Feb
21.10
My Great Work office
My friend Jonathan Fields recently gave us a tour of his office. I thought I’d follow in his footsteps and show you how I’ve set up my office – and the tools and structures I use to do more Great Work.
You’ll see hat tips to everyone from Pema Chodron, Hugh MacLeod and Guy Laliberte.
Can’t see the video? You can watch it here.
- Get rid of the crappy stuff
- Great Work Interview: Hugh MacLeod, GapingVoid blogger, and author of Ignore Everybody
- Stop the Busywork #4: When it’s time to escape
Tags: Great Work, Jonathan Fields
Nice feeling to the space, I personally would need shelving at the desk area. Thanks 4 sharing
That was very cool! I loved the cards and the idea of the two desks. Thanks for sharing!
enjoyed the tour of your workspace – good quality video! going to use the 2 desk approach in my office to do great work. Thank you.
Superb presentation. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have a link to the boat story? I can’t spell the name to save my dog’s life! (Probably because I don’t have a dog..)
Cool – glad you like it…
Michael – thanks for taking the tour! I’m trying to figure out how to get two big screens for my computer, inspired by your office. Also love your Buddah and Ganesh statues
Haider – it’s Ernest Shackleton. Google that, and you’ll find lots of info
Fantastic. At last we get to see your office. It’s funny with most of us in the Brain Trust out here on the west coast, I hadn’t realized how much I was hankering to see your space. Really grateful to see it.
And it inspires me to finish my move from my upstairs, toddler-invaded office, down into my new basement office. I’m going to take on the “two desk” idea.
Michael: Great workspace tour. I particularly loved the lighting and sound tips. While I’ve done some studio work and intend to record my own audio and visual, the lighting tip and the egg crate sized sound absorption technique were particularly helpful. I also like the separation of work/though spaces. Like you, I’ve separated my creative and my work spaces. Where I get stuck is with my endless multiple versions of a project I’m working on within my files on the computer. I think that I must waste ten minutes each time I sit down to work, just identifying which file I’m looking for. I think that I’ll start putting their titles in the header of my docs so that I can, as you’ve done with your books, purge my electronic files. I have only one binder of written work. The rest is a mess on my Mac. I start with great intentions of being super organized, but then I see something shiny and I’m off with a new idea or iteration.
Loved this.
Tess
Did that Pema quote read-what is the most important think? or thing?
and ah…that’s why you always seem to answer the phone on the last ring:)
I enjoyed your thought process behind your work space. It helps me understand what I need to improve in my own work space. I don’t do a good enough job of keeping it clean. I also like that you have inspirational reminders throughout your space. I do this as well and it helps keep me motivated.
Thanks for sharing your office! I certainly love the idea of two desks, as well as consciously not allowing your phone to interrupt your day.
Thanks!
Michael,
fantastic tour. I like your mic in box and above all your woollen boots. (besides your Great work:-). It reminds me one Czech saying: “cool head and warm feet”. And I realized that I need thermal comfort for Great Work. Big Aha moment!! Thanks
Eduard – l’m so glad you noticed the ugg boots. And love your Czech saying! Perfect!
Tess – thanks for your kind note. I’m starting to increasingly move stuff to Evernote, where I can just tag it and find it via search. Seems to be working so far.
[...] Michael of Do More Great Work created a video post of his office space. It’s called My Great Work office. My favorite part is his productivity system. I need one of [...]
Michael – this came at exactly the right moment. Trying to integrate my many lifes – Coach, CPA, Writer and now Artist has been driving me CRAZY. There is much to take away from what I saw here.
Sharon – I’m delighted that it struck a chord with you
Michael – Thanks for the tour. It is good to see how successful people organize themselves and the daily work is approached. I would like to learn more about the boat picture too. Will search to find it. This just reinforces what I already know — I am a pack rat. I have got to clean up and throw out stuff. Thanks again.
Don – google ‘Ernest Shackleton’ and his amazing story will open up for you. Thanks for the note.
Michael – I enjoyed hearing the thought process behind why you have your office set up the way you do. I, too, keep the phone across the room. (Well, actually I have an old Princess phone on my desk, but I don’t use it – it’s just for ambience!)
You’ve also inspired me to be mindful of how my various inspirational notes have begun cluttering each other out. Time for a little pruning of my own. And then I’ll do my own office tour!
Nina!
Keeping an eye on the clutter is definitely part of the battle
[...] Michael of Do More Great Work created a video post of his office space. It’s called My Great Work office. My favorite part is his productivity system. I need one of [...]
This totally rocks Michael! Wow. I found going through your office immensely helpful from the brian eno cards (that brian eno??) to the david allen filing inspirations (after reading and listening to the audio version of “getting things done” i remain dazzled but baffled to inaction by his suggestions). I am inspired.
This was delightful. I love the ease of you and the video. I really loved seeing how you set things up. Gives me some great ideas. Thank you.
Thanks, Michael. I’ve admired you for years, and especially appreciate your “real person” persona. Seeing your “real office” inspires me too. Hey, I can do that! (Actually, my office and my living room are the same space currently, but that actually has some advantages too.) Clutter is ever the big battle!
Great post Michael, delighted to see that you’re office away from home is still working out. I really loved your filing system set up and wondered if you might share the labels on your other file boxes so we can get a sense of what lives where and how the files move around. I know you’re a fan GTD of the Productive Flourishing system so interested to know how/if that system has helped shaped your filing system.
Kudos and congrats on a brilliant year to date. Look forward to seeing you soon!
Karen
Wow – this was SuperDuper helpful. In addition to the two desk concept (B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T.)… As did Tess, I specially loved the tips on lights & portable “recording studio.” So smart! Any recommendations on where to purchase those items? Thanks again for sharing the details of your creative command central!
Manisha – glad it helped. I just went to my local photography store and bought the cheapest two light set. Cost me about $150 I think.
So many great ideas, I’m going to define my work spaces more. I’m an artist and songwriter so inspiration strikes anywhere and everywhere but it will be great to have some things to assist in a space I want to work creatively in to help when I do get blocked. Thanks for this!
Great work! Right now I don´t have an real office for my great work. I have the desk in my office and a desk at home, but its in a small room where my girlfriend also works. That´s because I moved to the living room table. I would love to have something set up like your room. What do you recommand for people that have their work and also have their personal projects. How would you set up your workplace?
Hallo Michael, could you put all the links of the stuff you use down below the video? The deck of oblique strategies is not available annymore, I think.
Michael, thank you for this tour! The “little ‘ole me,” tends to imagine that my role models and virtual mentors live and work in grand, luxurious spaces–completely out of my reach. Your office exudes warmth, balance, order, inspiration and utility, packaged beautifully, elegantly and provocatively. I can “Have an office like Michael Bungay Stainer,” and will! Your contributions enrich my life.