A Room With A Real View -- You!
by Charlon Bobo

While being a Lifestyle CEO is cause for celebration all year long, it is especially so during the holidays. What better time to celebrate the freedom, fun and flexibility we have by choosing to build a business of our own on our own terms? And perhaps nothing can motivate us to take full advantage of our choice than to create an office environment that makes it pleasant and fun to forge ahead in business. 

To honor my journey and make it my very own during the holidays, I make my office an ongoing reflection of the things I love best about the season. Doing this makes all the difference between merely existing in business and thriving in business. Surround yourself with what most inspires you and you, too, will see!

To personalize your own office or workspace, begin by asking yourself the following questions:

· What inspires me?
· What fuels me?
· What sparks my creativity?
· What comforts me?
· What gives me a sense of deep joy?
· What can I place in my surroundings that will propel me to greater heights?

Use your six senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, intuition) to guide you through the process. Once you have some answers to these questions, translate them into action using some of these suggestions.

Sight – a framed picture of your beloved family, friends, or animals, a picture window that looks out into a garden, colorful flowers, any view of nature, natural light from a skylight, brightly painted walls, a favorite piece of furniture, a large mirror that reflects your dazzling inner and outer beauty. 

Sound – a clock that chimes on the hour, any soothing sound from a sound machine, a wind chime, birds chirping through an open window, streaming music (my favorite site is http://www.live365.com). 

Smell – a burning candle, essential oils in a diffuser, fresh flowers or greenery. 

Touch – a lovingly handmade quilt draped across your lap, arranging the roses from your garden in a vase for the desktop, lighting a candle, dusting the desk, organizing “that pile.”

Taste – an antique dish of strong mints that sits on your desk, a well-deserved coffee or tea break, a nourishing fresh salad made for lunch that refuels your physical body.

Intuition – What season is it and what I am needing in response to that season? What is working? What could use improvement? Where might I be stuck?

Although I make many modifications to my office and primary workstation throughout the year, there are a few things that remain the same: a burning soy wax candle made by me (sight-fire element represented), fresh flowers from my garden or the local farmer’s market (sight, smell and touch), a table-top water fountain (sight and sound), and an efficient work station that remains organized (most of the time!) (sight). And I do love a lovely delicate pastry with a cup of hot organic lemon tea (sight, smell, touch, taste), although it is not often enough that I set aside time in my day to enjoy this ritual.

During the holidays, my desk and work area are especially fun and energizing to me because this is a favorite time of year. I adore fresh foliage, so a personal indulgence during the season is a scented cedar, pine and fir garland. I also order variegated holly, pinecones, and wreaths to decorate my office. My handcrafted soy candle might be replaced with one that is scented with organic essential oils of pine, cedar, spruce, or cinnamon, or a custom holiday blend. This allows me to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while I work!

Before my order of fresh greenery arrives, I reorganize my desk by removing everything, thoroughly cleaning, and rearranging items to better suit my current needs. I donate items that I no longer use. When the greens finally arrive, I turn up the streaming holiday music and with excitement that rivals the carefree attitude of a child, I hang the garland and wreaths, place pinecones in baskets or galvanized tubs, and make small flower arrangements with the holly. 

This is also the perfect opportunity to set specific intent for the season. This exercise is ritualistic: every part of it sacred. It is my own way of preparing for and opening up space for new experience in a way that is meaningful to me – another way of making my work space a personal reflection. I write seasonal messages and inspiring quotes on my glass dry erase board.

One of my secret passions is wearing a corsage (go figure!), so as I work, I might be found wearing one of my own homemade holly corsage creations! Like many Lifestyle CEOs, I work in a solitary environment, so even thought no one else is privy to my corsage-wearing antics, I do it because it is an expression from which I gain a great deal of enjoyment and fun. It is my way of affirming that life is a grand jubilee and should be made as personal and pleasurable as possible.

By creating a work environment perfectly suited to you, you can be both comfortable and driven to achieve. A fitting environment can only enhance the realization that you are worth honoring and celebrating as the grand, dynamic, and powerful person that you are!

_______________
Charlon Bobo is the founder and CEO of Muse works virtual assistant services and one of the only women in the world with a completely shaved head by choice. Through Muse works, located in Simi Valley, California, Charlon helps other Lifestyle CEOs by tending to administrative details, freeing them to focus on growing their businesses.