```json
{
    "title": "Telecommuting and Career Advancement",
    "url": "https://performancezen.com/2007/01/18/telecommuting-and-career-advancement/",
    "datePublished": "2007-01-18",
    "dateModified": "2022-04-29",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "The Network World article on telecommuting appears to be getting a lot of play this morning on the RSS feeds. I agree with Daemon at the Web Worker Daily: Yeah,…",
    "author": "spierzchala",
    "publisher": "Performance Zen"
}
```

# Telecommuting and Career Advancement

The *Network World* [article on telecommuting](https://web.archive.org/web/20070120152916/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/011707-telecommute-career.html) appears to be getting a lot of play this morning on the RSS feeds.

I agree with Daemon at the *[Web Worker Daily](https://web.archive.org/web/20150313072158/https://gigaom.com/2007/01/17/does-telecommuting-kill-your-career/)*: Yeah, and your point?

I learned a long time ago that I would **NEVER** be happy as a do-nothing management hack (whoops! did I say that out loud?). Career advancement to me is an out-dated way of life, and those that are desperately hanging on to this ideal are this generation's answer to *[The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit](http://www.amazon.com/Gray-Flannel-Suit-Sloan-Wilson/dp/1568582463)* or *[The Organization Man](http://www.amazon.com/Organization-Man-Book-Defined-Generation/dp/0812218191/)*.

What does *career advancement* mean in a world that is mobile, engagement-based, driven by accomplishment, not by success? Career advancement is a growth in the respect in which you and your skills are held. Titles become meaningless; generating buzz and delivering on it are what define your success.

Time to raise the controversy element: The people who see telecommuting as a career negative are those that can only survive in a herd. Those who cannot generate their own motivation. Those who need to be away from themselves, to not hear the voices in their heads.

![Cartoon: \[Hugh MacLeod\](https://web.archive.org/web/20030618194803/http://www.gapingvoid.com/)](http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/wolf%20vs%20sheep.jpg)
Cartoon: [Hugh MacLeod](https://web.archive.org/web/20030618194803/http://www.gapingvoid.com/)

Some of the people I hold in highest regard have no title, and would be seen by corporate types as "drop-outs".

Guess that makes me a drop-out. Bully for me.