For those of you who don’t know, I’m interning at Microsoft this summer. I’ll be working on a project called SharedView. The program, currently in Beta form, allows users to share documents, desktops and anything in between. I highly encourage you to check it out.
I’ve been assigned a very specific project within this program. I’m not entirely sure that I’m allowed to talk about it, so I won’t. Instead, I’d like to connect my experience with what you may think.
Last summer I worked at an education newspaper called Education Week, though Editorial Projects in Education, the parent company, was my official employer. I really loved my time at Edweek, and the people there are better than any team I could hope to work for. Still, a non-profit is not Microsoft.
When I arrived, my apartment (subsidized by the program) was completely furnished, including cable TV, a washer/dryer in the apartment, and dishes etc. in the kitchen. I just did my laundry for the first time, and I’m shocked at how convenient it is.
My office setup surpasses my home setup by far. I have two widescreen monitors on two new desktops with fast dual-core processors and huge amounts of RAM. I have a comfortable chair, my own phone line, and access to practically any Microsoft software, free.
i’ve only now begun to realize how much of an impact work environment, especially the physical aspects, can affect productivity. When I start my own business, I will certainly follow the Joel model, even if it takes some finagling with the VCs.
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