(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – The Hard, The Fun and The Beautiful – Red Skin Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

Dealing with negative emotions isn’t easy. This past week I made a couple of blunders that made me beat myself up. I guess the event didn’t make me. I made the choice to beat myself up.

I’m learning to just be with my emotions, instead of trying to force change.

Emotional intelligence is maybe the most important factor to achieving work happiness. The more we can develop our ability to interact with our emotions, the more we can enjoy work.

Let’s Begin…

Hard

Smashing my finger in the drawer. Every time I typed, the pain would remind me of my stupidity. The hard part wasn’t the pain. The hard part was that I kept beating myself up throughout the day. I whispered to myself, “I can’t believe I was that stupid.” I know this doesn’t help, but I felt so… well… stupid. It’s hard to be compassionate with myself. I know it’s vital to being happy at work. It’s just something I’m working on.

Fun

Tweaking my keynote presentation to put a little more of my personality in it was fun. I used to hate doing this type of work. I just wanted to get out there and talk, but now I realize that improving the details magnifies the value in the presentation. I recognize that improving the details is what separates me from other speakers. It’s a big part of why I started Work Happy Now. I wanted to find ways to enjoy diving into the details, swimming around and reveling in the work. I’ve been improving this part of my personality and loving the results. Personal growth at work is an amazing experience.

Beautiful

The apple on my desk. It sits there waiting for me to eat it. It has red skin on the outside with slight streaks of green. It’s a Fuji. I feel so lucky to have such natural goodness ready for me to eat when I’m hungry.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.

Join over 300 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most. (Sign up is also in the top left corner)

***

Check out my guest post on TwiTip – 14 Ways To Fight Twitter Burnout.

If you enjoyed this video post I have a good feeling you’ll like this one too:

• Hard, Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I’ve been playing with drawing in relation to work happiness. I’ve found that there are parts of me hidden within a pencil that don’t come out on the keyboard. I’ve been messing with this medium on and off for about 12 years, but in the last year I’ve really been enjoying myself.

I drew this piece when I felt really frustrated after trying to write a blog post. In my head the concept sounded brilliant then it came out of me like a big blob of stink. I was frustrated and wanted to punch my screen.

You better not say that this cartoon character looks like me or I’ll…

I’m not sure what I will do, but you won’t like it.

Okay, now that I finally got the courage to post this…

What do you think?

Should I post more of my drawings?

Or should I just keep them to myself?

Need a boost to your work happiness? Then check out Happy at Work Project and start one yourself.

***

As most of you know I talk a lot about fear because it holds us back from our true potential. Colleen over at Communicatrix has a wonderful post called The rewards lie just beyond the fear. Go check it out.

If you enjoyed this post you’ll probably enjoy:

• 21 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Monday

Image courtesy of me

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I shared a drink with a friend who manages a team of five people. He was wondering how people’s moods can fluctuate in such a broad range, which affects the quality of their work. One of his employees is always up and down. He is engaged with his work one week and then he seems to lose interest. His interest fluctuates and he isn’t sure why.

We all have this problem it’s just that most of us force ourselves to stay focused. My friend told me that he has tried giving this employee various kinds of work to see what interests him, but that didn’t work either.

I asked him if he ever sits down with his staff to explain the reasoning behind the work.

He said he didn’t. He never really thought of that because it’s pretty obvious to him. They need to design websites that exceed the customer’s expectations.

He was losing out on a huge opportunity. People often stop looking at the larger picture because they get comfortable. This comfortable feeling reduces their desire to go above and beyond the normal effort.

A study at the University of Alberta showed that people need a sense of purpose in order to feel engaged with their work. A ‘Spirit at Work’ intervention program for a group of long-term health-care workers boosted morale and job retention. This program urged employees to rethink their job, which reduced absenteeism by 60% and turnover by 75%.

“We discovered that people who are able to find meaning and purpose in their work, and can see how they make a difference through that work, are healthier, happier and more productive employees,” said Val Kinjerski, a University of Alberta PhD graduate who co-authored the study.
- E-science news gathered this information from the Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

By helping your people understand why they do what they do – you can increase happiness and productivity.

I’m going to give you a few ideas that might help your employees/coworkers to connect with their work.

Create Your Own Spirit at Work Intervention Program

1. Talk about positive stories
2. Have people share positive stories to be compiled for other employees
3. Listen to customer feedback
4. Find out what improvements your people would like to implement
5. Ask your employees how they want to celebrate great results

Your organization has an opportunity to create happier and more engaged workers with these easy to apply secrets that everyone should know, but many aren’t willing to try.

1. Talk about positive stories

Your organization has many stories of how employees solved problems, helped others in need, and other ways in which they went above and beyond to make someone happy. However, a lot of us like to play the modesty card. We hesitate to flaunt our achievements.

Wrong. So wrong. You need to flaunt your greatness; it’s a must.

A client recently told me about how I helped her feel happier. She explained that drugs that she took to keep her emotionally balanced didn’t help, but my site did. She thanked me profusely. (I put her quote on my hire me – coaching page.) I sent the email to my wife. I think Nikki got a better understanding of what I’m trying to do with this blog. Since she edits all of my writing I need her to feel engaged with the work, so we keep putting out the best content to help the readers of this blog.

You have to share similar stories with each other. Talk about how a customer gushed over your attention to detail. It shows the rest of your co-workers why you do what you do. Most of you aren’t working just for the paycheck. You are also working because you make a difference in people’s lives.

2. Have people share positive stories to be compiled for other employees

So now that you have all these positive stories, you should compile them in a central location. That means keeping emails from customers/clients and that also means writing down stories from employees.

I keep every positive email from my readers. Whenever I feel like my mood is low, I can always go into the archives and remind myself why I need to stay motivated.

The more stories an organization can compile the more powerful it becomes. If your organization is huge, then break it down into departments. Even departments such as marketing and accounting need to compile stories. These stories may be more internal, but it’s still important to document what is happening so you can link to why you do what you do.

3. Listen to Customer Feedback

In order to stay engaged in our work, we have to recognize our mistakes and understand how to fix them. By listening to customer feedback, an organization is taking the time to understand their mistakes and correct them.

I have known many people who like to solve problems. They get an energy boost from making a solution happen. I used to work at K-Mart, and one day a woman came into the store asking for a patio umbrella that wasn’t in stock. The salesperson called 4 different stores before she found the lady’s umbrella.

I remember when the lady came into the store to pick up the umbrella. She was gushing because it was the only one that fit her patio furniture.

You could see the manager beaming with pride.

You need to give your people a chance to create solutions so they can feel like they are a super hero.

4. Find out what improvements your people would like to implement

If you can listen to customers’ needs then it’s time to listen to employees’ needs. Your employees are at their most creative when they are trying to fix problems.

I worked for a company in which the employees had so many good ideas, but the manager never listened. We would be sitting in the lunch room and three different people would share ideas that sounded great to me. I asked them if they tried to talk to Alex about it and they said yes, but he told them to email him. They did and they never heard about the idea again. They got so disheartened that they stopped trying.

Your organization employs smart people, otherwise they probably wouldn’t hold the positions that they do. They just need a chance to unleash that creativity and wow the customer.

5. Ask your employees how they want to celebrate great results

Every company is capable of achieving great results, especially if they’ve been around for more than a few years. If your organization is ho hum about the results that do occur, your people may stop trying.

People want to know that what they do matters. That means celebrating all the good things.

This should be done in large and small groups. The larger gatherings can occur about 1-4 times a year, while the smaller groups (celebrations by department) should be done more often.

When you allow your people to dictate how they want to celebrate, they are less likely to find fault with the celebration.

Making your celebration a regular routine is the key, because you want to make a habit out of celebrating your successes. For the first month, try celebrating every week. Then have a celebration only once a month to keep things from getting stale. If you overload people and celebrate too often, they will get bored and also be unable to find reasons to rejoice in their hard work.

To avoid allowing this practice to fall away, it’s important to make the celebration fun. That might mean bringing food, letting people joke around, and finding other ideas that get people excited about attending.

Why It Works

After implementing these secrets for about a year, assess how these changes affect your organization. You will probably notice that people are more engaged and willing to try a little harder to meet each other’s needs as well as the needs of the customer.

These techniques will work for most companies. The companies that do fail usually do so because they don’t make this practice a habit. It needs to become part of the culture, so when something difficult happens there are techniques to fall back on. And when something great happens everyone dances on their desks, feeling proud of their effort.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. I give stress relief tips, happiness ideas, and cool quotes that save the day.

***

As many of you know I’m a recent father and I’m not a big fan of father blogs, but I am a big fan of Sean’s Writer Dad. I love his writing style and flair for a story. Check out one of my recent favorites, The Mothers and Fathers of Tomorrow.

If you enjoyed this post then I think you’ll like this one too:

• The Greatest Compliment of My Life and Compliments to Give Your Co-workers

Image courtesy of (cup)cake_eater

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – The Hard, The Fun and The Beautiful – Ripped Web Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

This week has been uneventful. I realized that I kept trying to make it more exciting by creating more worry. I needed a little more drama to keep things interesting.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been noticing this pattern lately. I’ve been feeling the need to spice up my life with larger emotions. Next week I’m going to try to focus on relaxing with what is going on. Because this is it. This is my life, and it can be a good thing or a bad thing, all depending on my perspective.

Ok, let’s begin…

Hard

Pushing and pulling all the right buttons. As I’m writing a blog post or working on my book, I notice that I get upset if the feelings aren’t quite right. I want action and beauty to just mold together perfectly. Work doesn’t happen that way. I know this. I just want the perfect mix to keep happening. I talk about developing my ability to cope with my emotions, but it’s hard. Dealing with my emotions is a journey in itself.

Fun

Working with my dad on my house. I see where I get a large part of my work ethic. I feel the need to keep pushing for a little better or a little more. Constantly striving for more is a part of having fun. We have to keep wanting just a little more in order to get better at our jobs. It was fun to see a reflection of myself in my dad.

Beautiful

A spider web. On my walks, I kept running into a spider web. The next day I would come back and forget about it and run into it again. On the third day I remembered. I looked for the spider in the web and it was huge. Its body alone was as big as the tip of my thumb to my first knuckle. This spider just kept building his web back each time. It didn’t care how many times I destroyed it.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.

Need a boost to your work happiness. Then check out Happy at Work Project and start one yourself.

***

Terry Starbucker has been one of my favorite bloggers these past few months. I always find some little nugget of wisdom to take with me. One of his latest posts really made me want to dig a little deeper in my own working life. It was called Wanna Be a Success? Turn Over a Few More Rocks.

Enjoyed this video then check out this post:

• Hard Fun and the Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

This past Saturday I was going to take all day to work on my book. I woke up early, did some Yoga and was all set to go. I sat down in my office chair, opened the document up and stretched my neck a little, then jotted down a quick note into my calendar,

then made myself a quick cup of tea,

then heard my wife and son wake up and checked on them,

then watched a quick Neil Young interview for a little inspiration,

then laughed at myself for procrastinating,

then got angry at myself for procrastinating,

then (in my head) listed ways that the book will help my career,

then finally got down to writing.

This writing only lasted for 15 minutes before I decided to put some Mozart on.

I was about to get upset at myself again, but then I realized that I was just being a big bully to myself. I know that I talk about being kind to yourself and listening to your needs, but I’m not perfect either.

I was hating on myself.

I wanted to be 100% productive. Just knock out a whole bunch of writing on a Saturday so I could relax on Sunday.

Life doesn’t work that way. The writing muse doesn’t just click on when the alarm clock sounds off. I know this, but yet there are days when I still try to force the issue.

Have you noticed that you try to get way too much done in a short amount of time?

Do you need to be a little easier on yourself too?

What do you expect to be perfect in?

How do you handle days when creativity or motivation is off?

Join over 300 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most. (Sign up is also in the top left corner)

***

Leo of Zenhabits put out a great post called, “The Little Rules of Action.” It’s a must read for procrastinators.

If you enjoyed this post then try this one out:

• 5 Reasons to Stop Trying to be Perfect

Image courtesy of Djenan

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

We’re afraid of having fun because we might get caught by our boss. The dreaded Fired hangs over us like a dark cloud. So we quietly go about our work trying to stay under the radar.

The problem with this method of working is that our confidence takes a hit. We don’t always make choices that best fit the situation, because if the choice scares us then we avoid it. Living this way puts us in a state of lack instead of abundance.

Most of us were raised to stay under the radar. We got negative attention for being bad. When we did something good there was no fanfare because it’s what we were supposed to be doing.

Much of the corporate world works this way too. The people who get promoted are the ones who do the least damage to the company. That’s no way to reward an employee who has the courage to try something new and they fail.

We need to build a culture that accepts mistakes especially if an employee puts their neck on the line. When people are encouraged to take risks, they will be more likely to accomplish projects that will succeed big.

Warden or Boss

I worked for a boss who forced everyone to take a lunch at the same time. It didn’t matter if you wanted to use your lunch hour to go to the dentist. You had to take a break from 12 to 1.

A CEO who was really a warden.

My freedom felt violated. I tried to buck the system. I tried to joke around with my co-workers, bring iced tea every so often, and play the class clown. But he would have none of it. He forbade me to make tea for any of my co-workers. He bullied me into going to lunch at 12. Whenever he heard laughter, I swear he would walk by to shut us up.

Work was torture.

The work was tedious enough that no warden could keep me down. I escaped. I found a job with more flexibility and fun. I decided to become a teacher. I didn’t have the flexible lunch that I craved, but I had more time to do personal errands because of the extra days off and I did have a lot more fun interacting with the students and other teachers.

Why We Should Bring the Fun Back

Having fun at work builds friendships. Every company should encourage their employees to become friends because that means their people will be more loyal and have someone to let off steam with. Every employee needs someone to lend an ear sometimes.

One of the easiest ways to have fun is to encourage laughter. When co-workers make each other laugh, they release endorphins. Those feel good chemicals can make us feel so good that we can forgive any misgiving.

“Laughter creates a bond that brings others together; people like to be with employees who are having fun. Creativity, intuition and flexibility are key to successful operation of organizations today. In stimulating environments, employees enjoy their time at work and they will also excel at work. Attracting customers is easier in an environment of hospitality. A fun workplace is not only more productive, but it attracts people and profits.”

- Jody Urquhart of idoinspire.com

We need to create more fun at work. It’s not that hard. It just takes a little practice.

What can we do to bring the fun back?

1. Let Employees Decorate Their Space as if It’s a Personality Explosion

Your space at work should be all about who you are. If you love football then let it be known to the whole office. Some of you may be thinking, “I can’t decorate my office because I deal with customers all day long.” This is when you need to decorate the most; revealing your personality will make it easier for the people who come into your office to bond with you.

How cool would it be if your company actually gave you a small amount of cash to decorate your office space? Awesome, right? I was thinking just $25 – $50 a year would make a employee feel special and share his/her personality with their friends.

2. Allow Freedom for Employees, as Long as the Work Gets Done

No clocking in, minimal meetings, no “hovering” as long as you do a good job. I’ve never worked in such an environment except when I owned my own wild mushroom business. I can just imagine that the employee retention would sky rocket because employees would finally be treated like adults.

Check out the concept of Results Only Work Environment.

3. Throw Small Parties

I’m a huge believer in celebration and parties in general. We should be celebrating the fact that we can do great work. Too many companies are missing out on the power of parties so their employees can bond. We’ve covered the importance of having friends at work and how it improves productivity and employee retention. What better way to encourage friendships than a company that allows for small and big parties?

4. Give Gratitude and High Fives to the People with Whom You Work

Many of us fall into the same old patterns and we lose sight of little things, like patting each other on the back. How cool would it be if someone walked up to you, gave you a high five and gave you an honest compliment. Gratitude improves our happiness and those around us.

5. Encourage Personal Development at Work

By developing yourself at work, you are creating a stronger/happier you. I’ve struggled to find the motivation to throw myself into my past jobs because I thought I wasn’t getting enough compensation. I always wanted more money, freedom, or fun at my jobs, but I hadn’t earned it. When I stopped focusing on what I wasn’t getting out of the situation and started appreciating all the skills I was learning I began to give more of an effort.

Why It Works

A company that encourages fun will be more productive, happier and willing to go the extra mile. I know you realize this because you are reading this blog, but many people don’t, so pass this article to a few of your co-workers and see what type of response you get.

Need a boost to your work happiness. Then check out Happy at Work Project and start one yourself.

***

Tim Brownson of The Discomfort Zone has an honest blog that tells the reader like it really is. He doesn’t sugar coat anything. I love that. One of my more recent favoritess was 10 Brilliant Self-Development Books You Haven’t Read.

If you enjoyed this post then you will probably like this one too:

• How do I make my people happy?

Image courtesy of lloyd

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – The Hard, The Fun and The Beautiful – Double Whammy Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

My brain has been cloudy this past week. I’m right in the middle of a good blog post and this fog comes over me. I never really get writers block, but I do get “the fog.” I can still trudge through and get it down, but it’s hard. When this happens I do wish it away and I shouldn’t because it’s a part of the process.

Navigating the fog can be fun if I just slow down and I don’t try to bully my way through the post.

I know you’ve been there. No matter what work you do, sometimes there is the mental fog that just slows everything down. When you are trying to meet a deadline it can really be a pain in the butt.

Hard

The fog. For no good reason, my brain isn’t firing at an optimal level. My mind loses focus or I just can’t get some of the words right. I understand that this happens to everyone, but it’s just difficult to deal with.

Being called flaky. A colleague/friend of mine called me flaky. I called his cell phone instead of his work phone. It was an honest mistake. I accidentally changed his main number to his cell phone in my cell phone. He called me an airhead to be exact. I felt offended at first, but I also realize that this is how he sees himself. If he is this hard on me, he is probably 10x harder on himself.

Fun

Interviews are starting to come more regularly and so are the links back to my blog. This is a great feeling. I love that people care so much about work happiness.

Beautiful

My wife. I don’t tell my wife that she is beautiful quite enough. She is beautiful inside and out. I noticed how beautiful she was when she gave me a double whammy of beauty. She was getting ready for work and she was halfway dressed. She had put on her skirt and bra, but was shirtless. I didn’t know this at the time. I asked from the other room if she knew where my keys were. She didn’t hesitate. She came right out of the bathroom and helped me look even though she was right in the middle of getting ready for work. It was awesome. I gave her a big kiss and told her how beautiful she was. She is the complete package of beauty, brains, and caring.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. You’ll be glad you did.

***

Peter of The Change Blog had a really good guest post called, “Focusing Your Mind On The Difficult,” because when we try to do stuff that is hard it scares us. It’s the only way we will get smarter and stronger.

If you enjoyed this post then try this one out. I think you’ll like it:

• Hard, Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Sid Hurlbert is a renowned public speaker, who teaches the art of “What to say & How to say it” using his STEPS method. When I first heard of Sid I had no idea who he was, but after reading his website, talking to him in person, and attending his two hour seminar, I’m confident that this man is on board with the Work Happy Now cause.

One of his seminars is called “Fun at work…WORKS!” He has been teaching what we’ve been talking about. I have to admit he’s done it for a lot longer than I have.

Sid uses a method called STEPS. It’s simple and easy to use – just the way business communication should be taught.

S – Smile

T – Tone of Voice

E – Expression/Facial

P – Posture

S – Start putting into people what you want back

1. Smile

I know how much more I enjoy working with someone who smiles and laughs easily. If a co-worker is a big grump then it can wreck a whole day.

2. Tone of Voice

I’ve been practicing with my tone of voice lately.

When someone calls my phone at work, I try to give an enthusiastic “hello” to make sure they know that I want an enjoyable and fun conversation.

3. Expression/Facial

Working with a deadpan person is like staring at a white wall all day. There is just a level of emotion that brings excitement to the day when someone gives me a wink, frown, smile, or wide open eyes.

We should all strive to show our emotions clearly so people know how we are feeling.

4. Posture

Sitting in an office chair all day long can be difficult. I hunch over my keyboard and after the day is done my back aches.

I’ve been taking more care to exercise at work, sit up straight, and stretch every so often. These little habits have helped me feel more confident and relaxed throughout my day.

5. Start putting into people what you want back

The most important rule of them all.

When we put into people what we want back, we increase our Karma exponentially. I believe in the 60/40 rule. When we give 60% of our effort and expect 40% in return, we will hardly ever be disappointed.

- You will increase your happiness by giving more.

- You will increase the happiness of other people in your life.

- You will also increase their willingness to give back to you. (***** This is the five star concept. Try this and watch your relationships blossom.)

I’ve been practicing Sid’s techniques when I’m listening to others. I let them do more of the talking and they love the attention. I treat them with love and respect and it encourages them to do the same for me.

Sid knows he is doing something special because he’s been teaching his method to all kinds of organizations for over 30 years. If you are interested in bringing him to your organization, go to his site at callsid.com and book him. (This is not an affiliate link.) He is just so good that I wanted to spread the word.

Join over 300 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most. (Sign up is also in the top left corner.)

***

Kim and Jason share so many cool concepts to fight adultitis on their blog. One of my more recent favorites was Whatever You Do, Don’t Wish for This. Great advice about what not to do when your job isn’t a good fit for you.

If you enjoyed this post then give this one a try:

• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

This post was inspired by Chris Guillebeau’s Unconventional Writing Contest.

What holds you back from accomplishing your dreams?

If you could pin down the one thing that is keeping you from reaching your most glorious dreams where you travel like Chris Guillebeau, make money like Oprah, or work a crowd like Bill Clinton…

What would it be?

Your education?

Your relationships?

Your…

It’s none of those things.

It’s your fear.

The fear within you is holding you back from making your dream life a reality. Now I’m not claiming to know it all; I myself have been guilty of giving in to my fears many times, but the important thing is that I recognize what’s holding me back.

Believe me, even Oprah and Bill Clinton have fears, but the difference between them and us is that they lean into their fears until they aren’t afraid of the fire any longer.

My Embarrassing Story

I used to be afraid to talk to groups of any size. I would get a lump in the front of my throat that felt like an orange. As a result, I avoided public speaking at all costs.

This story is about a young me, a wide-eyed buck trying to get a marketing degree. One of the classes I had to take was speech. It was a prerequisite to graduate. For one of my first projects, I prepared a speech about Buddhism and the importance of enjoying the present moment. I hated every moment of that speech.

I see the humor in it now, but back then I was just trying to survive my class.

I stood in front of my class and proceeded to make clicking sounds with my cheeks and tongue (at least that’s what a class mate told me). I also froze about halfway through.

My head was spinning right off my body.

I skipped the middle of my speech and wrapped it up three minutes shy of the five-minute requirement.

To this day, I’m still not sure what exactly happened; I blanked out for most of it. I do know that I wasn’t a natural speaker. My brain short-wired with all those judging eyes.

Let’s Fast Forward

Fast forward 7 years and many Toastmaster meetings later: I began to push myself in front of an audience because I had a goal: I wanted to speak to people about work happiness. When I first started speaking, I was so afraid to be myself that I was monotonous and sooooo painfully boring.

I was afraid to show any personality. People couldn’t laugh at me for being boring. Right?

Boy was I wrong. People will laugh at someone for anything. It’s a natural instinct. We make fun of each other to bond. I know it doesn’t make it right, but that’s just the way it is.

Fast forward another 5 more years: now I regularly give workshops and presentations to small and large groups and I love it. The only reason I was able to learn to I love it is because I realized that no one is a harsher judge than me. It was really my fear of who I was that prevented me from relaxing in front of a crowd.

If I was my harshest critic, then it was up to me to accept my dorky voice, my weirdness (for example: laughing at inappropriate moments), and my crazy ideas before anyone else could feel comfortable with my method of delivering a presentation.

Over the past five years, I slowly accepted myself by putting myself out there. I now do video on my blog for thousands of people and I don’t sweat a drop.

There is probably some part of you that you have trouble accepting. Maybe you don’t like your nose, have a bad memory, or perhaps you also hate public speaking, like many people do.

Whatever may be holding you back, you need to come up with an unconventional plan to accept this part of you. That may mean taking a picture of your nose every week and posting it up on flickr. Yes, this is a little weird, but it works. Because when you put yourself out there, you will realize that people will find a way to love that part of you. More importantly, you’ll come to accept that part of yourself as beautiful.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. You’ll be glad you did.

