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- 135 - Remote Job Risk Reversal, Explained
135 - Remote Job Risk Reversal, Explained
Plus: a PM in Argentina, remote manager guide, and RW's net worth survey
Chris Ming
July 25, 2023
The Connection / 2023.07.25 / Issue 135
Hello, Connectors 😎
In the last issue, we looked at a case study on creating an undeniable offer to land a remote job.
Today let's look at how you sweeten the offer to make it impossible to say no.
Today, in 7 minutes or less, you'll learn:
🔁 3 risk reversal techniques to land a remote job
🎙️ Word-for-word scripts you can steal and make your own
🤴 The ultimate guide to becoming a baller remote manager
🌍 Plus: spotlighting the product manager traveling the world
Let’s jump in:
💰 Have you taken the Net Worth Survey yet? Compare your income against other remote workers. Take the survey 💰
Make It Impossible To Say "No" To Hiring You
How do you make it impossible to say no to working with you?
Two words: risk reversal.
What is risk reversal?
Here's how Alex Harmozi describes risk reversal in his book, $100m Offers:
The single greatest objection for any product or service being sold is risk. Risk that it doesn't do what it's supposed to do for them. Therefore, reversing risk is an immediate way to make any offer more attractive.
The Power Of Risk Reversal
In the context of landing a remote job, risk reversal is how you remove any risk from a potential employer.
Because hiring someone new is risky!
Searching, recruiting, and onboarding cost:
Time
Money
Aggravation
If you can remove all this risk, you make it impossible to say no to hiring you.
Here are 3 examples of risk reversal techniques I've used to land past remote jobs:
1/ "$0 Free Trial"
You can use a "$0 Free Trial" to take all financial risk off the table for a company.
I used this to land my remote job with a New York Times Bestselling author:
I hope you can see I’d provide immense value to your work, and you’d consider taking me on as an assistant. I understand there are reasons why you’d be hesitant, which is why I’d suggest several options to make this very low-risk for you: I could start remotely or onsite, whichever is more comfortable for you. We could do a one-month, uncompensated “trial” period. If you didn’t feel the fit was right, we’d part ways, no hard feelings.
2/ "Show Your Work"
How do you prove to a company and hiring manager you can do the job?
Ok: Tell them
Good: Explain your experience
Better: Show them
This is a technique I used in the middle of my interview process for Reforge:
I completed 3 user interviews. Here are 3 takeaways I'd start to implement to change how we deliver our programs:
3/ "Done For You"
This is a one-two combination of both above.
This is a banger of a closer. You remove both financial and time risk.
And the only thing people care more about than money is time.
Here's how I used this to work with an MMA analyst:
Here’s a link to a sample I created for you: [Insert link]
My proposal: Let me put together 5-10 of these blog posts for you. It’ll take me about 2 weeks. You don’t have to do anything, I can take care of all the work and costs.
In 2 weeks, I’ll show you what I got done. If you want to discuss more of the options above, I’d love to do that.
If you review and think, “nah, this doesn’t excite me,” no problem. We’ll part of friends, you can keep all the posts I created and use them however you like.
Conclusion
Keep in mind: these tend to work better in less formal recruiting processes, e.g. you have a warm referral or you're applying to work for a startup or a smaller company.
If you can reverse the risk, you’re going to get more accepted offers.
The Connection's Net Worth Survey
I'm excited to share The Connection Net Worth Survey 💰
It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
This is a quarterly survey to understand the net worth and income levels of remote workers like you.
Responses are completely anonymous.
The results will be published in the newsletter, so you can benchmark your income against other remote workers.
Remote Spotlight: The Product Manager Nomad Relentlessly Pursuing Growth, Quality, and Meaning | Jonathan Sendsen
When Jonathan Sendsen broke down his meticulous system for applying for remote jobs for me, I knew he'd be the inaugural Remote Spotlight. Jonathan is a Product Manager at Tribe AI, currently traveling through the Balkans.
Tell us about your remote work journey.
Three years ago, I embarked on my remote work journey, a decision driven by a desire for both personal and career growth. Prior to this, I had worked in core and growth product management roles for companies like Noom and Vidyard, where my primary focus was career development, often at the expense of personal growth.
