Exciting, right? I got my own office, my very own office. Mine. I can have privacy, I can listen to music out loud without anyone hearing. I can do things without people watching over my shoulder. Seems like a dream come true.
* Cue sound of happy thoughts coming to a screeching halt. *
The first few days of being in an office, away from the team room is… lonely! I tell you what. I’ve been working with my team for a few years now, all in the same room. I can turn around and chat at anytime, ask questions – be part of collaboration as it happens. In my office, there is none of that. I turn around and I see a wall. No friendly team working away.
I’m just getting used to the office, the loneliness that it brings. I hate to say this, but it’s true… the office makes me like meetings more. Alone time has such a high value for me. It’s great, things can get done so much better. Lonely time, though, not so great. If I sit in my office I may go hours without seeing anyone other than the construction crew go by.
While the office brings loneliness, it also makes collaboration and planning so much easier. When I need to plan something, or collaborate – I can. The door shuts, no one can come – and planning can occur. Writing on the white board, or scribbling notes on paper to classical music is something that can’t be beat – at least to me.
Soon I will grow accustomed to the silence of my own thoughts. The soft classical music coming from the iMac, and the footsteps of people walking up and down and up and down the hall. I hope that they may stop by and say hi, they may need me for something. As it sits, my office is where I will be. Quiet, lonely, office.
Would I trade it for anything? Nope. Not at all. With transition comes awkwardness. A new discovery of life. I am in a new place of discovery, of finding out what it is like to have an office. My mind is shifting in what I do. I can talk on the phone without anyone hearing. I can use speaker phone! I can watch a YouTube video without everyone wondering what I’m watching.
I really enjoyed reading this, I completely understand how you feel and respect the quiet times like you noted. To go an hour uninterrupted at times is a blessing and such a nice treat.
Good to have both. What you are in public is a reflection of the progress and achievement in personal time. Takes 2 to be valuable to others.
Me and Mocha collaborate on plans everyday.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chris Gratigny. Chris Gratigny said: New blog: My First Office (http://cli.gs/m9J45) http://cli.gs/m9J45 [...]
You are so social I can understand the challenge. Nice thing about the internet is the world is at your fingertips. I find my distractions can be e-mails, Facebook, phone calls.