***

Lance of the Jungle of Life and Joanna Sutter of Fitness and Spice created an ebook called Blog-4-Cause to help fight breast cancer. I was asked to submit one of my favorite articles. It’s in there, so if you want to find out which one it is then give a small donation to get the book. There is over 150 bloggers who added to the project. I bet there are a few articles that will change your life.

If you enjoyed this article I have a good feeling you’ll like these too:

• 5 Reasons to Stop Trying to be Perfect
• The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Anxiety at Work
• How to Build Confidence at Work

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Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – The Hard, The Fun and The Beautiful – Puffy Smile Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

Connecting with like minded people has been the theme of this week. So many people tell me to connect with others who are different than me. I know that it’s good to have different people in my network, but having like minded people has been more important.

I was on a teleconference this past week for a membership site. I talked about the importance of building your core foundation in order to be able to feel happiness more easily. The energy was high and I enjoyed the heck out of talking to new people.

It’s these connections help me feel at home wherever I go. Some people just make me feel loved. I love helping out people who make me feel that way.

Let’s begin…

Hard

Preparing for a conference call. I wanted to be up on everything. I jotted down a whole bunch of speaking points earlier in the week. I had two pages of notes. I could feel the excitement running through my veins. I worked until midnight making sure I had everything just right. I went to bed and my mind kept going. Another talking point popped in my head and I got up out of bed to add it to my notes. It was cool to see how excited I was, but I still have to learn when to turn the work switch off when I need the rest.

Fun

Being a guest speaker on a SpeakEasy podcast. I was tripping over my own thoughts for the first few minutes, but after that I relaxed and had a good time. The thoughts were flowing fast and I wanted to give everyone my knowledge in only an hour. I have to learn to slow down so I don’t overwhelm the audience.

Beautiful

My son smiling at me first thing in the morning. My wife was holding him in her arms while we were sitting on the couch. I greeted him with a warm, “Good morning, how are you?” and he looked at me in all his “just woke up puffy face” beauty and smiled. My heart grew three sizes that morning. Just thinking about it makes me all emotional.

Oh yeah, Tess from the BoldLife made a comment on last week’s video that was so beautiful. She described a beautiful moment with her grandson: “He is learning to eat and one thing I loved watching was him chew bread. I know this sounds silly but then I realized this is “mindfulness” in action. I could see him examine the bread before picking it up. I could see him feel the texture on his tongue, he chewed and swallowed slowly. After thoroughly chewing he swallowed. He savored!”

She said, “You know if you didn’t have this Friday thing I wouldn’t even be realizing this.” This is why she was so glad for reflecting on her week.

That’s the beauty of reflection. When done in the right way it can really support our happiness.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.

Join over 300 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most. (Sign up is also in the top left corner)

***

Hugh Macleod of the Gaping Void wrote a really cool post called “the moment.” He is talking from a business perspective, but it’s also about life in general.

If you enjoyed this post you’ll probably like these too:

• Hard, Fun, and the Beautiful – Before it Gets Cold Edition
• How do I make my people happy?
• Daily Body Scan

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

When you just got a raise?

When you had a fight with a co-worker?

When a client tears you a new one because they had a bad day?

When you completed a tough project?

When you slept 4 hours the night before?

There are so many ways to judge our happiness at work, but it really requires a focused mind to reflect and decide on the right things.

You have to take your present moment emotion out of it and look at the big picture. Really look at the work that you do, the people you work with, and how you are developing yourself at work.

Most of us decide we hate our jobs when things are terrible, but there are always low points. There are always those days when our co-worker eats a big burrito and won’t stop farting.

You have to stop letting those moments wreck the rest of your day. Your happiness is yours. Don’t let anyone else dictate how you feel.

Need a boost to your work happiness. Then check out Happy at Work Project and start one yourself.

***

J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly has a blog that doesn’t get the hype that it deserves. It’s called Folded Space. J.D. is an excellent writer. His personal stories are soft yet biting. I don’t know how he does it, but I’m studying his writing and trying to incorporate it into my own. Check out one of my latest favorites “Consumed: The Burden of Writing a Book.” Just the way he starts pulls you in and forces you to read more.

If you enjoyed this blog post you’ll adore these (I hope

• How to Build Confidence at Work
• Building Your Future Career Foundation
• Procrastination Dissolve-o-Matic Program Review

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Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I want to thank a reader (Melanie sent me a lovely email) for picking me up, giving me a pat on the butt and making me smile.

My point is this…

Confidence Affects My Work

“In order to recognize our self-image, we can no longer identify with it. In other words, we have to learn how to objectify our own mental processes.”
- Matthew Flickstein, Journey to the Center

When we have confidence in who we are, we feel like we are on top of the world. The problem is these fleeting feelings are all a big chase. I know that I’m advocating solid ideas on Work Happy Now, but sometimes I do give in to self doubt. I worry that I could be giving more value. I worry that people will get bored with the content.

These are natural feelings, but sometimes they are very hard to deal with.

Our Interpretations

We create stories, ideas, and problems that can hurt our confidence. It’s up to us to pick and choose what helps us become stronger people, but we can’t let our personal interpretations dictate how we feel. We need to be able to stand back from the negative and positive and just smile. Both give us value. Both teach us.

Your problems and personal stories aren’t necessarily good or bad until you decide that they are so. Finding your own mental/emotional strength will help you take your career and life to a new level. You don’t need your boss to compliment your every move. You don’t have to let a negative comment bring you so far down that you question your choices.

You can stand back from the push and pull of petty and sweet comments. You understand that many comments can be interpreted as political, skewed, and confused. Nothing is ever as it really seems. There are always layers beneath layers.

Thank you, Melanie, for showing me my weakness in a new light. While your compliment helped me, there are times I rely on others too much. It helped me reconnect with the strength that I have inside myself that can’t be touched by the way that other people treat me on any given day. Melanie might love what I do, but I don’t rest my confidence on her. I can’t. If I expected a wonderful email every single day to keep my confidence soaring high, I would be unhappy on most days.

Emotional Strength

I’ve developed a lot of emotional strength in my fifteen year working career, but sometimes I still fall into the bad habit of taking someone’s comment too seriously. In reality, what people say doesn’t define me. Nothing defines me, not even me. (I know that sounds a little existential, but interpretation is a tricky thing.)

That is why interpreting thoughts is an art, not a science. There is no black and white, only various shades of emotions.

I’m learning to step away from my thought process and the feelings that result from my thoughts. Once you learn to stop allowing your interpretations to dictate how you feel, you will begin to improve your emotional intelligence. The last time you were in a good mood and you heard something negative, how did you react? You probably didn’t let it affect your confidence, but how about a similar comment when your confidence was on shaky ground? I bet it was more likely to send you into a tizzy, an emotional whirlwind, because you interpreted the person’s statement depending on how you felt at the time.

Perceptual Contrast

When we interpret comments and actions based on our own or someone else’s feelings, we get a distorted perspective. This ends up happening every time someone makes a comment because we are always in some kind of mood. This perceptual contrast dictates our feelings. We often fool ourselves because we believe what feels good. When we are able to recognize this, we can adjust accordingly.

If you have an argument with a co-worker about a controversial subject like abortion rights, then you must be willing to understand that the person may have a history that you don’t know about. Don’t be so stubborn that you can’t acknowledge their feelings. When you can learn to use emotional intelligence, you will win friends instead of creating enemies.

You may feel that the other person is wrong, and that’s ok, but it’s important to understand that it’s their perception of their own personal experiences that has brought them to their conclusion.

You shouldn’t get too attached to your own thoughts either. Once your ego decides to defend your feelings, it’s tough to let go and move on.

You should listen to others, but don’t let it touch your soul. The “core you” that knows what you are trying to accomplish should be strong and stay strong. It’s when you aren’t sure about what you are trying to do that negative comments tend to shake your foundation if you feel your foundation weakening then reassess. If you decide that you are on emotionally shaky ground but your idea is solid, then just continue on. If it feels more like these comments hit your “core you,” then maybe you were fooling yourself into believing a lie in the first place.

Only you know where your confidence is grounded. That’s why reflection is so important. It helps you separate the comments that really matter from the ones that can be let go so you can get back to doing work that matters to you.

What are your thoughts? Do you feel that confidence affects your work? Do you feel that the “core you” should be fluid or solid?

Join over 300 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most.

***

Need help with your career? Check out Miriam’s blog Keppie Careers. One of my latest favorites is Tenacity in the job hunt – does it define you?

If you enjoyed this post you’ll probably like these too:

• How to Build Confidence at Work
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun
• Does Luck Play a Role at Your Job?

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Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Cockroach Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

There are weeks that make you feel like you are skipping on clouds, then there are other weeks when those same clouds are smothering you.

Sometimes I feel like I’m treading along and not getting to the next level. I know that it’s just because I get locked in a worried cycle, but it’s just hard. You know what I’m talking about.

Let’s get started…

Hard

My reactions. A co-worker asked me a simple question. I can’t remember exactly what the question was, but I snapped. I gave a mean face that said, “Don’t mess with me.” I saw the person’s reaction and felt terrible. I just wanted to be left alone. This person didn’t know that s/he was stepping into an emotional bee hive. I know better than to give in to these reactions, but I still gave in to this habit.

Fun

Eating an orange. There is something fun about eating an orange. The bright colors. The squirting juices. The sticky fingers. Oh that taste. I just love to take an orange break because I can’t keep working while eating an orange. I just have to be there in that moment and just enjoy.

Beautiful

Cockroaches. Many of you will disagree with me on this, but today I think cockroaches are beautiful. Don’t ask me tomorrow, but today they are. I used the bathroom and out popped this big ol’ cockroach. My first instinct was to stomp on it, then I realized that it’s just trying to clean up after me. It’s because of humans that cockroaches thrive. So I knelt down and just enjoyed it’s wings, legs, and antennae for all they were worth.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. You’ll be glad you did.

***

The workplace can be a jungle. Steve Roesler does an excellent job helping people improve communication. One of my recent favorites is The Four Things Every Employee Wants to Know.

If you enjoyed this video post you’ll probably enjoy these too:

• Hard, Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition
• 10 Part eCourse to a Happier and More Successful You
• The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Anxiety at Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

From the comments on this blog and the emails I’ve received I can see that we have some experienced workers who know their way around the office.

I have a scenario that I’ve been pondering.

One of your co-workers walks up to you at the end of the day. You consider this woman a friend. You go out to lunch with her once a week. She asks you for a big favor. She has been coming in late because of problems at home. Her boss has been breathing down her neck and she needs your help. She needs to come in just an hour later due to this family issue. She says that this is the only time that she will ever ask you to do this huge favor, but she really needs you to clock her in to keep her boss off her back.

You know how tough her boss can be. You used to work in her department. If she gets busted for coming in late too many times her boss won’t hesitate to fire her. Her boss has fired people for less.

Would you take the risk of helping her out?

Or do you think it’s just wrong and wouldn’t help her out at all?

What’s your reasoning behind your choice?

Join over 250 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most.

***

One of my recently discovered blogs is White Hot Truth by Danielle LaPorte. I loved the post how to kiss up to your muse. Plus the article has a Neil Young interview at the end of it. It doesn’t get any better than that.

If you enjoyed this post you will probably enjoy these too:

• Reader Dilemma – Would You Lie?
• My Work Happiness Manifesto
• Stressed Out and Loving It

Image courtesy of Providence Public Library

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Perfection can kill the motivation of the brightest minds. Some people just want every detail to be perfect.

I think perfection is for losers. When you try so hard to make everything perfect, you bind your creativity. Instead of putting out something wonderful, you end up putting out crap that is over processed and boring.

Greatness is not about being perfect. Being great means making mistakes, big mistakes and learning from them.

I wrote this article because I’ve been binding my thoughts and hands, which deflated my confidence. My projects went unfinished.

My presentations will always need improvement. My eShorts will need to look prettier. My teleseminars will need to give more and more value.

That’s the nature of the game. Master car technicians will always come across a problem that they can’t solve. You will have projects that frustrate you.

You need to let go of how you want your project to play out and just do what feels right instead of letting your old habits of perfection lock up your ability to take action.

I put together a list of 5 reasons why you need to stop trying to be perfect.

1. Less Stress

Your stress level goes way up when you set the bar too high, which results in restricted thoughts. Your body and mind constrict and stop allowing the flow of oxygenated blood keep you calm. Stress will very rarely make you better at what you do.

I recently worked with a co-worker who was under time restraints to finish a report by the end of the day. He was gnashing and groaning the whole time. His boss walked in and told him that the report could wait until the of the week, giving him two extra days to finish. I could see the pressure just ooze out of him.

He still finished the report that night because he stopped worrying and relaxed with the work.

When you stop trying to make every piece exactly how you want it, you will make it easier to enjoy what you do.

2. More Creativity

I refuse to let a blank Word document sit on my screen for more than five seconds. I just start typing with whatever is in my head. I know those first few sentences will be crap. But that’s normal.

I’ve stopped trying to craft the perfect sentence because it locks up my brain. By writing a few bad sentences the mental wheels are greased and the sentences start flowing.

When you are just about to start something don’t think about how, why, or what. Just start doing the first thing that comes to your mind. Let it out and fix it later.

3. Work becomes More Fun

You have probably worked on a project that was a big deal, whether it was at school or on the job. It may seem have seemed like everyone was looking over your shoulder.

When you work on a project that doesn’t have as much pressure attached to it, you are probably able to joke around and have more fun. When you don’t put too much pressure on yourself you won’t need to make every detail just so; all you need is a solid concept. Those projects are usually more enjoyable and produce better results.

4. Less Procrastination

I used to be a big procrastinator. I held off on dealing with a project until the last minute. I thought this helped my creativity.

When I stopped imagining what the project was going to look like (how great and grand everyone would think it was), I finally was able to work in the moment and stop putting off my work.

This post caused a blip in my mastery of non-perfection. I started writing and was about to check my email because I got stuck on number 3 on this list. My frustration kicked up a small notch and I was about to lose 15 minutes to my email. I relaxed and smiled. I saw the pattern. That’s when I read number 1 and number 2 again. I stopped pushing to complete number 3 and just let the writing flow. I know I won’t ever be the most graceful writer, but I know how to get my point across so it keeps you reading.

5. You’ll Get Bigger Projects Accomplished

You have probably been putting off a big project because you’ve been afraid of achieving less than perfection. Whether you are trying to start a website, write a book, or lose weight, you need to let go of how you think it will come together and just break off little chunks, work on them and watch how much you accomplish.

You will always see a lot of mistakes, and this is fine just as long as you see them and fix them the next go around. You can always keep trying until you get it right.

You are filled with potential. You have greatness that you need to let out. Just let go of your need to make whatever you do perfect and your motivation will kick up a notch and you’ll start getting more accomplished.

Want to work happier and enjoy what you do? Then sign up for the 10 Week Work Happy Now eCourse. (Sign up is on the top left). You’ll receive a new lesson in your inbox every Monday.

***

Sometimes I forget the most important elements of blogging. Darren Rowse of Problogger always keeps me in line. Check out one of my recent favorites – Usefulness – Principles of Successful Blogging #3.

If you enjoyed these post then spend a few more minutes improving your work happiness with these posts:

• Failures You Should Either Release or Keep Pursuing
• How to Be Happy at Work – Right Now!
• Use Failure as Your Slingshot

Image courtesy of Scarleth White

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Before it Gets Cold Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

Whenever I go away I can see time slipping by. I love going back to the place I grew up, but I feel like I fall farther behind on my dream while I am away. Dealing with these feelings is never easy.

So let’s get started.

Hard

Traveling. I went back home for a friend’s wedding. When a person is involved with a wedding there is a lot of chatting, hanging and talking. As the minutes tick by, I think about Work Happy Now and I worry about giving you more value. I know I can’t work all the time, but it just feels a little painful when I’m not working or spending time with Nikki and the kid.

Fall mosquitoes have come out in Texas because we are finally getting rain and all those little puddles are breeding grounds for those blood suckers.

Fun

A friend’s wedding. As much as I feel disrupted by a big event I still feel love for the new people that I meet. There are so many generous and caring people out there. Too often we get caught up in the bad and forget about how 99% of the people we meet are truly kind. We danced to the song “Brick House” and young women were strutting their stuff. That’s what weddings are all about: celebrating the relationships that we have with each other. A lot people say it’s all about the bride, but it’s all about the friendships.

Beautiful

Fall flowers. With all the rain we’ve been having it has become fertile ground for some beautiful flowers. There was a purple flower that pushed up and out of the earth that took my breath away. I stopped, knelt down, and just looked at all its perfectness. I’m just enjoying these flowers before it gets too cold and everything hibernates till spring.

How about you?

What has been hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. You be glad you did.

***

I’m a big fan of Dave Navarro of The Launch Coach. He is putting out a product that looks fantastic. It called More Buyers Mastermind. He is gathering 12 of the brightest internet minds around such as Naomi Dunford of IttyBiz, Brian Clark of Copyblogger, Mark Silver of Heart of Business, Charlie Gilkey of Productive Flourishing, Michael Martine of Remarkablogger, Clay Collins of Project Mojav, Chris Guillebeau of Art of Nonconformity, and Pam Slim of Escape From Cubicle Nation, and a few more. He is going to pick their brains and convince them to explain how they made their internet business a reality. (This is not an affiliate link. I just think this will be a great resource.)

If you enjoyed this video post then you will probably enjoy:

• Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Bamboo Edition
• Save Money and Boost Energy at Work
• Hard Fun and The Beautiful – The Rain Edition

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

The person who is engaged with his/her work and works hard to finish projects?

or

The person who makes everything look easy?

or

The person who gets paid too much to do nothing?

or

The person who seems so smooth that s/he glides across the floor?

By noticing who you admire, you’ll gain a better understanding of who you are and how to use this information to your advantage.

If you admire someone who makes work look easy – you are probably a very intelligent person.

Now if you admire someone who is tenacious and does anything to get a job done – you are probably a motivated person.

You see your potential self in these people

It’s up to you to bring these positive qualities out of yourself or rid yourself of the negative qualities that won’t help you.

If you admire someone who seems to get by on charm and avoidance, then you may be prone to being this way yourself. You must pay attention. Why do you admire this behavior? Are you wanting an easy life so you won’t have any challenges? What are you afraid of?

These are hard questions.

I admit that I’m prone to procrastination. I used to love the co-worker who messed around all day and in the last two hours rushed to knock out a report that was well done and just under the deadline. He enjoyed the stress. I wanted to be the same way.

The problem wasn’t obvious at the time. I tried the same technique and messed up a big project. I got all stressed out and needed help from the same co-worker to help me finish.

Just because I admired this person doesn’t mean his style was a good fit for me. I liked that this person could focus so intensely for two hours, but when I tried to use the same technique, the stress overwhelmed me. After I analyzed my admiration, I realized that it was his focus that I wanted as my own, not his ability to focus under such intense self imposed circumstances.

Instead of waiting until the last few hours to get my work done, I practiced getting started earlier and finishing a project in the same amount of time, but just in case it took longer, I had more time to work on it. The stress was off, but I still was able to practice harnessing my focus.

Don’t imitate

When you really break down who you admire, make sure you understand which traits you really approve of so you don’t get caught just imitating someone else.

You need to be you. That means knowing how to appreciate other people’s skills, learn from them and infuse them into your working life.

What traits do you admire in others? Let’s discuss in the comments section.

Join over 250 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most.

***

As you probably already know I’m a big fan of Copy Blogger. A site that helps me improve the little details of my writing. I enjoyed a steller post by Brian Clark called One Big Way to Avoid a Headline Fail. There is so much more to learn in this post than just how to write better.

If you enjoyed this post then please check these out too:

• The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Anxiety at Work
• The Target in the Bull(y)’s Eye
• How to Build Confidence at Work

Image courtesy of Austin Ziegler.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Your tasks may not be making you unhappy at work, but they may not be making you happy either.

One thing I’ve learned over the past three years of researching work happiness is that work doesn’t make you unhappy. Only you can do that.

But what about great work?

Does work that fits with your passion and strengths make you happy?

For me it’s a resounding – Yes!

The reason is that I am able to feel connected with this type of work.

Doing great work does make me happier. When I’m working on a blog post that I know will change people’s lives for the better, I feel happy and excited.

Purpose

Great work makes me feel like I have a purpose.

This emotional connection to fulfilling work makes me happy, and these feelings then go beyond me.

Let’s say I love building model airplanes. I could do this day and night because it fits my needs to do detailed work. This makes me feel happy, but there is no greater good. I’m just doing this for myself.

If I’m building a model airplane to give to sick children at the local hospital, the emotional connection is easy to see. Then I’m doing work that feels meaningful.

On the opposite spectrum, if I’m doing work that I can’t connect with then I’m extending my frustrated feelings beyond myself.

Several years ago, I was the caretaker of large property in PA for about 4 years. I essentially mowed grass for a living. It paid the rent, but I viewed the work as pointless because the grass was only going to grow back. I remember thinking to myself, I’ll just have to do it all over again in two weeks. By thinking these thoughts, I attached my feelings of meaninglessness to my effort. I only upset myself more by extending my negative feelings, and I was unable to see the greater good of my actions.

Finding the Connection

If I could have found a connection to how cutting someone’s grass mattered beyond my own feelings, I could have felt happy about my work. I could have viewed my grass cutting work as a way to help people feel proud of their home. I know I would have enjoyed the thought of helping people appreciate their home, and this would have helped me appreciate my own actions. Instead of focusing on the fact that the grass would just grow back in two weeks, I could have focused on the positive reactions of the property owners when they pulled into their driveway and saw the perfectly cut grass.

If you can find work that makes you feel good while also giving you a greater purpose, now we are talking about work bliss. This is a rare state and hard to reach, but one that I recommend that you strive for.

Usually, before you are aware of a project/task, you are in a neutral state. It’s only when you extend your emotions (grasping) that you become happy or sad/angry/upset. Whether you are grasping for positive or negative feelings, you often end up pushing yourself out of rhythm. You become emotionally connected to pain and/or joy.

It’s important to be able to let go and find that natural pull toward the work that inherently makes you feel excited, proud and joyful.

Don’t force the issue. Let the feelings come and then try to steer them toward the positive aspects of your work. The more you practice this, the easier it will get. You’ll slowly start to see joy come out of even the most mundane work.

When you are able to feel connected to a greater purpose, you can almost always find the positive in your work. The more you study your own reactions the easier it will be to do work that connects you to a larger purpose.

How about You?

What type of work makes you feel good and serves a greater purpose in your life?

Need a boost in your work happiness. Then check out Happy at Work Project and start one yourself.

***

Stacey Shipman recently wrote a wonderful post called “How I Found “Work Happiness”, Finally.” It’s a great take on happiness at work, so go check it out.

If you enjoyed this post then you’ll probably enjoy these articles as well:

• 21 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Monday
• 55 Reasons to Subscribe to Work Happy Now
• No More Complaining at Work – A Thirty Day Challenge

Image courtesy of Beige Alert.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

When we gaze off and zone out there are usually thoughts of grandeur. Maybe writing a book, taking your kids to Disneyland or getting a promotion. Whatever it is, these thoughts have a ton of motivation in them. I constantly picture myself standing in front of thousands of people and giving a keynote about work happiness. It’s a subject that many people need to learn about.

You think about the possibilities and now you need to figure out how to make it happen. That means creating a Happy at Work Project to make your dreams come alive.

Hard

Planning the future. I see so many possibilities, but also chances of failure. It’s time to take this business to the next level and start offering online classes and products. This fear will drive me to make the services and products awesome, but it’s still scary. I know that there will always be a small group of people who are unhappy with what I produce. It’s the nature of the game. I need to stop worrying and just launch what I already have created. In the next two weeks I will announce a three class teleseminar to help people get a better grasp on their work happiness. That’s my promise to you. I will offer the discount rate to my newsletter subscribers, so if you haven’t signed up yet you better do it soon so you don’t miss out.

Fun

I bought my SxSW ticket this past week. My wife could see my excitement, so the $395 price tag didn’t scare her too much. $400 is a lot of money to drop on an event when we are living on 1.5 incomes (Nikki has gone part-time while Gavin (new baby) is learning how to deal with being alive). I have to think in terms of abundance. I know that the conference will pay off. I made too many great contacts last year that have already helped me fast forward my career.

