Home office, no bling

I have been working from my home for nearly two years now.  Admittedly, I have created a nice place to work.  Reticulating arms for my two monitors, one of which is 24” on the diagonal.  An auxiliary Mac Mini playing an almost “just because” role.  But even I have resisted custom-made glass whiteboards.

Reading about Fog Creek’s new office, otherwise known as Software Engineer Valhalla, typically resolves to jealous and even lustful feelings.  Research begins in earnest, scouring the ‘net for custom lighting solutions, aquariums, and bionic desks.  After all, even for the home-based worker, these purchases will pay off with improved satisfaction and happiness. We all have been told happiness leads to productivity nirvana.

The work environment at Fog Creek is not solely designed to get the most out of employees. The primary purpose is to attract the best software engineers in the country.  Here I am in my home office, “hired” until I die.  My goal is not to attract someone better than me.  I need to adjust my sites solely on productivity and personal enjoyment on a personal budget.  While I am not going to construct an at-home cubicle, I am also not going to hire an electrician to punch in twenty outlets behind my desk.

Perhaps that Aeron chair would be a good choice for you, though not because Fog Creek acquired one.  The fact is, the Aeron chair is not a universally appropriate seating vessel and you should really only buy it if it fits your ass.