Looking for ideas on what to add to my new office at work. Does anyone have any cool Aggie memorabilia in their office?

I moved offices several months ago and took everything home. I haven't felt compelled to take any of it back.

Excellent point.

I once had a customer whose office was filled to the brim with personal effects and "antiques" all over every square inch of his walls. It had to have taken him a full weekend to get all that crap outta there when he got fired.

to add on to OlAg's point. Most places will not even give you the opportunity to collect your effects. if they are letting you go they usually don;t even let you back to your office.

So don't keep anything in your office you wouldn't be OK losing.

And typing this and reading all of this just makes me hate the culture even more...

Thanks guys for the replies. Truly didn't know places operated like this. I will definitely keep all of this in mind.

I've had a few jobs and I always have Aggie paraphernalia. I worked for a state agency in Austin and my boss and I always had a few subtle hints we were Aggies. It was always a good conversation piece. It was a little bit different there because we were "Aggies behind the orange curtain."

I have a picture frame, business card holder, coffee mug, and cups. I was given most of those by coworkers.

Just keep it professional. I wouldn't worry too much that you may get fired/laid off and have to pack things away. Usually the writing is on the wall way before you get to that point.

Now I'm a teacher, admittedly way different that a professional desk job, and also have a flag and pennant.

I don't have a predilection for decorating to begin with, but I also intentionally keep things work related for the reasons mentioned. It's mostly because i only want people to think about my work, but if I ever get let go or quit I can walk out with my personal effects (a few books) in seconds. Nothing personal on my work computer or work drives, no pictures, no desktop items, nothing.

I have a business card holder, Aggie ring paper weight, and a cool needlepoint of the seal my mom made me as a graduation gift. Could easily grab them and walk out in the event things turned south...but like others I've never thought of this potential problem. I think I'll be reserved and not add ay additional items.

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Most places will not even give you the opportunity to collect your effects.

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We sure don't. You personal items will be placed in a book box and shipped UPS. It'll probably be your immediate supervisor packing your things and they'll be provided tape and a box, but nothing with cushioning. (And it's just as likely they will have to find their own supplies since they are on a deadline to get that cleared out.) So you really don't want anything fragile. What is personal and what is "company property" is largely at the discretion of your supervisor. If you have something that doesn't make it back to you, there really is no recourse. So keep that in mind.

If a company is going to let you go and not give you the option to go back to your office to grab your stuff, wouldn't you likely have seen the writing on the wall LONG before and likely start shuttling your stuff out in waves?

I guess I've been lucky to work for companies that after I've quit they didn't immediately escort me out the building and let me work through my entire two weeks.

RPM said:

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Reloadags1998 said:

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Well I own the place so I'm not worried too much. As I sit here, I see no less that 12 aTm logos from my chair.

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thats very cool. Probably not something most Aggies in the workforce are able to say.

For most of us, being the overly Aggie chach In the office is not cool.

All my stuff fits in my backpack. I am not at work to be comforted by the fact I went to Texas A&M. I like my career and don't feel the need to be a breathing Aggie advertisement nor do I need to be propped up by Aggie gear.

Some of these comments may seem harsh, but in the working world at least at successful companies no one gives a rip about your school pride.

I work with lots of SEC folks. After being around the stereotypical obnoxious Aggie they are shocked when I tell them I went to A&M and don't act like a brainwashed yell leader wannabe. Others really do think Aggies are socially awkward, inept weirdos.

It goes beyond not caring what others think of you when you act the part of the overly Aggie dude with your 50 Benjamin Know prints, special Aggie mini helmet collection and Aggie war hymn email notification sound.

All that being said... Gig 'Em! Would not trade my Aggie degrees or experiences in Aggieland for anything.

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There's a lot of true to this. I have my various degrees and license and that's it in my office.

The Original AG 76 said:

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One of the most demeaning thing in ones working life is the clean out your office drill in the event of a sudden " retirement " or some other involuntary end of the line event. I watched a very good and dedicated old co worker , who was " asked " to retire after almost 28 years in damn near the same office have to spend the better part of a day packing up his personal mementos and stuff while a parade of well wishers continually stoped by. He told me later that that was what made it the worst day of his life. He was ready to leave but hated the scene of carrying out his stuff like that.
A week later I began to slowly remove every single personal item I had except for a single picture of the wife.
When it was my turn a few years ago I was ready. When the 2 assasins visited me that morning I simply took the check from them, set my keys , phone and cards on the desk, picked up my single picture , my Diet Coke and walked out . Took about 30 seconds. No one knew, walked out ,never looked back and didn't regret it a bit.
And .... unless you own the damn hog farm do NOT think it can't happen to you.

