The Messy Office Defense
An Anticipated Critique Response
The Understanding
My wife and I have had many conversations about my office. We have an understanding:
It’s her house. It’s my office. And she’s worth more than all of it.
The Company We Keep
If you’ve seen the Founder’s Office One-Take video and wondered about the clutter, here’s some context:
Scientists and Innovators
| Person | Known For | Desk Status |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Einstein | Theory of Relativity | Famously cluttered. Said: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” |
| Thomas Edison | 1,093 patents | Cluttered desk from constant experimentation |
| Isaac Newton | Laws of Motion, Calculus | Notoriously messy desk |
| Alan Turing | Computer Science, Codebreaking | Messy desk linked to innovative problem-solving |
| Alexander Fleming | Discovered Penicillin | Messy workspace where important discoveries occurred |
| Max Levchin | Co-founded PayPal | Notably messy desk |
Writers and Artists
| Person | Known For | Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain | American Literature | Worked surrounded by papers and books |
| Francis Bacon | Painting | Chaotic studio with scattered supplies |
| Toni Morrison | Nobel Prize in Literature | Known for messy room/desk |
| Doris Lessing | Nobel Prize in Literature | Noted for messy workspace |
| Roberto Bolaño | Chilean Literature | Desk piled with correspondence |
Business Leaders
| Person | Known For | Office Style |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Jobs | Apple | Cluttered with prototypes and projects |
| Tony Hsieh | Zappos | Extremely chaotic desk reflecting unique style |
The Research
A 2013 University of Minnesota study found that messy environments actually promote creative thinking.
Participants in disorderly rooms generated more creative ideas than those in tidy spaces.
Lead researcher Kathleen Vohs concluded:
“Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights.”
What the Messy Office Actually Shows
- I’m working — Not posing for Instagram
- I’m building — Not maintaining appearances
- I’m focused on output — Not optics
- I have nothing to hide — The video was published ON PURPOSE
The Real Question
Would you rather invest in someone with a perfectly staged office who’s never shipped anything, or someone knee-deep in the work with:
- 37 years of development
- 1,244 documented innovations
- 210 formal patent claims
- A platform that’s actually live
The Proof
- Einstein’s desk photo is in the Smithsonian archives
- Twain’s study is preserved in Hartford
- My office video is on Cephas
We’re in good company.
Related
- Founder’s Office One-Take — The unfiltered video
- Anticipated Critiques Index — All preemptive responses
- Founder Philosophy — More about the person behind the platform
A clean desk doesn’t correlate with success or creativity. For some of us, a messy workspace is a breeding ground for innovative ideas and a reflection of a mind deeply engaged in work.
My wife gets it. Maybe you will too.