Beautiful

Dreams. I love getting lost in thought, especially when it’s a daydream about optimizing my potential. You know what I’m talking about. That perfect scenario that lights a fire underneath your butt. I envision myself being an expert in work happiness, helping people all over the world. I become so good that CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies hire me to create a work happiness project for them. They are so grateful that they pay my salary and throw in a bonus trip to their vacation getaway for two weeks. My family and I just go chill out in Fiji before my next client needs me.

How about you?

What has been hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.

Join over 250 people who have already subscribed to the FREE Happy at Work 10 Week eCourse. It will arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. When you need it the most.

***

Chris Garrett is a big time blogger that always gives me some writing/blogging information that helps me improve. One of my favorite posts is Everyday Guide Blog Critique. He breaks down the essence of the blog/website, helping the rest of us become better.

If you enjoyed this post I have a good feeling you’ll like these too:

• Hard, Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition
• Hard Fun and the Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition
• Have Fun and Be Weird

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I remember one winter a few years ago when I had to stay a few hours later at work. It was dark by 5pm. My co-worker also had to stay late. Nothing but grumbling came out of his mouth.

That could have easily been me, but there was one difference.

I felt lucky to have a job.

My co-worker had been with the company two years longer than me. He was a bit jaded to say the least. He complained that he wouldn’t have time for dinner, complained about being tired, and not feeling appreciated.

I felt lucky to have my job because we just went through layoffs. I wasn’t sure I was going to make the cut. I did and was working my butt off to prove I deserved my job. So for me those few extra hours meant I got to prove my worth.

The boss came in and thanked us for staying late.

My co-worker only grumbled more.

I was able to connect with how lucky I was while my friend only saw the hassle of staying late.

Next time you are staying late, instead of getting all stressed out and anxious to go home, try finding those reasons why you feel lucky to be where you are. You’ll reduce frustration, stress, and a chance for a headache. Sometimes dealing with a difficult request gives you a chance to develop patience. Other times it’s a way to focus on relaxing in the moment. And still other times it’s just about feeling lucky to have a job.

Don’t stop searching for that little piece of happiness. Because it’s there.

What do you do when you have to work late?

How do you deal with your emotions?

Ready to start your own Happy at Work Project? Then download the free 12 page PDF and get started today. It also comes with a weekly calender and resolution ideas. Just email me at karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com and I’ll send them directly to you. (No Spam. I promise. I hate it with a passion.)

***

One of the brilliant blogs I’ve been reading is It’s All About Joy. A recent post of Megan’s that I thoroughly enjoyed was Runners, Bloggers and the Power of Applause.

If you enjoyed this post then you will probably like these too:

• How to Write a Career List
• 27 Reasons You Are Lucky to Have a Job
• How to Build Confidence at Work

Image courtesy of hawkexpress

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

We are celebrating happiness at work on a Monday. I know it’s tough getting the motivation flowing. That’s why I chose October 5^th. It’s the first Monday in October, during that time of year when most of the northern hemisphere is struggling with declining daylight hours and ensuing colder weather. It’s the time of year to hunker down and find ways to be happy with the present moment.

Many people have been letting me know that doing all four elements of the Happy at Work Action Day will feel forced. I suggest picking two and making that your mission today.

4 Rules to Happiness at Work Action Day

1. Celebrate! (i.e.Throw an office party.)
2. Reward a deserving co-worker or client.
3. Reward yourself for a recent accomplishment.
4. Take 5 minutes to reflect on the crazy beauty in your life.

If you would like to take five minutes and reflect on the crazy beauty in your life by writing in the comment section, you’ll be halfway to accomplishing your happy at work mission.

Remember, whoever participates by writing about how the day made them feel or linking back to me will be put into a drawing for a free hour of consulting (one personal and one organizational). Check out the details on the Happy at Work Action Day page. Any bloggers who write about this event can also win a Blog Catalog 6 month memberships.

I hope you have an amazing Happy at Work Action Day. Let me know how it helped you. Hopefully the comment section will blow up with new ideas and happiness.

I’ve decided to buy some decadent food, Quaker granola bars that they try to market as healthy, but they are really candy bars and Pirate Booty, that aren’t good for the waist line, but a great way to celebrate.

This day to celebrate work happiness is all about creating a Happy at Work Project. We all need some guidelines to improve your happiness, so get started today.

***

Congratulation to the Alex the Cheif Happiness Officer for getting married to a wonderful woman – Patricia. I wish I could have been there to enjoy the moment. Don’t ever forget – it’s so much easier to be happy at work when you are happy at home.

If you enjoyed this post then you will probably like these too:

• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun
• Enjoy the Nitty Gritty Details
• How to Be Happy at Work – Right Now!

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Beautiful Brain Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

This week has been more positive than negative. Since starting this blog, that has been the continuing trend that seems to occur each week. By focusing on helping other people become happier at work, I’ve increased my own happiness. That’s the beauty of passion. It stops being about “me” and starts being about “others.”

It’s why people love sports. We get to root with all our heart and souls for people we don’t know. We learn their stories and find a way to care. Movies, TV, and books have that same emotional hook. We stop worrying about our own lives and care about other people and animals (I love nature shows).

Let’s begin.

Hard

Trying to relax with my work. Sometimes I get so excited that I get all worked up and my brain can’t move as fast as my excitement. For example, I realize that I need to create a “physical” book that people can hold in their hands in order to reach more people. I’ve probably become an authority on work happiness in your eyes, but to the non-blogger a book pushes me up a few levels when consulting and giving key note presentations. This is an awesomely (I think that’s a word) hard project, and it’s a lot of work. As I’m looking over old blog posts to see what I can use in the book, I get tense. I’m trying too hard to get it all done as quickly as I can. I need to remind myself to just relax and pull back my excitement by 10%. The book will be much better if I write it in a relaxed state.

Fun

Phone consultation with a business/marketing consultant. Naomi of Ittybiz consulted with me about the direction of my site and how to maximize my sales page, products (soon to come), and my blog posts. She was brilliant. I told her in a “thank you” email that I loved her brain and I could talk to her for hours. Honest compliments are the grease to your relationships. She gave me so many good ideas that my head is still spinning. She is expensive, but well worth the money.

Beautiful

A “thank you” email. I got an email from a reader thanking me for the Happy at Work Project. She said that she used to be so depressed at work, and when she found my site it changed her life. This made my week. I’m still beaming four days later. See, compliments make me weak in the knees.

How about you?

What has been hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.

If you love a little motivation, inspiration, or laughter at work then sign up for my Tweets (@workhappynow).

***

The Bold Life is talking about happiness at work. She has a couple cool videos about the rapping Southwest Airlines attendant. You have to watch it. It’s why Southwest has such a cool culture.

If you enjoyed this video you’ll probably enjoy these too:

• Hard Fun and the Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition
• What do I do if I’m unhappy at Work?
• Hard Fun and Beautiful – Dragonflies Edition

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Creativity is at the top of my short list of “must-haves”  to have a fulfilling career. If you can’t be creative at your job, then it’s hard to have fun.

Creativity can come in many forms:

- Conversations with co-workers
- Marketing Plan
- Problem solving
- Customer relations
- Accounting Management

There is creativity in everything we do, but we often don’t have fun with it. I’ve been thinking about this problem a lot lately.

The reason I found the solution was because of Marelisa Fabrega’s ebook “How to be More Creative: A Handbook for Alchemists.” I couldn’t put it all together until after reading it.

Creativity isn’t in a Ebook

This may sound like an anti-endorsement for Marelisa’s book, but it’s not. Just give me a chance to explain.

In my younger days, I would come up with a really cool idea about once a week. I would work on the project really hard for a few weeks and then give up. I pushed so hard to be creative that I wore myself out.

As I watched myself repeat this process many times, I realized that I had fallen into the worst creative trap of them all: applying the same old solutions to a multitude of problems.

About halfway through “A Handbook for Alchemists” I begin to feel overwhelmed by the barrage of ways to be creative. (This is a good thing). I feel confident that I can pick it up a year from now when I feel stuck on a certain project and I’ll be able to find a random creativity technique to help me.

I’ve been working on this concept for the past couple of weeks. I’m calling it the “chain of creativity.” When I reach a point that frustrates me, I stop trying to find a solution. What I try to do instead is bring myself back to the moment. I consider how lucky I am to be creating something new. Then I try to take a sidestep to see a fresh angle.

That’s why this book is perfect for me. It gives me ideas to find new angles when my emotions are out of whack.

For example, when I’m writing a blog post and I can’t get my thoughts to align with my writing, I step away and try to think of myself as a different person, such as Abraham Lincoln. I try to channel his way of thinking. I pretend that I’m in a room full of lawyers explaining my idea.

My frustration oozes away because I stop focusing on a solution. I unleash my creativity and I begin to enjoy the process.

Frustration Dissipated

Once my frustration dissipates, I can usually get back on track. I never thought to pick up a book of this kind and try these various techniques.

Now I can go to “A Handbook for Alchemists,” And it offers me so many creative ideas that frustration doesn’t have to take over.

And I don’t need to keep trying the same ideas over and over.

Why You Should Buy It

If you are anything like me, creativity and frustration are often linked together. You have an idea in mind and you want to achieve it, but the solution doesn’t come easily. Frustration can then quickly turn into anger.

I am now using this ebook to keep me relaxed. Just yesterday, I was stuck trying to create a workbook for my eShort. I couldn’t think of a way for the reader to create his own meditation without feeling frustrated.

I scrolled through A Handbook for Alchemists and found a section about redesigning a grocery shopping cart. How does someone redesign something so basic and anchored into our memories since we’ve been 2 years old? The concept in Marelisa’s book was that every idea must be built upon. No idea is bad. That was where I was making my mistake.

All the other solutions I had come up with for the meditation weren’t quite right. As I looked back over my previous ideas, I realized that my second idea was on the right track. I just needed to flush it out a little more.

Worth Your Time

Marelisa’s ebook is worth your time, especially if you are in a creative field. It will help you find fresh angles on old problems. It will also help you recharge those creative juices.

This is not a motivational book. You must have a passion for a problem. If you do, this book will be a great resource to help find a creative solution to an existing problem.

Go ahead and order it now before you lose any more creativity time. This is not an affiliate link. The book is worth telling you about.

Work happiness is another way to tap into your creativity, so start your Happy at Work Project today. With Marelisa’s book and my PDF you’ll have creativity pouring out of your brain.

***

Do you ever feel like an outsider at work? Then join in the Freak Revolution. Check out their manifesto. It is all about helping you improve your life as well as the people around you. It’s so good you’ll want to share it with your friends.

If you enjoyed this post then check out these:

• Unleash Your Creative Beast
• Creating A Project Ritual to Encourage Happiness
• Stress Relief for the Creative

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

It’s not the answers that you receive that bring you happiness; it’s the questions that you ask.

The question must come before the answer.

If you are looking for the answers on how to enjoy a tough project, they won’t come. You are searching for the end point when it’s the journey that will help you find the joy.

For example, if you go into work every Monday morning wondering why you aren’t happy, then you will focus on why you aren’t happy.

If you go into work with a question such as, “how can I improve my happiness?” You are focusing your mind on finding a positive answer.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself every Monday…

1. What is one thing I can enjoy about each person that I come into contact with today?
2. What is the most important thing I need to do today?
3. Who can use a compliment today?
4. How can I make someone laugh?
5. Where can I optimize my strengths?
6. When my motivation dips, how can I stimulate myself to take action?
7. Who needs my help today?
8. What three people do I need to support to improve my work relationships?
9. Who can teach me a valuable skill to improve my job?
10. Am I being my true self at work?
11. What is one task or routine that I can eliminate?
12. What is the best part of my job?
13. Why am I good at my job?
14. What would be my ultimate job? And am I building towards it?
15. Who is my role model at work?
16. What can I do to become more engaged with my work?
17. What matters most to me at my job?
18. How can I lead the people around me to improve their happiness?
19. When I’m stressed out, how do I cope with these feelings?
20. Why do I assume I know what my coworkers are thinking?
21. How can I make my work more fulfilling?

Set yourself with the right questions and you’ll find happiness comes so much easier.

Need help enjoying your Mondays then check out the Happy at Work Project. You’ll discover a few things that will help you be happier and more successful at work.

***

A wonderful blog I recently discovered is written by Evita of Evolving Beings. One of my favorite posts was written very recently – Financial Abundance – It’s About Your Mind, Not Your Bank Account.

If you enjoyed this blog post then I think you’ll like these too:

• 27 Reasons You Are Lucky to Have a Job
• 30 Days of No Complaining – Wisdom Multiplied
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

Image courtesy of YeddaTeam.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – The Rain Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

This week has been a doozie. Now that I’m looking back on my week and sharing it with you, they all seem like doozies. I guess that’s the magic of reflection. By putting a magnifier to life, I’m able to see the little nuances of work that are truly enjoyable.

I never thought that being overwhelmed by multi-tasking would be enjoyable. Of course it’s hard to deal with in the moment, but a few days later it’s quite funny.

Let’s begin:

Hard

Multi-tasking. I’m really bad at it. After I switch to a new task, I have trouble remembering where I was in my previous task. Sometimes I totally forget to even go back to my previous task. So I was writing a pretty important email, then I remembered that I needed to change an image on my sidebar. So I jumped into creating this image, got lost in it, then got lost in something else and this went on for awhile. I finally went to bed. I got up the next day and remembered the email that I was supposed to send to a potential client. Arrrgh! I didn’t miss a deadline or anything, but I just wanted to be on top of my stuff.

Waking up super early. I wake up at 6 am during the week and around 7 am on the weekends, so I’m not a stranger to early rising, but 5 am is a bit much. It threw off my whole cycle. My pooping schedule, my sleeping schedule, and my eating schedule. It’s amazing how I am so used to my routines.

Fun

A friend who signed up for the eCourse gave me feedback. She told me that the course could use some improvement. I was so happy to see someone giving me feedback. She was telling me to do extra work and that’s awesome. This feedback will help me take my eCourse to the next level. To me that’s fun. You know that you love what you do when you enjoy getting feedback that gives you more work.

Beautiful

Rain. Living in Austin, Texas we don’t get enough rain. We are in a severe drought. It’s not so much that I’m worried about the crops and having drinking water, I am, it’s just that a person needs rain in their life. When an area has 100 straight days of sun, it can get exhausting. Rain helps me appreciate the sun. It’s the Yin and Yang that help me keep my emotional balance. So this past weekend I stepped out to take my dog for a walk and it was raining. When the rain hit my skin I could feel my whole body smile. It was a little weird for me too. It was just that really cool, “yes, this is the good stuff” feeling.

What about you?

What has been hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.

If you tired of disliking your job then join my newsletter. You can also sign-up on the left hand side bar. You’ll get a Free 10 Week eCourse every Monday morning and my newsletter that is filled with great tips and advice.

***

Marketing is a pain in the butt, but every business has to do it. Check out Mark’s post Marketing Just Isn’t Sexy at the Heart of Business. He has a new course coming out in a few days called The Heart of Business Momentum: Three Journeys to an Ongoing Flow of Clients and Money. Mark isn’t an affiliate of mine. He just does wonderful work and I want to shine a little internet light on it.

If you liked this video you’ll probably like these too:

• Hard Fun and the Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition
• Hard Fun and Beautiful – Dragonflies Edition
• You Are Awesome (oldie but a goodie)

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

We have some very thoughtful people reading this blog and I’m curious to know how you would handle this situation.

Here is the scenario:

You are sitting at your desk typing up an email. Your manager calls you on the phone and asks you to come into the office. A man and a woman whom you’ve never met before, both in suits, are looking at you with furrowed eyes, waiting for an answer.

Your manager says, “This is (put your name here). He is handling your account. I called you in here because I wanted to confirm with John and Lisa that you never received their order. Can you confirm this?” You know that you don’t handle this couple’s account, and it’s obvious to you that your boss wants you to lie to cover for him.

What do you say?

Bosses expect employees to make small lies all the time, but what about the big ones?

Would you lie for your boss?

Have you ever had to lie for your boss?

Let’s talk about it in the comment section.

Follow me on Twitter (@workhappynow), where I’m helping everyone who follows me become just a little happier at work.

***

The Daily Mind also has an ethical dilemma for you. Weigh in and make your opinion hear.

If you liked this post then check out:

• Secrets – Reader Question
• Day 1of 30 – No complaining
• 30 Days of No Complaining – Wisdom Multiplied

Image courtesy of msun523

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Communicatrix wrote a wonderful post in support of pre-ordering Gretchen’s book – Referral Friday: 10 reasons why you should pre-order The Happiness Project. I loved this idea, so I decided to do one of my own.

Happiness is not a talent. It’s a learned skill. The more you can apply happiness techniques to your life, the more they will become a habit. That’s why we all must create a Happiness Project for ourselves.

Just think: What if everyone in your family put themselves on a happiness diet? What if they worked on improving their relationships, improving themselves, and getting the results out of life that made them feel excited about every single day?

You would have one encouraging and fun family to be around.

Gretchen, who I now consider a friend after we enjoyed a cup of tea together at SxSW, is the real deal. She is an author who truly cares. I learned so much in those two hours that the whole conference was worth the admission.

I’m basing my recommendation off of my meeting and her blog. I am 100% sure I will love her book. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be going through all this trouble to convince you to pre-order it too.

Pre-order on Amazon Today - The Happiness Project

Here are my 25 reasons to pre-order the Happiness Project on Amazon:

1. The research Gretchen puts into every post is amazing. Her book is sure to be based on down to earth research.

2. Reading about happiness will make you happier.

3. You want concepts that make sense for you.

4. She also talks about work happiness – 14 tips for running a good meeting.

5. You are ready to take the “happiness is no longer a fad” plunge.

6. You love her blog, The Happiness Project.

7. You’re tired of faking your happiness.

8. You love a good challenge.

9. She has amazing interviews about other people’s happiness hacks – Deborah Norville.

10. She doesn’t lie about making happiness seem easy.

11. After you are done reading the book, you’ll have a plan on how to make your happiness a reality.

12. If someone writes a blog for over three years about happiness, she probably has a lot to offer.

13. She gives such practical tips.

14. She put together tools for you to start your own happiness project.

15. She has written two other books that people enjoy.

16. Pre-ordering a book gives an author a marketing push, which will hopefully help her get on the New York Times Best 17. Seller List. If anyone deserves it, it’s Gretchen.

17. You want to support someone who cares about other people’s happiness.

18. You are tired of feeling crappy.

19. Her first happiness resolution on her blog is “Be Gretchen.” She knows that letting the real you out is a huge part of accepting who you are, which will help you be happier.

20. Happiness is not all mind games – a glass of iced tea goes a long way toward being happier.

21. She put a link to Work Happy Now, which sent a bunch of traffic my way.

22. She is also on Twitter giving out happiness tips – @gretchenrubin.

23. She has an earth shattering happiness formula that isn’t really earth shattering. It’s actually very practical: “To be happier, you need to think about FEELING GOOD, FEELING BAD, and FEELING RIGHT, in an atmosphere of growth. Clunky, but it works.”

24. She wrote an article called, “21 phrases to help you fight right with your sweetheart.”

25. Everybody loves to read a book that makes them feel better about themselves.

If these 25 reasons didn’t convince you to pre-order Gretchen’s book on Amazon - The Happiness Project

I don’t know what will.

Her interview on CBS news is really cool. Check it out.

If you want to be happier at your job then check out my free report The Happy at Work Project. I got the idea from Gretchen.

***

Gretchen has used social media to most likely make her book a success, you should use the same techniques. Check out Valeria’s blog the Conversation Agent to learn some of Gretchen’s methods.

If you liked this blog post, you’ll probably like:

• Career Renegade – Book Review
• Escape From Cubicle Nation – Book Review
• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition)

Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.

This week showed me a lot about who I am and what I’ve learned. And it’s this emotional development that has helped me appreciate all the research I’ve done for this blog. It’s taught me how to relax with the ups and downs of my work week.

Let’s begin:

Hard

My challenge this week was appreciating everyone’s perspectives, but trusting my gut to get it right. I asked for feedback on the videos and I got more than I expected. Everyone was very supportive and had such great ideas. Some people didn’t like the big “WELCOME to Work Happy Now” opening and some did. I realize that I can’t please everyone, even though it’s in my nature to try to do so. I need to do what I feel is right, and if I lose some readers or watchers then so be it.

I also had this splitting headache during a meeting. The throbbing was making me squint during some moments. I don’t think anyone noticed. I think the headache was due to me failing to relax before, during and after. I need to stop trying to control my feelings. Just allow them to be as they are. I know this will help me release tension more quickly.

Fun

As most of you know, I created the Happy at Work Project to help you with your work happiness. I received an email from an Australian nursing student who will be using the report to help teach her class about happiness and engagement in their work. My stuff is being used in an Australian university; that’s awesome.

The last video I filmed made me laugh so hard I cried. When I busted out that banana I thought about how weird I was, but I now understand that letting out the real me just gives people more reasons to like me.

Beautiful

I love going out for a walk with my dog to the local elementary school where I throw the tennis ball for her; that’s where I see so much beauty – dragon flies and coyotes. When I first started throwing the ball for her, she was more interested in all the smells. Over time I kept bringing that ball with me and I kept encouraging her to bring it back. It took months, but now it’s her thing. It makes her eyes light up with excitement. It’s beautiful to watch her run. Those paws moving faster than my eyes can see. There is this internal motivation that wasn’t there when I first started training her. Not it’s in her forever.

How about You?

What was hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.

Need some quick work happiness in your life? Check out Work Happy Now on Twitter.

***

Lance over at the Jungle of Life wrote about work happiness. He has a great take on it, so click on over and check it out. He also promoted my Happy at Work Action Day. Yah! This is it’s first year, so join in and in Lance’s words, “Be the happiness you wish to see in this world!”

If you liked this video then check out:

• Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Bamboo Edition
• Hard Fun and Beautiful – Dragonflies Edition
• Have Fun and Be Weird

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Jeff Sloan, co-founder of Start-up Nation, talked at a Microsoft conference about creating your own business. He is a serial entrepreneur of electronics and various other media.

Jeff and his brother were promoting one of their gadgets at a conference and they bumped into a woman who was juggling, so they started juggling with her. They got to talking with the woman and hashed out a distributorship to sell the juggling balls throughout North America.

Their juggling package was the number 1 item sold for Father’s Day back in 1992.

They positioned their product as “Stress Relief for the Busy Executive.” An item that has been around since the pyramids in Egypt was the best selling product for fathers in the US. Jeff was able to do this because of a relationship that he created with the department stores.

Building relationships

He went into all the major department stores that were willing to sell his juggling kit and attended their crack of dawn staff meetings before the store opened. Jeff told the group that they weren’t going to have a regular meeting.

He dumped the balls out onto the table. As the balls rolled around on the table and fell to the ground, he smiled and explained to them that they were going to learn to juggle.

Imagine a man walking into your staff meeting with this big brown box in his hands and everyone is just waiting to hear what he has to say. You expect him to give some motivational speech about sales quotas, but he just stands there. He opens one flap of the box, pushes the box on its side and balls of every color come rolling out.

The smiles light up on everyone’s faces.

He announces that everyone will learn to juggle during this meeting.

I bet they had a blast with this fantastic team building exercise.

After that meeting, when customers came into the store, the employees had this great memory of how much fun they had learning to juggle. They gladly promoted the product.

The store made gains and so did the employees.

What you can do

So why not get your employees together once a month to learn a new skill? Create one around selling products or learning people skills. Whatever brings people together and makes them laugh.

Not every meeting needs to be business related. You can make the gathering “just plain fun” once every quarter. There should be no strict agenda, just a chance to gather, create and laugh.

You can start off with juggling. Even if no one knows how to juggle, you can watch a video on how to juggle on YouTube. You’ll create laughter, fun and best of all – you will build relationships. You’ll find that some employees will pick it up quickly and start helping their co-workers learn how to juggle.

This will build trust and confidence.

Create a teaching and learning environment and you’ll develop a company that will nurture each others growth.

How about you?

