Hey friend,

We love the remote life. Crushing deadlines from coffee shops. Living anywhere. Total freedom.

But here's the truth: loneliness sneaks up on us all.

The fix isn't more Zoom calls. It's intentional connection.

This issue? Your playbook for building real friendships that actually stick—no matter where you're working from.

Let's jump in!

—Ric & Shellie

P.S. The easiest way you can support us is by sharing the newsletter with friends. 🙏

WELLNESS

How I Stopped Hiding My Way Through Remote Life

By Dr. Laura Jurgens

What if your carefully curated "professional persona" is the exact reason you're lonely? 

One introvert discovered that swapping small talk for dorky enthusiasm changed everything about remote relationships. Turns out, the right people don't want your polished version, they want your weird, awkward, passionate truth. 

Here's what happened when hiding became more exhausting than being real.

Discover how being selectively weird attracts your people → 

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

What's your biggest challenge in building authentic remote relationships?

THE CULTURE EDIT

Connection by Design

By Maria Scarzella Thorpe

Disconnection is the quiet crisis of modern work. And the fix isn’t more zoom calls or another app. It’s designing intentional human connection within your culture, the kind built with depth, trust, and a touch of vulnerability.

Having helped distributed teams and founders reimagine how they gather and grow, Maria has seen how intentional connection transforms collaboration, engagement, and belonging.

Here’s how to stop leaving connection to chance, and start designing it on purpose.

Make connection your team’s greatest advantage →

QUICK TAKES

Human Connection Matters

✅ Maintaining Relationships in a Remote Working Environment: The Challenges and Struggles

✅ 10 Ways to Build Better Relationships Working Remotely. Fostering robust remote relationships is essential for both personal career growth.

✅ Fighting Loneliness on Remote Teams. Building a community in a remote environment requires innovation and intention, but getting started only takes one act.

MEME OF THE WEEK

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 It's not you, it's the job market. A recruiter memo as we head into the last quarter of the year.

🔆 How highly successful people talk to their bosses: It’ll give you ‘a competitive edge’.

🔆 The Productivity Shift Remote Workers Swear By. Productivity isn’t your manager’s responsibility.

🔆 Seth Godin said, “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from”—here’s why true success is about lifestyle design, not hustle.

STATE OF REMOTE

Flexibility with Access to Shared Space

The most stable aspect of workplace policies over the past few years may be that 61% of firms pursue flexible solutions while providing employees access to offices.

Most people think “hybrid” when they talk about flexibility and office access. But Employee Choice models - where there’s no single company or function-level policy - also provide access to spaces for team collaboration and individuals who need it. Get the FlexIndex report.

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next week: The New Pioneers: How Remote Workers Are Revitalizing Small Towns

We'd love to hear how you're building bridges in your community, whether you're breathing new life into Main Street or just found the world's best taco truck.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Your Laptop Works Anywhere

Remember that thing called IRL connection?

This week's your chance. Hike to Geronimo's Cave in Texas. Cowork at actually cool spots in Ann Arbor and Covington. Learn vulnerable leadership in Asheville. Hit happy hours in Cary and Charlotte. Stuff your face with chocolate in Greenville.

Stop being a hermit. Pick one. Show up.

Your future friends are already RSVPing.

🗓️ Check out the Community Calendar!

RESOURCES

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