Posts labelled with "Google"

Interview: My desk at Google

By jennyblake

29th Mar 2011

Category: What's on your desk?

  1. 1
    Words of Wisdom
    This is the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense."
  2. 2
    Mr. Potato Head
    A lot of my desk flair has been handed down to me from co-workers, like this adorable Mr. Potato Head. After 5+ years at Google, I have quite the collection!
    Amazon
  3. 3
    Kung fu fighting!
    This is a wind-up hamster that sings "Kung Fu Fighting." It also has a label with my old manager's name on it. He's since left the company, so this little guy was passed down to me.
  4. 4
    Go Bruins!
    This is a large button my family made to wear to my brother's football games when he was playing as a Defensive End at UCLA. Go Bruins!
  5. 5
    USB Port
    Just makes life easier. Everyone needs one.
  6. 6
    Corporate Bullshit
    Who doesn't love a great corporate bullshit term, like "Greenfield Opportunity," "Low Hanging Fruit" or "Tee up"? My co-workers and I used to keep a running list and give each other citations when someone used one of them. "I'll quarterback this one, guys." ACK!
    Amazon
  7. 7
    Mmmm... Cupcakes
    Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed! I have cupcake flair everywhere...
  8. 8
    Wireless mouse
    Comfort is king! I've had this thing for YEARS.
  9. 9
    How to Procrastinate
    This book is part of the "Self-Hurt" series, which just makes me laugh since I am so obsessed with personal development books.
    Amazon
  10. 10
    Post-its that multiply like rabbits
    I keep important tasks/reminders on post-it notes... the only problem is that when I get behind they are everywhere!
  11. 11
    My safety blanket
    People make fun of me because I carry a water bottle EVERYWHERE... even into super fancy restaurants! But I always ge the last laugh when they are out of water and it's *my* water bottle that provides the refill.
  12. 12
    Bottle Cap
    That says "JB." Surrounded by two cupcake magnets that a friend gave me. I told you I'm obsessed!
  13. 13
    AWESOME Corporate Flashcards
    These are priceless!
    Amazon
  14. 14
    Underrated Gadget
    The phone is one of the most under-rated work tools. We might all feel less bogged down by email if we could just remember to pick up the phone sometimes! Although I will say that I hate checking voicemail.
  15. 15
    MMMM KAY
    Everyone needs a good Lumberg mug! This one is mine. I have more Google cups/bottles/mugs than I know what to do with...
  16. 16
    Accordian Post-its
    The greatest invention of all time! Don't leave home without an accordian post-it dispenser for your desk.
    Amazon
  17. 17
    Music = Critical!
    I'm all about getting into the zone with music during the day. Pandora is a lifesaver! I also make a mix for every season – been doing that for 14+ years now!
  18. 18
    Korean Ladybug
    That tiny little white magnet is a lady bug that I got in Korea. I collect magnets from every city I visit and give them to my mom. Her fridge is full of them!
  19. 19
    Noogler Hat
    Everyone gets one on their first day. Mine is now five years old!
  20. 20
    File me... please!
    Who even uses paper any more?
  21. 21
    No Pulse Yet...
    ...More Coffee Please It's another one of my favorite flair magnets
  22. 22
    Nerdy Book Collection
    These are my coaching and MBTI reference manuals. Just trying to be the best coach/Career Development Program Manager I can be!
  23. 23
    Meeting Notes
    Meeting notes go in my old school science lab style notebook. The post-its are to-do lists – usually separated into categories: this week - work and home, and "today."

Jenny Blake's book "Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want" (an absolute bargain at Amazon US and Amazon UK) launches today. It's the perfect book for you if you're leaving college soon, or if you've already left and you feel that life could be that bit better. In other words, it's the book we all need! It's bursting with crowd-sourced wisdom for all areas of your life: work, money, friends & family, dating & relationships, health, fun & relaxation, personal growth, and more. And it's got exercises so you're not just reading, you're doing.

To celebrate, Tagbento is giving away a free copy - see the end of the interview for details.

Who are you?

I'm a blogger, author, life coach, yoga teacher, gadget-freak, cupcake-lover and Googler. I've been blogging for over three years at LifeAfterCollege.org, and I'm thrilled to share that I have a book coming out on March 29: Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want. I've also worked at Google for over five years, where I am currently a Career Development Program Manager and internal coach. I also work very closely with the Authors@Google program.

What’s your favourite thing on your desk?

This is a picture of my desk at Google – at home I mostly work on the couch :)

My favorite things on my desk are my flair magnets – a mix of magnets from different countries, some cupcake magnets, some inspirational quotes, and some just random things that add color to my desk. I also love the Corporate Bullshit calendar and the Corporate Flashcards – those crack me up! I think it's important to laugh at work and keep a sense of humor.

What would make your space even better?

Hmmmm... other than a corner office with a 360 degree window view? Kidding. I love my office! The BEST days at my desk are the ones when my cubemate Dana brings her Bulldogs to work. They come and sit by my feet under my desk and it just makes my day!

Any words of wisdom for our readers?

Zen desk, zen mind! Make your desk a reflection of you – fun, inspiring, motivating, and hopefully relatively clutter-free.

Read more about why I love my desk in my post 10 Reasons I Love My Cubicle. 

You can read more about me at LifeAfterCollege.org, my book at LACBook.com, or follow me on Twitter @jenny_blake.

Thanks for your interview, Jenny.
If there's someone you want Tagbento to interview for this series, email me.

Tagbento is giving one of you a free copy of Life After College! All you have to do is:

  1. Leave a comment here with a piece of advice that's helped you in life (remember to be logged in, or leave your email address so we can contact you).
  2. Then, share this interview to your friends on Facebook or Twitter - you can use the like/tweet/share buttons below.

The closing date is 5 April 2011. We'll pick our favourite comment, and if it's yours, we'll send you your brand new copy of Life After College, and your life will never be the same again!



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