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Getting Ahead and Defining Your Space - The Office

Many people want to know how to getor shaving lotion with water. Lightly spritz
recognized and known within an organization.the light bulb on your desk. The warmth of
They want their boss and their co-workers tothe bulb will send your sent into the air. Be
take notice of them. A couple of days ago Icareful that people aren't allergic to this,
watched a Science Channel program aboutand  if  they  complain,  stop  it.COOKIES
wolves and I saw connections that combined
attributes at work with wolf instinct.To beOccasionally bring in some freshly baked
better known at work, define your space andcookies and drive people crazy. Bake them or
set your boundaries by marking yourpurchase them from a bakery when you're
territory: your cubical, your office. Thinkexpecting company in your office. A real
of yourself as a wolf. The wolf constantlyestate sales trick is to bake cookies in the
travels his territory leaving signs that hekitchen of a house in which you are about to
owns this turf.You mark your territory toshow clients. The smell of cookies,
show your pack members what and where youespecially peanut butter or chocolate chip,
are, and you also mark your territory to showshould put most people in a good
your competitors what you control.Markingmood.TASTECANDY
your territory should be fun, but forget
about scent glands. I'm recommending littleYou can just buy your favorite cheap candies
things you can do that establish control andand have them in a jar for visitors, or you
notice. It can be expensive, but you can setcan even have Hershey Bars made with your
your own budgetary limits within myname on the wrapper. Or you could combine the
suggestions. Basically, marking yourtwo. Have a cheap jar handy and the candy
territory means making your workspace yourbars in a drawer. Personally, I would keep
own, whether it's a desk, a cubical, or anHershey Bars under lock and key (they cost
office.One word of warning: if want toabout  a  $1.50  each).FORTUNE  COOKIES
attract attention, then you should always
look your best. This means personal attireEmily's Chocolates makes a dark chocolate
and workspace. Always dress for success. Yourfortune cookie. You can prepare your own
workspace should be well-laid out andfortunes . . . quoting yourself. This is a
uncluttered. Put your best foot forward. Yougreat one-two combination punch. Visitors
are going to have a lot of visitors.Intaste something rich with complex flavors,
marking your territory, you need to involveand then read something you wrote. Memories
all of the senses . . . including humor andare  made  of  this.TOUCHTOYS
wonder.SIGHTSCREENSAVER
Toys are great items to have around on your
Your computer screensaver is a pallet wheredesk. You can play with them while you're on
your creativity is your only limit. If youthe phone. They give your hands something to
have a professional headshot, you can putdo. They calm you down. Visitors come into
your publicity still on your screen for allyour office and pick them up and play with
visitors to see. Or, if you're known for yourthem, too. For the more adventuresome, you
humor, or want to be, you can pose formay have your own bobblehead doll made from a
something funny. You can even produce aphoto of you . . . or your boss (cost is
series highlighting the holidays and seasonsabout  $70).THE  MINDLENDING  LIBRARY
and change your screensaver, often. If you
don't have a professional headshot, scheduleVisit garage sales and thrift stores and
a session with a local photographer (costpick up copies of self-improvement books and
about  $100).MOUSE  PADtapes. Buy them for pennies. You can lend
them to your co-workers. Make your own
You have the same opportunity with yourlabels, "From the library of . . . " If you
mouse pad as you do with your screen saver. Aread the books, use an felt pen to highlight
local office supply store should be able tofavorite passages and add comments from
supply you with printer supplies to make youryou.COMMENTS/SUGGESTION  BOX
own mouse pad. You could even have a matching
screen saver and mouse pad. Or you could passAttach a box to the wall, or put it on your
out your mouse pads to your favoritedesk. Add a sign, "Jack's Suggestion Box."
co-workers.PHOTOGRAPHSInvite people to make comments about work,
about your services, your product, or just
Do you have a personal hero? Share the heroyou. The good ones you can forward to your
with your friends. Put their image on theboss. If you get a fantastic idea turned in
wall, framed and mounted. You can also useand the author signed their name, be sure to
your favorite motivational quotation, or makeshare that with your boss. You will both
up your own and print some with your name asshare the glory, and you will be a team
the author. Hint: keep a camera at theplayer.BULLETIN  BOARD
office, so you can take a picture of a happy
client  or  co-worker.NAMEPLATEWith a corkboard or even a cork tile, you
can pin up cartoons, articles, and favorite
Put your name on the door and on your desk.editorials. Make a statement, but don't be
Let people know whom they are dealing with.political. People like to think, but don't
Most towns have rubber stamp stores wherewant  to  be  lectured  to.WHITE  BOARD
signs can be made. Stand out in the crowd.
Use double-backed tape for the doorA white board gives you the opportunity to
nameplate,  when  you  move  up.CALENDARwrite a comment of the day, or a quote of the
day, or a brain-teaser of the day. People
Do you have a favorite client who sends outwill stop by just to see what is being
a yearly calendar? If so, put up theiroffered  that  day.NEWSLETTER
calendar on your wall. Write on the calendar
with a Magic Marker, "I love thesePrint your own newsletter about your
guys!"HEARINGFOUNTAINadventures and your business achievements.
Tell people about what you've been doing.
Buy a desktop fountain. The sound of rushingShare your success. Post it on the wall, or
of water is relaxing, and you can choose onemake a pile of them available on your desk.
that  matches  your  personality.AUDIO  CDDon't give them to everybody, unless they ask
for one.Keep your workspace fun and lively
Put your favorite music in your computer toand you should have a steady audience of
play. Keep the volume down, so you don'tpeople interested in who you are. Be prepared
bother anyone outside your area, but loudto come early to get your work done. With
enough to be identifiable if you are in theeverybody stopping in to see you, your
room. Keep the control visible, so you canproductivity might slip and that wouldn't be
cut the audio for telephone and privategood. But with your office or cubical as a
conversations. This is easier if you havepoint of interest and creativity, you should
external speakers with a controlbe well noticed.Author Don Doman: Don is a
knob.SMELLSCENTpublished author of books for small business,
corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas
Get yourself one of those little electricand Training ( which provides business
plug-ins. Choose the scent of your choice. Iftraining products. Don also owns Human
you wear perfume or shaving lotion that isResources Radio ( which provides business
identifiable with you, you could purchase atraining programs and previews 24-hours a
small atomizer and combine a little perfumeday.



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