The Future is Here
For Megan Nelson, it’s all about efficiency.
“I enjoy the freedom that comes with working from home,” she said. “It allows me to use my time more efficiently. When there is work to be done, I do it. But if there is downtime, I can do a few things around the house.”
Nelson, a senior project manager for a technology deployment company, said she also enjoys the reduced stress that comes with not having a regular commute.
“I enjoy not having to get ready for work and drive into an office,” she said. “This alleviates some daily stress. I like that I do not have to worry about my appearance, and the way I look has nothing to do with my job. I am being evaluated by the work I am doing, not by how I look.”
“Pittsburg has created an environment that has positioned it as a desirable location into the foreseeable future.”
Pittsburg was recently ranked as one of the top Work From Home cities in the United States by PC Mag. Along with a low cost of living and plenty of family-friendly amenities, Pittsburg’s investment in high-speed fiber internet has also positioned the city as a top place to work remotely.
About Pittsburg, PC Mag wrote:
“Pittsburg is home to 15 parks and trails, a quaint downtown setting, and some of the lowest housing prices in the area. The community holds an annual Little Balkans Days festival to celebrate the area’s rich history as a destination point for immigrants from southeastern Europe’s Balkans region. There are plenty of events in Pittsburg for all ages throughout the year, making the area extremely family-friendly. The city has broadband internet access and is about two hours away from Kansas City International Airport.”
Deputy City Manager Jay Byers said he is proud of the progress Pittsburg has made in broadband access.
“The internet is an essential component to everyday business and personal life,” Byers said, “and Pittsburg has created an environment that has positioned it as a desirable location into the foreseeable future.”
Byers said there has been more than $10 million in broadband investment over the last six years.
“Broadband is so important and was so inadequate that we were considering a municipal broadband option, but the surrounding local exchange carriers stepped up and asked to have franchise agreements in the city limits,” he said. “Since they didn’t have any lines already in the city, they put in all fiber optic lines, which allowed them to bring gigabit connections to the home for $70, and even faster connections are available at reasonable prices.”
“It allows me to use my time more efficiently. When there is work to be done, I do it. But if there is downtime, I can do a few things around the house.”
Joy Leek-Holmes, a bodily injury adjuster, said she enjoys working from home because she gets more done.
“I have found that after working from home for four years, I am more productive,” she said. “When I worked in the office it was easy to get distracted by other co-workers just wanting to chat or go grab coffee. I also notice sometimes others’ bad days can rub off on you. Working from home, I have to rely on my own attitude and energy. I am able to focus and stay at the task at hand without any interruptions.”
The key to working from home successfully, she said, is balance.
“I have a solid routine and schedule that I keep to every day in efforts to maintain my work/life balance,” she said. “Even though my commute is about a 10 step walk to my desk, I still get up early and get ready like I would for work in the office to wake up and get my mindset ready for the work day. I try to make sure I set aside time for exercise, whether that be right after school drop off or during the afternoon to get out of the house and offset my long hours of working at a desk.”
Nelson said she finds balance through dedicated work spaces in her home.
“For me, it is important to have a designated work space so I can separate work life from home life,” she said. “I have a home office set up, so when I am in that space, I am working, and when the work day is done, I try to shut the door and shut off work.”
As the city continues to grow, Byers said, continuing to increase broadband access for remote workers is a top priority.
“Including our legacy internet providers, there are now five major broadband options in Pittsburg,” he said. “Since most of our infrastructure is fiber, individuals and businesses have access to any amount of internet capacity they need, and at reasonable prices, too.”
