walls...

I'm realizing more and more how much I learn about life from books and movies, which probably isn't a good thing. I see something that is 'normal' on the movie and that weaves subconscoisly into my mind as the way of life. For instance, according to some of my favorite movies, I am supposed to live in a plush New York apartment with romance always knocking at my door.

In some movies (especially those with that main plot centered around a journalist), there is the boss behind a glass door, completely walled it. In order to approach this boss, the employee must muster up large amounts of courage, the same amount of nervous sweat, and have something really important to 'bother' the boss with, namely a promotion or firing.

So, entering this corporate world, I expected some of these themes to be true. I expected, not nessarily an unappraochable castle that my boss would sit in, but that some sort of wall, whether that be physical or relational, would exist. The first few times I had something to say (even if it was some casual signature or request), I would sit and wait until just the right time to walk the ten steps to his desk, nervous that I wouldn't speak correctly.

It's funny to think that I thought this was the way things would be, and that I was nervous about it because since then, the levels of formality that I have been taught all my life (mainly from movies), have completely evaporated. I realize, as my co-workers have obviously done before me, that these walls and barriers we like to set up between us and people are not worth the supposed superiority they bring, but sharing and collaborating together is worth so much more. I'm realizing that superiority doesn't equal complete and utter formality all the time, but being real with someone is so much more important.

I'm learning that the business world isn't all about business. While getting business done, you must chat with people on a personal level, I mean, we're all people anyway. When this happens, business gets done faster. When beginning, I was afraid to chat with people about what was happening in my life, or show any type of personality at all, lest it take away from my work. Now, I realize this is utterly ridiculous.

All this to say, don't let walls get in your way. People want to be people, not stiff characters walking around. We all have personalities and lives waiting to be shared, and when this happens, business advances. We feel more comfortable with those whom we share our desk with and therefore more willing to share ridiculous ideas, and its those completely ridiculous ones that normally end up going somewhere :)

thinking time...

I deal with transactions every day. Whether I go to the grocery store, mall, or even call my doctor, I'm used to transactional interactions. You do what you have to do, complete the documentation and move on. I get my goods or services completed and go on to the next thing. rarely do I experience more than this in daily life.

All of my previous work environments have been this way as well. I worked as a barista, saying hello, making a drink, taking their money and saying goodbye. Done. Next customer. This cycle repeats itself over again throughout the day and week and month. It's a very linear type of thinking with many checks and balances to ensure consistency, accuracy, and overall satisfaction with the transaction.

Well, say goodbye to those days. For a person like me who loves to check things off the list, that type of job worked well. One customer after the other until everyone was happy. Not much of a challenge, but easy to think about, relate to, and do. Unfortunately, I can't just check things right off the list, I am more than just an element in a transaction. It's like I've discovered a new world where there is more than simple transactions. It's like the child who wants to be a teacher just because that is all they've ever known. I've only known transactions, until now.

This linear thinking is out the window. These days my mind jumps between numerous projects and documents and research. I still have it ingrained in me to input the research or numbers and move on, but there is so much more to it. There are numerous trails of thinking to travel down in order to arrive at a conclusion, and that conclusion may not even be possible. A day isn't watching the clock tick on, waiting until my shift is over, but rather doing things by length of projects. I can't just clock out and go home, these thoughts follow me home until I resume them the next day. Some days I have heaps of ideas and thoughts and motivations and fly through things. Other days it takes me hours to wade through some reading or documentation.

All the while, I have to keep in mind I'm here to learn. so, if I spend my time reading an interesting article on furniture or design, its not wasted time just because something tangible isn't produced. If I schedule a lunch date or sit down and chat with a fellow employee, it's not wasted company time but a means of networking. At the end of the day, every element of my day can't be documented and labeled because so much of it involves time thinking.

After about a month of this, I am still getting used to it. Each person around me is like a little hub of thoughts and ideas, all of us working on something a little different. When we meet to collaborate, we bring these little hubs together to hopefully make a bigger hub. I truly think the challenge is taking these ideas that we spend so much time formulating and making them into something tangible. No, its not a simple transaction, but an idea that if pursued correctly turns into a product or launch or program which ultimately improves the company.

So, my project timeline is long. instead of a few moments, it could be months. but all that said, thinking is hard work and at the end of the day, hopefully my thoughts will produce something proactive, even if it comes to fruition eight months from now.

beginning...

Furniture, a beast of its own.

I entered this internship at Turnstone (a division of Steelcase) knowing full well that I knew nothing about furniture, much less office furniture. As a student, over half way through college, I consider myself a fairly well-educated individual, well-travelled, versed, and with an array of experiences. Ask me about writing papers, researching a, b, or c or anything about making a good latte and I can talk with you for hours. Talk to me about binding books, taking photos, travelling or working with the internet and we can easily have a fairly engaging conversation. Ask me about office furniture and you'll shut me right up, until I started working with it, that is.


To me, furnishing my apartment or desk means logging on to Craig’s list or a walk around the neighborhood garage sales. I own all of three pieces of furniture myself, all purchased second hand or handed down to me from family and friends. Sure, I’ve browsed nice design books and walked through furniture stores, but never before have I sat down and actually thought about furniture for any length of time.

So, two weeks ago I found myself amidst pages and pages of speculations and technical information for pieces that I can admire and say, 'great workspace' but know nothing about. I now completely understand why the average joe doesn't install office furniture on a regular basis. there are so many components and parts and pieces that make a workstation its own. Its not just desks and drawers but measurements, electrical devices, cushions, colors, fabrics, shapes and an array of other options. The possibilities are endless making one's mind swim. Seriously, anything can happen with these spaces. Customizable to the max.

It really is an interesting and intriguing world, its own world that very few people think about. People just see panels and desks and drawers without realizing that there are options for creative spaces, for collaborating and a whole office can be set up without a single carpeted panel. Incredible. Office furniture is actually cool, innovative and attractive.