Newsletter
#WFH Diaries: Brett Winn of The Refinery
As confinement continues in most parts of the world, we’re checking in with creative people to see how they’re faring. Here’s an update from Brett Winn at entertainment agency The Refinery.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
Lover of all entertainment, especially movies and series … with a major in marketing and business and a minor in music and guitar.
Where are you living right now, and who’s with you?
Right now, I live in Encino, California, with my wife, 13-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son.
What’s your work situation like at the moment?
My entire staff and I are working from home. I’ve got a small office attached to our bedroom that I now spend 10-12 hours a day in.
Describe your socializing strategy.
ZOOM … ZOOM … ZOOM. We’re trying to infuse as much fun with our work as we can, as creatively as we can. We’re holding Zoom seminars, held by both internal team members as well as outside guests. We are doing Zoom cocktail hours and birthday celebrations. We are also hosting fun Zoom events, such as Trivia Night, Mixology Classes and Show Club (think book club but for series).
How are you dealing with childcare?
I help our kids with their homework from 8-10 a.m. (until my work day starts) and then again from 7 p.m. until bedtime. We try to sneak in bike rides and basketball in the middle of the day and fun activities at night like game nights, movie nights and paint nights.
What are you reading?
Music bios on my favorite bands… Van Halen, Roger Daltry and Mötley Crüe.
What are you watching?
Unorthodox, Dispatchers From Elsewhere, Outsider, Modern Love and I’m Sorry.
What are you listening to?
Bon Jovi, Prince, Billy Joel, Van Halen, Trailer Geeks & Teaser Gods.
How are you staying fit?
Peloton! I’m addicted!
Have you taken up a hobby?
I’ve been painting! I really love it. The classes at yaymaker.com are awesome.
Any tips for getting necessities?
Instacart.
An awkward moment since all this started.
Installing a bidet on our toilet and watching my son try it for the first time.
Best work email you got since all this started.
A client email thanking us for “nailing it” and noticing how many hoops we had to jump through to make it happen. ?
An aha! moment since all this started.
Zoom meetings for EVERYTHING! Buy stock in Zoom!
What’s your theory on how this is going to play out?
Who knows when we will all be back in an office, but I think we’ve discovered just how much can get done out of the office. I think the process will be forever changed and office space will be utilized differently moving forward.
