This was originally drafted in spring/summer 2010. I just never got around to posting it. The job mentioned is two employers ago.

Constructing an ideal cubicle life with things taken for granted

It is a guarantee that the majority of society will work at least one job, in their lifetime, that is far from ideal. For those less fortunate, they may never escape the cycle. It is during our time stuck in jobs we don’t enjoy too much, that we are able to reflect and determine what qualities and aspects that we’d like in a job to make it more enjoyable.

My very own mental incitement

As I’ve briefly mentioned before, I am not in what I would consider an ideal job. I have my list of complaints about my job position. This is not to say, in any way, that it is a bad job or bad company to work for. It is just not a position that fits what I want in employment. I have held the job for little over a year now and at present moment, I do not see me leaving yet. My gripes were not immediately developed or apparent, but slowly emerged over time. When they started to surface, I began to reflect on previous jobs and which parts I yearn for. I started listing them, I noticed that some were very basic things I think people take for granted. Next I started adding others that I would love to have in a job or at a company who employs me. Last, I organized them into four categories. Those categories are: physical, mental, team, and technology. The physical and mental categories are more the elements, I feel, are taken for granted. The team category is related to working with others, and technology has the tech elements that in my ideal job. While many of these can, and do, apply to freelancing, the lists are targeted at cubicle life and working for X company.

We are for the four

Physical

• able to leave your desk and roam around whenever needed or desired
• start whenever you get to the office (within a certain limits. Employer still deserves full day’s work.)
• ties, suits, and dress-up wear are only worn for special occasions, while semi-casual is normal attire.
• The company encourages employees to lead a healthy lifestyle and does what it can to help accommodate and facilitate one, within reason
• An option to work remotely if chosen, or temporarily on the go, like at a coffee shop or bakery.

Mental

• your mind is able to, and encouraged to, wander in order to help the creative process.
• a healthy imagination is a almost requirement.
• freedom to ignore surroundings if you choose, in order to avoid potential distractions
• allowed to let your creative juices flow
• doodling on the job is encouraged if not required

Team

• water cooler or break room chatter permitted so people can catch up with each other as well as gossip about whats going on in their fields of study.
• the occasional team meetings are as likely to occur at a nearby local restaurant as they are in a board room
• peers and managers not only challenge you to push your personal and creative limits, but also help you exceed with those
• you appreciate your coworkers, enjoy being on the team with them, and they return the sentiments
• team camaradere

Tech

• Internet is a requirement, not a privilege
• random Internet surfing is allowed, within reason
• the best tools and software for the job are used and kept uptodate
• you have permission to be a headphone rockstar
• mobile device use is called one of the following: customer interaction, marketing, research, or product testing.

While these lists are in no way set in stone, I feel they comprise a nice foundation for others to build upon and evolve.

What about your experiences? What would you add to the categories above or perhaps what category would you add? Are there any listed that you would like to dispute? Is my logic skewed on some of them?

Look back on your employment experiences and let me know of any ideas. I’ll add them to the appropriate list and attribute credit.

2011 Addition

Jason Fried’s TED talk contributes a lot of interesting ideas related to why work doesn’t happen at work. It may dispute my text above, but still offers a lot of good points.