Where’s Your Office?
This week’s Rivr Notes is about the power of choosing where—and how—you thrive at work.
Earlier this year, I found myself on a flats boat off the southern tip of Andros Island in the Bahamas. It was one of those surreal mornings—the kind where the water is every imaginable shade of blue, the horizon stretches endlessly, and it was alive with birds, fish, and stillness all at once.
It was day one of a fly-fishing trip with a good friend, and we’d been paired with a local guide who’d spent the past 40 years navigating these waters. After an hour-and-twenty-minute ride across endless channels, he slowed the engine, looked around at the vast expanse, and smiled.
“Welcome to my office,” he said.
He meant it.
Not as a joke. Not with irony. He meant it as a genuine statement of pride. This was his office—and had been for decades. He made the decision, early on, to make a life here, to guide others through this magical corner of the world, to raise a family and build a career on this island. And he was thriving in it.
A few months later, I found myself deep in a Costa Rican rainforest. Totally different vibe, completely different purpose. It was one of those immersive, lush green places where everything breathes—waterfalls crashing in the distance, birds overhead, thick canopy shading our path. And there, leading our group, was a guide in her early 20s, filled with energy and passion for her surroundings.
As we set off down the trail, she turned and said, “Welcome to my office.”
Same phrase. Different country. Different generation. But once again, it wasn’t just a throwaway comment—it was a statement of ownership. She’d chosen this path. This space. This rhythm of life. And she was thriving in it.
Those two experiences stuck with me—not just because they were beautiful and memorable (they were), but because they made me pause and think: Where’s my office?
And more importantly—am I thriving in it?
For years, my office was on airplanes and in hotel rooms, in conference centers and client sites scattered across time zones. As a management consultant, I was always on the move. It was chaotic, sure—but I thrived in that environment. It was a choice I made, and I was energized by it.
Today, my office is my home. It's where I think, write, connect, create. It gives me flexibility, while still doing meaningful work. And guess what? I’m thriving here too. Different chapter, same intention.
What I’ve realized—and what those guides helped crystallize—is that we all have a choice. Maybe not always in our job title or even our daily schedule. But we do have a choice in how we show up. In how we shape our environment. In how we take ownership of the spaces where we spend the bulk of our days.
I’ve seen people absolutely own their office cubicle. They bring in the right lighting, their favorite books, a few photos or plants, and they make it theirs. I’ve known others who carve out a ritual mid-day walk—just 20 minutes outside, headphones on, mind reset—and they come back sharper, lighter, better. Some people are in traditional offices, but they’ve been intentional about their workspace, creating zones that support how they think and operate best.
And that’s the point—it’s about the choice to thrive where you are.
The fisherman in the Bahamas? He made that choice. And you could see how deeply rooted he was in it.
The young guide in Costa Rica? Same thing. She chose her environment intentionally—and it lit her up.
Those two guides reminded me of something simple but powerful: where you work doesn’t have to be where you have to be. It can be where you want to be. It can reflect your values, your priorities, and your rhythm.
Because at the end of the day, we all need a space—physical and mental—where we can do our best work. Where we feel grounded, energized, and proud of the environment we’ve chosen.
So maybe the better question isn’t just, “Where’s your office?”
Maybe it’s: Is your office helping you thrive?
And if not—what would it look like to make that shift?
See you soon,
Brent, your Rivr Guide
P.S. Beginning in September, Rivr Notes will move to a monthly rhythm—still thoughtful, just arriving with more space to reflect between each one.
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🎧 Bonus: If this sparked something for you, you might enjoy the companion podcast episode of Rivr Conversations. It builds on the ideas in this Rivr Note—offering a new angle, deeper reflection, and practical ways to carry the story forward.
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And the photos? They’re not stock images — they come from real adventures. Because the best ideas often come from staying curious, embracing new perspectives, and engaging with the world around us.
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