I find I’m most productive working in a space that’s comfortable
\nand filled with things I like — which in my case means my home
\noffice.<\/p>\n
What can you tell about a person by the way he decorates his
\noffice?<\/p>\n
In my case, I look around and immediately see the following:<\/p>\n
1–A fax machine. People tell me fax is old technology. I wouldn’t
\ngive mine up; I even maintain a dedicated phone line for it.<\/p>\n
2–A gigantic wall poster of about two dozen of the major Marvel
\nsuperheroes.<\/p>\n
3–A small abstract oil painting by my friend and sometimes
\ncoauthor Gary Blake.<\/p>\n
4–A framed picture of my two sons when they were young. Press a
\nbutton on the frame and it plays a message they recorded for me
\naround when the picture was taken!<\/p>\n
5–Many other photos of my kids all over the walls.<\/p>\n
6–Several toy robots including Robbie the Robot from Forbidden
\nPlanet and Robot B-9 from Lost in Space.<\/p>\n
7–My two favorite coffee mugs, one that says “I’m a chemical
\nengineer — just like a regular guy, only smarter” … and the
\nsecond which reads, “My story begins in Paterson, NJ.”<\/p>\n
8–A picture of my little sister and I when we were very young,
\nholding hands.<\/p>\n
9–A picture of Stan Lee, personally autographed and made out to
\nme and my boys — a gift from copywriter Peter Fogel.<\/p>\n
10–A scale model of a 1962 Chevy Belair, the car my father bought
\nnew when I was 5. He died 22 years ago when I was 37, so it has
\ngreat sentimental meaning to me.<\/p>\n
11–A framed certificate recognizing me as a member of the
\nAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineers since 1979. Why? It’s
\na beautiful certificate, nicer-looking than my college diploma,
\nwhich hangs directly below it.<\/p>\n
12–A handsome Successories desk clock with a transparent center
\nthrough which you can see the faux gears (the clock runs on a
\nbattery). Also a gift.<\/p>\n
13–A cabinet and rack with dozens of assorted CDs — mostly rock,
\njazz, classical, and pop — from Madonna and Elvis, to Maynard
\nFerguson and Beethoven, to Gerry Mulligan and Eminem. And of
\ncourse a boom box to play it.<\/p>\n
14–A poster of Grumpy Cat that says “Go Away.”<\/p>\n
15–A desk lamp that simulates the wavelength of natural sunlight.
\nIt is supposed to make one less grumpy. I have no idea whether it
\naffects my mood one way or the other, though I suspect not.<\/p>\n
16–Oddly, only a very few reference books. Reason: I need the
\nshelves in my office bookcases for three-ring binders, which hold
\nthe background materials for each of my current and recent
\ncopywriting projects. I have plenty of bookcases in nearby rooms
\nholding my other books. No need to clutter my limited workspace
\nwith them.<\/p>\n
17–My desk faces a window overlooking our one-acre heavily wooded
\nback yard. Almost every day I see a small herd of deer march past
\nmy office window.<\/p>\n
18–I had a fishbowl with a beta fish I got as a gift, but it was
\ntoo small. So I got him a tank with proper lighting and
\nfiltration. But I was out of space in the office so he’s now
\nacross the hall. I miss looking at the little guy!<\/p>\n
19–I have two 4-drawer metal file cabinets that hold hanging file
\nfolders — and a few steps away, down in a large finished room in
\nour basement, 8 more just l like them.<\/p>\n
20–I have a framed Mark Alan Stamaty poster with a slightly
\nmocking cartoon of how Madison Avenue advertising agencies work —
\na gift from the Village Voice given back in the day when I was an
\nadvertising manager who bought ad space.<\/p>\n
My dirty little secret: all of these add up to a strangely warm,
\nfamiliar, fun, and comforting environment in which I MUST be to
\ndo my work.<\/p>\n
I am in awe of you who are able to work productively anywhere
\noutside of your home office — on a plane, at the beach, in a
\nhotel room, Starbucks.<\/p>\n
I just can’t do it. Nor do I want to. Since I love to work and
\ncan only do so at maximum output in my home office, the result is
\nI am here 12 hours a day, despise travel, and seldom go anywhere.<\/p>\n
Not everyone has the same preferences, though, and what makes one person productive may not have the same effect on someone else.<\/p>\n
Some people value a quiet environment with very few distractions, while others enjoy having familiar objects around them or working alongside colleagues. Recognising these differences is part of understanding people beyond their job titles and daily responsibilities.<\/p>\n