tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43315701893346779692024-03-13T04:15:57.043-05:00The Cubicle Survival Guide BlogBecause your soul is at stakeJames F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-15548457665035623012012-09-27T11:35:00.000-05:002012-09-27T11:39:07.734-05:00How Well Do You Know Your Cubicle?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj21kd_6biQxKVI-D1nRWbXoK0-w38sqh8j7t8k-f1teszEn78lgDuxovccTDLc6saYSxY5WU-15-1ZECRAUlJNDd9nN65IUic-lDKuF-6Dc9WCCUwoqRNiq0kng-8ZmbBBZ42kLpcvA/s1600/cubicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj21kd_6biQxKVI-D1nRWbXoK0-w38sqh8j7t8k-f1teszEn78lgDuxovccTDLc6saYSxY5WU-15-1ZECRAUlJNDd9nN65IUic-lDKuF-6Dc9WCCUwoqRNiq0kng-8ZmbBBZ42kLpcvA/s320/cubicle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Great article on the history, and the present, of the cubicle. Read the article for the facts; check out the comments for laughs.<br />
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“Imagine yourself in a typing pool in the early 1960s, amid the clack-clack-clack-PING of dozens of Smith-Coronas. You’re out in the open, like a factory worker, with nowhere to hide from the raking gaze of the boss….”<br />
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Full article<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/magazine/who-made-that-cubicle.html?_r=0" target="_blank"> here</a>.</div>
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James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-39859898319682028122012-09-14T19:11:00.002-05:002012-09-14T19:11:40.497-05:00How Well Can You Relate to This?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-70018564002542057432012-09-11T16:24:00.002-05:002012-09-11T16:24:47.560-05:00Never Forget...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXIdQbA8JiQX2Al0c4laUjGgAL3gv_lOrHqqHM0GwPDqFFoGVAcN2djri1MGTF-biBmGjOYKl9fONsSjSB_kEsRU3muXyTTSLA0zD70xQPfIHupGT3WlLf5peIRjhWEJV1A-IxLoXsiw/s1600/nyc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXIdQbA8JiQX2Al0c4laUjGgAL3gv_lOrHqqHM0GwPDqFFoGVAcN2djri1MGTF-biBmGjOYKl9fONsSjSB_kEsRU3muXyTTSLA0zD70xQPfIHupGT3WlLf5peIRjhWEJV1A-IxLoXsiw/s1600/nyc.png" /></a></div>
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James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-30920563793277824012012-09-04T11:47:00.001-05:002012-09-05T07:48:50.854-05:002012 Labor Day Resolutions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXYsAZ6utyZJN1d72EycO0qtI5CG2WEiHwPXvOBnJr0fPEDzJjCPPdvNgR0UXDFng239thggr3UxLX1viaOYXHpuh5pVvrcYJGwpFZmvL0Xe4Lg7yDqEVI4dm677m-7DqNeFaMyUWYPM/s1600/newyear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXYsAZ6utyZJN1d72EycO0qtI5CG2WEiHwPXvOBnJr0fPEDzJjCPPdvNgR0UXDFng239thggr3UxLX1viaOYXHpuh5pVvrcYJGwpFZmvL0Xe4Lg7yDqEVI4dm677m-7DqNeFaMyUWYPM/s320/newyear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Labor Day is over, which means for cubicle workers, this
marks the beginning of a new work year. Labor Day is New Year’s Day for the
cubicle class, which means the end of summer and the advent of fall means it is
time to reflect, assess and set new goals for our professional careers. <br />
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It’s
been a tough few years for the American workforce, so it’s difficult to
establish new career goals while also hoping in the back of your mind that you
don’t lose your job. But life is about moving forward, so we all must be
optimistic and stoic. So, what are your career goals this year? Ask for a
raise? Take an Excel class? Get promoted into an office? Let us know!<o:p></o:p></div>
