Micheal Moloney is the brain behind FilterGrade. A product that provides photographers, designers, and bloggers with gorgeous filters and photo editing resources. Let’s take a look at the place where those beautiful filters are being developed.
Can you tell me something about your desk setup?
My desk is set up in a very minimal way to help avoid distraction. I used to keep books, notes, mail, paperwork, etc. all over the place and it really affected the way I worked. Now, I just sort and file all that stuff or handle it online with services like Evernote and Trello to help combat clutter.
I scan documents with my printer, but mainly for contracts and other important paperwork. For notes and other things I either file them or take them on my computer to begin with.
Is there anything you would like to improve on this setup?
Yes. I’d like to find a better system of organizing my books and reading materials. I really prefer reading on my phone, but also like having certain books at home.
Do you switch workspaces during your day? If yes, what’s the reason behind it?
Not usually. I get most of my work done at the desk above, but will sometimes read and/or write in the kitchen or on the back porch.
What are you doing to stay focused?
To stay focused I try to identify the tasks that need to get done every night so that I know exactly what to work on the next day. I usually think about these at the end of the work day for the least 10-15 minutes. I then write them all down in an Evernote document titled ‘To Do for XX/XX/XXX’.
I also found getting a bit more sleep and staying active help me work more efficiently. I try to sleep by 11-12pm every night and wake up around 8-9am every morning and will workout by running/walking most days of the week.
Besides that, I don’t have any special tricks, sorry! :P
What was your latest self improvement experiment?
I’ve been attempting to read more and found that using my phone was the best way to do this. So I installed the Kindle for iPhone app and have been getting through a lot more books.
Where do you see yourself and your desk in the next 5 years?
I wish I could tell you, but I honestly do not know. What I do know is that I’d like to travel a lot more and work with amazing, talented people.