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The turk is visiting my office next week. How do I know? Cause I know. Should be interesting as the one piece of memorabilia left in my office is quite extraordinary.

It is named Miss Pearl VIII
It is by double bit axe from my last deadpot year, Bonfire 1999, and she is hanging on my office wall. Sharp and ready.

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Lol, yes there is so long as you can prove the facts that you owned and they did not let you retrieve it or return it to you.

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Ok, you are right, but you will have to take legal action. HR will just ignore any complaints and stop any communication on the matter.

I will err on the side of returning something to the person, but I am aware of complaints against the company as a whole.

I'm a female and a lot of females tend to over decorate offices with pictures and random junk.

My first 5 years they shifted office floor arrangements every 6-8 months. After 2-3 moves I kept personal items to pictures and a few mementos. I did have my degrees, but I would barely get them hung before we moved again.

Then moved buildings (huge ordeal). After 5 years I had accumulated a bunch of crap. Took everything home a only brought back the things I needed or gave me comfort. Ended up with a few photos, Aggie mug, books for my profession, trinkets people brought me and a few odds and ends.

On being laid off or fired I have learned most companies walk you out when they give you notice unless it's a location shutdown. So you someone else (boss, colleague, mailroom) that gets to box your stuff up and send it to you.

So my recommendation is to have 2-3 cool Aggie things that aren't irreplaceable that bring you comfort in your working environment. Total you don't want a ton of stuff and never have anything at work you can't walk away from.

To the people that are 100% anti decorations that is their choice. Personally if you spend 40+ hours of week or almost a third of your time in your office a few comforting touches aren't going to kill you.

To clarify my first post, I don't advocate not decorating... just do it professionally and don't have an all Aggie theme. Having Aggie stuff is cool, just don't decorate it like your room in middle school with Fatheads and only sports themed or theme of your favorite team or whatever. Also keep it simple... don't put too much stuff in your office.

Only absolute no no decorating at work is anything political in my opinion.

Kinda a derail here but...
This thread got me to think about the comments about displaying ones degree(s). Rummaging thru whats left of my memory and I can't ever remember anyone displaying their degree back in the 60's,70's or even the 80's. I'm sure there was probably one or 2 but just don't remember any. Hell my dad ( '44) didn't even frame his, I did in order to decorate my own home office with his , my moms, and mine plus my and my dad's slide rule... But I digress.
Shifting to more recent memory ... I do remember quite a few primarily in the engineering areas, very very few in finance or IT and none in manufacturing. Granted the percentage of folks having a degree in engineering departments is usually the highest in the organization but even amongst those that I knew had a degree , even ones from the Land Grant College, it was limited to the guys in engineering. And then it was also only prevalent with the younger guys. Cant remember any of my peers or the olders ( if thats possible) displaying a sheepskin. Quite a few had professional things like patents or industry awards but not degrees. Really have no idea why but hanging a degree in an office just wasn't a thing, in my range of experiences, until the last 10 years or so.

Derail over

I don't think anybody is talking about making every little decoration A&M themed. Or a billion knickknacks. I've seen a Governor's office, numerous multi-millionaire construction company owners/CEOs, and successful medical professionals have A&M paraphernalia in their offices.

Just because it's not common in your office or field, that doesn't mean it's unprofessional, distracting, or annoying in other offices and fields.

I went from cube to office last year.

-I have my five diplomas/licenses in my office. Good reminder of how I got here.
-I have a good bye card from an old client where I did my best work. Good reminder of how I got here.
-I have three photos. One of the grandparents/first car (fav). One of me and the lady. One of coworkers as a gag Christmas gift. First two are why. Last one is keeping it fun.

I have a few random items, like an old golf brochure, red swingline staper (office space), Nolan Ryan bobble head, and Aggie mug for things I enjoy outside work.

I think it all depends on how you value work and the balance with it. I love the reminders of work/life balance, because I have tendencies to get way to involved at work.

This very thing happened to me in May 1997. At that time I was driving a company pickup. I cleaned out my office & the pickup. I still remember waiting at the company entrance for my bride to pick me up. Ever since that day, I have kept the minimum personal belongings at work.

Degrading is the perfect word. My career has blossomed since then. Making more dollars, have more responsibilties. In a weird way, losing my job was a good thing. I never want that degrading feeling again.

aggieband 83 said:

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Degrading is the perfect word. My career has blossomed since then. Making more dollars, have more responsibilties. In a weird way, losing my job was a good thing. I never want that degrading feeling again.

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agree 100%. I was on an Argentina dove hunt when I was laid off. Have made alot more $$ and better career now.