What was the best team building exercise you’ve ever been a part of?

Help a co-worker today and send them to the Happy at Work Project. Have them get started on taking their happiness and success to the next level.

***

I was honored by Justice E-learning as one of the Top 50 Career Management Bloggers. Check it out. It’s a good list and not just because I’m on it.

If you liked this post then you will probably enjoy these too:

• Create 12 Parties a Year Instead of 1 Boring Holiday Party
• Throw a Mini Party
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

***

Image courtesy of hans s

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Lately I’ve been thinking about conferences. I was contacted by Texas Text Book Conference for a quote on a work happiness keynote speech. They are interested in the work happiness concept. Even if they don’t hire me, I know that work happiness is taking over the business world.

One day companies will care just as much about an employee’s happiness as they will about how much money they earned. Google’s 20% Rule is an example  of a concept that fits with this type of thinking. Companies will see that when employees are happy, they are more creative and productive, which will in turn earn the company even more money. (Wow! That was a little rant that I wasn’t expecting.)

Nugget

I’ve attended a lot of conferences and I’m always amazed when people act like they are a chore. Their company is paying for them to learn new concepts. That’s a wonderful gift.

Not every speaker will inspire, but almost every speaker usually has one nugget that can help you improve personally and/or professionally. The difference between a person who goes home with nothing and a person filled with ideas is curiosity. Engaged attendees enjoy a conference much more than the bored attendee, and they also find more ideas that they can apply to life and work. It’s all about attitude. The people who choose to be curious and excited about who they meet will get more out of a conference.

Opportunity

BlogCatalog posted an article on their blog about a contest for a free pass to the Blog World and New Media Expo. What a fantastic opportunity – Darren Rowse, Brian Clark, Steve Rubel and Chris Brogan will be in attendance. If a person can’t learn a ton from this group then they don’t deserve to have a blog.

Connecting with people is vital to working happy – from your co-workers to other people in your industry. When you build relationships, you are increasing your network. This network will help you find ways to enjoy your present job, find a new job, or find clients.

One of my favorite conferences of all time was WorldBlu Live. Every speaker was thought provoking. Alex Kjerulf the Chief Happiness Officer was just as cool in person as he is on his blog. That conference changed my life forever.

What was the last conference you attended?

Did you find any nuggets of wisdom that helped your career or life?

If you are looking to take your career to the next level then check out the Free 10 Week eCourse. You’ll get a new lesson every Monday. This focused learning will encourage new ways of tackling old problems.

***

Having a positive outlook  is very important to work happiness. Check out Positively Present to take our happiness to the next level. One of my favorite posts is 5 steps for setting happiness resolutions.

If you liked this post then try these on for size:

• Never Stop Expanding Your Network
• When Your Career Sucks, You Can Fix It
• No More Complaining at Work – A Thirty Day Challenge

***

Image courtesy of Wendy Piersall

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and Beautiful – Bamboo Edition)

This week has been up and down and left and right. My emotions have been a little unstable, but I’ve been doing the best I can. I feel bad for Nikki because I was really grumpy a few days ago. I had trouble finding a balance between work and play.

This video covers the Hard, Fun and Beautiful of my week.

Here are the topics I cover:

Hard

- Balance of family and work life. I do Work Happy Now on the side, so a lot of my free time goes to content, marketing and connecting. I’ve been having trouble finding a balance between family and work. I want to build this site up to help more and more people, but I don’t want to miss my son growing up. It’s a daily balance that takes a lot of awareness.

Fun

- I was asked to join an bloggers’ alliance spurred on by Darren of Problogger’s post, Let me Show You Inside a Secret Blogging Alliance. I’m not allowed to say who asked me, but it’s some really awesome people. I feel very lucky. I just know that I’ll take this blog to the next level. And of course, I’ll bring all of you with me.

Beautiful

- I have a bamboo plant on my desk at work. Most days I ignore it, but this week it keeps drawing my attention back to it. I can’t help but notice the variance of green in each leaf. There is also this little sprout shooting up from underneath the pebbles. I forgot to water it for a week and it still finds a way to prosper.  We may not always feel appreciated at work, but we still have to find a way to prosper and grow.

How about you?

What happened to you that was Hard, Fun and Beautiful? I would love to hear what you have to say in the comment section.

If you haven’t check out Work Happy the Google Way you better do it soon. I’m thinking about taking it down. While I’m thinking it over you better grab it. Just join my RSS or Email Feed and you’ll get it for free.

***

One of the first places I go to get an emotional boost is Marc and Angel Hack Life. All of the articles are top notch, but one of my favorite posts is Who Will Save Your Life?

If you enjoyed this video you may also enjoy:

• Hard Fun and Beautiful – Dragonflies Edition
• Dealing With Dread
• Have Fun and Be Weird

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

As always, I’m trying to bring as many perspectives about work happiness to you that I possibly can. Jonathan Fields of Career Renegade is a friend who I met at SxSW and he is also a wonderful writer. I reviewed his book and took away a ton of great ideas. He’s a serial entrepreneur and that’s why I asked him for an interview. Many of you may not want to start your own business, but all of you are entrepreneurs, whether you are working for a company or yourself. It’s up to you to make your career come alive.

That’s why I love this interview. Jonathan is always bubbling with energy and concepts that we could all use to improve our working lives.

Let’s begin…

Karl: How important is work happiness to you?

Jonathan: Mission critical. Your work makes up such a massive part of your life, to strive for anything less than optimum joy from what you do seems just plain silly. I work a ton but it feels like I barely work, because I have so much fun doing it. Does that mean every second is that way? Not a chance. But a solid chunk of my work time is. And that’s priceless, because it not only makes me happy at work, it flows through to every other aspect of my life, especially my relationships with my wife and little girl.

What is one activity that makes you happy at work?

The process of creation. I come alive when I’m given the space and the resources to create meaningful output. Put me in an all operations or production environment and I wither.

How do you maintain balance between your working and non-working life?

I don’t. Balance is a fiction. Time and energy allocation is like a pendulum that keeps swinging through that mythical center point many people call balance. Problem is, you can’t just wave your hand and make the pendulum stop swinging and say, “viola, now I’m in balance!” Life doesn’t work that way.

The more realistic approach to balance is to acknowledge that you are in a constant state of time and energy flux. The pendulum is always in motion and your job is to work to understand why it’s swinging to one side or the other, assess the impact and set up regular feedback mechanisms that’ll tell you when the negative impact outweighs the positive so you can do what you need to do to get the pendulum swinging back the other way.

What is your favorite stress reliever?

Anything with my wife and daughter.

Do you work on being happy at work?

I’m in an unusual position in that understanding the process of being happy at work IS part of my work. So, I spend a solid chunk of my time exploring what makes me and others come alive.

If you are feeling down, what do you do to lift your spirits?

Play with my family, exercise, meditate, walk in the woods, draw, paint, play music. Tons of things, really.

What is your biggest detriment to work happiness?

Focus. I am passionate about so many things, I’m often drawn in many different directions at once and that leads to across the board stagnation…and lack of progress kind of sucks. We’re made to be happiest when we are striving and seeing movement. So, I’m doing a lot of work right now trying to cull my active projects and focus in on a smaller number.

What do you do to stay motivated and productive?

Make sure my work is wrapped around what makes me come alive. Do that, and motivation pretty becomes a non-issue.

If you could give work happiness advice to someone just starting their career in 140 characters or less (Twitter style) what would it be?

Absorb yourself in activities and relationships that make you come alive, then build your living and lifestyle around those fundamentals

If you want to take small steps to build on your work happiness then follow me on Twitter (@workhappynow).

***

Check out Jonathan’s other blog Awake at the Wheel. Where he covers personal growth, health and happiness.

If you liked this interview I think you’ll also like:

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
• A Work Happy Now Interview on Let It Flow
• A Steve Pavlina Interview on How to Build Your Career

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Have you ever tried to run through a forest on a cloudy night? It’s nothing but pitch black and painful bruising. I have a scar above my left eye to prove it. All right, you caught me. I’m making that part up.

Did you imagine yourself running straight into a tree? That’s the first thing I imagined myself doing.

We often run through our career forest without lighting our own way.

A career list will help you run through a forest lit by Yankee stadium lights. It’s so bright that you can see every bug, stick and tree. By making your actions clear through measurable goals, you have a 99.99% chance of improving your life.

Chris Guillibreau of The Art of Non-Conformity wrote a post called “How to Write a Life List.” I wondered how this idea might be applied to work happiness.

What is a Career List?

Most of us set goals such as “be happy” or “earn more money,” but we leave out what matters most when trying to accomplish these goals – “the how.”

A career list helps you break down “the how” of a career.

When you break down your career into actionable chunks it makes any goal possible.

First you need to know what type of work makes you happy. This is tricky because most of the time we don’t really know what will make us happy. Check out Dan Gilbert’ss talk at TED. He explains that most of the time we are wrong about what will bring us joy. It’s why many of us don’t use our college degrees at our jobs.

What you need to do is keep taking action so you understand what type of work excites you. The more you try certain tasks, jobs and ideas, the better grasp you will have at building a career that will make you happy.

What Goes on Your Career List?

Your career list should be varied and you need to think big. I don’t want my career to be good. I want it to be great. So great that it scares me just thinking about my ideas.

My list looks like this…

Title: Improve my ability to deal with stressful projects.

Then comes the how:

• When I feel stressed, first I need to focus on my breath and slow my thoughts down.
• Next, I need to write down one part of the project I will focus on.
• I will start taking slow action and build up steam.

Then comes the actionable list:

• Make full time income from Work Happy Now.
  • Publish a series of eShorts
    • Create an affiliate program
    • Market my eShorts to other bloggers
  • Build Tele-seminars to help people from home
    • Find program to handle call load
    • Use existing material and build it into a course
  • Contact companies for my work happiness workshops and presentations
    • Cold Calls
    • Buy ads on Google as a test
    • Guest post to bring more awareness to my blog
    • Speak for free at local business meetings
• Hire an employee to help with administrative work and treat them like gold.
  • First I need to make really good money then I can hire someone
• Help companies improve their happiness all over the world.
  • Market my blog to the public
    • Find interviews with reporters, TV, online and radio
• Write a best selling book.
  • Once I get the blog running smoothly, I will work on getting a book deal. Until then it must wait.
• Make enough money to retire in 30 years, then keep working only when I feel like it.
  • Save money
  • Invest in low risk stocks
  • Increase Work Happy Now sales at 10% a year

This is just a basic model of what I’m trying to accomplish. I guarantee that it will change in less than a year, but at least I have a plan.

You need to know what will make you happy in your career and work toward it. That means taking small steps every day to get to that career of your dreams.

Actionable Steps

You probably know someone who wants to be an artist, writer, musician, painter. They talk about how cool it would be, but they don’t think about how to make it a reality. They dream a good dream, talk the good talk and that’s it.

Creating a career list will help you to make that dream career a reality. Let’s say you want a job that fits more with your strengths. This job may be in PR. You must create an action plan for each thing on your list if you really want to accomplish this goal.

It should look something like this:

PR career

• Follow PR blogs
• Borrow PR books from the library
• Contact PR companies and ask them what they are looking for.
• Improve writing skills
  • Practice writing Press Releases
  • Copy other people’s Press Releases
  • Take a night class
• Go to a conference that is just for copywriting and/or public relations
• Contact reporters to see what they are looking for when reading a press release

That’s just off the top of my head. You can see I’ve done a fair amount of research on PR. A good press release can reverberate through journalist’s circles.

When you continue to strengthen your talents then you will succeed. You can’t go into the gym and expect to be able to lift a lot of weight right away. If you really want a career in PR, then keep adding to your resume so it tells the story of where you are heading.

Why Write a Career List?

A career list makes you think about what you want to accomplish and how you will do it. It makes your dream career seem possible.

How does a person make a career list that doesn’t seem so daunting?

I asked a friend what she wanted to do with her career. She responded, “There are just too many things.”

She likes so many things, but she can’t narrow it down to just one. She is only 23 and almost anything seems possible.

Whether we are 23, 43, or 63, career choices can seem daunting. We need to create a list that will motivate us, not make us want to crawl underneath the covers.

I have a goal to make Work Happy Now a business by Fall 2009 and a full time gig by 2010. This goal seems crazy. A full-time blogger! It’s weird to think of it that way. I think of full time blogging as some far off dream, but in reality it’s not.

I’ve built up my subscriber base, talked/presented to companies about work happiness, connected with Uber-Bloggers, and written a ton of good articles. Each project has brought me closer to my dream.

I made this happen by taking on One Next Thing at a time. I focused on one thing, did it well and then started my next project. I am guilty of being ADD enhanced, but I’ve learned to keep coming back to the projects that will give me the most bang for my buck.

That’s exactly what I’ve done with this blog. I’ve developed myself into a work happiness expert because I love the concepts. That love and enthusiasm is felt by the people who read this blog and hire me to speak to their organization.

Making Your Career List Come Alive

You should make a Career List too. Take an hour or two to listen to what you want/need and start jotting down everything that comes to mind. When you are done, pick the most important ones and start to break them down into actionable chunks.

Once you have your list in little chunks, you can tackle any career goal.

You have a chance to change the world with small ripples. Start creating those small ripples right now, so that in two years you have more leverage, and in five years you have even more. Once you have leverage, you can pick and choose the work that makes you the happiest.

Will it be easy?

Nope.

But that’s what a career list is all about: imagining a dream career (that means thinking so grand that it may scare you) and making it a reality.

If you are looking to take your career to the next level then check out the 10 Week eCourse we created to bring more clarity to your working life.

***

Creativity is all about looking at a problem from fresh angles until it clicks, and then running with it until your are out of breath. When I feel stuck, I visit Lateral Action to help me get my creative valve back open.

If you enjoyed this post then check these out too:

• Your Company Should Do Annual Career Counseling
• A Steve Pavlina Interview on How to Build Your Career
• Your 3 Careers – Are You Ready?

***

Image courtesy of Swiv

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – Hard Fun and Beautiful – Dragonflies Edition)

This week I needed to get some stuff off my chest. Working happy is not always about feeling wonderful. Working happy, to me, is about relaxing wherever I am at. That means if I’m pissed off because someone took the last dash of creamer for my coffee then so be it. I have to find a way to relax with whatever emotions are bouncing around in me.

We all get our buttons pushed in various ways. It’s important to learn how to work with these hot buttons in order to enjoy more of what we do while earning a living.

One of my hot buttons was recently pushed by a friend. He told me my videos needed to step up a few levels. They had potential, but needed improvement. I resisted at first, but he was right. So, I changed the format of my videos. As you can see, I’m making it a little more cozy and injecting more of what I’m going through.

I know you go through tough stuff at work too. That’s why I’m covering the hard, fun and beautiful to see if we can explore a deeper level of work happiness.

Here are the topics I cover this week:

Hard

• Computer problems are a part of all of our lives. I just hate when it happens to me. I updated my blog to the latest Wordpress release and I couldn’t upload a photo. I checked the forums, other blogs, and fiddled with it for hours. Nothing worked.
• A meeting can set off internal alarm bells. I had a meeting where I had to present information and I was worried about how it would be perceived. I even had trouble falling asleep the night before. I went into the meeting ready to be confronted. Nothing happened. I was fine. I worried over an event I couldn’t change.

Fun

• Launch of my eCourse. My Free 10 Week eCourse went live and it’s a success. Yeah! Over 100 people have signed up in less than 2 weeks.

Beautiful

• Dragonflies. After my tough day of Wordpress issues and meeting problems I was worn out. Every night I take my dog Addie for a walk. She is a mix of energy and stubbornness, which makes her a lot to handle but for some reason it relaxes me. On our walk I noticed a swarm of dragonflies around one tree. I stood for a good 5 minutes and just watched them dart high and low. It was beautiful. I realized that I have a lot of stress relief techniques that I’m so grateful for.

What about you?

What happened to you this past week? What was hard, fun or beautiful? I would love to hear it in the comment section.

***

I’ve been researching social media and how to use it in conjunction with my blog. Valeria of Conversation Agent has been a great read. She talks about how to build value for your people. I need to be as valuable as I can be for you so you keep coming back.

If you enjoyed this post then you might enjoy:

• Value In Effort
• Have Fun and Be Weird
• Depression at Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

This is a guest post by Nathalie Lussier of The Raw Foods Witch

Do you feel tired, unnecessarily distracted, or just frustrated at work? What if it were possible to change the way you feel about your work by changing the way your body operates at work. The premise is that by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, you’re going to experience positive results at work.

The concept of raw food may appear daunting at first, but it’s one of the simplest ways of eating for health. Everyone knows that fresh fruits and vegetables are good for you, and raw food just takes that to the next level by recommending a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that have not been heated above 112F.(Karl’s Note: Nathalie explains why you shouldn’t cook food about 112F on her site, “The reason being that food heated above 112 Fahrenheit loses some of its digestive enzymes.”)

The concept of raw is so powerful because it eliminates certain foods that are bad for your health, such as processed sugar and starch. Here are 5 good reasons why you might want to eat a raw food diet until dinner, and that includes eating raw at work.

1. More Energy

One of the first things that happen when someone increases their intake of raw food (and reduces their intake of processed sugars, processed starch, meat, and dairy) is the increased energy. Your body doesn’t need to spend as much time and energy digesting food anymore, so you get that excess in the form of vitality and a feel-good buzz.

(Note: The energy usually only shows up after a spell of detox. That’s perfectly normal and there are ways to help your body out during these bouts of detoxification.)

2. No Mid-afternoon Slump

When you have a heavy meal for lunch, you get that groggy tired feeling in mid-afternoon. That’s what happens when your body sends all its troops to do digestion work.

With raw food, you’re getting all of the digestive enzymes necessary to digest your meals. That gives your body a break and allows you to keep functioning without turning to stimulating substances such as caffeine.

3. Increased Mental Clarity

Along with the spurt in energy, usually comes a form of increased mental clarity. For some people it feels like a fog is lifted, others just sleep better and can think better. Raw food is like putting the optimal fuel in your body, without diluting it with a bunch of “fillers” so that your brain and body can go to max speeds.

You’re able to think more clearly, make great decisions under pressure, and keep the stress off. That alone is a great reason to eat raw in the workplace, and you will realize the benefits immediately.

4. Potential for Saving Money

If you eat out during lunch most days, eating a raw food meal instead could potentially save you tons of money. A meal out can cost between $5 to $10 per day, whereas a homemade raw salad can be made for pennies on the dollar.

If you are currently going to cheaper fast food joints, you might not see eating raw as saving money. However, your health will be the payment you get in the long run for eating fresh foods instead of mass produced bionic burgers.

5. Fun, Encouragement, Support

If you approach raw food with a positive attitude, you can make the whole thing fun, enjoyable, and bring your coworkers in on the fun. Whenever someone tries something new and different, there’s a bit of resistance from friends and family members.

Making raw food something light and experimental turns it into a challenge and your coworkers will cheer you on. Soon you can have the support of those closest to you, while teaching them about the benefits of healthy eating.

I mean, who doesn’t want a workplace filled with happy, energetic, clear thinking individuals?

If you’re interested in learning more about eating raw food (whether that means 100% raw or not, it doesn’t matter) you can visit me, Nathalie Lussier at The Raw Foods Witch. I take the spookiness out of raw food, so you can enjoy the magick.

***

Join the Work Happy Now newsletter today and receive a Free 10 week eCourse. If you are wondering how it could bring you more joy at work then read 10 Part eCourse to a Happier and More Successful You.

***

If you want to learn more about raw foods, check out another one of my favorite bloggers. Michelle of Healing With Raw Juices.

If you liked this post you may like:

• 25 Weird Breaks for Stress Relief
• The Target in the Bull(y)’s Eye
• Day 1of 30 – No complaining

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

It’s time to take work happiness to the next level.

Oh Yeah!

I’m talking about being so happy that our cheeks hurt from smiling too much.

I’m launching a new “day” of work happiness. I’m calling it “Happy At Work Action Day.” I can see some of you thinking – one day is not enough. I need 200 happy at work action days.

How about we start with one, try to make a change from there and then we can expand it.

Why do we need a “Happiness At Work Action Day?”

We need this day because we don’t focus enough time and energy in our pursuits to make our work happiness a reality.

We should be spreading the message of happiness at work because in these tough times so many people are worried about losing their jobs, they’re hating their jobs or they just don’t have enough fun at work. We have so many great tools at our disposal that there is no need to feel tortured by our work. Most of us spend more waking time at work than we do with our families. We should also be using this time to enhance our happiness.

We need to spread the message and get as many people involved as we can. I created a badge for other bloggers/businesses to put on their blogs/websites. Of course I will post updates about people who have joined in, making sure that my readers know about your help.

Prizes

Right now we have Blog Catalog as a sponsor and I will also be giving away a free consultation and presentation. If you know anyone willing to sponsor please send me an email karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com or through my contact page. It’s a great way to show your business cares about work happiness.

Goals

My goal is to have 15 bloggers and 15 companies joining in. As this is the first year this would be a lofty accomplishment, but that’s no matter. What matters I made a big goal that will make a difference in people’s lives. I hope to help over 100 people. Wish me luck.

Check out the “Happiness At Work Action Day” page and join in on the fun.

Been thinking about your own happiness at work? Then try creating a Happy at Work Project. You’ll improve your happiness while creating a more successful career.

***

When I want to visit a blogger whose writing snaps, pops, and sizzles through the screen. I stop by Colleen’s blog Communicatrix. One of my favorite posts of hers is Leaps of faith and the pushes that make them.

If you like this post then try these on for size and see how they make you feel:

• 25 Weird Breaks for Stress Relief
• The Necessity of Giving Gratitude at Work
• No More Complaining at Work – A Thirty Day Challenge

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - What do You Think of These Videos?)

I’m curious to know what you think of the videos that I have been posting on Work Happy Now. Are they valuable? Do they stink?

Please let me know in the comments section. If you want to remain anonymous then just leave the name “Tim” and your email address. Your email address will not be published.

Your opinion is really valuable to me so I appreciate any feedback you have to offer.

***

Are you new to blogging? Do you want to start a blog? Then visit Blogging Without a Blog. A great community of bloggers helping each other grow.

If you liked this video then you may as well check these ones out too, while you are here:

• Dealing With Dread
• Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin
• Have Fun and Be Weird

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I love a forward thinking company. Artesano is definitely that. They are making honey (mead) wine from start to finish.

They make everything from scratch. They let the bees make the honey (Yes, they have their own bee farm in Vermont). They believe in high quality ingredients and excellent taste.

When I contacted Nichole, one of the owners, about helping them with their work happiness, I wasn’t sure what to expect. She was excited about the concept; I didn’t even have to do the hard sell.

We held the seminar on Sunday. Yes, I work on Sundays if that’s the best time for my client. Read their testimonial about my presentation – Karl Staib Presents His Work Happy Now Message.

I’m writing about this teleconference I did with Artesano because I want to put more emphasis on the work that I do with companies. You all know how important work happiness is to a company’s culture, especially a young company like Artesano.

Happy workers are often better communicators and they tend to stick around longer and show more loyalty to their company, to name a few reasons.

I have a good feeling Artesano will be around a long time, making their employees and customers happy.

If you think your company needs some more happiness infused into its culture, then contact me and let’s see what we can do to bring a little more productivity and joy to you and your co-workers.

If you want a quick does of work happiness then follow me on Twitter (@workhappynow). I promise to exceed expectations.

***

Brian Clark of CopyBlogger is opening back up one of the best make money online programs - Teaching Sells. If you have knowledge that few people have then it’s time to figure out how to make some good money off of it. Help yourself and the rest of the world. That’s working happy at it’s best.

If you liked this article then hmmmm…I think you’ll like these too:

• How do I make my people happy?
• Unleash Your Creative Beast
• Hire Personalities That Fit Your Company

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

You probably have arrived at work on a Monday, sighed and trudged through your day. This is what a lot of us do because that’s what we’ve been taught. We torture ourselves so we can save enough money to be happy. Work doesn’t need to feel this way. When we work happy, work stops being a chore and becomes a pleasurable endeavor.

That’s why I created an eCourse that will help people build from their core strengths and optimize their working life. I created this course to help anyone, from a corporate employee to a self-employed entrepreneur. We all have basic needs. The only person who can fulfill your needs is you. It all comes from knowing what you need to make happiness a consistent reality.

