I know a guy who cleans under his desk. Not like the ground under the desk, but the underside of the desk itself. Which, the first time I saw it, was looking around for the men in white coats to promptly take him away.
I’ve never seen anyone before or since clean the underside of their desk. Why would they? It’s a part of the work station that people rarely see. It’s in most people’s minds unnecessary.
Then I realised that this is part of his story. That this guy takes such pride in his workplace that he will go further than anybody else to ensure cleanliness. He has made it part of his identity to have the cleanest desk and he will not stop at the top of the desk to ensure that. Where others see it as futile he sees it as imperative.
Then all of a sudden he doesn’t seem so weird, because we all have little idiosyncrasies that make up our own story.
For example, when a serious chocolate craving hits me, I drive past three shops in order to get to the chocolate that I want. Because it can’t just be any chocolate, if i’m going to give in to temptation it’s going to be worth it.
What idiosyncrasies do you have to suit your story?
Thomas Duggan 