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James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-91895602115750284432012-06-13T11:33:00.003-05:002012-06-13T11:33:56.920-05:00The Cubicle Survival Guide on NPR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHekwiH25bd3-tqH9YuG5TOplvTS2gg32hec2x0IH8Cy284Wz1iBD_ZDvUVfmTzH1VUpvceWMSktN7LurDitPplURnFWMttX5M-LgzG9kSDDWr8E3bHxkoNsqixEXmEqN9uPO1-r7ijwU/s1600/npr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHekwiH25bd3-tqH9YuG5TOplvTS2gg32hec2x0IH8Cy284Wz1iBD_ZDvUVfmTzH1VUpvceWMSktN7LurDitPplURnFWMttX5M-LgzG9kSDDWr8E3bHxkoNsqixEXmEqN9uPO1-r7ijwU/s320/npr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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What bothers your employees the most about working in cubicles? Listen to this interview with author James F. Thompson and other workplace culture experts on NPR to find out! Just click <a href="http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2012/06/08/17515/">HERE</a>.</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-69303677176487823952012-06-07T23:45:00.001-05:002012-06-07T23:48:13.674-05:00This Book Is Cheaper than Lawyer Fees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgqw9odUOZcnzmfGWnm-uZn8aZnxtn6nRV9frRs_i4p9udohyphenhyphen7Sx_PxLHAP0HfwdLx2VYdQOs1VcuZVPnwSCT65JixuW_MiuG2sG2fJdkwfOHjW5sfSk4sLWjNM8Vez_QxVkMRK2vntI/s1600/tcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgqw9odUOZcnzmfGWnm-uZn8aZnxtn6nRV9frRs_i4p9udohyphenhyphen7Sx_PxLHAP0HfwdLx2VYdQOs1VcuZVPnwSCT65JixuW_MiuG2sG2fJdkwfOHjW5sfSk4sLWjNM8Vez_QxVkMRK2vntI/s1600/tcs.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every office worker in America should be given a copy of
</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cubicle-Survival-Guide-Environment/dp/0812976762/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339130432&sr=8-1-spell"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Cubicle Survival Guide</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> by HR at orientation. It will help employees
navigate the annoying quirks and idiosyncrasies of their coworkers while also
teaching them that they, too, may be driving others crazy without even knowing
it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Self-awareness is priceless, and you can make your employees self-aware by simply buying them this book. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cubicle-Survival-Guide-Environment/dp/0812976762/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339130432&sr=8-1-spell"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Cubicle Survival Guide</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> is now more
important than ever. Unless, that is, you like to watch coworkers fight like
ants in a jar. And then sue each other. And then your company.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-17332272426436191412012-05-19T22:59:00.000-05:002012-06-07T23:00:22.536-05:00Come On Feel the Noize...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ40W472F9oYd7AMagtClVm22QuaBEJU8CoK3-jDorg6CP-qT4toXvhaCtggTG5jqV97dFXhhp4-nAMyLvV90fKzcA8AE0df-BEKKdi_Ke-xSt06pHD2fe419bZwumSnExfieZbvm7h0A/s1600/cubicles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ40W472F9oYd7AMagtClVm22QuaBEJU8CoK3-jDorg6CP-qT4toXvhaCtggTG5jqV97dFXhhp4-nAMyLvV90fKzcA8AE0df-BEKKdi_Ke-xSt06pHD2fe419bZwumSnExfieZbvm7h0A/s1600/cubicles.jpg" /></a>This <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/science/when-buzz-at-your-cubicle-is-too-loud-for-work.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all">article</a> from The New York Times explores the role noise plays in cubicle farms and how it influences the way we work, think and potentially go crazy. And corporate, finally, is listening. <br />
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"Cubicle culture is already something of a punch line —
how many ways can we find to annoy one another all day? — but lately the
complaints are being heard by the right people, including managers and social
scientists. Companies are redesigning offices, piping in special background
noise to improve the acoustics and bringing in engineers to solve volume issues.
