I believe working from home is the way of the day, age and future. With the world so well connected through wireless, laptops, phones, iPhones, BlackBerrys, BlackBerry Messenger, Instant Messaging, GChat, video chat, Skype and Internet cafes, connecting with a colleague or client has never been more convenient.

Additionally, with the closing of larger corporations, we are now entering an era of the niche service. People are slowly starting to realize how to customize their services to a specific niche. It is less costly, the relationships are stronger and there is less red tape and digging through large company directories to try to find the right human to speak with.

Of course, there are some downsides to not working in an office. Passing Joe by the coffee machines might remind you to follow up with that client you both met with last week. Seeing Amy at reception might remind you to put up an auto-reply on your email while you are in meetings all afternoon.

Here are some useful home office tips I have found very helpful in keeping myself organized in Brooklyn:

• Have a landline in addition to your cell phone. BlackBerrys and iPhones make life pretty easy, but a call through a landline will never drop on you or create static. I am used to using a BlackBerry for work and personal, but I also like having a landline, with a light that blinks for voicemails and a speakerphone. A landline can even change your presence over the phone.
• Have a large calendar over your desk. In addition to keeping track of things on your computer’s calendar and your phone’s calendar and, maybe even, a small planner you carry with you, have something large and visible over your desk as well. It’s an extra thing to write on, but writing something down three times will also keep you from forgetting.
• Keep a dry erase board for weekly and monthly goals. Dry erase boards save paper and they are a great way to keep your goals organized and color-coordinated.
• Purchase cabinets and shelves with closing doors. In a home office, it’s easy to get trapped between being home and being in the office. Having closing cabinets will help you close down on nights and weekends.
• Pick a spot in your home with good natural light. Plants and sunlight will also keep your mood chipper and your oxygen flow higher.

These tips can also apply to your workspace in your away-from-home office as well. I wonder how many global travelers work from home offices?

– Courtney Centeno, account executive

This past Saturday, I sat down in my seat on SWISS on my way to Geneva. I turned my phone off and stopped communication with the world for seven hours. I landed and turned on my BlackBerry again. The news I read just seven hours before had quickly become yesterday’s news. New headlines and new emails started my day.

When a headline catches my attention, I stop and take note for a moment. Frankly, unless the headline affects me directly, it is very easy not to pay further attention beyond that moment and to simply move on. I’m willing to bet most people operate in this manner. However, when tragedy hits in your own backyard, you cannot simply turn the page of the newspaper or flick an off switch and move on. The tragedy, its problems and its aftermath lives for days, months and even years.

Some tragedy in the news is harder to get away from than others. Over the last few weeks, Haiti has been on the news around the world. I have seen the coverage in Dubai, New York and now France. I also know there are new headlines in the papers every day pushing the news and people of Haiti further and further away from the minds of people around the world, including mine.

However, just before my flight to Switzerland on Saturday, my Haitian friend contacted me. I asked how he was doing, how his family was doing. I knew before he even responded that I probably did not want to know the answer. My trepidation was confirmed when he responded, “Not good. Some are okay, some are dead, and some are still missing.”

For my friend, this tragedy, which has had its day in the headlines, will stay with him for life. Perhaps the next person you sit next to on a flight, train or subway will personally know the impacts of a tragedy, but you, hopefully, will not. We have all been asked recently to dig a little deeper into our pockets for charitable donations. Please continue to donate and help the people of Haiti or those who were once in the headlines but are now yesterday’s news.

There are wonderful charities all around, for all types of causes. In addition to charities dedicated to Haitian earthquake relief efforts, there are established charities that need your help as well, including the Mentor Foundation, GT’s charity in 2010. Please continue to research how you can help.

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

I love to give credit when credit is due, and credit is due to the weathermen and women in New York City. Their predictions for the weather this past weekend were absolutely right — they predicted snow and snow it did! I was fortunate enough to be in upstate New York for the first snowfall, where four to five inches accumulated into a winter wonderland.  I was with great company, surrounded by incredible food and wine, which only made the snowfall that much better.

I was born on Long Island, but I am a winter girl at heart. I love being in the snow and visiting the mountains whenever I can. This weekend, I was reminded of the time I spent in Vermont, as a student at the University of Vermont. Everyone there loved to be outdoors in the summer or the winter. Skiing and hiking the local mountains, Stowe, Sugarbush or Jay Peak, were popular activities. I know anybody reading this who knows me now can’t picture me with anything but my stilettos and BlackBerry, but it’s amazing what you learn about people, or yourself, when given a chance in a new environment.

For all those beach lovers out there (especially those dwelling in a city), as winter gets underway across North America, take a step outside your typical comfort zone and breathe in some fresh mountain air! I’m full of great suggestions for weekend getaways if you need any ideas. And if you have some ideas for excursions, send them my way!

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Have you ever been walking down the street and felt compelled down a different block for no apparent reason? Or have you ever instinctively looked at your window and seen something spectacularly unexpected? I don’t know why things like this happen, but I am one of those people who believes hard work pays off, and some things just happen for a reason.

About two weeks ago, I was walking home from running errands, minding my own business, with iPod in one hand and BlackBerry in the other. As usual, I was paying no attention to what was going on around me. I just wanted to get to my apartment building without any distractions. My feet know the way home from Sixth Avenue without me having to think. By now they also know how to avoid the ever-present paparazzi huddled near the hotels on my neighborhood block.

On this particular day, I turned my corner and noticed there were not too many people with cameras. When I turned the corner, however, I noticed the longest pair of legs I had ever seen. I looked up to see where the legs ended and found an even longer torso, attached to a handsome face, standing somewhere around six-feet-seven-inches or six-feet-eight-inches.

I walked right by, but for some reason, on that particular day, I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around. I looked at him again and noticed he was standing alone with a tennis bag and credentials around his neck. I went over and asked if he was going to the U.S. Open. He politely smiled and said yes. I returned his smile and wished him good luck. He thanked me and I continued on my way. After a few minutes, I was kicking myself for not asking his name, but I figured I would try and find him on TV over the weekend if I happened to watch the Open.

I didn’t watch any tennis until last night, when I saw the Men’s Final. I understood then why I turned around that day two weeks ago. I was watching a very tall Argentinean beating the No. 1 player and defending champion Roger Federer. As the final point was played and the new winner was announced, there was no mistaking the smile and shining eyes as the same Juan Martin del Potro I had unknowingly wished good luck on the first day of his tournament play two weeks ago. Congratulations, Juan Martin!

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

I often wonder — why do I like flying so much? In the past week, I’ve been on five flights — stepping foot in JFK, Salt Lake City Airport, SFO, Sea-Tac and Dulles. This flight path included the not-very-enjoyable flight I blogged about last week and a red-eye from Seattle to D.C. However, despite being a little cranky from lack of sleep on the red-eye, I loved it.

I think a large part of it for me, besides the fact that we are flying in fantastic machinery, is the take-off and landing. These are times, about 15-20 minutes, where I am unreachable and can’t be on my computer or BlackBerry, being lured towards work. I know some people may disagree or argue a spa can be more relaxing (don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t miss a spa session either!), but there is something about being in an airplane. I use the time to reflect on myself, take the time to focus on what lies ahead and just let my mind wander to a quiet state — a state unreachable in the hustle and bustle of New York City.

When I read Jackie’s blog yesterday, it took me back to a flight in Alitalia’s Magnifica Class, from JFK. Just boarding was like stepping into Italy. Mid-flight, I reclined my chair, looked out the window and stared at the stars from 30,000 feet while floating over the ocean. A pretty remarkable flying experience in my book!

I’d love to hear what you, fellow frequent flyers, love about flying!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher