July 17, 2024 • 9 mins
Get ready for a fun-filled and insightful NSFRW episode! Hosts Rick Haney and Kaleem Clarkson chat with Beckie Jones, the CCO of Reef. This time, Beckie recounts her most outrageous remote work experience that involves a high-stakes client meeting and an unexpected event! Listen in as Beckie shares how she kept her cool amidst the chaos, proving that anything can happen when you're working remotely.
But it's not all mishaps and mayhem—Beckie also dives into her role at Reef, the multi-award-winning app that's revolutionizing remote and hybrid work by connecting teams with laptop-friendly venues across the globe. Discover how Beckie's innovative work helps enhance remote working lives and why good Wi-Fi and a kid-free zone are now at the top of her meeting requirements!
Packed with laughter, surprises, and valuable insights into the world of remote work, this episode is a must-listen. Beckie's resilience and adaptability will inspire you, and her story will remind you that even the most unexpected situations can have a sweet ending. So, grab your headphones and join us for a delightful episode filled with cake, chaos, and career highlights!
Learn more about Beckie:
- Beckie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckie-jones/
- Reef App: https://www.reef.rocks/download-app
More about us:
- Remotely One’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/remotelyone
- Remotely One’s Webpage: https://www.remotelyone.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rick (00:32):
Welcome to Remotely one's N S F R W.
Not safe for remote work wherewe invite employees at all
levels to share their mostoutrageous moments while working
remotely.
Do you have a story to tell?
We want to hear it.
You could submit yourstory@remotelyone.com slash
podcast.
Today's guest currently lives inLondon and is the head of
(00:54):
commercial at Reef, whichprovides alternative spaces to
work from Becky Jones.
Come on down.
Kaleem (01:02):
Woo.
Rick (01:07):
Today we're sitting here with Becky Jones and I'm really
excited to hear your storyBecky.
Kaleem (01:12):
So where are you based out of?
Where are you from?
Beckie (01:14):
I am literally in the uk.
I'm smack banging in the middlebetween Manchester and
Liverpool.
So I've got two really coolcities either side of me.
So I'm based from home a fewdays a week.
And then, yeah, just try and getout as much as I can into sort
of different cities around theUK as well, which is nice.
Rick (01:30):
Awesome.
So, Becky, tell us about thestory that you wanted to share
with us and our audience.
Kaleem (01:36):
Ooh, exciting.
Beckie (01:38):
I know, I think this is a moment where I was kind of
like, oh my God, I can't believethat just happened.
Sorry.
Kaleem (01:47):
Is it rated R?
Because we can only do NC
Beckie (01:49):
no.
It's, it's, it's not the worstone.
Rick (01:53):
Okay, good.
Kaleem (01:54):
Okay.
Beckie (01:54):
But it's one that sticks out.
So as you know, we work fromcoffee shops a lot because
that's what we do.
Kaleem (02:03):
Mm-hmm.
Beckie (02:03):
I had a meeting with quite a fairly big client, quite
a fairly high up person that wasgonna be making a decision over
whether they were gonna use Reeffor their business.
Kaleem (02:15):
And is this early in your career?
Are you nervous at this point?
Like what's the anxiety like asyou're going to the meeting?
Beckie (02:22):
I mean, not too bad.
Not terrible because I'd beenwith Reef for a few months, so I
kind of, know what I'm talkingabout.
Rick (02:29):
You are ready.
Beckie (02:30):
but I was late.
Kaleem (02:31):
Oh.
Beckie (02:33):
it's not even the worst bit.
I was running late, so I didn'tmanage to get to the venue that
I actually wanted to get to.
So I ran into another one thatwas closer because I knew that I
had to get on this call withinlike two minutes.
So, Completely unprepared.
Ran into this other coffee shopthat's not listed on Reef, but
ran into this coffee shop, andsat down, plugged my headphones
(02:56):
in and I was like, right.
Cool.
I'm okay.
I'm ready to go.
Um,
Kaleem (03:00):
Are you sweaty?
I mean, like is your hair messedup?
What's that situation like?
Beckie (03:03):
Probably, probably.
It would've been better being acamera off moment, but yeah, it
was okay.
You know, you're just like,right, let me just compose
myself.
I'll be all right.
I'll be fine.
And then get on the call.
And obviously I'm expecting oneperson to be on the call.
In fact, there was three ofthem, which again is okay.
