That 5% Together

At the beginning of April, I attended an in-person meetup with my new team—fellow leads coming together for a few days of real-life collaboration. For a fully distributed company, these moments are rare and incredibly special. And honestly? Magic happens when we gather.

It’s exhausting, yes—but it’s also fascinating. You get to witness growth in real time. You learn together. You connect on a whole new level.

I still remember something our CEO said when I first joined Automattic: “We spend 95% of our time working alone. The 5% we spend together is special.” And it is. That 5% matters.

While I was in Frankfurt, a friend asked if I was out exploring the city and having fun. I was having fun—but in a different way. Inside a room with the team, deep in a packed agenda, going through presentations, exercises, and meaningful conversations. We were learning. We were working. And we were doing it together.

I adore working remotely—from home, with Bruce curled up nearby, enjoying long afternoon walks and quiet early mornings at my desk. But I also deeply appreciate these short trips where we meet, talk, and build together. It may sound like a perk, but it’s far more than that—it’s a core part of what makes distributed work so human. And it’s something I never want to give up!