“Sound masking” has become a buzz phrase."<br />
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Does noise disruput your productivity? How do you handle it?<br />
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</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-74715928209635969512012-04-04T23:04:00.000-05:002012-06-07T23:52:35.945-05:00Robert Propst and His Frankenstein<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF6mIhlxlB2j_CUBJcSko5CyRocViVR2w2uW948aHGSQwGTmHIW2iCzwjcEvf9e9ZaRsFOU3yBkl5Ic_i6Eay5CTHzr6bIQhTL416GS51vgbq9F8k5LNg3pPMRKhrSZFl4IuqCeuSkow/s1600/cube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF6mIhlxlB2j_CUBJcSko5CyRocViVR2w2uW948aHGSQwGTmHIW2iCzwjcEvf9e9ZaRsFOU3yBkl5Ic_i6Eay5CTHzr6bIQhTL416GS51vgbq9F8k5LNg3pPMRKhrSZFl4IuqCeuSkow/s1600/cube.jpg" /></a></div>
Love him or hate him, Robert Propst probably never imagined the monster his invention, the cubicle, would become. What was he thinking? This <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/its-not-about-the-furniture-cubicles-continued/">article</a> explains:<br />
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"The man credited with creating the cubicle, Robert Propst, developed the Action
Office concept while working for furniture giant <a href="http://hermanmiller.com/">Herman Miller</a> in the 1960s. He’d hoped, <a href="http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_1198/no98man.htm">as he
explained in 1998</a>, that his idea 'would give knowledge workers a more
flexible, fluid environment than the rat-maze box of offices,' while also
acknowledging that his flexible system had often been misused because 'not all
organizations are intelligent and progressive.'"</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-61286603562984072412012-02-21T23:12:00.000-05:002012-06-07T23:17:22.810-05:00Do You Work with a Dwight Schrute?<iframe width="390" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uRohSjCxc-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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"I'm a Sith Lord."</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-74102003591101483292012-01-03T23:29:00.000-05:002012-06-07T23:53:41.652-05:00Cubicle... errr... Shrinkage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDdEhQfojuXqfc77XfrKpLC398U2ghLkDA0qWEtM6wWE7BS-x3zgya-_bp9m41Jar2H1sLqMFdY2oZIdDaX2s9oiGhSChyphenhyphenZweziXvQswdo475aOqCA-HZjm9NqSUmQVUU88S_wfnaX4w/s1600/costanza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDdEhQfojuXqfc77XfrKpLC398U2ghLkDA0qWEtM6wWE7BS-x3zgya-_bp9m41Jar2H1sLqMFdY2oZIdDaX2s9oiGhSChyphenhyphenZweziXvQswdo475aOqCA-HZjm9NqSUmQVUU88S_wfnaX4w/s1600/costanza.jpg" /></a></div>
It doesn't matter how cold out it is. This <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-09/features/ct-tribu-shrinking-cubicles-20110209_1_cubicle-robert-propst-office-space">article</a> explains that there may be another reason beyond your control as to why your cubicle is shrinking.<br />
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"In 1994, the average office worker had 90 square feet of office space, but the area had been whittled down to 75 square feet in 2010, according to the International Facility Management Association, a professional network for the facility management industry."</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-46195231946006141752011-08-31T07:46:00.005-05:002011-08-31T07:47:53.238-05:00Three Walls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e4qMtBTeLs0" width="420"></iframe></div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-15476435647271593552011-08-11T15:36:00.001-05:002011-08-11T15:39:20.433-05:00Economic Woes Reorder Cubicle Lunches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnfZw9JOuRfhyphenhyphenrzxK7qkcsV8zcoXdlZCOkXCMePTwoezhIWgvCrQMUYMd2AugBvsoUAGClunxUjvaToPowcAXndVlNqNyI4V0kRUULq-refeMWncMgSvHhNbINT6l_gKljmfVsCWwD5k/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnfZw9JOuRfhyphenhyphenrzxK7qkcsV8zcoXdlZCOkXCMePTwoezhIWgvCrQMUYMd2AugBvsoUAGClunxUjvaToPowcAXndVlNqNyI4V0kRUULq-refeMWncMgSvHhNbINT6l_gKljmfVsCWwD5k/s320/lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Are you trying to save money by not eating out as much during lunch? Well, you're not alone. It seems the manic economic situation we're experiencing has cubicle dwellers everywhere rethinking that $9 salad and $12 gourmet sandwich. This, however, is harder to do than you may think. Employees used to certain lunch lifestyles are finding it difficult to downgrade their lunches by waking up earlier to make their own.<br />