I’ve heard hundreds of entrepreneurs complain about stress, motivation, and relationships. Interestingly enough, the same complaints come from corporate employees with a slightly different twist.

Where Has the Fun Gone?

We think we know what will make us happy, but life changes too quickly for us to keep up. We become more rigid, trying to keep life consistent, instead of allowing our minds to be flexible to our circumstances.

It’s not about finding rules, steps and guidelines to be happy at work. It’s about adapting to our work and finding work that excites us to our core. This is what will allow for maximum enjoyment.

The 10 part eCourse is designed to help you uncover the “core you” that has been ignored. You have the ability to be happy at work. You just need to figure out how to work on projects that excite you, and to do so more often.

If you sign up for this free eCourse you will receive an email every Monday for the next 10 weeks that will help you optimize your work happiness. You will probably want to save these in a separate folder to make sure you can reference them at your convenience.

* I apologize for the terrible formating, but anytime I messed with the code the submit button broke. So at least it works.

Free 10 Week eCourse

The most important part of your “Work Happiness Project” is to have fun. So if at any point you are not having fun during this process, it’s important to stop and ask yourself “why,” before you continue on. By figuring out what emotional blocks are occurring, you’ll be able to address the pain, reduce its hold, and get back to enjoying what you are trying to accomplish – work happiness.

Achieving work happiness is a life long process. You can’t lock into happiness and just stay there. You need to constantly make adjustments to fit your changing circumstances. What made you happy 5 years ago isn’t necessarily going to make you happy today.

As you probably well know, happier people are more successful. Just look at the proof in your own life. I’ll bet you would rather buy from a salesperson who shows enthusiasm. You want to work with co-workers who have fun at work. You prefer clients who make you laugh.

You don’t mind going that extra mile for those people. They are giving happiness to you and you want to give happiness to them in return.

If you are ready to uncover more work happiness and success, then sign-up for the free 10 part ecourse – “A Happier and More Successful You”

No worries. J If at any time you find this eCourse to be too overwhelming, or it puts you a little too in touch with the “inner you,” then you can unsubscribe at any time. I hate spam with a passion, so I promise that I won’t do anything funky with your email. Why would I? It doesn’t help either one of us work happier.

***

Need a productivity boost, you need to check out Charlie’s website Productive Flourishing. He has planners, tips, and down to earth advice that everyone could use.

If you liked this post then check these out:

• Reader Questionnaire 2009 and Quick Tip
• What do I do if I’m unhappy at Work?
• The launch of the Happy at Work Project

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Relax at Work)

Have you ever been in a stressful situation and wondered how you can relax with your work? Many of us try to push to get stuff done only to feel stressed out and exhausted. In this video, I explain how I relax with my work and how you can too.

Check me out on Twitter (@workhappynow). I’m dealing out work happiness like it’s the greatest candy on earth. Over 2,000 people agree that their lives are better after following me on Twitter.

***

Katie of The Levity Project is creating a laughter movement. On August 22, 2009 a whole bunch of people will be gathering to laugh their faces off. Check out the website and join in. It will take 15 minutes to change your perspective for the happier.

If you enjoyed this video I think you’ll like these too:

• Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin
• Have Fun and Be Weird
• Depression at Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Netflix believes in creating a culture that supports Freedom and Responsibility. They don’t promote to placate or keep people around out of loyalty. They know they have to make people happy and in order to do that they need to challenge and engage their employees.

Seven Aspects of Netflix Culture:

• Values are what we Value
• High Performance
• Freedom & Responsibility
• Context, not Control
• Highly Aligned, Loosely Coupled
• Pay Top of the Market
• Promotions & Development

(Sorry about the formatting of these next few sentences. This slide has some weird code in it)

Check out the Happy at Work Project and see how your views align with you company’s views. The closer your values align with the company’s, the more enjoyable it is to work with them.

***

Stephen of the Rat Race Trap talks about work and personal development on his site. It’s a must-read for someone seeking something better in their life.

If you liked this article then check out these articles:

• Does Your Company Need an Extreme Makeover?
• How do I make my people happy?
• Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, Book Review

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

There are times when you may not like your job. We’ve all been there.

During these tough times, we need to appreciate what we have. There are a lot of people out of work who wish that they had a job on which focus their energy.

I have a few friends who were laid off and they don’t know what to do with themselves. There are only so many hours each day that you can spend looking for a job.

So if you have a job, then take the time to enjoy what you have.

1. As of July 2009, 9.4% of the people in the USA were unemployed. That means 1 out of every 10 people you meet is looking for work.

2. You are able to pay bills.

3. You don’t rely on government hand outs.

4. The weekends feel amazing.

5. When you are sick, you are paid to stay home.

6. Your last project caused you to stress out, but it challenged you to manage your time more efficiently.

7. Your co-workers make you laugh on a daily basis.

8. Free coffee.

9. Lunch tastes sooooo good because you are taking a much needed break while eating a delicious sandwich.

10. You’ve learned to tolerate commuting traffic by deep breathing at red lights and bumper to bumper traffic.

11. You aren’t bothered by family while using the bathroom.

12. When your computer breaks, you have an IT department to fix it.

13. Insurance is paid for.

14. You have stories to tell your family.

15. You feel proud after a completed project.

16. You’ve learned how to speak to a group of people without letting your anxiety take over.

17. There is always a new challenge that makes you find a solution to the problem.

18. Your co-worker likes to bring donuts into work.

19. You have co-workers who enjoy talking about the nail biter of a game yesterday.

20. Your creativity is appreciated.

21. You’ve learned to manage your time efficiently.

22. Your company sends you to conferences that actually teach you fresh ideas.

23. You’ve learned how to push past your limits.

24. You burn more calories at work because your brain is working a lot harder.

25. Your job helps you appreciate your family.

26. You have a sense of purpose.

27. You use more of your strengths every year.

What else would you add to this list?

My Twitter account (@workhappynow) is filled work happiness ideas and questions. Come join me and see for yourself.

***

When I need a fresh take on life I visit Peter’s personal development site The Change Blog. 30 Fundamentals of a Wonderful Life is one of my favorites.

If you enjoyed this post then check these out:

• What do I do if I’m unhappy at Work?
• How to Build Confidence at Work
• My Work Happiness Manifesto

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Dealing with Dread)

Dealing with dread is one of the hardest parts of working with a difficult project. Watch how I cope and use the dread to my advantage.

Need a little help with your work happiness? Download the free Happy at Work Project with a Happy at Work calendar to complement the content. Try it out! It will bring a ton of smiles to your days. I’ll warn you now; if you don’t like it when you laugh too hard and your cheeks hurt then I would advise you not to download this PDF.

***

Need help with your blog’s content? One of my favorite resources was created by James Chartrand of Men With Pens. There is always some take-away that I find myself using.

If you liked this video then see if these fit your taste:

• Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin
• The Effects of Fast Food
• Depression at Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

A few months ago I was walking into my company’s building and an unsettling feeling hit my stomach. I didn’t realize that I was feeling this way until right before I walked inside. How long was this feeling in me? Had I been ignoring it since last night or maybe all week?

For most of us, anxiety plays a daily role in our lives. We worry about project deadlines, co-worker relationships and what our boss thinks of us.

It’s natural, but very unsettling.

Most of you are probably thinking that I’m going to give you tips on how to relax and relieve stress.

Nope.

I’m not going to regurgitate some facts about taking breaks and drinking less coffee. All of you know the basics. You probably struggle with these techniques because your feelings have more control than your rational mind, which isn’t a bad thing. But you do need to create a balance between rational thinking and your feelings.

No one can argue with feelings.

Feelings are there to help us make smart decisions. If we’re not careful, these feelings can snowball and take over. We feel like we can’t release them, and all we can do is suffer through them.

Whaaaat? Heck no. We all struggle, but constant struggle over the same thing is torture and also bad for your health.

What to do?

You can harness the energy created by these anxious feelings and use it to focus on the positive possibilities, rather than focusing on fear. You really can use this anxiety to build the career that makes you happy.

I’ll give you a step by step plan that worked for me. I harnessed a lot of my anxiety, making me happier and more productive.

1. Deal with Your Anxiety Bubbles

My anxiety usually comes from my inability to align my own needs with the goals that someone else gave me. It’s a lot easier to match up your own goals with your needs, but not so easy when someone else sets the goals – especially if you don’t agree with them.

Let’s say your boss wants you to start a new project or maybe s/he even wants to promote you. Even if you may not have asked for this “honor,” you may not be in a position to deny your boss. So you are thrust into these new duties without even wanting them.

Every time you think about these changes, anxiety bubbles up. Who should you complain to first? Yourself.

You need to find a way to communicate with your anxiety so it doesn’t take over.

I make a list of ideas that help me open up to my anxiety and why it’s there:

• Take a break to just sit and breathe.
• Let yourself feel anxiety then think of the image that is causing you to feel this way and imagine yourself breathing it out like a big balloon. Watch it float away.
• Hold your anxiety in your arms like a big baby and coddle it until it falls asleep.
• Draw your anxiety on toilet paper and flush it down the toilet.
• Pretend your anxiety is an old friend and really listen to his/her needs.

A little self understanding can go a long way to ease those fears. You need to accept your feelings; wanting to change them will only entrench the feelings even more. Talk to yourself. Allow these feelings to be there. Try to see them as a chance to learn more about yourself and your choices.

2. Get Creative

It’s time to stop the cyclical thinking and get a little Crrrrrazy with your ideas. The goal is to find a way to align these changes in your life with your personal needs.

You need to pull yourself away from your roller coaster of an emotional state. Look at the facts and brainstorm creative ideas that will help you find a better perspective.

Try coming up with as many practical ideas on how to deal with your anxiety as you can in fifteen minutes. (Putting a time frame on it can help you focus).

Letting your creative side loose will allow you to find a new solution that can help you release your stress.

3. Test Out some of Your Practical Ideas

Now you have a list of ideas. Start testing them.

My list of “practical perspectives” on a new project assignment went something like this:

• It’s a chance to improve my skills.
• I get to work with Brian (cool dude).
• I can add this to my resume.
• Drawing out a mindmap will help me get my thoughts in order.
• This is an opportunity to interact with more co-workers.
• I can ask for a raise when I’m done.
• I’ll get a good chance to make people laugh.
• This will inspire great ideas for Work Happy Now.
• During this project I will watch my emotional states and how they fluctuate.
• This will help me improve my patience – every project requires developing new techniques to stay patient.
• This project will give me the opportunity to laugh more.
• I’m going to meditate before bed every night while working on this new project. (Just focusing on relieving my stress)

I was trying to align my personal needs with this new project. Of course I resisted at first. After all, I was comfortable doing my regular routine. These new goals gave me emotional anchors.

4. Practice Every Single Day

As I began to self talk myself through my various goals, I noticed three of them that I thought would work well.

• This will inspire great ideas for Work Happy Now.
• It’s a chance to improve my skills.
• I’m going to meditate before bed every night while working on this new project. (Just focusing on relieving my stress)

Every time I got down on the project, myself, or my co-workers, I began to list ways in which the project was helping me.

It was helping me with Work Happy Now by giving me plenty of ideas for articles. I wrote an article about the value of patience and a post about seeing things as they are and not as I want them to be.

As for improving my skills…

I learned to be a little more organized. I was becoming lazy and I had stopped using my calendar to keep track of meetings and deadlines. I didn’t have that option anymore. Ever since that project I’ve been proactively staying on top of my work.

As for meditating before bed…

I practiced Transcendental Meditation before bed. I focused on my breath and staying in the present moment. When my thoughts drifted I just brought them back to my breath. I noticed I was more calm and relaxed before bed. When I awoke my anxiety was significantly reduced and I didn’t feel as nervous walking into my work.

Wrap-Up

When we encourage ourselves to use new skills to adapt to a situation, we can create long-lasting habits. It will become easy to stick with these new habits once we discover how much they help ease our anxiety.

Whenever you sign up for my RSS or email feed you get access to my exclusive book “How to Work Happy the Google Way” a personal and leadership guide to being happy at work.

***

Alex the Chief Happiness Officer is one of my inspirations for creating Work Happy Now. He has written a book that I absolutly love. You should check out, Happy hour is from 9 to 5.

If you liked this post then try these out too:

• Feeling Comfortable in Your Skin
• What do I do if I’m unhappy at Work?
• Stress Relief Techniques for Your Commute

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now – Value In Effort)

The value that you feel you are giving matters. That’s what this video discusses. I talk about connecting to your actions and how easy it is to stay motivated when you care.

How does the value you extract from your effort affect your motivation?

Need a quick burst of work happiness in your life? Follow me on Twitter (@workhappynow) and get your work happiness fix.

***

Whenever I need down to earth advice I visit Good Life Zen. Mary always has something wise to say.

If you enjoyed this video check out…

• Motivated By Mistakes
• How to Build Confidence at Work
• Stressed Out and Loving It

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

When you keep trying to apply the same solutions to old problems all you get is the same results. If you want to develop your emotional strength, you have to be a scientist. Experiment with many different solutions and notice what works and what doesn’t. If the old solutions don’t work, it’s time to try something new.

I recently wrote a guest post for Zen Habits, 6 Amazing Techniques to Staying Happy During a Stressful Project. The feedback was tremendous.

Out of all the techniques, the one that got the best response was “Take a Weird Break.” I wasn’t expecting that.

Here is what I wrote:

4. Take a “Weird” Break

I often get mentally locked up because I can’t focus on what is right before me. There are too many options. If I have to write an email, generate a report, and work on a marketing plan then I feel hot and cloudy. My overwhelmed mind just wants to shut down. I usually get up and take a “weird” break to clear my head.

During my break I do something a little weird like take a short walk and hang from a tree branch. I find that it’s tough to worry while hanging from a beautiful tree. Plus, my creativity almost always starts flowing again.

There are so many ways we can pull ourselves out of a stressful state if we just take a moment to be creative.

We have to find creative solutions to our ever evolving stress. I put together a list of 25 weird breaks we can use to improve our work happiness.

25 Weird Break Ideas

1. Stand on one leg where people can see you and just breathe.

This is also an exercise in not caring about what others think. Hopefully this will make you even more focused to stay in the present moment.

2. Call a friend who you haven’t talked to in over a year.

Sometimes we need to reconnect with an old friend to help us see life from a new perspective.

3. Laugh really hard at a joke that is only mildly funny.

Don’t do this to be a jerk. I’m suggesting you laugh really hard at a mildly funny joke because sometimes we don’t put enough effort into laughing. It can spur on some much needed stress relief if we just tip the endorphin scales in our favor.

4. Drink water upside down.

Taking a sip of water while upside down will reduce hiccups and stress.

5. Go outside and just feel the grass for 60 seconds.

Allow yourself to feel like a kid again. Little kids are fascinated by everything they touch. They don’t have time to let worried thoughts stress them out.

When you go outside and just enjoy the natural beauty of the grass, you won’t be able to think about your career, family or anything. Just you and the earth.

6. Putt a golf ball from the opposite side.

Try to do anything from the opposite side. You have to focus very hard. Even writing your name with the other hand takes you out of your stressed out state.

7. Climb a tree barefoot.

This can hurt if you don’t pick the right tree. So find a tree with smooth bark and enjoy.

8. Make as many cool sounds with a piece of paper as you can.

The ideas are endless. My favorite is making it sound like a storm. Just hold a piece of paper at the top and shake from side to side.

9. Hug a tree.

We all should be tree huggers at some point in our lives.

10. Buy two of the craziest drinks on the way into work and share with your co-worker on your first break.

Living in Texas allows me to have a strong Mexican culture, so I picked up two bottles of some weird Mango drink for a co-worker and myself. It was delicious.

11. Meditate in your car or in the grass and focus on what it would feel like to fly like a bird.

Using your imagination to take a break is the easiest weird break anyone can do. You can fly like a bird, become invisible or create a new planet. They will all help reduce your stress.

12. Admit a weird thing you did as a kid to a co-worker.

I did a lot of weird stuff as a kid. I used to jump from high places and land on stones to see how tough I was.

13. Make a snowman out of tissue paper and tape.

A weird piece of art can take us out of our normal thought process and help us relax.

14. Walk around the office backwards.

I just did this one yesterday. (I did this one at home). I don’t think I’m cool enough to pull this one off at the office.

15. Pluck one leaf from a tree for every person you work with.

This is just plain weird and I would probably be afraid to do this, but you may have some pretty weird co-workers who might enjoy this.

16. Ask a co-worker if they could talk to someone about their stress, living or dead, who would it be.

I would choose Abraham Lincoln. He went through severe depression and came out a stronger person.

17. Play a joke on a co-worker – cover everything in Saran Wrap.

Most of us need to laugh a little more at our jobs, and a good practical joke on a friend can bring on the laughter we need.

18. Switch everything on your desk from one side to the other. (just for one day)

Life is all about perception. It’s always good to get a change of perspective when you feel stressed.

19. Find a weird object on a walk break and keep it on your desk.

I found a really white snail shell. It’s quite beautiful. Every time I see it, I feel calm. It reminds me that there are more important things in life than taking my stress too seriously.

20. List all the craziest things you’ve done in your life on a piece of paper, then burn it.

I’ve never done this one, but I really want to try it. I’m going to do this one this weekend. (Note: Always practice fire safety. I don’t recommend you starting any fires in the office unless you expect to be laid off in the next few days.)

21. Email a co-worker a link to an odd story you found on the internet.

There are some weird people out there. I found one story about a meth addict who had a drug lab in his house. He called the cops because a friend stole his wallet from his house. The cops entered the house and arrested the dummy.

22. Create a paper crown for a co-worker who has the blues.

I’ve never tried this one either, but I know a co-worker who could use this one right now.

23. Photo copy your face.

A classic that never goes out of style.

24. Draw a cartoon of your boss (But don’t show it to him/her).

I did this one at home. It helped put my stress into perspective. Sometimes I take people too seriously.

25. Spin in your chair until your momentum brings you to a stop.

This is also a classic. I like this one because it makes me a little queasy, but I never regret doing it.

Wrap-Up

Weird breaks are a wonderful way to take yourself out of your normal routine and help you find a healthier and happier perspective. Think of it as a mini-vacation for the brain.

You may think some of these are too weird for you, and that’s fine. Only do what feels comfortable.

We are all weird in our own way. Some of us are better at hiding it. I say let the weirdness out, so you can just be yourself.

***

Need an emotional pick me up? Check out Urban Monk. It’s filled with personal development insights that you won’t get anywhere else.

***

Check out my Happy at Work Project and see if you want to build one yourself.

***

If you liked this article then try these on for size:

• Have Fun and Be Weird
• My Work Happiness Journey
• Notice the Every Day WOW

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now)

Your time off from work is probably underutilized. You may use it to run errands or tie up loose ends, but you should be using it for your mental and physical health. A stressed out you won’t be happy and productive at work if you aren’t in a balanced state.

This video post talks about the importance of using your time off to its full advantage.

***

Nikki and I are proud to announce our new baby boy has arrived. Photos will be coming soon. I can’t wait to see the new perspectives on work happiness that will be forming over the next few years.

***

Need some excellent career advice? Check out Andrea Levitt’s blog, Water Cooler Wisdom.

***

If you liked this video post, check out…

• Results are Only 1% of the Story
• How to Build Confidence at Work
• The “Yes, And” Technique

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

You probably already know if your company needs to change its culture. You can feel it in your gut. So why don’t companies take steps to improve when it’s clear that change is needed?

Instead, most companies keep going along with the same techniques year after year, ultimatly, making the company culture worse. There are only so many times a person can attend the same old training begin to feel nauseous. I’ve literally felt dizzy during a meeting because it was so repetitive and tedious. I couldn’t believe that management could be so out of touch with their employees.

Most of you have probably worked for a company like this. All you can do is shake your head at most of the decisions and wonder why they don’t care about your opinion.

A Story to Which We can All Relate

I once worked for a company that didn’t listen to its employees at all. The people grumbled and moaned then eventually left. The turnover rate was through the roof. Way over 10% a year.

It didn’t have to be that way. If only they would have implemented a few of the employees’ ideas, it probably that would have helped the company’s bottom line and made the employees the employees happier.

I remember one employee who told me about a marketing idea he proposed to his boss. He wanted to create a small club of dedicated customers who would help spread the word at marketing events. We had a core group of customers who loved us and it would have been easy. His boss didn’t like the idea because it would take the control out of the hands of marketing.

“Who knows what these customers will say at these events,” was his reply.

He explained that although we would be relinquishing some control, these people were dedicated to the company and would never do anything to damage the company’s reputation.

He cited other companies who were doing the same thing, but he was still rejected.

This employee left two months later.

I know you don’t want your company to make these same mistakes, so I’ve compiled 6 warning signs that your company culture needs a change.

1. Turnover is higher than 6% a year

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2006), the average turnover rate in the U.S was between 3.2% and 3.6%.

If your company has 40 employees and more than 2 or 3 people are coming and going each year, you might have a problem. Of course there are times when circumstances can inflate these numbers, especially if there are a coincidence of family issues. This can’t be helped. What can be helped is when employees leave because they aren’t happy. Any company culture can be changed. I’ll admit that the bigger a company is the harder it will be, but it’s not impossible.

2. Rumors spread like wild fire

A company that doesn’t address issues will have rumors running rampant throughout its organization. An open and honest dialogue with employees will prevent a lot of bad gossip.

Negative company gossip can fuel the emotions of the employees and make them afraid of what could happen. Their imaginations take over when they don’t have access to the right information.

Every company must create a support system in each department. An attentive manager will notice when his/her employees are spreading rumors. If this is happening s/he must have all the information from management to give to his/her staff. The more information they have about a problem, the less likely it will be that wild imaginations will create the story.

3. Employees stop complaining to management

When an employee gives up, they’ve probably stopped caring. That usually means they stop complaining and stop trying to make the culture better.

You know the difference between good complaining and bad. The good complaining points out a problem that needs attention.

The best way to prioritize employee feedback is to reach out and ask what needs improvement, and then actually do something about it. There are too many companies that ask and don’t actually implement the changes.

4. Your sales have declined or flat-lined

Studies have proven that 70% of a company’s business comes from word of mouth. When a customer loves you, they will tell everyone about you.

The best way to build customer loyalty is to have employees build great relationships with their customers.

You can do this by encouraging friendship building amongst your employees. That may mean creating a program that encourages interaction. One of my favorite ideas is a “thank you” Thursday. Every employee sends out 5 – 10 thank you cards every Thursday to show the customers appreciation.

The best part is about this technique is that it makes both sides, employee and customer, feel good. The employee releases positive feelings by showing appreciation to their customer. The customer loves receiving the adulation.

Creating positive relationships will increase customer word of mouth

5. Employees don’t hang out outside of work

Zappos does everything it can to encourage its managers and employees to hang out with each other. They actually put a percentage on it. They want managers to use 20% of their time to get to know their employees.

The more friends an employee has at work, the less likely they are to feel unhappy with their job. A strong network of friends makes an employee feel safe and happy.

If your employees are all going straight home after work then it’s a sign that they don’t feel connected to the people with whom they work with.

A company should create various opportunities for their employees to hang out outside of work by hosting functions and encouraging employees to go out and have fun.

6. Creativity Slows to a Crawl

Some companies use fear to run an organization. They don’t want to take too many risks because of the potential of lost revenue. What occurs in this fear based company is stifled thought. Employees would rather not bring up an idea because they are afraid of rejection.

A company needs to constantly innovate to stay ahead of competitors. That means trying some weird and maybe crazy ideas.

I worked for a company that sold expensive industrial products. Since the opening of the business, they advertised the same way. They sold the same way. They interacted with the customers the same way.

What they got was the same results.

A company must try new things to keep themselves and their customers interested in the product/service. You may have heard about the TV show AqueTeen Hunger Force’s advertising campaign that used lightbrights to create a buzz around Boston. It actually caused a scare in the community because they created strange boxes and put them in remote locations. It worried quite a few Bostonians who thought they might be bombs.

This may be an extreme example, but they tried to push outside of their normal sphere of advertising. It worked. The word of mouth spread throughout the rest of the country.

