Kathleen Sebelius, Curtis Sittenfeld, Robbie Myers, Valerie Plame Reveal: What's In My Desk

To quote Christina Norman, put simply, "Work's hard." And if you're anything like us, you have a few can't-work-without-them items that help you get through it.

For members of the HPW staff, it's pictures of our families, vintage magazine covers, seltzer, lots of books, and some really pretty pen cups and tape dispensers from Poppin, our new favorite purveyor of non-ugly, non-boring office supplies. Small things, but they make all the difference.

We began to wonder what those things are for other women, especially those who've reached the pinnacle of their professions. What things do they have to have in or around their desks at all times?

So we asked twelve highly successful women in a variety of fields, from fashion to engineering to international espionage (seriously).

From lava lamps to a letter from George Clooney, here are the 5 things they keep nearby to help them get the job done:

What things can’t you work without? Tweet #fivethings @huffpostwomen.

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Robbie Myers, Editor In Chief, Elle

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1. A handwritten note from George Clooney accepting an apology I gave him after he reminded me to be more mindful when writing coverlines, as he is, in fact, an actual human being. I'd like to tell you I keep it there to remind myself that all the people we cover are real human beings, but really it's because it's from George Clooney... 2. Photographs of my children 3. Lipstick 4. "I Like Your Work: Art and Etiquette": a slip of a book of interviews with living, working artists about the modern art scene. And art. And life and death. 5. A letter from Victor Navasky thanking me for a lecture I gave at Columbia. It was a long, corny story about dreams deferred, ambitions sprouted elsewhere, and wanting to be Victor Navasky when I was a girl.

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1. A handwritten note from George Clooney accepting an apology I gave him after he reminded me to be more mindful when writing coverlines, as he is, in fact, an actual human being. I'd like to tell you I keep it there to remind myself that all the people we cover are real human beings, but really it's because it's from George Clooney...

2. Photographs of my children

3. Lipstick

4. "I Like Your Work: Art and Etiquette": a slip of a book of interviews with living, working artists about the modern art scene. And art. And life and death.

5. A letter from Victor Navasky thanking me for a lecture I gave at Columbia. It was a long, corny story about dreams deferred, ambitions sprouted elsewhere, and wanting to be Victor Navasky when I was a girl.

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andie933 said on 22 Monday 2011 am31 6:39 am: I work at an all night convenience store and the best thing I keep in my desk is a gun.

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Comments

[Lorraine Roe]

08:55 PM on 08/22/2011

Well, I did like #2. I've been struggling with naming characters...simple solutions baby name book and a phone book. I'll take it. And yes, it would be nice if they had more pictures of husbands mentioned. :)

[Sam Brees]

04:34 PM on 08/22/2011

What in my Desk : a picture of @tamronhall

[Dede Eagleburger]

11:39 AM on 08/22/2011

I have a drawer full of candy. Chocolate mostly! Lots of it! and no, you can't have any...! ;)

[PAGIFAL]

10:06 AM on 08/22/2011

With a bunch of leftists like thos women, they probably keep a pair of Obama's underwear there.

[threnodymarch]

09:42 AM on 08/22/2011

Wow, some of these women actually...have...pens on their desks? Fascinating.

I enjoyed reading about the actually interesting tidbits, minus the "Post-its are amazing" line that came up several times.

[naberhaber]

09:34 AM on 08/22/2011

In the desk ?? Check out what this guy does on the desk !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1PsaE7cYpo

[lssrep]

09:23 AM on 08/22/2011

Note that these women are "liberal women" and are bosses versus employees. I have pictures of my father's combat medals on my desk as well as photos of some trips I have taken and an autographed photo of the Mad Bluebird. What does that say about me?

[Lorraine Roe]

08:54 PM on 08/22/2011

A lot! Respectful and funny.

[vegetto764]

09:08 AM on 08/22/2011

Will the Huffington Post also have category for Man. I shall not hold my breath.

[giesesmp]

09:04 AM on 08/22/2011

I am SO glad to know that these high-powered women can't even tell the difference between IN their desk and ON their desk. As I read the headline, I thought it could be interesting. But, no, it just proves how people read/see what they want, and not do as instructed.

It is kinda funny to think of all these pictures, papers, cups, etc. IN someone's desk!!

[Texplaygrl]

08:52 AM on 08/22/2011

Lemme see...do I care..........................NO!

Nice they have jobs.

[mulepick]

08:31 AM on 08/22/2011

Interesting how many had photos of their kids but only a couple included their husbands. Just a continuation of what society has been teaching boys for the past 40 years; "men bad, women good".

[PAGIFAL]

10:07 AM on 08/22/2011

RIGHT ON !!!

[Savine]

09:53 PM on 08/22/2011

No men do it to themselves.

[ARMY1775]

07:54 AM on 08/22/2011

WOW, BREATHTAKING, EARTHSHATTERING - So many of these successful women keep pens, pencils, post-it notes, laptops and phone chargers in/on their desks...no wonder they are at the top of their game!!!

[LizzieJ67]

07:44 AM on 08/22/2011

This article was about whats IN the desk, not whats ON the desk. These people mostly told us what was ON thier desks. Sheesh.

[Texplaygrl]

08:47 AM on 08/22/2011

Highly intelligent form of life, right? Can't understand a question...lol

[andie933]

06:39 AM on 08/22/2011

I work at an all night convenience store and the best thing I keep in my desk is a gun.

[PAGIFAL]

10:08 AM on 08/22/2011

Way to go !!

[KieBug]

06:27 AM on 08/22/2011

I'm so glad to know that a lot of people have an endless stack of post its. I make to do lists everyday before I leave for the next day. I can also laugh at the endless supplies of highlighters and pens because that's pretty much me, too.