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Have you tried to cut back on buying lunch? How successful have you been?</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-49420204889792628892011-08-08T11:56:00.000-05:002011-08-08T14:56:46.669-05:00Cubicle Reality: Plans to Go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ5u4OUqYS78dKW2huzpYWfApGVAtHj9JcpGIsY4we8du9VD07FFN77HIHqjeRl1TUvHbPHSL9WQjqzBZ5-684xdmLCk1WTzWC2BS56sf9wm9YokqKobNxAsjB8XO8I0YDfXQ9hoC8BY/s1600/unemployment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ5u4OUqYS78dKW2huzpYWfApGVAtHj9JcpGIsY4we8du9VD07FFN77HIHqjeRl1TUvHbPHSL9WQjqzBZ5-684xdmLCk1WTzWC2BS56sf9wm9YokqKobNxAsjB8XO8I0YDfXQ9hoC8BY/s320/unemployment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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By this point, just about anyone who works in a cubicle has seen someone near them get laid off. It's a sad sight and one that most definitely makes an impression and has people thinking "What if this happens to me?" Though many cubicle workers may never admit it, many have a box or folder already prepared for that day when they get tapped on the shoulder and called into an HR meeting where the guest of honor is you.<br />
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"Go to the bottom left drawer of my desk," they say at the conclusion of the meeting. "All of my personal things and important paperwork are in a box. I know I have to leave the building, but can you meet me outside and give it to me? Thanks."<br />
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Any readers out there experiencing these types of thoughts? Maybe an attempt to control your destiny in an economic climate where no one feels safe?</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-30771937536550897562011-08-03T00:38:00.000-05:002011-08-04T00:39:07.431-05:00Cubicle Crazy: A Survey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlH9tafeYpA3JulgN4G4IJ1c0DFLSItaDNWX-zVOerOfVYMteoHMjQKS1meUvsWs5BaOpQE8t5YwT4rJn8MucuAPmnjfQAzJ-1sWECYQOM_Q5nZEBtM5KSVUn9Uz0TUNsccHJZS8ZuFc/s1600/crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlH9tafeYpA3JulgN4G4IJ1c0DFLSItaDNWX-zVOerOfVYMteoHMjQKS1meUvsWs5BaOpQE8t5YwT4rJn8MucuAPmnjfQAzJ-1sWECYQOM_Q5nZEBtM5KSVUn9Uz0TUNsccHJZS8ZuFc/s320/crazy.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being absolutely bleeding from your eyes crazy, how insane have you ever felt at your job? Let us know. You're not alone. We swear. </div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-51705871297802458582011-07-26T22:28:00.000-05:002011-07-27T22:31:44.087-05:00How to Build an Office Desk... from Legos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In 15 years this poor kid is going to regret his love of office desks. Maybe he'll grow up to do something outside, like be a park ranger.<br />
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</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-61339725507781314612011-07-22T12:34:00.002-05:002011-07-22T12:35:56.215-05:00Summer Sizzles Cubicle Commuters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEcaS57QVGay98PK6yr9bv2Juk8bO0lS9tLav9pklNZKDANN4M8I_DXl3vH5n6jeFjgKxSBrVDVXESlO-zOQd2hFzF6kzi6WTDMn3EOGjHVtE5OAgEMcJvJqBdCiwIJIHSwx7ylF9lI8/s1600/heat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEcaS57QVGay98PK6yr9bv2Juk8bO0lS9tLav9pklNZKDANN4M8I_DXl3vH5n6jeFjgKxSBrVDVXESlO-zOQd2hFzF6kzi6WTDMn3EOGjHVtE5OAgEMcJvJqBdCiwIJIHSwx7ylF9lI8/s1600/heat.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This weather is simply unbearable. Emlpoyees are walking into the office covered in a sheen of sweat, their moods overcooked like limp pasta. You can't blame people for sporting a bad disposition when they're soaked in their own sweat and have to sit in a conference room and filled with hazy July sunshine overlooking a crappy parking lot. At least there is air conditioning.<br />
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How are you beating the heat this week? </div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-26274066418411358912011-07-19T16:39:00.002-05:002011-07-19T16:41:15.932-05:00What Music Do You Listen to?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD75TzSIgDI4-DMfktNaHNwkhKUM3r9SWLG4zXnJUhon-2_mLhsRCLitur_aB0Z6kflm6fhWl4H_TFZvAbdAc84F_CY1Gb8a_VR65OSwLAkhKnj5GmCnruTrJvZpBxU5c_J4cI48RBp8s/s1600/music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD75TzSIgDI4-DMfktNaHNwkhKUM3r9SWLG4zXnJUhon-2_mLhsRCLitur_aB0Z6kflm6fhWl4H_TFZvAbdAc84F_CY1Gb8a_VR65OSwLAkhKnj5GmCnruTrJvZpBxU5c_J4cI48RBp8s/s320/music.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We all know how uninspiring cubicle life can be, so many of us find a way to listen to music. So, when stuck in your cubicle, what genre of music do you find is the most productive to work to?<br />
