On the most recent The Talk Show with Jason Snell, the conversation naturally (and rightly) turned to keyboards. Tech nerds with mechanical keyboards have become a bit of a joke these days and while some aspects of the market certainly merit ribbing, I think that stereotype is mostly unfair because keyboards are tools. Here is how Jason Snell put it:

…Don’t feel bad about it, because this is what we do. These are like the tools of our trade. This is your axe, this is your electric guitar, this is your screwdriver, this is your RAM truck, whatever it is. As a writer the keyboard, is as silly as it seems, totally matters because that’s our tool of our trade, is the keyboard.

Jason and John are indeed professional writers, but I would argue vehemently that keyboards are a primary and daily tool for anyone who writes. That includes coders for sure, but it also includes practically every modern day desk job. Teasing an office worker for having a preference in keyboards is just as petty as teasing a contractor for their preference in trucks, even when their truck is just as much a luxury vehicle.

The idea that office workers should care about their tools just as much as any other professional isn’t limited to keyboards, a point which both John and Jason naturally transition to. Here’s Jason again:

Look, if you can’t afford it, that’s fine. It’s totally understandable, but I think a lot of people end up suffering with crappy things to do their jobs because they’re like “no, no, it’s fine”, and sometimes the trick is realizing when it’s actually not fine and this is your profession. When I set up my own business, one of the first things I learned is it’s not “it’s a business expense” means “it’s free”, but “it’s a business expense” means “this is a tool I use to do my job”. I should probably pay for it, and that’s okay.

I am fortunate enough to work remote and thus have been able to tailor my workspace to my taste and comfort. I may not need a Studio Display, an Aeron stool, or a standing desk, but they all make doing my job easier by making it more enjoyable, and it drives me a little nuts whenever I go into the office to see most of my colleagues settle for the tools that were chosen for them because that’s whatever the company could buy in bulk at a good price. That’s not to say I expect my employer to provide everyone with $1500 displays, rather that I am disappointed that none of my colleagues eschew the $100 display provided in favor of something that would make their job easier. Sure, most of my colleagues probably don’t care about their display, but I bet at least some do and accept what they know is a crappy display simply because “it’s fine.”

There are very valid reasons for sticking with the status quo, namely “because I can’t afford anything better” or “I truly don’t value this enough to pay a premium for it”, but there are also plenty of excuses that don’t really hold up to scrutiny. Here are a few examples:

• “It’s fine because only suckers buy their own equipment”, except you get to keep your equipment.
• “It’s fine because I am tough enough to not need nice things”, but that doesn’t stop you from buying nice things outside of your job.
• “I don’t want to be the guy with the weird keyboard”, which just makes you the even weirder guy who secretly wants a better keyboard.
• “It’s fine because my job is not my life”, outside of that part of your life where you spend most of your waking hours doing your job.

The silliness of that last excuse ties into a precept that has been invaluable to my own spending habits. Where reasonable, allow yourself to spend more in the areas you spend lots of time. For example, get the best set of knives you can reasonably afford if you cook regularly, and just get a discount set if you don’t¹. “It’s fine” really usually is fine for the things that only get occasional use. Just don’t automatically settle for “it’s fine” for the stuff you are going to use all the time. Once you concede it’s reasonable to invest a little more in the kitchen where you spend a handful of hours each week, then investing a even more in the office where you spend 40+ hours each week becomes a no-brainer… even if that means buying a better keyboard.