit rather than 2 different organizations.

1) There has to be a commitment to communication from both sides
You just simply can’t keep people in the dark. Even if you’re dealing with something that isn’t fully resolved or might be uncomfortable, you’ve got to make a commitment in your mind to get over what you think is right for you personally and let your partners know what’s going on with the company. Limited perspective leads to limited results, so you’ve got to make sure you’re communicating.

2) Forewarning/Setting Expectations
Part of communicating is laying out an outline with milestones attached. Being realistic is the key here. Often times, people get swept up in ambition (I certainly have) and put forward improbable ideas of accomplishment. Sometimes that has to do with inexperience, in which case, learn. Other times, that has to do with an unnecessary bravado, in which case, stop. Better to exceed than to disappoint.

3) Detailed accounts and clarification
The more you can describe something, the better. Don’t take for granted that people will understand what you’re talking about or going through. Often times, people don’t get the whole picture of what’s going on until it’s been conveyed more than once. Over repetition is dangerous, but that fine line should be tread.

4) Separation has some benefits
Sometimes people are annoying when you’re dealing with them face to face all the time in high pressure situations. Sometimes if you see someone all the time, you neglect picking up a phone call on Sunday afternoon because you think you’ll just see them in the office on Monday and resolve things then. Separation adds a layer of intrigue. Even with the commitment to communication and detailed apprising, you’re still not going to know what’s up a lot of the time. Because of that, people are actually interested to learn more about what you’re doing because they have no idea, so you can get the access and freedom you need to do your thing.

P.S. I haven't seen the movie "Going the Distance," so I really can't comment on the performances by Justin Long or Drew Berrymore. I also don't know if they employed my tactics and/or whether or not their relationship survived.