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(a) jazz<br />
(b) rock<br />
(c) rap<br />
(d) heavy metal<br />
(e) classical<br />
(f) alternative<br />
(g) pop<br />
(h) easy listening<br />
(i) polka<br />
(j) world<br />
(l) technoJames F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-6949901071843918442011-07-15T11:37:00.001-05:002011-07-15T11:38:53.460-05:00Cubicle Sitch: Stained Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb3NfsoFHPwxN_VI0ehYtPKe8oM0LBdzjR1wbKIBnDKNeEjYQfTJ1aigeJmoZ4Jz0cBw7Q9_HrwKvFVTKsKMqtX1yl2qTMuLUwFbWyMWZgHTwi5xAfo1N-gDTIDQ778NE5ARFNuoue54/s1600/stain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeb3NfsoFHPwxN_VI0ehYtPKe8oM0LBdzjR1wbKIBnDKNeEjYQfTJ1aigeJmoZ4Jz0cBw7Q9_HrwKvFVTKsKMqtX1yl2qTMuLUwFbWyMWZgHTwi5xAfo1N-gDTIDQ778NE5ARFNuoue54/s1600/stain2.jpg" /></a></div>You're working in your cubicle and as you take a sip of your Starbuck's coffee, some drips on your white shirt (don't you hate it when the seam of the cup is lined up beneath the lid's hole!). You have a big meeting in 20 minutes. Choose which reaction most resembles you:<br />
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(a) I laugh and don't worry about the stain. Shit happens.<br />
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(b) I buy a bottle of water in the break room and dab the stain with a wet napkin.<br />
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(c) I got to the bathroom, take off the shirt, and wash the stain out thoroughly.<br />
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(d) I call my spouse and have them deliver a clean shirt.<br />
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(e) I reach behind me, grab the spare shirt I have hanging in my cubicle for just such an occasion, and change shirts in the bathroom.<br />
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(f) I ask my cubicle neighbor if I can borrow his leather <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Motörhead</span> jacket.James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-51300082527779221022011-07-12T12:57:00.001-05:002011-07-12T12:58:36.668-05:00Cubicle Foul!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPEhEe9uQYnuELhKEjDtOHRUGXkYvtmsuXKWFqTnGsSzLZBuTXipVk3w-0jaLovybtvM8O8URRZEL7FlhFAB9RRZASUkK26iC6-bWeiUz1gqDABo-2xEXwpNAP0E3UCh8T0m0rsZf8VA/s1600/44913_story__cubicle+guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPEhEe9uQYnuELhKEjDtOHRUGXkYvtmsuXKWFqTnGsSzLZBuTXipVk3w-0jaLovybtvM8O8URRZEL7FlhFAB9RRZASUkK26iC6-bWeiUz1gqDABo-2xEXwpNAP0E3UCh8T0m0rsZf8VA/s320/44913_story__cubicle+guy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Which cubicle foul is the bigger transgression?<br />
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(a) talking too loudly<br />
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(b) wearing too much perfume/cologne<br />
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(c) clipping your fingernails<br />
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(d) uninvited visits/interrupting your cubicle neighbor<br />
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(e) eavesdropping<br />
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(f) using the speakerphoneJames F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-76126267179669532772011-07-10T17:11:00.001-05:002011-07-10T17:11:55.883-05:00Don't Be an Idiot...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bVVsDIv98TA" width="400"></iframe>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-47922226234667700402011-07-08T17:21:00.000-05:002011-07-08T17:21:37.059-05:00Complete the Cubicle Nightmare...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDybjnchsxjxQM_QMcpN4eMvDT0vJ1l6IMvZ3Hm20LkgQl4vP5fdSGrH72rPwvWYMLJ9dx3ugKlJiIF9D67bGTsRuWv3vg7I_Drc8hbY2Mf9kCfLMkvSOreRGT7zdhyphenhyphenbLUcHCchSiKMg/s1600/bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDybjnchsxjxQM_QMcpN4eMvDT0vJ1l6IMvZ3Hm20LkgQl4vP5fdSGrH72rPwvWYMLJ9dx3ugKlJiIF9D67bGTsRuWv3vg7I_Drc8hbY2Mf9kCfLMkvSOreRGT7zdhyphenhyphenbLUcHCchSiKMg/s1600/bucket.jpg" /></a></div>It's 10:24am on an idle Tuesday morning. It's business as usual for you in your cubicle. You're busy, but not too busy, and the rest of the day looks comfortably predictable. All of the sudden, your cubicle neighbor knocks on the top of your carpeted wall, and pokes his head over. Then he holds up a heavy blue bucket and says, "Hey you got a second? I need a favor."<br />