(03:24):
Not the worst.
Um, No intro in re talking abouthow we reflect, blah, blah,
blah.
And the next minute I have cakeall on this side.
It's not
Kaleem (03:36):
What What do you
Beckie (03:36):
mean?
Kaleem (03:37):
Uh, hang on, hang on.
Rick (03:38):
someone threw a piece of cake at you.
Beckie (03:40):
there was, there was a kid that was sat next to me.
Rick (03:44):
Oh, shit
Beckie (03:46):
the pa, the parent had got up to go and I could see, I
could see her walk in.
So she must've gone to getanother coffee, so she must've
said to her kid, look, sitthere, be good.
You know, eat your cake while Igo and get another coffee.
So I'm sitting here on this callwith directors of companies,
Rick (04:04):
Oh, wait, so, so how old was this kid, do you think?
Beckie (04:07):
probably about 4, 3, 4,
Kaleem (04:10):
no.
Beckie (04:11):
and then, The next minute you just see a hand.
Rick (04:17):
oh my God.
Beckie (04:19):
And this kid is literally covered in cake and he
just wants to be on the call.
You know, you see a little facepop up and he is like this.
I'm like, I was like, ah, I justwants to die.
Kaleem (04:31):
I mean, are you turning red?
Is your boss on the call too?
Like
Beckie (04:34):
mine isn't, but you know, there's three pretty high
up people.
I think there was like afinancial director.
There was like a c e O and therewas a HR director and I'm trying
to, you know, go through this.
I'm already a bit flusteredanyway, and then the next
minute, yeah, just literally aface.
Half of this side
Rick (04:54):
Oh my
Beckie (04:54):
in This kid is literally all over me and you.
I'm trying desperately to keepit together, so I'm like, just,
Kaleem (05:06):
She just, she just, slowly wiped For all our all our
listeners, she was like, shejust put her hand and slowly
wiped it off as she'spresenting.
what
Beckie (05:17):
have just like looked at each other.
I think they're all trying to dothe same as me, so, you know,
British people are quite, we tryand be very polite about things.
You probably know that, butwe're all very much trying to
ignore the situation.
Like it's not happening.
but it fully is and this kid'slike putting his hands like on
(05:39):
me.
Rick (05:39):
part of the interruption, but would you like a piece of
cake?
Kaleem (05:44):
Stew.
Beckie (05:45):
that was, that was great.
I love that.
Rick (05:48):
Yeah.
Beckie (05:49):
So yeah, so that was, um, yeah,
Kaleem (05:52):
Well, okay, so, you slowly wipe the cake off your
face.
Everyone's just looking at thecamera going, nothing to see
here, you know?
Hello?
Rick (06:00):
So you get like smeared frosting and cake on the side of
your head.
You're trying to get throughthis and this kid's over here
nee were you like jumping outtayour skin ready to swear at this
kid in
Beckie (06:13):
I, I,
Rick (06:13):
the, these people that you're trying to win over.
Beckie (06:16):
But
Rick (06:16):
And did what did a swear word slip out?
Like out of anger.
Kaleem (06:20):
internally?
Rick (06:21):
okay.
Kaleem (06:21):
What about moms though?
So you're presenting, you wipethe cake off your face, you have
to do your thing.
Where does moms come in and withthe kid behind you?
Like how does it end?
Like, how does the cake end?
Like, does the mom come and say,I'm so sorry while you're
presenting?
Like, what happened?
Beckie (06:36):
Well so she's still stood in the queue and I'm
trying to control a child that'scovered in cake.
Kaleem (06:42):
Whoa.
Hang on.
I'm sorry.
you say she's still what?
Beckie (06:46):
She's still waiting in the queue to be served, so she's
obviously waiting for thecoffee.
Still, I'm trying to controlthis cake covered child that's
here.
Kaleem (06:55):
child,
Beckie (06:57):
And then, and then the wifi decides, it was the worst
call in the world.
The wifi decides that it'shaving a field day, so that then
starts dipping in and out.
So I have to leave the call,come back into the call.
I'm like, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry about this.
I'm so sorry about this.
I'm so, so just apologizing.
(07:18):
They were like, Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Kaleem (07:21):
Dead face.
Wow.
Beckie (07:25):
Um,
Kaleem (07:26):
So what happened?
Did you land the deal?
