The Playlist: Herman Miller’s John Kim

In his role at Herman Miller, John Kim is responsible for helping communicate all the company does to build a better world. Find out what’s currently playing in this dad-to-be’s workspace. (P.S. We particularly like the piece of art he has hanging there. John’s brother-in-law Driscoll Reid had a hand in creating it.)

What do you listen to while you work? I listen to a lot of different stuff including NPR (even during the pledge drive—I know…that’s love), upbeat guitar-driven jazz like Wes Montgomery, something fun like LCD Soundsystem, and albums to which I know most of the words, like most of the Ted Leo and the Pharmacists or Wilco catalog. Also, my wife and I are expecting our first kid and we finally took the time to scour our iTunes catalog and make some fun mixes for the baby, so shuffling through the playlists have taken over lately.

How do you listen? If I’m home alone, I’ll listen to NPR on the radio or the iPod via an iPod dock. If I need quiet, I’ll listen through JVC noise-canceling headphones.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I also enjoy Pandora, but I find that the selection gets a bit repetitive on the free version.

Does music influence your work? Yes, but not in a visual way. I think it just allows me to concentrate and get lost in my work.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? To stay on top of what’s new and good, I’ll get recommendations from my friend Brent and my friend Amanda, who is a music writer for the New York Times, Pitchfork, Spin and others. I’ve trusted her musical taste since middle school.

JOHN’S PLAYLIST

Too Late to Turn Back, El Michels Affair

Red and Purple, The Dodos

Little Lion Man, Mumford & Sons

Award Tour, Tribe Called Quest

Home, LCD Soundsystem

Parallel or Together?, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

How Low, Jose Gonzalez

Start a War, The National

The Afterlife, YACHT

Juveniles, The Walkmen

Warm Heart of Africa, The Very Best

The Boy with the Arab Strap, Belle and Sebastian

West Coast Blues, Wes Montgomery

Images: John Kim

Arm Chair Creative: Mark McGuinness

John Kim, our Better World marketing manager (got to love that title!) sent me over this link today. It’s a piece on work habits by Mark McGuinness (via 99%). I’ve pulled a few points I thought might interest Lifework readers. For the whole piece click here.

1. Get an armchair for your office. Or have a breakout space or café close at hand, and give yourself permission to use it.

2. Pay attention to your energy levels throughout the day. When they start to dip, it’s time to take a break — or switch chairs. A change is as good as a rest, remember!

3. Notice how you feel after sitting in your armchair. If you feel bored or sluggish, you’re spending too much time there (more couch potato than armchair creative!). But if you feel fresh enthusiasm, it shows the armchair is doing a good job of recharging your creative batteries.

4. Switch tools. If you normally type on a laptop, get a pad and paper. If you normally use a pen and paper, use a different pen and paper! (I’m serious — your nervous system will register different associations with different tools. Try it.)

5. Ignore sludge. “Sludge” is the name Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson (creators of the Results Only Work Environment approach to corporate culture) give to the sarcastic comments co-workers make about behavior that doesn’t conform to their idea of productivity. E.g. “I wish I had time to loaf around in the middle of the day.”

6. Look back on your week on Friday afternoon. Where did your best ideas come from? Where did you do your most productive thinking? Where did you add most value? (Just make sure you do this review from the comfort of your armchair!)