Getting Ahead and Defining Your Space - The Office

Many people want to know how to get recognizedperfume or shaving lotion with water. Lightly spritz the
and known within an organization. They want theirlight bulb on your desk. The warmth of the bulb will
boss and their co-workers to take notice of them. Asend your sent into the air. Be careful that people
couple of days ago I watched a Science Channelaren't allergic to this, and if they complain, stop
program about wolves and I saw connections thatit.COOKIES
combined attributes at work with wolf instinct.To beOccasionally bring in some freshly baked cookies and
better known at work, define your space and set yourdrive people crazy. Bake them or purchase them from
boundaries by marking your territory: your cubical, youra bakery when you're expecting company in your
office. Think of yourself as a wolf. The wolf constantlyoffice. A real estate sales trick is to bake cookies in
travels his territory leaving signs that he owns thisthe kitchen of a house in which you are about to show
turf.You mark your territory to show your packclients. The smell of cookies, especially peanut butter
members what and where you are, and you alsoor chocolate chip, should put most people in a good
mark your territory to show your competitors whatmood.TASTECANDY
you control.Marking your territory should be fun, butYou can just buy your favorite cheap candies and
forget about scent glands. I'm recommending little thingshave them in a jar for visitors, or you can even have
you can do that establish control and notice. It can beHershey Bars made with your name on the wrapper.
expensive, but you can set your own budgetary limitsOr you could combine the two. Have a cheap jar
within my suggestions. Basically, marking your territoryhandy and the candy bars in a drawer. Personally, I
means making your workspace your own, whether it'swould keep Hershey Bars under lock and key (they
a desk, a cubical, or an office.One word of warning: ifcost about a $1.50 each).FORTUNE COOKIES
want to attract attention, then you should always lookEmily's Chocolates makes a dark chocolate fortune
your best. This means personal attire and workspace.cookie. You can prepare your own fortunes . . . quoting
Always dress for success. Your workspace should beyourself. This is a great one-two combination punch.
well-laid out and uncluttered. Put your best footVisitors taste something rich with complex flavors, and
forward. You are going to have a lot of visitors.Inthen read something you wrote. Memories are made
marking your territory, you need to involve all of theof this.TOUCHTOYS
senses . . . including humor andToys are great items to have around on your desk.
wonder.SIGHTSCREENSAVERYou can play with them while you're on the phone.
Your computer screensaver is a pallet where yourThey give your hands something to do. They calm you
creativity is your only limit. If you have a professionaldown. Visitors come into your office and pick them up
headshot, you can put your publicity still on your screenand play with them, too. For the more adventuresome,
for all visitors to see. Or, if you're known for youryou may have your own bobblehead doll made from a
humor, or want to be, you can pose for somethingphoto of you . . . or your boss (cost is about $70).THE
funny. You can even produce a series highlighting theMINDLENDING LIBRARY
holidays and seasons and change your screensaver,Visit garage sales and thrift stores and pick up copies
often. If you don't have a professional headshot,of self-improvement books and tapes. Buy them for
schedule a session with a local photographer (costpennies. You can lend them to your co-workers. Make
about $100).MOUSE PADyour own labels, "From the library of . . . " If you read
You have the same opportunity with your mouse padthe books, use an felt pen to highlight favorite
as you do with your screen saver. A local officepassages and add comments from you.COMMENTS
supply store should be able to supply you with printerSUGGESTION BOX
supplies to make your own mouse pad. You couldAttach a box to the wall, or put it on your desk. Add a
even have a matching screen saver and mouse pad.sign, "Jack's Suggestion Box." Invite people to make
Or you could pass out your mouse pads to yourcomments about work, about your services, your
favorite co-workers.PHOTOGRAPHSproduct, or just you. The good ones you can forward
Do you have a personal hero? Share the hero withto your boss. If you get a fantastic idea turned in and
your friends. Put their image on the wall, framed andthe author signed their name, be sure to share that
mounted. You can also use your favorite motivationalwith your boss. You will both share the glory, and you
quotation, or make up your own and print some withwill be a team player.BULLETIN BOARD
your name as the author. Hint: keep a camera at theWith a corkboard or even a cork tile, you can pin up
office, so you can take a picture of a happy client orcartoons, articles, and favorite editorials. Make a
co-worker.NAMEPLATEstatement, but don't be political. People like to think, but
Put your name on the door and on your desk. Letdon't want to be lectured to.WHITE BOARD
people know whom they are dealing with. Most townsA white board gives you the opportunity to write a
have rubber stamp stores where signs can be made.comment of the day, or a quote of the day, or a
Stand out in the crowd. Use double-backed tape forbrain-teaser of the day. People will stop by just to see
the door nameplate, when you move up.CALENDARwhat is being offered that day.NEWSLETTER
Do you have a favorite client who sends out a yearlyPrint your own newsletter about your adventures and
calendar? If so, put up their calendar on your wall.your business achievements. Tell people about what
Write on the calendar with a Magic Marker, "I loveyou've been doing. Share your success. Post it on the
these guys!"HEARINGFOUNTAINwall, or make a pile of them available on your desk.
Buy a desktop fountain. The sound of rushing ofDon't give them to everybody, unless they ask for
water is relaxing, and you can choose one thatone.Keep your workspace fun and lively and you
matches your personality.AUDIO CDshould have a steady audience of people interested in
Put your favorite music in your computer to play.who you are. Be prepared to come early to get your
Keep the volume down, so you don't bother anyonework done. With everybody stopping in to see you,
outside your area, but loud enough to be identifiable ifyour productivity might slip and that wouldn't be good.
you are in the room. Keep the control visible, so youBut with your office or cubical as a point of interest
can cut the audio for telephone and privateand creativity, you should be well noticed.Author Don
conversations. This is easier if you have externalDoman: Don is a published author of books for small
speakers with a control knob.SMELLSCENTbusiness, corporate video producer, and owner of
Get yourself one of those little electric plug-ins.Ideas and Training ( which provides business training
Choose the scent of your choice. If you wear perfumeproducts. Don also owns Human Resources Radio (
or shaving lotion that is identifiable with you, you couldwhich provides business training programs and
purchase a small atomizer and combine a littlepreviews 24-hours a day.