Beckie (07:28):
yeah, surprisingly, I dunno, it took them about two
weeks to come back to me and Iwas just thinking, oh, no, no,
they're gonna see me onLinkedIn, they're gonna, you
know,
Kaleem (07:39):
Did you ever say anything to the mom?
Beckie (07:41):
well, she came back and then she, I think she saw what
had happened and she was justlike, I am so sorry.
And then she was like,
Rick (07:48):
acknowledged
Beckie (07:49):
no, she was, she was totally cool, but she was like,
I told him to sit there and eathis cake and I'm so sorry.
And'cause he was trying to grabthe laptop, so I had like a bit
of cake on the laptop too.
I think he was just bored andthought there was something that
he could watch on my screen.
So yeah, I've made sure that I'malways prepared from now on.
I don't sit next to any kind ofkids when I'm, when I'm in a
(08:11):
coffee
Rick (08:12):
With any consolation that kid's got a corrections facility
in his future, I'm sure.
Kaleem (08:17):
Oh my God.
Rick (08:20):
You don't do that shit in public kid.
Kaleem (08:22):
and he is like wiping cake on people's faces still.
He is like, yeah, yeah.
Rick (08:28):
Please tell me that as a, thank you for their business.
You sent them a cake
Beckie (08:32):
Okay.
Yeah,
Kaleem (08:34):
Oh, you should do it anyway.
You should do it.
Beckie (08:37):
yeah,
Rick (08:38):
oh man.
Becky, that is such an amazingstory.
We're so glad that you couldshare that with us.
That's great.
Beckie (08:44):
Yeah.
I just make sure that I'm alwaysnow fully prepared.
'cause I thought obviously whatwe do is we promote this.
So whatever I'm doing now, I'mpromoting that on the call.
So, you know, good wifi, quietareas and all I've got is
rubbish wife,
Rick (09:01):
Yeah.
Kaleem (09:01):
rubbish.
Beckie (09:01):
all over me.
I'm like, I promise youremployees will not have the same
experience.
When they're working remotely.
A hundred percent.
Rick (09:08):
Amazing, amazing.
Becky Jones, where can ourlisteners find you?
Kaleem (09:13):
Yes, yes.
Beckie (09:14):
mainly on LinkedIn.
I'm just kind of always hoveringaround on there.
So yeah, so feel free to connectwith me on there.
Um,
Kaleem (09:22):
addresss, of course, for the company.
If they want to learn about moreabout it.
Beckie (09:26):
yeah, so it's www reef rocks.
That is it.
On there you can find out allabout how we work with both
teams and we work withindividuals to enhance people's
remote working lives.
Kaleem (09:37):
That is fascinating.
Once again, thank you so muchfor doing this and if you have
another story, we'll have tobring you back on This one was
pretty funny,
Beckie (09:46):
I've got plenty.
Rick (09:48):
Oh,
Kaleem (09:48):
much.
Yes.
Awesome.
Welcome to Remotely one's N S F R W.
Not safe for remote work wherewe invite employees at all
levels to share their mostoutrageous moments while working
remotely.
Do you have a story to tell?
We want to hear it.
You could submit yourstory@remotelyone.com slash
podcast.
Today's guest currently lives inLondon and is the head of
(00:54):
commercial at Reef, whichprovides alternative spaces to
work from Becky Jones.
Come on down.
Kaleem (01:02):
Woo.
Rick (01:07):
Today we're sitting here with Becky Jones and I'm really
excited to hear your storyBecky.
Kaleem (01:12):
So where are you based out of?
Where are you from?
Beckie (01:14):
I am literally in the uk.
I'm smack banging in the middlebetween Manchester and
Liverpool.
So I've got two really coolcities either side of me.
So I'm based from home a fewdays a week.
And then, yeah, just try and getout as much as I can into sort
of different cities around theUK as well, which is nice.
Rick (01:30):
Awesome.
So, Becky, tell us about thestory that you wanted to share
with us and our audience.
Kaleem (01:36):
Ooh, exciting.
Beckie (01:38):
I know, I think this is a moment where I was kind of
like, oh my God, I can't believethat just happened.
Sorry.
Kaleem (01:47):
Is it rated R?
Because we can only do NC
Beckie (01:49):
no.
It's, it's, it's not the worstone.
Rick (01:53):
Okay, good.
Kaleem (01:54):
Okay.
Beckie (01:54):
But it's one that sticks out.
So as you know, we work fromcoffee shops a lot because
that's what we do.
