EP 13: Mike Doyle: Remote Work and the Climbing Life

Description

Now seems as good a time as any to welcome back climber and software engineer Mike Doyle. Mike appeared on Clipping Chains for a written interview in February of 2020. At the time, I was curious as to how he managed to climb at an elite level while juggling a very demanding remote job. Mike was still managing to travel to multiple places a year for months at a time, taking his full-time+ job along with him.

After the arrival of the pandemic and surge in remote work, Mike’s original interview feels so much more relevant. In the intervening time, my wife and I have also experienced living and working while traveling, so my thoughts on this lifestyle have evolved dramatically. With all this in mind, the timing feels right to have Mike on for a deeper dive on the realities of the remote work lifestyle.

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Topics Discussed with Mike Doyle

Mike’s background in computer science and thoughts on the current and future job market in that field
Mike’s history of remote work, travel, and early days of van living. Plus, why Mike doesn’t think traveling in a van is optimal for him now
Thoughts on work as a distraction or a point of focus
Mental tips for keeping work and play separate
Time efficiency tips for maximizing climbing while working
Building and leveraging career capital to enhance lifestyle flexibility
Tips for searching and securing deals on long-term Airbnb stays
Keeping a good work routine in new and different places
Community and social outlets while traveling or at home in Las Vegas
Mike’s ideal work/life/climbing balance (hint: it’s not all climbing!)
Mike’s thoughts on home ownership and how he has deployed rental income
Words of caution for those pursuing a life of travel while working
So much more!

Get in Touch with Mike Doyle

Original Clipping Chains Written Interview: Mike Doyle: A Remote-Controlled Climbing Life

Mike Doyle on Instagram

Video

Mike rented an apartment in Mesquite, NV to maximize his time working the nearby Necessary Evil, a 5.14c in the Virgin River Gorge. This excellent 2014 video by Joe Kinder gives us a glimpse into Mike’s process with balancing work and climbing projects.