"But where will I work?" you ask.
In your studio.
Huh?
Aren't studios for artists, designers, movie stars, and musicians? Yes, yes they are. And that's what you are.
Huh?
You're the designer of your own life. You're the creator of your own career. You approach your work like an artist approaches a canvas. Yes or no?
If you don't think of yourself that way, you should and you know it. Sometimes all it takes is a shift of vocabulary.
A studio is where you go to think, create, design, build, and be a rock star. Yay!
The office is where you go to do paperwork. Yuck.
A studio has a mysterious aura, as if the place itself contains some creative magic.
The office is predictable and boring.
A studio has energy, color, and tools that help you create cool stuff.
The office has staplers and hole punches.
A studio is full of creatives, mavericks, and world-changers. Yay, again!
The office is full of office workers. Yuck, again.
A studio is the place where you do your absolute best work.
The office has a TV show that makes fun of it.
Here's the great news. You don't have to break your lease or find an abandoned ad agency to move into. You just need to think about your current workspace differently.
Start by calling it a studio.
"Yeah, Bob, I'm headed to my studio right now."
"Let me send you that information when I get back to my studio."
"We could meet at your office, or we could meet at my studio."
I truly believe that if you start thinking about your space this way, your space will begin to transform. It may be subtle at first, like finding a new home for your stapler and hole punch in a drawer. You might eventually go so far as to paint a wall your favorite color and begin to surround yourself with all kinds of positive nouns (people, places, things, and ideas) that inspire you.
A word of warning, though. If you call it a studio, but treat it like an office, your brain will recognize the inconsistency and it will reach out and smack you. Once your brain hears this idea, it will want to go to a studio every day instead of an office. And the last thing you want to disappoint is your own brain.
I'd love to hear how you could transform your office into a studio (or how you've already done so). Post a comment and share your ideas with the world!
Posts
I am fortunate enough to work for an awesome company and I work from home. I have a room in my house that is my 'office' but I have it painted in a soothing color and have it filled with items from beach trips. It's very relaxing and I don't mind my long trip (about 12 steps) to the office. I'm going to rename it My Studio. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow! That sounds great. You will be the envy of many people who read this!. I love the idea of filling your studio with items from trips. Seems like a lot of creativity is sparked when we're relaxed an on vacation. Why not bring some of that back to your studio! Thanks!
ReplyDelete..."And the last thing you want to disappoint is your own brain."
ReplyDeleteI love this quote, and I love this article. My crappy, energy sucking, headache-inducing office is going to get an 'Extreme Makeover' and a new identity...TODAY! Hello, HR Studio!
I look forward to opening emails from you Mark!
Love, love, love this! The actions may be subtle, but the concept of how our surroundings impact us is powerful.
ReplyDeleteMy "studio" is painted in a favorite color scheme. At the present, I am taking photographs of beautiful foilage during the different seasons that will become the art work in my studio to be changed as the seasons change. If the studio becomes routine, I add a new container, folders, etc. in the color scheme. Or, best of all, I move the furniture around (always a favorite way) to mix things up.
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteThat idea of changing with the seasons is really unique and a great way to keep updating your studio with a fresh new look. Inspiring!
Such a great idea! As I read your column, Mark, I'm in New Jersey sitting at my sister's computer in her art studio. I'm here, however, because she died suddenly last week--my beautiful, smart, funny, creative sister. Her studio is filled with light and color and artwork and cartoons. Her drafting table, now forever empty, was where she designed furniture. It's encircled by rows of a hundred colored pencils that she used to draw exquisite dog portraits. Her dog wanders in, knowing he's welcome here. The room is filled with Jan's energy.
ReplyDeleteMy office is less "office-y" than most people's, but your column has inspired me to make that space where I spend so much time more like Jan's studio. Thank you!
Phyllis,
ReplyDeleteI'm touched by your loss and I am sorry for your sadness. Your story made me realize even more that I need to give the world my art. Right now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not next year. Now is all that I've been given. To hold back, hesitate, or wait would be wasting that gift. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.