1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: new world of work, where the location and hours are 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: more flexible than in the past. This week we've been 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: talking about some practical and surprising items to keep in 6 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: a home office. Today's tip is to display a memento 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: to remind yourself of where you work and why. When 8 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: you're working remotely, it's vital to set up your homework 9 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: space for maximum productivity, and it's also valuable to set 10 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: it up to be meaningful and motivating. The right memento 11 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: can help with that. I think we've all heard the 12 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: story of the three workers carving blocks of stone. One 13 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: said he was just shaping a block, another said he 14 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: was helping to build a wall. The third said he 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: was building a cathedra. All of course, the tasks the 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: workers were doing were exactly the same, but the meaning 17 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: they ascribed to their work was different. When you're working remotely, 18 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: especially by necessity rather than by choice, it's easy to 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: get consumed by carving stones. Show up for this video conference, 20 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: edit this report, prepare that presentation. Propose how your department 21 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: can cut its budget what's harder is to keep connected 22 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: to the bigger purpose of your work. And yet presumably 23 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: your organization isn't sending emails and hosting meetings just to 24 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: do so. Presumably there is a purpose behind it. Whether 25 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: your cathedral is tangible like making outdoor equipment, or more conceptual, 26 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: such as helping other companies be more efficient, it can 27 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: be helpful to keep your eye on these things. And 28 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: if these cathedrals don't move you, maybe you can still 29 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: find meaning in the relationship aspects of your job. You've 30 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: helped several people get promoted into management where they can 31 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: try out leadership skills for the first time, or you're 32 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: proud of all the young people you've mentored in your organization. 33 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: In any case, think about what makes your work rewarding 34 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: to you. Then, to make your remote workspace motivating, figure 35 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 1: out a memento that captures that value. It could be 36 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: a photo of your nephew hiking the Appalachian Trail wearing 37 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: a backpack that your company designed. It could be a 38 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: framed thank you note from someone who's promotion you helped, 39 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: orchestrate a desk clock with the logo from a conference, 40 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: or you volunteer extensively, or a newspaper clipping profiling the 41 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: positive work culture at the business you lead. If you're 42 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: a solo worker like me, identifying a memento of your 43 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: work can be a little trickier, but it's still worth doing. 44 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: I keep copies of my books in my office and 45 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: posters or photos from events. Sometimes I print up and 46 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: display emails from people who found my time management advice useful. 47 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: These physical mementos connect me to the why of my job. 48 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: Day to day life can sometimes be a slog but 49 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: keeping a little reminder of the cathedral you're building can 50 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: give you a nudge to keep going. In the meantime, 51 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: This is Laura, thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding 52 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: in the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is 53 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit 54 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 55 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: get your favorite shows.