I initially tested remote work in Mexico, where I found that the quality of my life improved significantly.
The freedom to structure my own time, the enriching cultural experiences, and the ability to pursue personal interests made me realize the transformative potential of remote work.
I then headed to Argentina. Here, the rich cultural history, dynamic economy, and awe-inspiring natural surroundings, offered a perfect backdrop for my remote work. Experiencing life-defining moments such as Argentina's World Cup victory made my time there unforgettable.
Currently, my remote work adventure has taken me to Europe, where I am exploring the distinct cultures and diverse landscapes of the Balkans. This continuous journey not only allows me to excel professionally but also fuels my personal growth and broadens my perspective on life.
What's your number one piece of advice for someone currently looking for remote work?
Don't just focus on the job.
Focus on the lifestyle it offers.
A remote job should not just be a source of income but should also align with your personal and professional values and life goals.
Understand what you want out of life and then look for a role that complements that vision.
Be methodical, plan meticulously, and have a strong strategy in place for your search.
Think about the needs in your life that will offer you happiness and optimize for that. Attempt to build a life where your career and personal life can thrive together.
Tell us about any tradeoffs you've made in order to live this lifestyle?
Living this lifestyle does come with its trade-offs. I've had to be more disciplined and diligent about managing my time and ensuring productivity.
I've also had to adapt to working in different time zones and missed out on some of the in-person camaraderie that comes with an office environment or even family and friend events back home.
But for me, the trade-offs have been worth it as they've led a lot of personal growth, opened up new social communities I would not have otherwise accessed and challenged myself to find comfort in the uncomfortable in areas of previous fear and doubt.
Remote working has also given me the ability to learn from so many different cultures and like-minded individuals which has inspired me to take on new risks and challenges I wouldn't have otherwise.
How do you manage your work/life balance?
Managing my work/life balance is crucial to my success as a remote worker.
I have an automated system in place that maximizes efficiency, ensuring my work does not encroach on my personal life. This system enables me to devote time to my personal interests and social commitments while ensuring I meet my professional responsibilities.
It's all about understanding my needs and then designing a system that meets those needs in the most efficient way possible.
For example, on the personal side, I've set strict boundaries for my work hours and use my digital calendar to block off time for activities that are important to me – from exercise to learning sessions to social activities. This scheduled personal time is as non-negotiable as any work commitment, ensuring I maintain a healthy work/life balance.
I have found that working remotely makes me prioritize my time the way I want to prioritize it (not from a selfish lens, more from the aspect that will help me become the optimal version of myself).
How has remote work changed your life?
Remote work has truly been a life-changing experience for me. It has taught me that time is our most valuable asset and how we choose to spend it defines our happiness and success. It has enabled me to explore new cultures, form new social connections, and create a lifestyle that aligns with my personal definition of success.
More than just a way to earn a living, it has provided a framework for living my life on my own terms.
Where can people go to learn more about you and your work?
What's your favorite movie?
Want to share your story or business with 1,600+ readers? Complete this short form to be featured in The Connection.
Remote Work Tools
The tools, technology, and guides that enable work from anywhere, living abroad, while accelerating your career.
Today’s Remote work tool is Kona’s Remote Manager Survival Guide 🗺️
Managing a remote team is a superpower. Learn it and accelerate your team's career... and your own. This remote survival guide from Kona condenses years of experience into a 45-minute read.
You'll learn how to:
Give feedback
Build culture remotely
Manage a remote team
Run effective meetings
Build high-performing teams
...and more
Managers have a disproportionate impact on an organization. They influence both down (their direct reports) and up (leadership).
Good managers know that to get things done, they have to win the hearts and minds of the organization.
Kona’s remote manager guide shows you how.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap.
Next Tuesday, July 25th, we'll cover:
What we can learn about success and remote work from the Queen of Pop 👸
Ireland's first digital nomad conference 🇮🇪
and more!
See you next week 👋
How was this newsletter? Any tips or feedback? Send me all the hot goss 🔥 just hit "reply" or DM me here.
When you’re ready, here are 3 more ways I can help you with remote work:
The Remote Life Database. Access the word-for-word scripts and templates that helped me land 5 remote jobs and "go remote" for the last 10 years. All 100% free.
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