💪 Remote Work Without the Guilt 🦅

Real accountability gives you the freedom to work your way while delivering results that actually matter.

AuthorAuthor

Will Samson & Peggy Kendall
August 28, 2025

Thrive Remotely is your weekly inspiration to leverage working remotely and live life to its fullest.

Hey friends,

Still micromanaging yourself into burnout? Yeah, we see you checking Slack at 11 PM.

Here's the thing: Real accountability isn't about proving you're working. It's about owning your results so hard that nobody questions your midday walk.

Dr. Peggy Kendall explains how clear expectations kill the guesswork. Will Samson shows why tracking hours is so last century.

Ready to stop existing and start thriving?

— Ric & Shellie

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

WORKING REMOTELY

The End of Hours: How to Get Paid for Results, Not Time

By Will Samson

Still convinced your boss needs to see you "working" 40+ hours? 

McKinsey just ditched hour-tracking on 25% of their projects—and their clients are happier than ever. When you shift from time-seller to results-owner, something magical happens: trust builds faster, guilt disappears, and that midday walk becomes a strategic advantage. 

But here's what most remote workers miss about accountability frameworks.

QUICK TAKES

Build Trust Faster

✅ The 9 to 5 schedule is ‘really archaic,’ HR expert says: Employees are ‘tired of being told what to do’

✅ The Balance of Accountability: Fostering Personal Responsibility in the Workplace.

✅ 8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills. Your guide to establishing better communication habits for success.

✅ What is personal accountability, and why does it matter in the workplace?

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS

What's your biggest accountability game-changer when working remotely?

[Setting micro-goals that actually feel achievable] “When I started breaking things down, everything changed. Putting massive monster-goals on my list just resulted in bumping them from week to week and feeling dejected. Breaking them down allows me to take daily bites out of those goals and keep feeling the forward momentum that feeds productivity. Really refreshing.” – Tyler

MEME OF THE WEEK

WORKING REMOTELY

Remote Accountability: Autonomy works best when everyone knows the rules

By Dr. Peggy Kendall

Remote work runs on accountability, but what happens when no one’s clear on the rules? 

Suddenly “ASAP” means four different things, some people coast, others pull all-nighters, and trust starts to crack. As pressure piles up, the real issue isn’t effort—it’s clarity. So how do you make accountability work for your team instead of against it?

Here are a few simple ideas on how to create the kind of accountability that makes logging off at the end of the day feel a little more satisfying, and a lot less stressful.

THE VIBE

News to Use

🔆 Try These 3 Strategies to Optimize Your Remote Work Culture. These policies are what CEOs said helped their companies make it onto Inc.’s Best Workplaces of 2025.

🔆 I ain’t afraid of no (remote) ghost 👻 Combat Ghosting in Remote Teams

🔆 No one has office friends anymore. Why that’s bad news for employers. How to combat the ‘friendship recession.’

STATE OF REMOTE

Flexibility Continues to be the Norm

Two-thirds of U.S. firms (66%) continue offering location flexibility. Only one-third (34%) require full-time office presence – a 2-point increase from last year driven primarily by federal and state government agencies.

POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC

Next week: Emotional toll of working remotely - Remote work's emotional rollercoaster can be exhausting, one day you're crushing it, the next you're questioning everything.

What's your biggest remote work emotional challenge right now?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Your Couch Won’t Miss You

Sure, you've mastered the art of working in pajamas, but when's the last time you actually talked to humans who get the remote life? 

This week's lineup has everything: AI hacks and hops in Asheville, baseball with fellow nomads in Chattanooga, and ladies' night for remote workers in Boise. 

Your laptop will survive a few hours without you … promise.

🗓️ Check out the Community Calendar!

RESOURCES

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🧑‍💻 Big Desk Energy : Startup insights, stories, and vibes sent to your inbox every Tuesday

🍿 Tuesday Night Movie Night : Get one good movie recommendation, every Tuesday

🌺 Find Joy in Your World Today

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