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What is his nightmare favor?James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-54721162382044129242011-07-07T17:00:00.001-05:002011-07-08T17:07:22.061-05:00The Cubicle Dump (No, not that kind)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioBStU9NKppVxftc1FSVpEE2eTPv9-3nY2GFNTBJLw_pJ2WMROEW9s4juy5LY8Ke2fDM_u7XYVwKO7MyYNUQnVdwhM-5klMbmnW-Jj5SNlI0k1PLlKsL6Peei9G5fYffy-mrFZnewQDY/s1600/cupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioBStU9NKppVxftc1FSVpEE2eTPv9-3nY2GFNTBJLw_pJ2WMROEW9s4juy5LY8Ke2fDM_u7XYVwKO7MyYNUQnVdwhM-5klMbmnW-Jj5SNlI0k1PLlKsL6Peei9G5fYffy-mrFZnewQDY/s320/cupid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sometimes our professional lives are abruptly interrupted by our personal lives, and no one likes it when those two compartmentalized areas of our lives are unexpectedly brought together. Have you, for example, ever been dumped at work by a significant other or spouse? Was it via email? Phone? Text? In person? How did you handle it?James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-28190647276452564482011-07-05T09:52:00.003-05:002011-07-05T09:57:04.066-05:00The Holiday Recap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbVL8yWrFJI3XKNwMn8dZifjSrjrklxifhKlHgfBrDzxVIOrulUTpJ4yD32CCrtmX3MRrHXlNcqeGkHIVlpveodjUo1QH9wu0SGkzluCggIveVT4VVOnSb_hxr6ReofbSpIpZlMqcPhc/s1600/talk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbVL8yWrFJI3XKNwMn8dZifjSrjrklxifhKlHgfBrDzxVIOrulUTpJ4yD32CCrtmX3MRrHXlNcqeGkHIVlpveodjUo1QH9wu0SGkzluCggIveVT4VVOnSb_hxr6ReofbSpIpZlMqcPhc/s1600/talk.jpg" /></a></div>How much time will you spend at the office today talking about what you did this Fourth of July weekend?<br />
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(a) 5 minutes<br />
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(b) 10 minutes<br />
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(c) 15 minutes<br />
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(d) 20 minutes<br />
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(e) 30 minutes<br />
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(f) more time than I'd care to admit</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-66419076182303672102011-06-30T17:16:00.006-05:002011-06-30T17:20:54.180-05:00Cubicle Relief: Your Fourth of July!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZGIH6Sfpshwhgfy05hIDjFm1V14nxxVCbtjgx40kPkIzbInTD-lC4zVq_zehH26KxGuX2LSESi26Ogo2ZxKqB4P8An-2uvY-IcgmgM8PV4sGkOSPvcX-I4QDw_7EB6uLiyzcXnAoPhE/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZGIH6Sfpshwhgfy05hIDjFm1V14nxxVCbtjgx40kPkIzbInTD-lC4zVq_zehH26KxGuX2LSESi26Ogo2ZxKqB4P8An-2uvY-IcgmgM8PV4sGkOSPvcX-I4QDw_7EB6uLiyzcXnAoPhE/s320/flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Hooray for the Fourth of July! Which best describes your weekend plans?<br />
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(a) taking Monday off of work<br />
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(b) taking Friday off of work<br />
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(c) taking Friday and Monday off of work<br />
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(d) taking neither Friday nor Monday off of work because my job won't allow me; kill me now<br />
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Doing anything particularly special to celebrate?<br />
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</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4331570189334677969.post-74678138729704820922011-06-28T15:30:00.003-05:002011-06-28T15:41:01.357-05:00Here Comes July 4th...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXMqBuaarHBVMJay7oMXwcV4sZeTg56fsFwq9KFsJ6OhBFR0Lr5AmORyOtVP3RjIQ6oKQnyjVBYBCQIt0cfKRW0TvQi-vPSMgWigtPI2yNkWbBIe0dJPxT6tF5Jr5qw9fAC2XwB0G84E/s1600/fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXMqBuaarHBVMJay7oMXwcV4sZeTg56fsFwq9KFsJ6OhBFR0Lr5AmORyOtVP3RjIQ6oKQnyjVBYBCQIt0cfKRW0TvQi-vPSMgWigtPI2yNkWbBIe0dJPxT6tF5Jr5qw9fAC2XwB0G84E/s1600/fireworks.jpg" /></a></div>You can feel it. Summer is here. The Fourth of July holiday is approaching. We're getting closer to the end of the week, to Friday -- a day when many Americans will already be on the road to their July 4th destinations. Major holidays are fantastic, of course. But they do affect cubicle dwellers in a negative way by interfering with their ability to focus. The idea of family, friends, cold beer, hotdogs, hamburgers, and fireworks is just too strong of a strain on our capacity to concentrate.<br />
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What are you doing to help yourself focus this week?</div>James F. Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17799537479020254040noreply@blogger.com0