It’s been eight months since we’ve closed our office doors and adjusted to work-from-home mode. We’re lucky enough to work in a digital industry, so we managed to transition very quickly to working from home. The world has changed, our schedules and routines have adapted, and we are beginning to live and work together in “The New Normal.”
As we continue growing our business and teams, our people-first culture is still the core of everything we do. From virtually onboarding 20 new employees to transitioning our weekly in-office lunch to UberEats credits, the AdAction team has made an amplified effort to take care of each individual’s needs by focusing on what really matters to them during this time.
Check out the people behind the grind, both AdAction rookies and seasoned team members, as they share their experiences of joining the team remotely and adapting to their new WFH lifestyles.
Carrie Patterson, Executive Assistant
What was it like having your onboarding experience done remotely?
It was definitely a unique experience! Not only was it a new experience for me, but it was also new for AdAction, so it was a great learning experience for everyone.
Have you gotten to know most of the AdAction team while working from home?
Considering the circumstances, yes! However, I’m really excited to work with everyone in person (one day) because I think it will enhance the experience and collaboration overall. AdAction does a great job of encouraging communication via Slack, email, and video calls, and I’ve met nearly everyone face-to-face (via video).
What ways have you been able to balance work and your personal life?
This is my first time consistently working from home, so creating the separation between work and home life has definitely been a challenge at times. As I’ve become more used to it, I’m better at setting my work hours and sticking to them.
What team-building activity has been your favorite so far?
The Mentalist was definitely the most entertaining and mind-blowing event for me. I’ve also loved the virtual concerts. As far as a more interactive event, I would have to say the Tiny Campfire was surprisingly really fun. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the competitions definitely made it exciting…and who doesn’t like tiny s’mores?
Have you started any new hobbies during this time?
I think running has been the biggest hobby I’ve taken up. I’ve been loving our “Rona Run” program with our running coach. I’ve always tried to stay active, but this is the most distance running I’ve ever done and it’s been a great challenge. Having our coach set us up with training plans has been so helpful and I’ve enjoyed seeing my progress.
What lifestyle change do you plan on keeping post-pandemic?
I will definitely keep up the running!
Konrad Zielonka, Director of Performance Network
How do you stay motivated while working from home?
I always write out my priorities for the day in the morning so I know what I absolutely need to finish to stay on track. I try to take several breaks each day for walks, or to get outside to get some sun. It helps me stay refreshed and breaks up the monotony of being at home all the time.
What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while working from home?
Not seeing many other people on a regular basis has been a challenge at times. When we’re in the office, there’s a lot more interaction; we play games together, catch up on weekend plans, etc. Luckily, I work with some great people and we still find time to catch up and see how everyone is doing.
How have you balanced work and your personal life?
Sometimes instead of ordering food for delivery, I will go pick it up just to get outside and to do something different. I try to plan a few things out during the day that I want to do after work. It helps me focus on something instead of just defaulting to the couch and watching TV. I’ve been playing a lot of golf lately, and it’s helped to plan it early in the week so I can look forward to something all week.
What has been your favorite memory from quarantine?
Proposing to my now fiancé in early April. It worked out perfectly and we’re both excited to move into the next chapter of our lives together!
Have you started any new hobbies or activities during this time?
I haven’t necessarily started anything new, but I have been doing a lot of home-improvement projects. I’ve been doing a bunch of yard work to get outside and get a little workout in, while also trying to make everything look nice. We moved into our house about a year and a half ago, and this has been a nice time to concentrate on these projects.
What lifestyle change do you plan on keeping post-pandemic?
I want to continue completing all these projects around my house. It gives me a nice sense of accomplishment when I figure something out, or work hard and it turns out looking nice.
Nick Welch, Director of SEO
What was it like having your onboarding experience done remotely?
It was somewhat familiar. I’ve been onboarded remotely for the last two positions I’ve had, so defining roles, objectives, workflows, project management etc. is pretty standard. What’s unique here is that my team was a brand new team and we all started at the same time.
How have you balanced work and your personal life?
I set a daily routine with structure to keep work and personal tasks separate.
What team-building activity has been your favorite so far?
Trivia is always fun, but the Pictionary-style competition we did was also a hit .
Have you started any new hobbies or activities during this time?
I started running again, daily, which I haven’t done since I was 23.
What lifestyle change do you plan on keeping post-pandemic?
Routine exercise and going for an outdoor walk or run with my dog everyday.
Dave Stafford, Data Engineer
How do you stay motivated while working from home?
I stick to deadlines and I find different opportunities to keep busy, like searching for new ways to leverage data.
What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while working from home?
Establishing a good routine. There’s a tendency to blur days and nights, or weekdays and weekends, if you’re not careful or don’t set boundaries
How have you balanced work and your personal life?
We have a family calendar so we’re aware of meetings we all have, which has worked out pretty well. I do a lot of 5-10 minute Slack calls when I’m confused or needed, which has been super useful.
What has been your favorite memory from quarantine?
We got a new cat named Wallace.
Have you started any new activities during this time?
We started and maintain a modest garden. We also implemented a family movie night where we rotate who gets to pick the movie. I’ve watched three and a half seasons of Alone, which is funny because I’m not outdoorsy, but it makes me want to buy wildlife survival gear.
What lifestyle change do you plan on keeping post-pandemic?
We like getting booze and donuts delivered, so that’s here to stay.
Our team has spent more time working from home than in our Denver and Austin offices this year, but that doesn’t stop us from pushing forward. Prioritizing our team’s safety and needs while staying connected is our North Star as we finish out the year strong. Want to learn more about the AdAction team and culture? Check out our Careers page!
Nick is a seasoned digital marketing expert with multifaceted expertise across SEO, paid media, content marketing and data analytics. Leveraging the latest technologies, Nick future-proofs brands through integrated strategies that enhance their visibility and maximize ROI.
