26/7/05

Busy days busy days. I read an article on my way to the school for band teaching. I haven't been so hard working since the end of last exam. Well, getting more school work isn't a bad thing actually. It makes you appreciate the free time more. Human are just so confusing. Too much free time, complain. Too little free time, complain too.

If i were to label going to school as a negative event, the having a high degree of this negative event would cause your positive events to be happier.

In science, if you hold an ice cube for 1 minute and run your hand in normal tap water, you would feel that its warm. Its the same principle. If your hand is already warm, then you won't feel the effect of the tap water.

Slice of Life

Inspiring Workplaces (Part 2)

Today, let's continue to explore ways of turning our workplaces into inspiring environments.

What's in the air in your office? I mean the sounds. Is the air dead? Is the silence punctuated only by the swivels of the printer?

Never underestimate the power of music to put you on the path to greater creativity. Put on some Mendelssohn, David Lanz or Harold Budd. But what if you don't care for music? True, some people work better in silence, but try putting some relaxing music on at a low volume. You may hardly notice it's there, but it can work powerfully on your inspiration in a subconscious manner. What have you got to lose? Try it out and it might just do the trick.

Colour affects us in very profound ways. Try looking at various colours and feel the emotions they stir in you. Pick out those that seem to invigorate or soothe you and try adding items of those colours in your workspace. If you find that a sea blue colour works for you, try out lamps, curtains, folders, or cabinets in that shade.
Nothing is quite as inspiring as the people we admire. So festoon your office with pictures, magazines, and books on your heroes. What does your idol do so well? Is it a particular sport? Is it an art form? Fill your workplace with material that helps you improve your skill in that area.

You can also add some zest to your business by tapping into a hobby that you can integrate with your traditional work. Are you a coffee connoisseur perhaps? Then set up a coffee bar! Display colourful bags and tins of gourmet coffee from around the world. Serve them to your clients! Your hobby can make not only your workplace more enjoyable, it can also help bring you closer to your customers by tapping into something personal.

Including a chess board in your office is also a good idea. Chess is not merely a game; it's an amazing tool for developing the mind. Playing chess can challenge you and your team to think fast, think under pressure, and to think several moves ahead. It is a fantastic game for developing vision, elements of strategic planning, and for anticipating a potential change from a customer or competitor.

Nature is a potent source of inspiration. If you think you don't have much time to spend outdoors, bring the outdoors in! Whether it's a sun-filled breakfast or conference room, a beautiful potted plant, or a bird bath, you can boost your spirits and create extraordinary joy by bringing nature into your home or office.

I hope these tips have given you some motivation to start turning your workplace into a haven of inspiration.