In this edition of Workflow, we have Anthony Caruana, CEO & Co-Founder of Media-Wize, and freelance writer talking about keeping his workspace small and listening to vinyl music.
Workflow is an interview series by Balance the Grind to get a glimpse into people’s working styles and workspaces. If you’re interested in sharing your workflow, submit it here!
Describe what you do: In simple terms, I’m a professional communicator. With Media-Wize, our focus is on helping business leaders find their stories and to tell them as well as possible. So, part of my work involves training spokespeople to talk to the media, customers, investors and others stakeholders.
But I also facilitate events such as webinars and face to face events (once we get back to face-to-face events). I spend a lot of time writing as well. That covers corporate content as well as working as a freelance journalist and sharing my thoughts on my blog.
Variety is the spice of life and that’s what I like in my work.
How do you like your coffee: I enjoy a skim latte but after taking a break from coffee a couple of years ago, I have become a tea drinker – strong with a dash of milk.
Device(s) you use: My three key devices are my MacBook Pro, iPhone and iPad. As the former editor of Macworld Australia, I’m an Apple user through and through. At my desk, I also have a large screen and a desktop scanner.
Describe your working style in one sentence: Fluid and focussed – I like to focus on a specific task and then move onto something different so my mind stays fresh.
What does your workspace look like: My desk is quite small. That’s intentional so that I don’t accumulate clutter. In the past, I had a massive bench to work from but I found it just accumulated lots of junk. A smaller desk helps me stay focussed. I also have a reading nook in the corner away from my desk for when I need to do some reading.
The scanner on my desk is important as it lets me quickly scan and store any paper that comes in. I scan all my receipts and store them in Evernote and then shred them. That means I don’t have to store lots of documents or papers. That helps reduce the clutter.
I often joke that I’m professional nerd and my office reflects that. I’ve been playing with home automation gear for a while and have some fancy lights over my desk, smart light bulbs and other gadgets. So I say things like “Siri, turn on my reading lamp at 35%” when I go to my reading nook. Or “Siri, set the desk lights to 50%” when I’m about to start a Zoom and need the lights at a certain level.
How does your workspace affect your creative process: My process involves a few different stages and strategies.
Often there’s reading and research, a period of just writing to see what comes and then period of refinement and review. There are times when I collaborate with others and others where I need quiet and solitude.
My workspace is designed to give me space for all those things. I have my reading nook and my clutter-free desk. I also have a foldaway whiteboard that I can use when I’m playing around with an idea.
I’m also a bit of a super-hero and Star Wars tragic and have a few action figures around the place that help keep the space fun and friendly for me.
Do you have a favourite playlist for work: I’m a 70s and 80s fan so i tend to look for random Spotify lists that cover those eras. Sometimes I venture into the 60s and 90s as well.
But I listen to most of my music on vinyl. I have a few Sonos speakers and my record player is hooked up to one so i can playa record in my lounge room and stream it to my office. That means I have to get up from my desk regularly to turn the record over.
Who would you like to nominate for the next workflow interview: Vanessa Jones – Health Promotions Manager at Healthy Male.
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