Your company can be innovative in various ways. There are always a few people in any organization who are willing to try unique ways to create more innovative products/services/marketing/customer relations. Try asking your employees about ways to expand outside of the company’s comfort zones. It will make the employees happy as well as reach new customers.

Wrap-Up

There are usually small signs within every company that expose a need for a culture change. These are just six examples that are very important to keep your eye on.

If you can catch these problems early, you have a good shot at turning the atmosphere around quickly.

What do you notice in your organization? Are there other signs that change is necessary? Let us know so we can keep the conversation going.

***

Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind is someone that I’ve been learning a lot from. I love his fresh angles that make me think differently about my own life.

***

The Happy at Work Project has gone very well. Looking at the stats, over 500 people have downloaded the free PDF and the response to my Work Happy Now weekly calendar has been wonderful. If you would like me to send it to you, just go to my contact page or send me an email to karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com and type in “WHN Calendar”.

***

If you liked this article then you may like:

• How do I make my people happy?
• Make Every Employee Feel Cool
• Your Company Should Do Annual Career Counseling

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now)

I’ve repeatedly made the mistake of letting one problem bring me down. There are always 1,000 other things we can focus on.

Enjoying a difficult relationship at work is not easy, but when you are able to break down your happiness into smaller pieces, you will realize that one relationship shouldn’t dictate your happiness. You may have five other friends who treat you with respect, and these are the people who you should enjoy.

I’ve created this video to explore the pieces of my life that I can focus on when one small part of my life feels upsetting. Check out the video to learn more.

***

If you want to take your social media reach to a new level, check out Chris Brogan’s blog. You’ll be an expert in a few months.

***

Twitter is a great way to stay updated on your work happiness (@workhappynow). I give out tips, quotes, and thought-provoking ideas to help you improve your happiness at work.

***

If you enjoyed this video then check these out:

• How to Build Confidence at Work
• Daily Body Scan
• Your Emotional Boxes

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

As this site grows, I want you to be a part of its maturation. Without you, there is only me shouting about work happiness into an empty room. That’s no fun.

So I’ve created a short questionnaire in order to help me take Work Happy Now to the next level.

Click here to answer the Work Happy Now questionnaire

If you clicked and answered - Thanks! It means a lot to me.

***

One quick tip to bring happiness into your work place: Bring your favorite mug or glass in from home for one week. Notice how it makes you feel.

• Does it feel weird?
• Do you like it?
• How is it keeping you happy or throwing off your normal routine?

When I tried taking my favorite mug into work, it brought a calm feeling over me during that time. I realized that I associated that mug with a relaxed state. I brought it in on a Wednesday and took it home that Friday.

I couldn’t be without my favorite mug over the weekend.

Too much normalcy in the work place isn’t good either. If we get too used to our routine then any little thing can throw us off course and create upsetting feelings. By bringing your favorite mug or glass in to work you are throwing yourself off your normal routine, and as a result you will be a little more prepared for change. Because change will come. It’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.”

*Contest*

Send me a picture of you with your favorite (mug or glass) at work to karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com. If I get enough of them, I will pick a winner and post it on this blog. The winner will get the limited edition book “The Word of Mouth Manual II” by Dave Balter of Bzzagent.

I’ll pay for shipping too.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to make this site even better.

You are awesome!

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

This is a guest post from Drew Tarvin

When I first started in the corporate world, I didn’t realize how little my fellow employees laughed.  It wasn’t until I started doing corporate stand-up gigs that I noticed the distinct lack of chuckles, giggles, and guffaws in the workplace.  The question is, why is laughter missing?

Stand-Up or Sit Down

After my very first corporate stand-up show, I thought I did terrible.  No one had laughed as much as they did in the comedy clubs, and it didn’t seem like my jokes resonated with the audience.  But after the show, the other comedian I performed with (a veteran on the corporate circuit) congratulated me, saying he was impressed with how well I did.  I chalked it up to him trying to spare my feelings.

But then a number of audience members came up to me after the show, thanking me for performing and even quoting their favorite lines.  I still wouldn’t have believed I had done a good job, but a few months later the same group booked me to do another show–the ultimate sign that they were satisfied with the show (or were sado-masichists).

Over time, I realized it wasn’t just in that show that people weren’t laughing.  I started wondering where all the laughter was in the office.  We spend upwards of 40% of our waking hours at work, shouldn’t it be a little fun?  But that’s not the culture at many places, and as a result, people don’t laugh.  Why?

1) They Think It’s Inappropriate

The biggest reason why most people don’t laugh at work is that for some reason they think it’s inappropriate.  Even if something genuinely funny happens, they are in the “corporate-mode” where everything is “business, business, business” and they refuse to laugh.

The reality is that there are only a few situations where laughter is inappropriate–during the process of layoffs, in the middle of an important company announcement, or after your boss’ rival says a joke.  But during a regular meeting or while reading our email, these are times where we should feel free to laugh if we desire or are inspired to do so.

2) They Fear What Others Think

I thought that people obsessing over what others thought of them would end in High School, but it is ever-present in the corporate world.  And while it is important to consider your image and reputation, many people get caught up in what their peers, managers, and direct reports think of them.

To laugh at something is a revelation of our personality.  It tells others what we think is funny, and that scares people.  If you are in a meeting with your manager and someone makes a joke, the tendency is to check in with your manager to see if she thinks it’s funny–if she laughs, surely it’s OK for you to laugh.  The problem is that your manager is doing the same thing.  She is either checking in with other people in the room, or even back with you–after all, managers are (semi) normal people too, and they have the same insecurities as the rest of us.

3) They Don’t Have Much to Laugh At

The sad reality is that for many employees, they just don’t have much to laugh at during work.  Their training sessions are filled with boring diagrams, monotonous speakers, and they experience death by PowerPoint.  All of their emails are strictly related to work, written as concisely as possible but still filled with useless and definitely unfunny jargon.

Too few of us work to incorporate humor into the workplace.  Perhaps it’s a “chicken and the egg” problem–why would people attempt humor when no one at work will laugh?  But as a result, we hide our true personalities and we soon become an office of boring robots.

4) They Aren’t Used to It

Even when someone tries to attempt humor, there isn’t always a laughter response.  That’s because people aren’t used to it–they aren’t used to having humor at work, or laughing during the hours of 9-5.

Culture plays a large role.  The companies or departments that do have fun and are constantly laughing, actively work to use humor on a consistent basis and people get used to the idea that they can have fun at work.  The oft-cited company Southwest Airlines has made it part of their mission statement to have fun, and from top to bottom employees get used to laughing.

How to Get People to Laugh at Work

An interesting thing happened during the second show I did with the above mentioned group–the laughter was louder and more frequent.  Maybe my material was stronger the second time, or my performance was better.  Or maybe the group was ready to laugh:

1. They knew it wasn’t inappropriate because it was a stand-up show.
2. They weren’t afraid because they had already laughed a little bit last time and other people had talked about enjoying the show.
3. They had something to laugh at (either my material or my failed attempts at humor).
4. They were used to it from the last show, and the fact that they were having a second one suggested that it was certainly encouraged.

And that’s what it takes to break the stigma against laughing and increase laughter in the workplace.  Creating a culture where people know it’s OK to laugh (and encouraged); throwing unnecessary caution into the wind and laughing at what’s funny; giving co-workers something to laugh at; and doing it consistently.

Drew Tarvin is a stand-up, improv, and sketch humorist and the author of Humor That Works.  You can subscribe to his newsletter or follow him on Twitter @HumorThatWorks.

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In my research on humor in the workplace, I found another blog that gives some great information on how important it is to laugh at work. Michael Kerr of Humour at Work.

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If you are looking to bring some more laughter and smiles into your workplace, then check out the Happy at Work Project and start building your work happiness today.

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If you liked this article then check out:

• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun
• 5 Fun and Easy Tips to Let the “Real You” Shine Through at Work, Southwest Airlines Style
• Why Your Company Should Budget for a Fun Work Environment

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then click here and try watching it at Work Happy Now)

Too many of us get caught up in what our co-workers think of us, instead of letting loose and being a little weird. Zappos has ten values in place, one of which is “Create fun and be a little weird.” Otherwise you’ll be a tight, stressed out co-worker who has trouble having fun at work.

And if we try too hard to fit in, all we are doing is making ourselves feel like the black sheep of the group. You need to let the real you out.

That means expressing your true nature. Because once you can be the real you around everyone at work, the rest is easy.

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Web warriors like us need articles that are geared toward making us happier and more productive. I go to Web Worker Daily to stay updated on all the latest happenings.

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If you liked this video then peruse these:

• The Effects of Fast Food
• Depression at Work
• Daily Body Scan

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So you want an atmosphere that encourages great work? Don’t we all. Most bosses and managers talk a good game, but they don’t create a plan to make it happen.

Almost every CEO I worked for always talked about the importance of their people, but their actions did not coincide with their words. They were always more worried about the bottom line.

I know how important it is to make money, but if the employees are happy then believe me, the money will come. That is if you have a good product/service.

It’s why Southwest airlines is the only consistent money generator in the USA airline industry. They believe in creating a culture that encourages happiness.

As a leader of people you need to encourage happiness in every facet of your business. I’ve created 10 techniques that will help your company be happy and successful.

1. Be happy yourself.
2. Know your people.
3. Make time for your people.
4. Show people the autonomy that they already have.
5. Help them find meaning in their work.
6. Listen and respond to their emotions, not their problems.
7. Stop letting assholes dictate the company culture.
8. Encourage friendships.
9. Recognize hard work.
10. Find out why people leave.

These are concepts that are easy to understand, but may be hard to apply to your company’s culture. I’ll break them down so you can use them in your company.

1. Be Happy Yourself

Being happy yourself can sometimes be more difficult than making someone else happy. If you don’t know how to make yourself happy, it will be very difficult to help the people you manage to be happier.

You have to find what makes you happy at work and try to do more of it. If you are a manager and miss a certain aspect of your old job (i.e. more customer interaction), then try to do more of the customer interaction projects and give a part of your job that you dislike to an employee who enjoys the type of work that you don’t.

I struggled with my own work happiness because I didn’t take responsibility for my own emotions. I would let my emotions run rampant, causing me much more pain than I needed to endure. Read my What Do I Do If I’m Unhappy at Work? to get a better idea of how to be happier at your job.

2. Know Your People

You must know your employees’ strengths and weaknesses. If you keep giving PR work to an employee who hates it, they won’t be sticking around very long.

When you assign work to an employee who enjoys the task, they respect and appreciate you. The happier you make them, the higher quality their output will be. It’s a simple concept, but one many managers ignore.

You must spend time with your employees in order to understand them. Do you know what they do in their spare time? What type of food do they like?

The more you know about the people you manage, the easier it will be to lead them.

3. Make Time for Your People

Are you taking the time to listen to their problems and helping them come up with solutions? I know most of my superiors never did this for me.

At most of my jobs, I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I know a lot of people feel this way. They feel like they are the last to know what is going on with in a company.

Every leader needs to make time for his or her people.

You can do this by:

• Talking to employees about decisions.
• Asking them about their own issues.
• Hanging out with them outside of work.
• Asking them for their opinions.
• Chatting with them about their personal lives.

Making time for your people might sometimes feel like a time suck, but it’s worth your effort. They will show more loyalty and become more engaged. Zappos, the employee happiness juggernauts, encourage their managers to spend roughly 15% of their day with their staff. They know that it works.

4. Show People the Autonomy That They Already Have

Many employees don’t like working within a certain organization because of the lack of freedom. They feel chained to their cubicle.

What many employees don’t realize is that they do have autonomy.

You need to let your employees know about the perks that they might not be using. Make them aware of the breaks that they can take because it will help them reduce stress and increase productivity. Inform them about anything the company provides that could make them happier.

If the company is too strict then make some changes. We live in a different world compared to just ten years ago. If you want to retain great employees, then you should consider allowing them more freedom and flexibility as long as they get results.

5. Help Them Find Meaning in Their Work

People need to believe that the work they do is worth doing. Otherwise they see no point in putting in extra effort.

A great way to help your employees find meaning is to tell stories that they can connect with. A good story can show a perspective that the employee hadn’t yet seen.

My father is an electrician and has owned Staib Electrical for 40 years. I worked with him through high school and college. I was always baffled by his need to form the wires so perfectly. My dad made sure his electrical panels were like little pieces of engineering art work. One day, after he fixed my work (again), I asked him why it was so important to him to make the wires look perfect.

He explained how he recently received two phone calls from potential clients. They had both heard from a previous customer about the great work he did. He asked them who referred him, and they both named a neighbor of theirs, Mr. Hanken. My father told me about Mr. Hanken’s delighted expression when he showed him his work. Mr. Hanken then bragged to his neighbors, and they too wanted an electrician that cared as much as my father does.

I understood why my dad’s presentation was so important. If he didn’t apply a bit of art to his craft, everyone would think he was just like every other electrician. It separated him from the crowd and as a result people talked him up to people they knew. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising.

From that point on, I applied a little art to every wire I formed.

6. Listen and Respond to Their Emotions, Not Their Problems

People often complain just so they will be heard. They don’t necessarily want solutions; they want empathy.

The next time an employee comes to talk to you about another employee, give them what they need emotionally. Let them know that it can be tough work with (fill in difficult coworker here). Allow them to vent.

If they ask for a solution then you can try to find one together, but most of the time they just need an emotional boost, rather than a fix to their problem.

7. Stop Letting Assholes Dictate the Company Culture

One asshole can wreak havoc on a whole department or organization. They are miserable and they want everyone else to be miserable too.

The job of any leader is to stop these people from bringing everyone else down. That may mean helping this person recognize their issues and figuring out a way to become happy. If that doesn’t work, you may need to let them go.

The only way the company culture will support great work is if everyone treats each other with respect.

8. Encourage Friendships

People need to have friends at work. If they don’t, they are much less likely to stay at a job, feel happy, and be creative.

“Among the 3 in 10 workers who strongly agree that they have a best friend at work, 56% are engaged, 33% are not engaged and 11% are actively disengaged to the point of poisoning the atmosphere with their negativity. Those who don’t have a best friend have slim 1-in-12 odds of being among the engaged. Worse, the best-friendless stand a one in three chance of being actively disengaged. That means they may threaten sabotage or otherwise become a serious drag on the company’s success.” - Del Jones of USA Today Best friends good for business

A manager should encourage his or her staff to hang out with each other. The more people hang out with each other, the more likely they are to find ways to like each other.

It’s helpful if you create opportunities for people to gather outside of work so they can bond. If you are their superior then they may not be able to relax when you’re there, so gather them and take off. Yes, they may complain about you after you leave, but it’s important that they find common ground, even if it’s making jokes at your expense.

Believe me, they will be more supportive, happier and a stronger team as a result.

9. Recognize Hard Work

A boss who appreciates hard work, not just the end result is a better boss. The psychology behind it is simple. If you show people that you are grateful when they work hard they are more likely to enjoy the process.

Many bosses only appreciate the end result. If the end result is bad, then the employee confidence and morale takes a hit.

Show people that you care about their effort, not just the results, and you’ll see an improvement in productivity.

10. Find Out Why People Leave

People usually leave a company because they aren’t happy. Try to find out why they are leaving and what you can do to solve the issue.

I’ve never had an exit interview, but I had a friend who did. They kept asking the question “why” until they got to the heart of the problem. They didn’t want some patsy answer that wouldn’t help them.

Most employees will just want to get out of there, but if you take the time to listen, you may be able to figure out a solution that will help future employees. You may have lost this employee, but you can improve other employees’ happiness so they stick around and do great work.

Wrap-Up

The environment at work doesn’t need to be boring or strict. In fact, Southwest, Google, and Zappos are proof that happy employees improve the bottom line.

Bosses, managers, or supervisors have so many tools at their disposal. The research in Inc. Magazine, Alex’s blog The Chief Happiness Officer, Psychology Today, and WorldBlu (to list just a few) proves that people who are happy at work are more productive and engaged.

Start by implementing these concepts, but don’t stop there. There are many ways to encourage happiness. Just remember that every organization and group of people are different. Sometimes it takes a few tries to see some progress.

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* Target Turned Tigress had this to add in the comment section. I wanted to paste it here, so it’s not missed.

I’d add one caveat to item #6 and three more items to make it a “baker’s dozen”–lucky 13.  Under item number 6, I’d add the caveat that while it’s fine to offer some empathy when employees come and complain about each other (either out of a genuine concern or from pettiness/petulance/some other bizarre personal grudge), the head of a department also needs to make it really clear that person A needs to talk to person B directly.  Encouraging a practice of triangulating (going through a third person instead of communicating directly)is really dysfunctional and ultimately creates an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. A really good manager might help person A to clearly articulate the  issue and come up with a script to problem solve the issue with Person B in a friendly, collegial manner, and then check back in with person A to see how things went.  I’m sure there are any number of managers out there who might roll their eyes and exclaim in exasperation that they were not hired to do counselling, but setting a good example around healthy communication and empowering one’s supervisees to strengthen their interpersonal skills will go a long way toward eliminating unresolved conflicts, toxic workplaces and the stress related illnesses that arise out of them.

The three additional practices by managers that would greatly contribute to happiness, harmony and productivity in their departments:

11. Good Managers are Aware of their Limitations as Well as Strengths.

If they know they don’t handle conflict well and lean toward avoidance, then hopefully they have the integrity and courage to recognize their limitations and make dealing with their stuff a priority by learning conflict resolution and healthy communications skills as part of their professional development. Better yet, they might organize a department wide workshop on positive/assertive communications skills (preferably non-violent communications)so everyone can be empowered by learning those skills. Workshops on understanding how different personality/temperament types function at work would also be great ways of increasing understanding and reducing  frustrations.

12. Follow Through Promptly on Policy Issues

(especially factors that affect working conditions–nothing kills a department morale faster than neglecting to attend to comfort factors like temperature control, air quality, ergonomics or anything else that might lead to health problems that could have been avoided), promotion and performance considerations right away.

Procrastinating on getting back to employees about possible promotions, pay raises or performance evaluations in a timely manner does not do much for the respect or trust factor. Good managers, don’t cop out with the “I’ve been too busy with other stuff”, nor do they dump the responsibility for being “proactive” about the issue back onto the employee: they recognize it is THEIR responsibility as the person with the power to hire, fire or promote their people–not the employees’–to have the professionalism and courtesy to respond in a timely manner, whether it’s good news or bad news or otherwise.

13. Set the Example and the Tone

Managers who are really interested in fostering and maintaining an environment that is happy, productive and where employees conduct themselves professionally do this by setting the example and the tone–especially in how they handle stress and frustrations.

Managers who consistently back bite other employees in the company, express frustration at others using violent imagery* or other inappropriate language/stress management techniques create a really toxic environment in one of two ways. First, by modeling such behavior, managers are indicating that they approve of such behavior, and many of their employees will adopt the same attitudes to “fit in” or earn brownie points with the boss. (It’s really scary to see this in action!) Second, such behavior does absolutely nothing to earn the loyalty or respect of one’s employees (except maybe to their face) and everything to create an atmosphere of distrust and fear.

*While “imaginary” violence may not actually physically harm a person, the malice/intent to harm is still there even though the action hasn’t actually occurred. It’s both a little scary and traumatizing for employees to be subjected to these kinds of behaviors on a regular basis. Recent social psychology research has shown that blowing off steam this way actually leads to more anger and a tendency to depersonalize/dehumanize the object of one’s imaginary violence.

Enjoyed this article? You will probably like:

• What Do I Do If I’m Unhappy at Work?

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then click here and try watching it at Work Happy Now)

There is so much more to a project than just the results. If you play a game to win then you are setting yourself up for emotional pain. If you play to enjoy the game and you win in the process then you are creating emotional freedom.

Don’t depend on the results for your happiness. Enjoy the buildup, process, and the result and you will walk home a happy person.

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When I need a fresh perspective on social media and how to engage my audience I visit Karen’s blog Words for Hire.

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Need help feeling happy at work? Then try reading my free report The Happy at Work Project. If you like it then email me at karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com and I’ll send you my weekly planner and resolutions ideas.

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If  you liked this video post then try these out:

• Depression at Work
• How to Build Confidence at Work
• The “Yes, And” Technique

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* This is a guest post from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous.

I used to be really happy at work and looked forward to going into my office every day.  Most of the projects I worked on were challenging-in a good way-and engaged my interest and curiosity, I had a great bunch of colleagues, and we were even able to laugh when Murphy’s Law would strike with a vengeance!  Things started to change about six years ago when  a new director was parachuted into the position, despite the fact that it was supposed to have been posted as an open competition:  Therein marked the beginning of the end of the positive, upbeat morale and warm atmosphere that characterized our department.

It became pretty clear, fairly quickly, that this boss’s management style and interpersonal skills were going to be a challenge for all of us at times.  Specifically, we started seeing some “interesting” approaches to anger/stress/frustration management and increasing tendencies to back-bite others in the organization, as well as a reluctance to deal with an occupational health issue on more than one occasion, and periodic bullying of various staff members by our boss. (For the record, I encouraged these individuals to document and report their experiences but they were reluctant to do so, for whatever reasons.)

The Tipping Point

I have a pretty good sense of the tipping point that triggered the Kafka-esque nightmare that has unfolded over the last year, but I may never know for absolute certain (and frankly don’t really care at this point) what twisted perceptions and logic prompted my boss to perceive me as a threat and decide to make me the Target (1) of bullying.  Yes, I did say “perceived as a threat.” I know pop culture and the mush media of sitcoms and most movies poke fun at Targets of bullying by portraying them as nerdy losers, but the reality is quite different in the work place.  The Targets of bullies are usually greatly esteemed by their colleagues (or were before the bully thoroughly poisoned the well), highly skilled,competent, successful, courteous, considerate and pleasant people.  A good site to learn more about this issue is http://www.bullybusters.org.

Over the last year I have experienced various kinds of exclusionary behaviors (being kept out of important information loops, ignored, socially isolated) from my colleagues and my boss, and endured numerous instances of verbal abuse (there are a whole range of actions that go beyond merely yelling, insulting and swearing), crazy making behaviors, unfair practices and a lack of clarity in communications from my boss.  (I counted 24 separate incidents in an eight month period.)

Mistakes

I was fortunate in that I recognized the bullying behaviors for what they were, so I didn’t waste a lot of energy wondering what I’d done “wrong” or blaming myself for what was going on, but I wish I’d started researching more about workplace bullying and, more importantly, how to bully-proof myself MUCH earlier in the process.  Not having those strategies cost me dearly in some ways because, among other things, I made some classic mistakes in how I was responding to the bully.

The second mistake I made was to take my concerns to someone in our H.R. department.  I soon found out, as was later confirmed for me in Gary and Ruth Namie’s book The The Bully at Work that HR people are actually not a resource when it comes to bullied employees; they are there for the employers.

The third mistake that I made, because I was trying to be reasonable and look for a win-win solution, was to agree to a mediated discussion instead of going straight to making a formal complaint and directing it to the president of the organization.  (I’m keeping that option as a backup in case the mediation doesn’t work.)

Finding Help

I’m happy to say that I had also managed to intuitively do a lot of things correctly in this whole process.  As indicated, I recognized the situation for what it was (bullying) so I was able to depersonalize the experience a bit-and meticulously document the incidents, with dates and approximate times.  I had a fabulous support network of loved ones, family and friends who stood by me unequivocally and provided tea, sympathy and hugs as requested.  I also found myself a really good counsellor who uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for reducing the trauma of the experience, as well as a counsellor who specializes in helping Targets to bullyproof themselves and teaching them some effective bullybusting strategies.  The rest of the healing involved taking good care of myself, spending more time meditating and planning how to move on and set up my own small business and being grateful for all that is good in my life.

I would say that in the case of workplace bullying, the sooner one recognizes what is going on in the workplace, and calls it for what it is, the sooner one can accept that about the only way to heal and regain the ability to be happy at work is to get out of the place as soon as is feasible-and in the meantime bullyproof yourself and ruthlessly bullybust as and when required.  I know our western culture is big on promoting the ideals of “toughing it out” and “not giving up”, etc, but those cultural commands will kill your soul–assuming the stress doesn’t literally kill you or make you very ill–if you stay too long in a toxic or abusive workplace.  No job is worth your health and happiness.

