Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, December 20, 2004.

Sometimes when I'm working at home and I need inspiration I go and sit on the toilet that's in our master bathroom. (I'll let you work on a visual for that for a moment.... Now I'll wait another moment while you desperately try to wipe that visual from your mind....)

Working at home, it can be quite a challenge to stay focused. Especially this week as Christmas draws near, it's difficult for me not to want to get involved with a home project or play with the kids who are now off from school or just generally goof off because, hey!, it's the holidays! Just yesterday Atticus popped in my office and while feigning interest in what I was working on (his reason for office popping is invariably to score a York peppermint patty from the big ol' display box by my desk), he carelessly ran down the list of fun things we could do together at that very moment: wrestling, ping-pong, video games, nerf hoop, etc. I had to ask him to leave. Then I felt compelled to visit the master bathroom.

There's nothing magical about the toilet itself, although it's a very nice one. It's one of the longer ones with a more oval seat instead of the circular ones on typical toilets. The helpful toilet salesperson had told me that men prefer the oval types. I'm not sure why, and I didn't ask him to explain. One of those conversations you could see might take a very biological turn that would make everybody uncomfortable.

No, I go to that toilet because as I sit there in the quiet of a winter's day, I can hear the furnace, the hot water heater, the sump pump, and the hot tub all click on in a cacophony of rhythmic energy sucking. I can imagine our electric meter spinning wildly and our gas meter ticking like a clock's second hand. It is then I am reminded of the true meaning of work: paying the dang bills, and thus am I inspired to get back to my office.

But next week I'm hoping to take some time off, so I gotta remember to stay away from that toilet....