Happy & Healthy

THIS IS HOW YOU BECOME RICH AND SUCCESSFUL

6 desk upgraders that are the gateway to big money

I have sniffed around quite a few special desks in my life. For instance, I was once with Estelle Cruijff in The Torentje of then Prime Minister Balkenende. Estelle said: “I must say; you live nicely!” and I asked if I could leave my bag there safely because we were going to walk to the Trêveszaal. Both not particularly intelligent remarks, because that Torentje, the Extra Beveiligde Inrichting in Vught is nothing compared to it.

Anyway, the desks. Evelyn Lauder once showed me her mother-in-law's office Estée . Estée herself had been dead for years, but her office had not changed a millimeter. And what do you think of Diane von Furstenberg's workspace? That screams success. Now, of course, you have the chicken-and-egg factor (successful people have a glamorous office), but I am sure that if you upgrade your desk, people will believe in you even more.

1. Photos, photos, photos

And no, especially no family snapshots or a framed picture of your child smeared with food on their cheeks. Nobody is waiting for that. Here you hang moments you are proud of. A photo of you speaking in front of an audience, a special meeting with special people (at Estée's, it was filled with photos of herself and the Clintons, at DvF's office I saw a lot of Mick Jagger and other rock stars). Show that you are someone. Moreover, those kinds of photos are nice conversation starters.

2. The paperweight

Also something chic and civilized from people who are very organized; a paperweight. Estée had a paperweight of a big bee, given to her by Rudy Giuliani, the then mayor of New York. Because she was the queen bee of New York. Look, those are stories. For people who don’t know what a paperweight is: it’s a weighted ‘thing’ that you place on a few invitations or sweet notes so they don’t blow away.

3. A glass desk

What it is, is what it is, but many desks of successful people are made of glass. Maybe because it looks tidy or is literally transparent and symbolizes their way of working, or because you can see their amazing Louboutins through the table, something like that? A wooden desk can also work. As long as it’s different from the rest of the building, showing that this has been brought in especially for you. That it underscores your unique nature. So no Ikea for you.

”An everyday Bic pen just won't do”

4. The pen

An everyday Bic pen just won't do. Successful people write with a Montblanc. At the very least. What also looks great is a nice pen holder on your desk. I once visited my friend Fiona Hering who was staying at the Highline Hotel in New York, and on the super cool desk in her room was a cute pen holder with about thirty pencils in it. With the hotel’s logo on it. That’s also something: a customized pencil.

5. A letter opener

Preferably also a gift from a special giver. With an inscription, because you received it at a special moment in your career. And you are reminded of that every time. Even if this is a very unpleasant reminder.

6. The chair

Preferably one from Eames, which is incredibly trendy and modern. But actually, anything is fine as long as it is, indeed, different from the rest and if you look good in it and it represents your unique self. DvF, for example, has a sofa in the shape of her iconic mouth.

Another tip to make your office personal; at DvF, I found it so chic that everyone had a small bottle of Pellegrino water on their desk. Costs nothing, but it gave the whole office allure. And there were wicker baskets everywhere with apples in them that Diane herself picked from her orchard just outside New York. Maybe they were just bought around the corner, but it’s all about storytelling. And you know what also helps tremendously? An office in the Meatpacking District in New York. I should have a serious talk about that with my publisher.