I live in Franklin, TN just south of Nashville. We have open fields and sprawling pastures with miles and miles of horse fences. And yet the new office buildings going up don’t seem to recognize the beauty of nature all around us. The newest development started with a parking garage, then a high rise office building, and now an apartment complex. Everything seems to be designed to remove the inhabitants from any contact with grass, water or trees. I don’t understand the desire to create an artificial environment of glass, chrome, and elevators.
Human Filing Cabinets. I ran across this term recently in reference to office buildings — and it made my skin crawl. Much has been said about the depersonalization of the modern technology worker’s work space. How can one be creative, innovative and contributing when in a work environment that has all the ambience of a caged chicken pen? When I drive by the high-rise buildings, I cringe in mental pain for those trapped inside in surroundings that remove them from the richness of nature.
Here’s a piece from “The Dilbert Principle,” by Scott Adams:
Boss – “We’ve got a lot of empty cubicles because of downsizing. I hired the Dogbert construction company to convert part of the office into prison cells which we’ll lease to the state.”
Dilbert – “Sounds like a big job.”
Boss – “ Nah, a little paint, new carpet and we’re there.”
The cartoons continue to relate the differences in employees and prisoners; namely that the prisoners had a better health plan. And ultimately, the plan to use spare cubicles as prison cells had to be abandoned because of too many complaints from the prisoners.
Work settings cannot be alienating and dehumanizing if we are to produce anything beyond what a machine could produce. Anything resembling “Human Filing Cabinets” will ultimately suck the life, energy and thinking intelligence out of those who succumb to that alternative.
Okay, I know there’s a lot of personal preference here and not everyone will view it as I do. But I hear from people Every Single Day who describe their work environment as stifling and sucking their souls out of them.
I carefully designed my work area. I selected the colors to be calming, the wood to be rich and energizing, the window to face a waterfall with a view of our bronze eagle. I hear the sounds of birds, glance up to see rabbits playing, and the occasional deer with a baby fawn. It’s here that I can think, create and hopefully inspire others to tap into their greatest passions and talents.
Did you chose the work space you have now or were you thrust into it as part of your “job?” If you work for yourself were you intentional about creating a space that would foster your best work or did you grab a $20 chair and an old door for a desk? How would your “work” change if you were in the perfect environment?
Ouch! Man, did that hit home with me. I am sitting in my office with my spirit, motivation and life kinda sucked out of me. Everyday, I get up, get ready, pack my lunch, catch a bus, sit and say a prayer for inspiration and motivation, get off the bus after 30 minute ride, go in the ’employee’ entrance and I can just feel the dread come over me. Walk up 5 flights of stairs, open my office, etc etc etc. I have been doing this day-in and day-out for 12-15 years now. Just stuck in a big rut!!!!
Bob – wow that doesn’t sound like much fun to me. If that’s your perspective on it as well then I’m confident your mind is working to help you “see” better options. Keep believin!
I am sorry that you are losing that country feeling Dan.
But…
I thoroughly enjoyed the area that you live in around Franklin, TN You live in very nice settings. To the north of you in Cool Springs, glass office buildings continue to spring up. Nissan has its corporate headquarters in Cool Springs as well as other companies. I miss the grocery stores in the Great State of Tennessee. You have a Whole Foods Market that is second to none along with other top notch stores.
One of my favorites, Dave Ramsey is also located in the Cool Springs area. Dave’s wife really picked out a very nice building for Dave and Ramsey Solutions formerly Financial Peace University and I am thankful that Dave had you on his program several years ago.
It helps that the Great State of Tennessee does not have a State Income tax and that Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and Murfreesboro do not have a city income tax.
I wish that Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky would be like Tennessee.
Patrick – yeah I love it here. But because it’s so beautiful it attracts aggressive “development” as well. Can’t have it both ways I guess.
I used to work with a large high-tech company that had massive “cube farms” in each building. It was amazing how many people were packed into these buildings. Sadly, they would occasionally do a “compression” – where they made each cube a little smaller (moving one side of the cube in by 12 inches) to make room for more cubes. Thus, the cage kept getting smaller!
I’m fortunate now that I have a small office that looks out on trees and grass with beautiful hills in the background. Just glancing out my window is refreshing – and a nice walk is just outside my door. As you noted, work environment is critical. Large, sterile buildings are not supportive of creative thinking.
Dan, I like the care you’ve put into creating an environment that fuels your soul and, hence, your creativity and performance. Few people consider how important this decision is. I’m out here in Jackson, Wyoming looking out the window to the Teton range amidst a blue sky day. This is a very healthy environment for me. Boy, am I inspired both by what I’m seeing and what I’m reading from you. Thanks!
There is a lake not far from my home office. From time to time, I drive there and sit a while to watch the ducks swim and occassionally I’ll spot a deer. I’ll pack a few sandwhiches and bring some books along. The peace and quiet that is here floods my mind with new ideas to serve others. I love this time of year. Plus, being disconnected from all the media that is around us constanty is cleansing for the mind and spirit.
Joe and the Volcano, a Tom Hanks movie.
Fortunately, I do not work in a cubicle Dan, but I have in the past. I do, however, work in an interior office devoid of a window or natural light. It definitely sucks the life from me daily so I have set out on an adventure seeking greener pastures.