Workplace 2005 Telecommuting, virtual offices, dispersed staff . . . if you're worried that you can't keep up with the ever-changing workplace, never fear. Here's a jump-start on new trends and technologies to help you ease your business into the future.

This isn't your grandfather's workplace. We're fiveyears into the new millennium, and businesses everywhere arechanging with the times. It's not just that your monitor isflatter and your cell phone is smaller; it's a whole new world.You can start a global business without ever meeting some of youremployees face to face. These are exciting times that also bringnew challenges to entrepreneurs. How you deal with those challengesthrough management and technology will define your business anddetermine your success.

Between home offices, branch offices, business travel andsubcontractors located halfway across the continent, it's achallenge to keep everybody on the same page when you're noteven in the same time zone. Still, many entrepreneurs are findingthat the advantages of having a diffuse work force outweigh thechallenges. Old-fashioned, face-to-face management techniques haveto be refashioned and reconsidered. We'll look at what it takesto manage your company and employees in a world where workers aregeographically scattered.

So read on as we check in with entrepreneurs whose businesses gooutside the bounds of traditional offices, and find out whattechnologies they use to make it all work. Hardware and softwarehave become the glue that holds their businesses together acrossthe miles. From home offices to virtual offices to global workers,they've seen it all, and their experiences can help you get agrip on your own secondary work sites.