I'm in a job share situation, which means I also share a desk. I'm a walking disaster area partnered up with a neatnik. However, in my efforts to make our working relationship functional, I agreed to her totally irrational need to keep a clean desk, and she doesn't say anything when I eat all her candy. (Note to job share partner, bring in some chocolate covered pretzels.) It's a good deal.
So, imagine my delight when I saw an article in the New York Times headlined Say Yes to Mess. Ahhh, victory is sweet.
Studies are piling up that show that messy desks are the vivid signatures of people with creative, limber minds (who reap higher salaries than those with neat “office landscapes”) and that messy closet owners are probably better parents and nicer and cooler than their tidier counterparts.
See, I'm a better parent and more creative then she is. (Our salaries, however, are identical--hmmm.) Of course, when you think HR, you don't generally think creative, nice or cool. You generally think (judging by the Google searches that land people here) that the only creative thoughts coming out of HR are ingenius ways to pay people less and fire them more quickly. (Incidentally, I can whip up termination papers in a matter of minutes. Yes, even with a clean desk!)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to search for the Offspring. I know she's around here somewhere. Perhaps under that pile of paper.
8 comments:
Probably because messy people are less structured and rigid therefore are able to dream of better things to do than clean.
That is undoubtedly true. I read once (although non one will believe me) that people who are smart have worse handwriting than, umm, less smart people. Why? Because smart people are more concerned about getting the ideas down and not so smart people have to make sure the presentation is nice, because that is all they have.
Handwriting is the only course I ever flunked. I can, however, type quite well, so I rarely write anything down any more anyway.
Who could find a pen in all this mess?
Super Fudge!
Oliver, I am now thinking warm thoughts about you. Very good!
Although I think the quote might be from Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, but I'm not 100% sure.
This is awesome. All that unfolded laundry just means I'm creative!
Anonymous--I'm right there with you. Why fold the laundry when it's just going to get worn again?
So, I googled "Mess, Mess, I love to Make a Mess" and guess what three results come up? (1) Evil HR Lady (2) Amazon.com: Superfudge (3) epinions. Click here to see for yourself.
So kudos to your for being VERY google-able. And kudos to me for nailing the reference.
Happy New Year!
Wait until you're in a hot desking environment where everyone actually really still would dearly love their own little desk to sit at.
Having a messy desk (and a not enforced clean desk policy, despite the hotdesking) is a sure fire way of getting your own favorite spot back the next day (or time) around!
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