I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for modern innovations which have made operating an office from afar much, much easier.

From the time my sister migrated to the other side of the globe, I've been left to run the family biz in Negros by remote control from Manila.  The task is much easier because of email.  However, what I am extremely thankful for are the "2G" business weapons currently available.

To wit,

1) Globelines - There are no charges to call from a Globelines phone in Makati or Mandaluyong to a Globelines phone in Bacolod.  No charges too the other way around.

2) Google Spreadsheets - much, much better than emailing an Excel sheet.  Google Spreadsheets allows you to track changes on the fly.  The accountant back home edits a cell or makes an entry on the FS/Balance Sheet or whatever, and the changes are seen on my screen in real time.  Furthermore, while the spreadsheet is open, one can raise an online query or make a comment with the chat function always ready at the corner of the screen.

Then again that chat function is somewhat useless considering that one can use Globelines.  So as I work on Google Spreadsheets with a speakerphone on and connected via Globelines, I can just imagine that I'm actually next door to the office back home.

I guess this 2G thing is a more primitive form of "Beam me up, Scottie".  Nevertheless, I am content.  It gets the job done.

Q.E.D.