Note from Karl: Bullying in the work place is a very serious issue; I went through it. I love how this reader never took the situation personally and was proactive in seeking help. If you are being bullied at your job, please find help.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

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Fast food is a energy killer.  I feel grumpy and lethargic after I eat fast food. The salt, grease, and preservatives can bring even the strongest person down.

Your ability to enjoy your job has a lot to do with what you put in your body. If you want to increase your happiness at work, take notice of what you eat and how it makes you feel.

Try replacing a fast food lunch with something healthier; you will improve your happiness at work.

How does fast food make you feel?

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When I’m in the need for a few ideas to improve my blog, I visit Darren Rowse’s Problogger. There is always a piece of advice that helps me take my blog to the next level.

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If you liked this video then check these out:

• Stressed Out and Loving It
• Unleash Your Creative Beast
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Every person becomes unhappy at work at some time or another. It’s the natural emotional ebb and flow of being human. Even the best job has its problems.

You probably have certain expectations that can’t be met. These expectations must be emotionally bridged or you will constantly be grasping for unattainable happiness.

This article is not about settling for a crappy job. That’s the furthest thing from my mind. I believe we need to optimize our present happiness while planning our most rewarding future.

First you must allow yourself to feel and understand your present situation. A good scream or a good cry can cleanse the mind. It all depends on the person. When you allow yourself to feel the emotion that is blocking you from moving on, then you can accept your current situation.

After accepting this emotion, you have limitless ability to learn from this process.

The only way to understand what type of work will bring you the most happiness in the future is to understand your present self. That means dealing with your emotions and building internal tools.

Learn to watch your emotions when they occur, then create a plan that will help you explore and encourage personal growth. Some of this may be painful, but believe me it’s a good pain. It’s this pain that will help make you smarter and emotionally stronger. I don’t mean stronger as in more stoic. I define emotional strength as the ability to process emotions and bring the mind back into balance.

After studying videos, articles, myself, and my co-workers, I’ve put together a list of 8 tasks that will help you work happier.

1. Find meaning.
2. Become more aware of self-talk.
3. Don’t take interactions personally.
4. Help someone else become happy.
5. Remember 3 good things.
6. Utilize Smart Breaks.
7. Speak up and take Action.
8. Use More of Your Strengths.

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These are concepts that are easy to understand, but may be hard to implement. You’ll need to practice these to make sure they become a part of you. I’ll break them down so you can apply them to your working life.

1. Find Meaning

If you believe in the work you do, it will be easier to connect to each task.

It’s a simple equation.

Blood + Sweat + Tears = Passion

People who are passionate about their work will do almost anything to make sure the job is done well.

The problem many of us have is that we can’t connect with the work we are presently doing.

Maybe you don’t believe in the service or product.

I met a BMW salesman on a bus ride back from New York City who took a pay cut to sell Honda cars. He didn’t believe that BMW’s value was worth the extra expense. He did believe in Honda’s value to price ratio. So instead of selling a car he didn’t believe in, he switched jobs to have an easier time connecting with his product. The best part is that within six months he was making more money because his customers sent their friends and family members to him. He received twice as many word of mouth sales. This happened because he believed in his product.

You need to find a way to connect with your job. I would suggest that you start by listing all of the aspects of your products and services that deliver value. A few of these items should ping your heart.

If you can’t find value in anything you are doing, then you probably need to find a new job.

If a few of these items from your list tug at your emotions, then expand on them. How can you consistently keep these feelings at the forefront of your brain as you work?

You should keep these emotional stimulators in a place where you can see them. If you are feeling down and your energy is broken, then read over these stimulators and try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who needs your product or service.

If you find that these emotional stimulators aren’t doing the trick, then you need to become more aware of the internal story that prevents you from connecting to your work.

2. Become more aware of self-talk

You have continual dialog going on inside your head. The dialog can be positive, negative, or neutral.

It’s what you do with this dialog that will determine your perspective.

You’ve probably seen a co-worker who can take almost any situation in stride. They seem to have a magical ability to roll with their problems. This talent is largely due to the way that they communicate with themselves.

I worked along side a friend who could find the joy in every situation. I was amazed by her ability. During my time with her, I was at a point in my career where I was so pessimistic that I couldn’t see even a sliver of joy in the work that I did.

I studied her, watching her ability to enjoy even the most stressful situation.

The most important reason for her emotional success was her ability to talk herself through a problem. There were times when I could hear her whispering encouraging thoughts or jokes to make herself giggle.

She took her inner dialog to a new level. Instead of allowing her “self-talk” to beat herself up she used it to find a constructive point of view. She built upon each thought, allowing her thoughts to take her to an internal place that brought her joy.

You have this ability too. When you are in a stressful situation, watch your thoughts and see how they add or subtract to your happiness. If you are having thoughts that subtract from your joy, then try to offset this with fresh angles that help you see the positive. I usually try to think of things for which I am grateful. This helps me stay balanced.

By noticing what you are grateful for, you’ll expand your choices. The more positive choices you have the more likely you will feel happy.

3. Don’t Take Interactions Personally

I went to a therapist when I was in my mid twenties. I needed help. I was constantly frustrated by work, relationships and life in general.

My biggest struggle was relationships. I was afraid to joke around with new friends for fear of hurting someone else’s feelings. I was also afraid of what people thought of me. There were times when I decided to stay home instead of putting myself at risk of being judged by others.

Yep, I was a mess.

I thought that if I isolated myself from the pain that I would be happier. This only made me even more unhappy.

We all know that we shouldn’t take other people’s comments personally because they are just dealing with their own problems. I look at how angry and sad many people are. They never feel that they are treated fairly at work, in traffic or at home.

Most of the time these people are signaling others to treat them unfairly. It goes back to creating positive inner dialog. Instead of letting other people’s negative comments bring us down, we need to see every interaction as an opportunity for growth.

I’ve learned that people who speak negatively about other people really see this trait in themselves. They only see life from their perspective. They haven’t been able to expand beyond their own issues.

The way you can adjust your perspective on other people’s comments is to empathize with them. You can allow them to say what is on their mind, without taking it personally. You will be taking the first step toward mastering your own emotions.

Whenever someone makes an upsetting comment about you, it helps to ask yourself, “Why do they feel this way about themselves?” You’ll eventually stop putting the blame on yourself.

When you stop taking everything personally you can find ways to bring joy to your relationships without fear of what someone might say about you.

4. Help Someone Else Become Happy

Your happiness can expand if you help someone else become happy at work. I can cite about a dozen articles about the psychology of this process, but most of them a pretty dry and boring.

It’s better to demonstrate by using an example that I know you’ve all experienced.

Laughter. Yes, the endorphin releasing experience that we all love so much.

When you make someone laugh, how does it make you feel? It makes you feel good. It’s a basic part of being human.

Making someone else laugh is the same as helping someone at work: when you do it, you increase your own happiness. You stop worrying about yourself and focus on making someone else happy. The best part is that you improve your own happiness at the same time.

I finally found one quote that resonated with me:

“When I’m feeling a bit down and I stop myself and say, ‘Let’s forget about me for a moment and do something nice for others,’ the negative feelings subside, and a sense of bliss flows in to replace them. It’s quite simple in practice. The challenge is remembering to do it.”
- Steve Pavlina’s article Afternoon of Life

This trait is the basis of all good friendships.

5. Remember 3 Good Things

When you take the time to remember 3 good things, you are training yourself to see the positive in each day. A friend of mine, Alex Krujelf the Chief Happiness Officer, gave me this tip.

Many of us actually do the opposite: we look at all the upsetting things that happened in our day, thinking that if we look over our mistakes we can avoid repeating them. This causes us to focus on the negative and beat ourselves up.

When I first started practicing the “3 Good Things” habit, I noticed a difference right away. Despite the fact, that my job at the time, was dragging me down. I found any tiny bit of joy that was in my day and added it to my list. By the time I was done listing three things, my mood had always picked up and I found myself looking for the positives in other things.

You can apply this habit at the end of your work day too. This is a perfect activity for your commute home. If you work from home, then remove yourself from your home office and take five minutes to remember three good things that happened to you that day.

6. Utilize Smart Breaks

Smart breaks replenish the mind and body. Without a good break between tasks, you won’t be able to stay productive. You know how inefficient your brain becomes when you work too hard, whether you are studying or working on a project for hours at a time. You get cranky and start to cut corners.

The difference between a smart break and a regular leisure break is the focus. Anyone can take a break, but most breaks don’t really help you release your stress and prepare you to go back to work. A smart break is an optimized break that allows you to rejuvenate yourself.

I’ve been guilty of not taking smart breaks. I would waste my “break time” either stressing out about the task I was working on or worrying about something else in my life. I had trouble relaxing my mind in order to replenish my creativity.

I needed to learn to relax in the moment and not let any thoughts distract me from my purpose.  When I returned to work on my project and I could still feel my mind going to mush, I figured out that the best thing for me to do was just to get up and start walking somewhere, anywhere. My favorite place is outside. Nature is a great source of calm and replenishes my energy. I’ve found that a walk outside allows me to go back to work with a fresh angle on the problem.

The best part about taking smart breaks is that the more a person utilizes this stress reducer, the more it helps. It also takes less time with practice. You will eventually learn to recognize when you need a break and know exactly how to reenergize yourself back to feeling good. A few years ago I needed 15 - 20 minutes to replenish my energy. Now I can usually recharge in 5 - 10 minutes.

Once you find out what works best for you, just keep tweaking it until it becomes a habit that you look forward to. Once smart breaks become a part of your routine, you’ll find that you are more motivated and productive.

7. Speak Up and Take Action

You may be the most peaceful person in the world and perhaps this makes you happy, but when you aren’t being treated fairly you have to speak up. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

Bullying at work has become an epidemic that needs to be addresses by every organization.

“From the data obtained, the researchers tell SINC that 14% of the respondents have confirmed having suffered situations of psychological abuse over the past six months, with 5.8% suffering frequently and the rest, 8.2%, occasionally.”
- escience news from the article Bullies have harassed 14 percent of workers over past 6 months

This research was done in Spain, but bullies are in every organization.

I had a boss who loved to bully me. He would verbally abuse me. He once told me that he could have a monkey do a better job than me. There were days when I would go home and cry. I felt lost and out of options.

I hope that you never experience this situation, and if you do then please create a plan to change it and take quick action.

That may mean talking to the person who is bulling you or finding a better situation. You have options and people do want to help, but only you can take control of your happiness.

8. Use More of Your Strengths

As I age, I learn more about what I’m good at and what type of projects energize me. I love the thrill of discovery and teaching. That’s why I love Work Happy Now. I’m constantly discovering what makes me and my readers happy at work, then finding the best angle to teach others how to discover their own work happiness.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, after studying hours of career speakers on YouTube, Ted, and dozens of other sites, that I realized the importance of working with my strengths. I realized that my strength was in writing to discover.

I never thought of discovery as a strength, but it certainly is. I just thought it was just something I did. Once I understood what excited me, I tried to do more of the type of work that fit with my strengths.

You can also find a way to use your own strengths at your job so you can leverage more happiness. That may mean volunteering for work that you enjoy doing even if you have a full plate. Hopefully your manager and co-workers will notice and try to give you more work of this kind.

Bear in mind that this will take patience. It takes time to retrain people on what type of work to give you.

You Can be Happy at Work

Now is the time to feel happy at work. You can’t live for retirement. That’s no way to survive.

You should never settle for average. You have a ton of creativity and energy within you; all you need to do is find the right fit. It just takes a plan and some action to make it happen.

If you need a little more help… I’ve put together a Happy at Work Project to help you discover your own work happiness. The Happy at Work Project PDF (it’s free!) is a document that will help you diagnose your issues. If you like it, you can email me at karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com and I’ll send you the Work Happy Now Weekly Planner and Resolution Ideas. They will help you build upon your foundation.

Whether you need a little tweak at your current job or a complete overhaul, don’t put it off any longer.

You have an opportunity to do great work that makes you feel happy and excited. Don’t let this moment slip away. It may seem like a difficult task, but I promise if you build slowly, you will find yourself in the career of your dreams in no time.

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Sometimes we just need to slow down and simplify our lives. That’s why I visit Zen Habits. It always gives me a new persective on every day issues.

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Sometimes you don’t have time to read a whole blog post, so check me out on Twitter (@workhappynow) and get your Happy at Work fix there.

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If you enjoyed this article I think you’ll like these too:

• My Work Happiness Manifesto
• Stressed Out and Loving It
• The Necessity of Giving Gratitude at Work

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Images courtesy of Teriyaki Matz’ and Éole

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Can’t see the video? Then click here and try watching it at Work Happy Now)

Depression costs billions of dollars in lost revenue each year. We need to get at the root of why people are depressed and figure out how we can help them become happier at work. It’s why I created the Happy at Work Project (It’s a free PDF). I used to be depressed at work and I found help. If you aren’t happy at work then you need to make a plan and find a way to make it a reality.

It comes down to knowing yourself. Once you understand what you need, you can make the career shift that will allow happiness to happen naturally.

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I will be on the Ittybiz’s program SpeakEasy this Wednesday. I will be sharing techniques that will help you and your customers become so damn happy that they’ll refuse to buy from anyone else (almost anyone else :)). These concepts are growing and I’m happy to share them with as many people as possible.

***

If you enjoyed this video then check these out:

• Daily Body Scan
• Work Worth Doing
• The “Yes, And” Technique

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

While my work happiness journey will never end, I understand this and I’m ok with it. I realize that I’m just beginning to have fun with work, networking, and everything that goes along with a career. I began my journey over 12 years ago, but I won’t bore you with all that detail. I’ll take you straight to the important stuff.

I wanted to discover the best techniques to bring me consistent happiness. I started off writing about personal development because I felt a void in my life, but as time trudged on I began to narrow my focus to a particular issue that I struggled with and I knew millions of other people struggle with: the ability to enjoy work. I discovered that throughout my life, working for a company felt “forced,” and it had become increasingly difficult for me to do something that felt forced.

I had always put in long hours to help a company build its market share and income and all I was getting in return was a paycheck. Pretty depressing view.

For many years, every company seemed like a dead end. During high school and college there were the random jobs (K-mart, media buying, telemarketing, etc.). I landed my first full-time corporate job and then I went into teaching, thinking that I could do something that would make me feel good instead of working just making money for “the man.”

Arrrgh! Problem

I got caught in the forced labor again. My freedom felt even more restricted, because I was making less money and the work was still a chore.

My needs weren’t being fulfilled. I responded by reading countless self-help, business, motivational, spiritual, and religious books to help me with depression and general discontent. I also received professional therapy (I had great insuarance). I wrote over 5,000 poems (literally they are in my closet at home. Some of them are quite weird.). Poetry was one of the few only things that brought me joy.

Poetry never felt like work. The words just flowed out, but I knew it was work for other people. They would rather stab themselves with a graphite pencil than write a poem. This began my journey of discovering what made me happy and how I could make money from it.

I wrote a children’s book called “I Wish Flowers Were as Big as Trees.” As many of you know I can’t compete in this flooded market. Even Madonna is writing kids’ books, “c’mon!”

I then tried writing my first novel, which might be a great movie, but not a great book - “Lori Loves to Torture Me.”

After that, I wrote a picture book called “92 Things to do Besides Suicide.” That was a FUN project. I tried selling it on my blog, but it was a little too far ahead of its time. That’s my reason for failure and I’m sticking to it. I sold a couple of copies – to my mother and an old friend. I need more fans like them.

I moved to Austin

I moved to Austin to find myself. It was here that I started blogging. I began the process of figuring out what I would love to do with my life. I looked for ways to align my skills with this passion and get it out to the world.

It was a turbulent time for my career. I arrived in Austin with no job lined up, just a bunch of prayers every single night. My dream was to become a writer – a poet to be specific. But as any smart business man will tell you, go where the money will be. I still write poetry, but it’s just a hobby. All for me.

While trying to find myself I wrote a second novel, “Inside.” A story about a young man struggling to find his true happiness. Hmm, does that sound like anyone you know? Most of us have been there. Ha! Most of us are still there.

And as many of you know or can probably guess, it’s still unpublished. I sent out like 50 query letters to agents and never heard one response back. I researched self publishing. I needed an audience, so that’s why I started my first personal development blog. However, I lacked a clear focus with this first effort, so I really struggled to find an audience.

Blogging

My first blog was MindBodyBlog.com – but I just couldn’t find an audience who could appreciate my wonderful randomness. The problem was my lack of focus. My ADD was manageable when writing a novel because I had to stay on track without straying from the storyline. Writing a personal development blog, however, was very messy. I was all over the map. I noticed that I kept coming back to a main theme – work, career, and personal development. I just wasn’t able to put it all together until later.

My second blog was TheStressCorner.com – the concept was too definitive so I ran out of fun concepts to write about.

My third blog was PostCardAdvice.com (spin off from postsecret.com) – Fun, but didn’t give enough value to my readers.

My fourth blog was KarlStaib.com (still running, but on hiatus as I build Work Happy Now) – I went back to personal development, but I was still too random to build a readership.

My fifth blog was GetHappyNow.org – I felt lost in the sea of happiness blogs.

My sixth blog – Work Happy Now – Success!

The Reason I Started Work Happy Now

I met with Stephen Shapiro who contacted me through my GetHappyNow.org (no longer live) and said he would be in Austin and wanted to meet. Stephen is a brilliant man on the concepts of innovation. He told me that if I were to focus on helping businesses succeed I could really have a good product.

He triggered the entrepreneurial part of my soul and I launched Work Happy Now. The writing and ideas started flowing. I have enough extra posts right now to fill up a whole year. Most of them need editing, but you get my point. The work happiness concept struck a chord with my soul.

* Side note: You’ll notice that ping to your soul too, if you keep on trying new paths.

Experimenting

As many of you know I’ve been experimenting with my words, audio, and video while trying to find the right fit for you and me. Curiosity is a huge part of working happy. That means trying new things, measuring the results, tweaking your approach just a little bit and then trying something that’s just a little bit different.

Present Day

I’m so far from perfect that there are days when I wonder how much I can help you, but then I realize that I’m the best person for the job. Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle. Stress and my expectations can bum me out, but my happiness levels are so much more consistent since I started this blog. It has forced me to find ways to be happy, even when I’m struggling at work.

This blog encouraged me to focus my efforts on my happiness and it worked. Work Happy Now has become my “Happy at Work” Project. It made me realize that I should encourage all of you to make a “Happy at Work” Project. The only way you are going to improve your work happiness is by trying new things and tweaking them until your happiness begins to blossom.

I have to give Gretchen Rubin of “The Happiness Project” credit for inspiring this concept. Check out Gretchen’s blog and see her take on her happiness project.

What this Means for Work Happy Now Readers

I believe so strongly in focusing my energy where I can expect the most return for my happiness. Over the next few months I want to help you create a Happy at Work Project. The only way you are going to truly be happy right now is by making a plan of action that will help you reach your happiness goals.

From now on, once a week, we will focus on building a plan that will help you level up and keep leveling up until your life is so freakin’ awesome that you feel like you might explode. (Just the feeling – I will not take any responsibility for any exploding readers.)

We’ll focus on eight core concepts:

• Passion – finding the things you love to do and finding a way to make a living from it.
• Personal happiness – because when you are happy with yourself, it’s easier to be happy at work.
• Confidence – it’s important to trust in yourself and your choices.
• Motivation – feeling energetic while working is vital to success.
• Productivity – getting shhhhhtuff done helps us understand we are heading in the right direction.
• Relationships – the second most important aspect to work happiness.
• Leadership – helping other people work happy only makes your work more enjoyable. We’ll focus on how all of us can make the work experience so amazingly awesome that other people maximize their greatness, too.

As we create a work happiness plan together, we will be planting a seed that encourages joy. And like we do on this blog, let’s support and help each other level up. The more we can help each other work happier, the more we can help one another accomplish great work.

This site is about how I can help you be happy at work. If you have anything you think we should focus on then let me know and we can incorporate it into our happiness plan. Please let me know about the things that bother you in your working life.

Also feel free to email me anytime and I’ll be glad to help. If you want a more personal experience please contact me and we can set up a personal Happy at Work Project that will lift your life to a new level. The first session is free. You’ve got to try out the goods before you join my coaching group.

Get Started Today

• Download the free PDF workbook “The Happy at Work Project”

Email me karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) come and I’ll send you…

• Free Work Happy Now Weekly Planner
• List of resolutions you can use in conjunction with your planner

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I asked my Twitter followers, “I love working 10-12 hour days with long breaks (30min - 1 hr) every couple of hours. What are your perfect working hours?” Two of my favorite responses were…

AndRam @workhappynow i work 10 to 2 pm. take a long lunch break and then back around 4 or 5 till 8 or 9…1:16 PM May 3rd from twhirl in reply to workhappynow

LilianChisca @workhappynow I use the 60/60/30 Formula I learned from @ebenpagan’s Wake Up Productive video trainings.12:29 PM May 3rd from TweetDeck in reply to workhappynow

He went on to explain:

LilianChisca @workhappynow That’s two 1 hour focused blocks of time (w/10 min break on the end for each) followed by a 30 min renewal.12:30 PM May 3rd from TweetDeck in reply to workhappynow

We get too caught up in working certain schedules or hours because other people want us to work, rather than doing what is actually best for our productivity.

I know that we can’t escape the boss’s demands, but we can try to make small changes every week until we are closer to our perfect schedule.

So now I ask you…

“What would be your perfect work schedule?”

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Penelope Trunk’s blog is dynamic and thought provoking. It forces me to look at my own career from fresh angles. 5 Steps to Making Yourself Great is one of my most recent favorites.

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You can follow me on Twitter, @workhappynow, to get your quick work happiness fix.

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If you liked this post then try these on for size:

• How to Build Confidence at Work
• Creating A Project Ritual to Encourage Happines
• The Magic of Allowing Employees to Do What They Love

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Trouble viewing the video? Then click here and try watching it at Work Happy Now)

How can you use mistakes to motivate you? That’s what this video explores.

I used to mentally beat myself up after every mistake. I was killing my own confidence. I needed to learn how to use mistakes as a way to give myself energy instead of sucking the life out of me. I figured it out. Can you?

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Sometimes we forget why we are creating relationships with customers/clients. Naomi of Ittybiz does an excellent job of explaining why we need to focus on giving value so people keep coming back to buy our stuff.

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You may have noticed the new banner on the left hand side - the smiling face. Happy at Work Action Day has been prelaunched. It’s not quite ready; I’m still looking for sponsors. But check it out. I just know you’ll want to join in.

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If you liked this video then check out these motivational boosters:

• Unleash Your Creative Beast
• How to Build Confidence at Work
• Indulge Your Senses At Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Just the other day, I was stuck in the middle of a stressful project. My brain was fried. I could barely see straight. I could actually feel my neck muscles getting tighter.

I stopped what I was doing and wrote down 5 things I was grateful for.

• My comfortable pants.
• My wife – who was probably starting to cook me dinner.
• My bunghole of a dog – who has forced me to be more relaxed with my frustration.
• My thumb – because it looked really cool at that moment.
• My brother – who always knows what to say to make me feel good about myself.

It worked. I calmed down, walked around to stretch my legs, then came back to my desk and finished the part of the project that I needed to email to my co-worker.

I’ve been doing this for a while now, but I think this technique could really help others as well. If you keep a “Good Things” notebook, make sure you just write down a few quick things and the reasons why you enjoy them. There’s no need to go into a whole story. If you want this little habit to become a part of your routine, you need to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Deborah Norville, the New York Times bestselling author of Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You, was interviewed by Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project. In the interview she made a great case for this practice.

“I keep a little booklet, the size of a check book, in my purse and I ‘ll jot things down randomly during the day…often when I’m stuck in traffic going cross town. It works for a couple of reasons: One, it distracts me from whatever it is that is delaying me. Two, it forces me to go back through my day and find the ‘bright spots’ - of which there are many.”

So next time you are feeling sad, overwhelmed or angry then try keeping a “Good Things” notebook at your desk, when you need a perspective change.

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Havi of the Fluent Self wrote a brilliant piece about hiring help. Go check it out.