Kaleem (02:03):
Mm-hmm.
Beckie (02:03):
I had a meeting with quite a fairly big client, quite
a fairly high up person that wasgonna be making a decision over
whether they were gonna use Reeffor their business.
Kaleem (02:15):
And is this early in your career?
Are you nervous at this point?
Like what's the anxiety like asyou're going to the meeting?
Beckie (02:22):
I mean, not too bad.
Not terrible because I'd beenwith Reef for a few months, so I
kind of, know what I'm talkingabout.
Rick (02:29):
You are ready.
Beckie (02:30):
but I was late.
Kaleem (02:31):
Oh.
Beckie (02:33):
it's not even the worst bit.
I was running late, so I didn'tmanage to get to the venue that
I actually wanted to get to.
So I ran into another one thatwas closer because I knew that I
had to get on this call withinlike two minutes.
So, Completely unprepared.
Ran into this other coffee shopthat's not listed on Reef, but
ran into this coffee shop, andsat down, plugged my headphones
(02:56):
in and I was like, right.
Cool.
I'm okay.
I'm ready to go.
Um,
Kaleem (03:00):
Are you sweaty?
I mean, like is your hair messedup?
What's that situation like?
Beckie (03:03):
Probably, probably.
It would've been better being acamera off moment, but yeah, it
was okay.
You know, you're just like,right, let me just compose
myself.
I'll be all right.
I'll be fine.
And then get on the call.
And obviously I'm expecting oneperson to be on the call.
In fact, there was three ofthem, which again is okay.
(03:24):
Not the worst.
Um, No intro in re talking abouthow we reflect, blah, blah,
blah.
And the next minute I have cakeall on this side.
It's not
Kaleem (03:36):
What What do you
Beckie (03:36):
mean?
Kaleem (03:37):
Uh, hang on, hang on.
Rick (03:38):
someone threw a piece of cake at you.
Beckie (03:40):
there was, there was a kid that was sat next to me.
Rick (03:44):
Oh, shit
Beckie (03:46):
the pa, the parent had got up to go and I could see, I
could see her walk in.
So she must've gone to getanother coffee, so she must've
said to her kid, look, sitthere, be good.
You know, eat your cake while Igo and get another coffee.
So I'm sitting here on this callwith directors of companies,
Rick (04:04):
Oh, wait, so, so how old was this kid, do you think?
Beckie (04:07):
probably about 4, 3, 4,
Kaleem (04:10):
no.
Beckie (04:11):
and then, The next minute you just see a hand.
Rick (04:17):
oh my God.
Beckie (04:19):
And this kid is literally covered in cake and he
just wants to be on the call.
You know, you see a little facepop up and he is like this.
I'm like, I was like, ah, I justwants to die.
Kaleem (04:31):
I mean, are you turning red?
Is your boss on the call too?
Like
Beckie (04:34):
mine isn't, but you know, there's three pretty high
up people.
I think there was like afinancial director.
There was like a c e O and therewas a HR director and I'm trying
to, you know, go through this.
I'm already a bit flusteredanyway, and then the next
minute, yeah, just literally aface.
Half of this side
Rick (04:54):
Oh my
Beckie (04:54):
in This kid is literally all over me and you.
I'm trying desperately to keepit together, so I'm like, just,
Kaleem (05:06):
She just, she just, slowly wiped For all our all our
listeners, she was like, shejust put her hand and slowly
wiped it off as she'spresenting.
what
Beckie (05:17):
have just like looked at each other.
I think they're all trying to dothe same as me, so, you know,
British people are quite, we tryand be very polite about things.
You probably know that, butwe're all very much trying to
ignore the situation.
Like it's not happening.
but it fully is and this kid'slike putting his hands like on
(05:39):
me.
Rick (05:39):
part of the interruption, but would you like a piece of
cake?
Kaleem (05:44):
Stew.
Beckie (05:45):
that was, that was great.
I love that.
Rick (05:48):
Yeah.
Beckie (05:49):
So yeah, so that was, um, yeah,
Kaleem (05:52):
Well, okay, so, you slowly wipe the cake off your
face.
Everyone's just looking at thecamera going, nothing to see
here, you know?
Hello?
Rick (06:00):
So you get like smeared frosting and cake on the side of
your head.
You're trying to get throughthis and this kid's over here
nee were you like jumping outtayour skin ready to swear at this
kid in
Beckie (06:13):
I, I,
Rick (06:13):
the, these people that you're trying to win over.
Beckie (06:16):
But
Rick (06:16):
And did what did a swear word slip out?
Like out of anger.
Kaleem (06:20):
internally?
Rick (06:21):
okay.
Kaleem (06:21):
What about moms though?
So you're presenting, you wipethe cake off your face, you have
to do your thing.
Where does moms come in and withthe kid behind you?
Like how does it end?
Like, how does the cake end?
Like, does the mom come and say,I'm so sorry while you're
presenting?
Like, what happened?
Beckie (06:36):
Well so she's still stood in the queue and I'm
trying to control a child that'scovered in cake.
Kaleem (06:42):
Whoa.
Hang on.
I'm sorry.
you say she's still what?
Beckie (06:46):
She's still waiting in the queue to be served, so she's
obviously waiting for thecoffee.
Still, I'm trying to controlthis cake covered child that's
here.
Kaleem (06:55):
child,
Beckie (06:57):
And then, and then the wifi decides, it was the worst
call in the world.
The wifi decides that it'shaving a field day, so that then
starts dipping in and out.
So I have to leave the call,come back into the call.
I'm like, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry about this.
I'm so sorry about this.
I'm so, so just apologizing.
(07:18):
They were like, Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Kaleem (07:21):
Dead face.
Wow.
Beckie (07:25):
Um,
Kaleem (07:26):
So what happened?
Did you land the deal?
Beckie (07:28):
yeah, surprisingly, I dunno, it took them about two
weeks to come back to me and Iwas just thinking, oh, no, no,
they're gonna see me onLinkedIn, they're gonna, you
know,
Kaleem (07:39):
Did you ever say anything to the mom?
Beckie (07:41):
well, she came back and then she, I think she saw what
had happened and she was justlike, I am so sorry.
And then she was like,
Rick (07:48):
acknowledged
Beckie (07:49):
no, she was, she was totally cool, but she was like,
I told him to sit there and eathis cake and I'm so sorry.
And'cause he was trying to grabthe laptop, so I had like a bit
of cake on the laptop too.
I think he was just bored andthought there was something that
he could watch on my screen.
So yeah, I've made sure that I'malways prepared from now on.
I don't sit next to any kind ofkids when I'm, when I'm in a
(08:11):
coffee
Rick (08:12):
With any consolation that kid's got a corrections facility
in his future, I'm sure.
Kaleem (08:17):
Oh my God.
Rick (08:20):
You don't do that shit in public kid.
Kaleem (08:22):
and he is like wiping cake on people's faces still.
He is like, yeah, yeah.
Rick (08:28):
Please tell me that as a, thank you for their business.
You sent them a cake
Beckie (08:32):
Okay.
Yeah,
Kaleem (08:34):
Oh, you should do it anyway.
You should do it.
Beckie (08:37):
yeah,
Rick (08:38):
oh man.
Becky, that is such an amazingstory.
We're so glad that you couldshare that with us.
That's great.
Beckie (08:44):
Yeah.
I just make sure that I'm alwaysnow fully prepared.
'cause I thought obviously whatwe do is we promote this.
So whatever I'm doing now, I'mpromoting that on the call.
So, you know, good wifi, quietareas and all I've got is
rubbish wife,
Rick (09:01):
Yeah.
Kaleem (09:01):
rubbish.
Beckie (09:01):
all over me.
I'm like, I promise youremployees will not have the same
experience.
When they're working remotely.
A hundred percent.
Rick (09:08):
Amazing, amazing.
Becky Jones, where can ourlisteners find you?
Kaleem (09:13):
Yes, yes.
Beckie (09:14):
mainly on LinkedIn.
I'm just kind of always hoveringaround on there.
So yeah, so feel free to connectwith me on there.
Um,
Kaleem (09:22):
addresss, of course, for the company.
If they want to learn about moreabout it.
Beckie (09:26):
yeah, so it's www reef rocks.
That is it.
On there you can find out allabout how we work with both
teams and we work withindividuals to enhance people's
remote working lives.
Kaleem (09:37):
That is fascinating.
Once again, thank you so muchfor doing this and if you have
another story, we'll have tobring you back on This one was
pretty funny,
Beckie (09:46):
I've got plenty.
Rick (09:48):
Oh,
Kaleem (09:48):
much.
Yes.
Awesome.
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