WEBVTT - The New Corner Office: Display a work memento

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office,

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<v Speaker 1>the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the

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<v Speaker 1>new world of work, where the location and hours are

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<v Speaker 1>more flexible than in the past. This week we've been

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<v Speaker 1>talking about some practical and surprising items to keep in

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<v Speaker 1>a home office. Today's tip is to display a memento

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<v Speaker 1>to remind yourself of where you work and why. When

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<v Speaker 1>you're working remotely, it's vital to set up your homework

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<v Speaker 1>space for maximum productivity, and it's also valuable to set

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<v Speaker 1>it up to be meaningful and motivating. The right memento

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<v Speaker 1>can help with that. I think we've all heard the

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<v Speaker 1>story of the three workers carving blocks of stone. One

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<v Speaker 1>said he was just shaping a block, another said he

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<v Speaker 1>was helping to build a wall. The third said he

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<v Speaker 1>was building a cathedra. All of course, the tasks the

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<v Speaker 1>workers were doing were exactly the same, but the meaning

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<v Speaker 1>they ascribed to their work was different. When you're working remotely,

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<v Speaker 1>especially by necessity rather than by choice, it's easy to

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<v Speaker 1>get consumed by carving stones. Show up for this video conference,

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<v Speaker 1>edit this report, prepare that presentation. Propose how your department

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<v Speaker 1>can cut its budget what's harder is to keep connected

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<v Speaker 1>to the bigger purpose of your work. And yet presumably

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<v Speaker 1>your organization isn't sending emails and hosting meetings just to

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<v Speaker 1>do so. Presumably there is a purpose behind it. Whether

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<v Speaker 1>your cathedral is tangible like making outdoor equipment, or more conceptual,

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<v Speaker 1>such as helping other companies be more efficient, it can

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<v Speaker 1>be helpful to keep your eye on these things. And

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<v Speaker 1>if these cathedrals don't move you, maybe you can still

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<v Speaker 1>find meaning in the relationship aspects of your job. You've

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<v Speaker 1>helped several people get promoted into management where they can

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<v Speaker 1>try out leadership skills for the first time, or you're

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<v Speaker 1>proud of all the young people you've mentored in your organization.

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<v Speaker 1>In any case, think about what makes your work rewarding

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<v Speaker 1>to you. Then, to make your remote workspace motivating, figure

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<v Speaker 1>out a memento that captures that value. It could be

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<v Speaker 1>a photo of your nephew hiking the Appalachian Trail wearing

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<v Speaker 1>a backpack that your company designed. It could be a

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<v Speaker 1>framed thank you note from someone who's promotion you helped,

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<v Speaker 1>orchestrate a desk clock with the logo from a conference,

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<v Speaker 1>or you volunteer extensively, or a newspaper clipping profiling the

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<v Speaker 1>positive work culture at the business you lead. If you're

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<v Speaker 1>a solo worker like me, identifying a memento of your

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<v Speaker 1>work can be a little trickier, but it's still worth doing.

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<v Speaker 1>I keep copies of my books in my office and

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<v Speaker 1>posters or photos from events. Sometimes I print up and

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<v Speaker 1>display emails from people who found my time management advice useful.

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<v Speaker 1>These physical mementos connect me to the why of my job.

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<v Speaker 1>Day to day life can sometimes be a slog but

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<v Speaker 1>keeping a little reminder of the cathedral you're building can

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<v Speaker 1>give you a nudge to keep going. In the meantime,

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<v Speaker 1>This is Laura, thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding

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<v Speaker 1>in the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is

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<v Speaker 1>a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit

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<v Speaker 1>the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you

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<v Speaker 1>get your favorite shows.