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The Happy at Work Project is launched and it’s a success. I’ve received so many wonderful emails. I never realized how many people I was helping. One email almost brought me to tears. That’s why I created this blog. This reader interaction has spurred me to launch more ideas like this so stay tuned. If you want a little assistance with your Happy at Work Project, I’ll send you my Work Happy Now Weekly Planner with a list of Resolutions. Just email me karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) come and write “Work Happy Now Weekly Planner” in the subject area.

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If you liked this article then try these on for size:

• How to Build Confidence at Work

• The Perfect Drug to Revive a Work Day

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Are you working at your job and wondering why you aren’t doing what you love? Maybe your passion is surfing, finance, or knitting. Regardless of what your passion is there is always a way to make money off what you enjoy doing. That is if you can find the right angle. You just need to find a way to deliver value to people so they will pay you for your skill.

The “doing what you love” method of making money is a popular topic lately. Many people are flooding into this market. The problem is that they don’t have enough true wins or losses in their past to be considered an expert. They just talk a good game.

We must separate the fakers from the real deals. After meeting Jonathan Fields at South by South West I’m confident that he is the real deal. His book, Career Renegade, takes the reader through the steps necessary to take his/her career to the next level.

Stressed Out Lawyer

Jonathan was a stressed out lawyer who discovered that he had to make a life adjustment unless he wanted to die a young man. When a person’s health forces him to make a change, the creativity often surges out of him.

Jonathan realized that he could make money pursuing his passion of health and fitness without creating some new style of workout. He leveraged the existing market and found a way to deliver more value than his competition. He created health and fitness companies that changed tens of thousands of people lives. He used this success to become a writer, speaker and consultant. Quite an amazing career. I know he poised to implement even bigger and better ideas.

“The task, big or small, must be clearly defined and the steps needed to get there must be laid out in detail or at least be highly delineated along the way. Getting there does not have to be easy, but you need to be able to see, even from a distance, where you are going.”

- Jonathan Fields Career Renegade

Your Career

You can create the career that will make you feel like you are the luckiest person on earth. You just have to discover what strengths you can use to make it a reality.

Fear has probably dictated many of your choices up to this point. It’s natural. It’s important to be able to relax with your fears and not allow them to prevent you from creating a career that makes you happy.

“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
- Henry David Thoreau 

You don’t need to live a life that isn’t fulfilling. You can create the life that will fill your bank account and fill your soul.

Career Renegade

This book will give you tips on how to build a business through the internet, networking and sheer creativity. If you already have a dream career in mind, then buy this book. You’ll find helpful stories and unique ideas that will help you build a career you are passionate about.

Career Renegade was written for a person like me who is trying to build his online presence. My favorite chapter was chapter 11 “Is the world ready for you?” In this chapter, Jonathan writes about separating from the pack and finding a niche in order to position yourself as an expert in your desired field of work.

The ideas in this book have helped me to assess my own choices and figure out better ways to deliver value to you.

Like any good non-fiction book, Career Renegade gives the reader a few good ideas to help take life to the next level.

Go to Amazon and buy this book - Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love

Also visit his two blogs Career Renegade and Awake at the Wheel. There are only a few people that will challenge you to improve your life and Jonathan is one of the best at it.

If you like this review then check out:

• Escape From Cubicle Nation – Book Review
• Personal Development for Smart People - Book Review
• Procrastination Dissolve-o-Matic Program Review

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(Click here to view video at Work Happy Now)

We all have itches we can’t scratch. The question is…How do you deal with it? This video post discusses how to deal with your itch and figure out a way to indirectly scratch it, so you feel satisfied and ready to scratch that itch when the time is right.

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I love the blog Marc and Angel Hack Life. One of my more recent favorites is How To Choose Happiness With Words.

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Are you looking to expand your Twitter universe? Then check out my tweets @workhappynow. Your happiness will never be the same.

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If you enjoyed this video post then check these out:

• Where is Your Focus
• Your Emotional Boxes
• The Work Buzz

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

If I was a betting man I would put up $10,000 that everyone has a friend who hates his or her job. I would win every time because I know you all know someone who bitches and complains about their job and does nothing to bring more joy into their working life.

That’s why I’m launching the BETA program of The Happy at Work Project. I want to help people who hate their jobs as well as people who put up with their “ok” jobs.

“OK” and “Hate” – Two Terrible Words

People who hate their jobs need to find a way to accept or change their circumstances. The only way they will actually do this is if they understand what they truly want out of their careers.

People who have just an “ok” job but don’t get excited about the work they are doing need to figure out what makes them feel energized and how to do more of this type of work.

I don’t believe in coasting. Sure, if you want to stay where you are then that’s your prerogative. This project is not for you.

But if you want to build a career that is going to take your happiness to the next level then the “Happy at Work Project” is your cup of “wake up and have fun” coffee.

Build Your Happiness

I’ve created a free 12 page workbook (PDF) that will help you dissect what will bring you happiness at work and learn how to start your own Happy at Work Project.

I also created a Work Happy Now weekly planner to supplement your Happy at Work Project. I have been using a similar planner for the past few months. The concept is to have a resolution for each day of the week.

So…

• Monday will be about Bringing Joy to Others 
• Tuesday will be about Explore Something New
• Wednesday will be about Using Your Strengths
• Thursday will be about Helping Someone
• Friday will be about Celebrating Your Accomplishments
• Saturday will be about Lowering Your Stress Level
• Sunday will be about Organizing Your Life

If you would like for me to send this to you then email me at karl (AT) workhappynow (DOT) com or my contact page. Write “Work Happy Now Weekly Planner” anywhere in the message and I’ll send it to you. I will also send you a list of themes you can use for each day.

What you choose to focus on will determine your happiness. If you can focus your energy in a positive direction, you will improve your productivity and success. Try developing your own Happy at Work Project today and take control of your work happiness. It has worked for me and I know it can work for you.

As this is a BETA program that is completely free, I would like your help in improving this program over the next few months. If you have any tips or detailed ideas for improvement please let me know.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

What you do and how you do your work matters. If it didn’t, you wouldn’t care whether your job was done well. Since you care (most of you do), you probably try so hard sometimes that it can wreck your confidence if things don’t go the way you plan them. It’s up to each individual person to understand their strengths and not need to rely on other people to feel confident.

I shot this video to explain how I’ve built my confidence. I still have moments of weakness, like most of you, but I always come back stronger. Every negative comment, weird look from a co-worker, or bad feeling can bring me down if I dwell on them. I just have to learn to seperate people’s comments and actions from how I view myself.
Everyone has their own agenda, so one person’s comments might seem positive, but in reality they are negative. And vice versa. One of the best ways to build our own confidence is by helping other people become stronger and focusing on improving ourselves every single day.

The above video took me 21 takes before I got it right. The video below is take number 16. I was becoming frustrated by my inability to nail the take. I freaked out at 2:12 in the video. I’m not afraid to show this because it’s actually quite funny.

No one is perfect, far from it, but we do have to enjoy the process. I enjoyed all 21 takes to get the right message across.

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One of the best business blogs on the planet is Guy Kawasaki - How to change the world. He breaks the business world down so you can make the world a better place.

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If you liked this video post there are plenty more to come, so join up in my RSS feed via a Reader or Email.

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Give these a try:

• Work Worth Doing
• Where is Your Focus
• You Are Awesome

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Mark your calendars and prepare for a trip to Austin if you don’t already live here. I’m doing a one hour work happiness workshop at Lake Travis High School.

It’s FREE!

Yes, a free workshop for the wonderful people who follow this blog. I know I’m crazy. I could charge a fee, but I’m not. The reason for this is simple. I’m videotaping this for my speaking portfolio.

When:

Saturday, June 13^th at 11:30am.

Where:

Lake Travis High School

3324 Ranch Road 620 South

Austin, TX 78738

Why:   

Because you are awesome!

All you need to do is email me by Thursday June 11^th and you are in - karl (AT) workhappynow (dot) com or send me an email through my contact page.

Oh yeah, be prepared to laugh, share and have a good old time.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I recently had a reader ask me how I feel about secrets. I asked him what he meant. He said he didn’t want to go into too much detail, but that it was about an affair between two co-workers were having within the company.

He said that the superior treated the person with whom he was having an affair better than everyone else. A promotion just opened up within the company and he was afraid that it would go to this person because of the relationship.

“What should I do?”

I had trouble answering his question so I thought I’d ask all of you.

What would you do if you knew your boss was having an affair with a co-worker?

Have you ever experienced this? Did it affect the working relationship?

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A fantastic article from Sonia Simon “What I Love About My Job.” Go check it out.

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If you love quick bursts of work happiness then follow me on Twitter - @workhappynow.

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If you liked this article then…

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
• Imagination Isn’t Just for Kids
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

So many of us work like crazy and don’t realize the damage that we are doing to our bodies. When we hunch over at a computer or take shallow breaths, we aren’t creating an optimal situation that allows us to feel good. That’s what happiness is all about - feeling good.

We need to learn to do a “Daily Body Scan” to check in with how we are feeling. When we do this, we can avoid back problems and low motivation, which will result in greater happiness in our working lives.

My hope is that you get so hooked to a daily body scan that it turns into a once an hour body scan. The more aware you are of your body’s signals, the easier it is to be happy.

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As a blogger I’m always looking to improve, and Kristi of Kikolani always gives me a fresh perspective on social media and building my community.

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I’m getting so close to giving you some fantastic resources that will help you improve your happiness at work. They will be easy to use and fun for the whole family, so stay tuned for The Work Happiness Project.

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If you liked this video then try these on for size:

• The “Yes, And” Technique
• The Work Buzz
• You Are Awesome

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

If I’m doing something hard, my brain wants to escape. My ADD kicks up a notch and before I realize it my focus has shifted and I’m doing something else.

I’ve figured out how to reduce my procrastination problem by 90%. I don’t want to give up that last 10% because I love day dreaming, doodling, and contemplating too much.

As I’m working, I have a “1 next thing” list. The task I’m working on and the thing that I will do next.

For example:

- Write “The Ultimate Procrastination Remedy” blog post.

What usually happens is I hit a small wall and my focus wants to shift to something easier. I’ll write this idea down (write an email response to Leo of Zen Habits), so I don’t forget it and I can get back to working on my present project.

1 Next Thing

This “next thing” is a lot easier than working on a blog post, so I’m drawn to it, but as you probably know procrastination hinders results when abused.

The best part is that I get to do something that I want to do next. I have a master list, but I’ve stopped forcing myself to follow this to the T for 8 hours a day.

Here is a sample of my super simple and bad ass “1 Next Thing” list:

• Edit eBook (Strike it out when I’m done or tired and move on to the next thing – this strike out technique is a must. It makes me feel accomplished)
• Write comment on Marelisa’s Abundance Blog
• Stretch for 5 minutes
• Write a Blog Post on the importance of taking leisure breaks

Why It Works

By writing down what I’m going to do next, I take the pressure off of myself. I know it will be done next, so this allows me to enjoy the work I’m presently doing.

Working in the present moment helps me stay in my flow. I know that I will get to that next thing after I’ve accomplished this present task first. I can stay calm and knock out what I set out to do.

By using this list, I’ve stopped trying to hop around between 5 tasks. If a third idea pops in my head, I write it on my main list to be considered for later.

It’s that simple and that’s why it works.

Try a “1 Next Thing” list for yourself and watch your enjoyment increase as well as your productivity. Yep, it’s really that easy.

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Working happy is all well and good, but if you can’t manage your finances then you can’t focus on being happy at work. That’s why I read Get Rich Slowly. The writing is superb and there are always so many great ideas on living a frugal and enjoyable life.

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If you liked what you read today then why not join in and get your almost daily work happiness article in your feedreader or your email. You’ll be glad you did.

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If your not sure how good the almost daily articles are then check these out:

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
• 28 Lessons on Working Happy From My Icelandic Mother
• The Work Buzz

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

An interview is a wonderful way of understanding what you believe. You can’t prepare for random questions; you just have to say the first thing that pops in your head. Most of the time. We can’t say everything. Stacey of Let It Flow asked me some very interesting questions, so check out the half hour interview and listen to what we talked about.

Podcast Wednesday: Interview with Karl Staib of Work Happy Now

My favorite technique of Stacey’s was her ability to ask follow up questions that dug deeper into the subject of work happiness. There are millions of staged interviews, but they are always boring. Always! The best ones are when the conversation flows naturally. 

I think Stacey and I found a nice rhythm and you’ll be glad you took a half hour out of your day to listen.

Talking points:

• Gratitude is vital to staying happy at work
• Celebration should be done more often
• Taking breaks helps relieve stress and improve our productivity

Don’t forget to leave a comment because all bloggers love feedback.

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Sometimes I need some motivation to think differently and Hunter Nuttall helps me find a new angle.

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My work happiness project is forming into shape, so stay tuned because I’ll be helping you create your own work happiness project, building on all the great tools you already have.

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If you liked this post then check out these:

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
• Stressed Out and Loving It
• 7 Tips to Process Your Stress Faster

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

Once again the great lady, Gretchen Rubin, over at the Happiness Project gave me a post idea. She was talking to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and the Justice gave her some advice on happiness that I couldn’t agree more with.

“I can tell you what I believe is the secret to a happy life,” she said.

“What’s that, Justice?” I asked. (Sidenote: when you speak directly to a Justice, you address him or her as “Justice” – e.g., “Justice, the cert petitions are here.” This, I always thought, must act as a frequent reminder to them about the value they are supposed to embody!) “What’s your secret?”

“Work worth doing,” she answered firmly.

We all need to believe in the work we are doing otherwise we are just going through the motions.

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Every small business needs guidance and one of my favorite small business blogs is Small Business Branding.

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Twitter is a great tool for quick burst of new ideas. Follow me on Twitter (@workhappynow) and improve your work happiness by 20%. This percentage hasn’t been proven yet, but I suspect it’s actually much higher.

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If you liked this video then try these on for size:

• The “Yes, And” Technique
• You Are Awesome
• Indulge Your Senses At Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Gretchen over at the Happiness project got me thinking about my own work happiness manifesto. She gave me the spark that I needed. So I sat down to write it and I had too many ideas floating around in my brain. As the days turned into weeks I couldn’t get it just right, until today. After letting my manifesto brew, I finally finished it. It just took a while to release itself from my subconscious.

Work happiness is as important as any part of my life. When I am happy at work it makes the rest of my life easier to enjoy. My manifesto serves as a guide for my own work happiness.

Here is my Work Happiness Manifesto:

1. Share stories (Good and Bad - a little complaining can be good for bonding).
2. Know yourself.
3. Watch your emotions (even when I’m feeling down, my emotions can still be intriguing).
4. When you are struggling, ask yourself, “How can I enjoy this situation?” (Notice how your creativity takes over. This technique helps me focus on any tiny sliver of a positive).
5. Office design matters.
6. Be weird (We are all a little weird, embrace it and let it out).
7. Seek out your purpose (When you believe in what you do it’s easier to do great work).
8. It’s your responsibility to be happy at work.
9. Happy employees = Happy customers = Loyalty all around (Win - Win - Win).
10. Give honest compliments like they are going out of style.
11. There is beauty in every single moment (We just have to be open to it).
12. Find the fun in the game (Work is a game from corporate politics to arbitrary deadlines. Don’t take it too seriously).
13. Healthy food makes it easier to be happy.
14. Creativity is vital at every job (Otherwise boredom sets in).
15. Relax while you are listening. (If you are too tense, you’ll be missing half the message).
16. Trust your gut (Most of the time it will be right).
17. Stay curious (I enjoy working when I’m discovering new solutions).
18. “Work is overrated.” - Jim Maloney (I agree if it feels like work, but if it’s fun there is nothing more exhilarating).
19. Bring back sensuality to your work (It’s not just about the brain; work is also about our senses).
20. Try something new every day.

What would be on your Work Happiness manifesto?

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One of the most thorough and intelligent social media experts is Chris Garrett of ChrisG.com. Check him out if you haven’t heard of him yet. If you have heard of him then you know what I’m talking about. 

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Don’t forget to sign up for my RSS feed while you are here. You can do it by email or reader. 

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If you enjoyed this post then check these out:

• Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
• You Are Awesome
• How to Be Happy at Work – Right Now!

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

You probably look at cubicle walls and wonder, who the hell designed these ugly monstrosities? But that’s not even the point. Why would any company put their valued employees in these little human pens?

Do they really care about what I think, and if they do then why don’t they ask for my opinion?

If you’ve ever worked in a cubicle, you probably have had these thoughts. The corporate world often does what is easy instead of what is right.

There have been signs of corporate culture changing in large and small companies, but it doesn’t seem to happen fast enough.

I’m trying to push the change. It’s difficult to steer the stubborn elephants to consistently use work happiness methods. We needed to bottom out, which I hope happened in 2008. We need major changes in the infrastructure of American companies. It’s time for a shift in the way we communicate, think of work processes, treat each other, and have fun at work.

Escape

For those of you who can’t wait for the change to take effect, “Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur” is the perfect book for you. Check out the first chapter right here.

This guide to starting your own business gives you stories from which you can learn, tips for creating your plan, and strategies on how to implement your ideas so you have a better chance of success.

Pam Slim the author created a well rounded book that will help people escape their dreaded cubicles. I’ve read about a lot of these concepts on her blog, but the book gave me advice that was new.

As most of you know, I’m in the process of building my business foundation in order to expand my own company. I’m excited to be out there, helping companies improve their work environment, but I can always improve. EfCN taught me a few lessons about subjects that I had failed to research - insurance is one of my weaknesses. I’m still young and don’t go to the doctor very often so it hasn’t been a priority, but I understand that I need to stay on top of this otherwise I might get burned by a bad choice.

So for those of you who have been laid off, fired, or bribed to leave (or maybe you just hate your job) then pick this book up and find out how you can succeed on your own.

Building Your Dream Business

Working for yourself is not for everyone. There are some great companies to work for (Google, Southwest Airlines, and Zappos to name a few), but many of you probably have a dream of creating your own hours and answering to no one. If this describes you then this book may be just what you need.

When you read this book you will gain a better understanding of some of the problems and joys that will occur before you start your own business. As you know, it won’t be easy.

Don’t forget, once you start your own business then bring me in. I’ll help you create a culture that doesn’t force your employees to buy this book and want to start their own business.

Buy it on Amazon: Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur

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Sage advice is hard to come by and one of my favorite bloggers/philosophers is Lance of Jungle of life.

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You need some quick work happiness advice every now and again then try me out on Twitter - @workhappynow.

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If you enjoyed this review then check out:

• Personal Development for Smart People - Book Review
• Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, Book Review
• Your Company Should Do Annual Career Counseling

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

As you can probably see I was exhausted when I shot this video. I really wanted to put out a quality video filled with excitement. I just didn’t have it in me. I showed it to my wife and she suggested that I reshoot it. I agreed until I slept on it.

We all have exhausting days and we can’t reshoot our work day, so I decided to publish the video. I was easily frustrated, but I still had fun shooting it. I actually growled at myself because I kept forgetting to look directly into the camera. I laughed at myself. That’s what working happy is all about: seeing the joy even when we are having a tough time.

Superstar Christian Bale was recently recorded berating a person on set. He lost his cool for like 10 minutes. I felt so bad for the guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would link to it, but I don’t want to waste your time. He could have just laughed it off, but he couldn’t find that little spot within himself to be able to laugh. He went straight for anger.

You will be tired, grumpy and exhausted in the near future, but instead of giving in to those upsetting feelings try to find that little spot inside yourself that can laugh or smile at your reaction. It will make the situation easier to handle and more comfortable for the people around you.

The reason I shot this video is because we all need to find a way to roll with our emotions and the people we work with, instead of wanting everything to be a certain way. We don’t need to be accepted. We need to be doing the accepting. Everything else will fall into place.

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One of my all time favorite blogs…Michael Martine of Remarkablogger always hooks me up with brilliant ideas to improve this blog.

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Do you want to start your own Work Happiness Project? Then stay tuned because I am putting together a great series of posts.

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If you liked this video then check these out:

• Where is Your Focus
• Stressed Out and Loving It
• Indulge Your Senses At Work

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Tony Hsieh of Zappos is everywhere. He was on the cover of Inc. Magazine. He speaks at large conferences and spreads the Zappos culture message. I felt lucky to hear him speak at SxSW conference this past year.

I’ve touted Tony’s leadership on Work Happy Now. I’ve also been spurred to write a few articles because of his blog. But now I landed an interview with him. Tony’s employee called him a genius. You know when an employee calls his boss a genius, this person must be something special. After all, your employees are the ones who see you for 40 to 50 hours a week and begin to see the cracks.

Tony has made me view work happiness from new angles. I’m glad he is out there in the business world. He helped create Zappos, a company that emphasizes the importance of enjoying work. His concepts are leading the employee revolution, encouraging change in the business world.

Karl: How important is work happiness to you?

Tony: I think it’s very important, not just to me personally, but I think it’s also really important for employees to be happy. It’s pretty much impossible for an unhappy employee to deliver great customer service or to be an effective brand ambassador.

Karl: What is one activity that makes you happy at work?

Tony: One of the most rewarding activities for me has been communicating to employees, vendors, and customers about what we are all about at Zappos. I do this primarily through email and public speaking, and it’s always great to watch people’s reactions as they learn about our core values, company culture, and focus on customer service.

You can learn more about our culture on our blogs:

 http://blogs.zappos.com

As well as here:

 http://about.zappos.com

Karl:  How do you maintain balance between your working and non-working life?

Tony: When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, there doesn’t need to be a clear separation between work and non-work. I think most people assume that work is something that has to be unenjoyable. Part of our goal at Zappos is for employees to look forward to coming into the office, and our company culture is a big reason why they do.

Karl: Do you work on being happy at work?

Tony: Yes, we are always looking for ways to improve our company culture. In most companies, as the company grows bigger, the company culture goes downhill. Our goal is to have the culture actually get stronger as the company grows.

Karl: How does your work happiness differ between now and when you first started working full-time?

Tony: Prior to Zappos, I never really paid much attention to company culture. In fact, at LinkExchange, which I co-founded, by the time we got to 100 people, the company culture had gone really downhill, which is why we ended up selling the company. At Zappos, I wanted to make sure I didn’t make the same mistake again.

Karl: If you are feeling down, what do you do to lift your spirits?

Tony: I’ve found that usually a change of environment can help a lot.

Karl: What is your biggest detriment to work happiness?

Tony: I think for everyone, a big detriment to work happiness can be feeling like you are not in control of your own destiny. But what I’ve realized is that in the end, things usually end up working themselves out.

Karl: If you could give work happiness advice to someone just starting their career in 140 characters or less (Twitter style) what would it be?

Tony: What are you so passionate about that you would be willing to do it for 10 years without ever making a dime? That’s what you should do.

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There are so many skilled writers on the blog-o-sphere and one of my favorite is J.D. of Sources of Insight.

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If you enjoy quick work happiness tips that will help give you a new perspective on your working life then follow me on Twitter - @workhappynow. You won’t regret it.

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If you liked this article you’ll probably enjoy:

• Great Leadership Requires Great Communication
• Extend Your Company’s Recruiting Message to Social Outlets
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I have a co-worker who just finished a big project. She was bouncing off the walls with giddiness. She took the project to her boss and it was confirmed. She did a fantastic job. She came back to her cubicle with a huge smile on her face.

 “I feel like my stress just floated away,” Alice said.

“Cool, so she liked it,” I said.

“Liked it? She loved it!”

She was on cloud nine for the rest of the afternoon. She poked fun at me, herself, and anyone talking to her. Just her playful style. Her energy couldn’t be suppressed.

Her boss does have a lot of faults, but who among us doesn’t? None of this mattered because her boss applied a golden rule…

“Make employees feel cool.”

I must admit that her boss has a talent for this. She can make a person feel special at just the right time.

Alice was nervous before she presented the project and her happiness was dependent on her boss. Her boss could feel this and responded appropriately.

When a boss watches for what an employee needs, they can respond aptly. Hey, sometimes they need a kick in the butt and other times they need a “You are awesome!” The more a boss is in tune with his/her employees, the more likely it is that they will encourage brilliant work.

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When you get a handle on your habits that’s when life supports your needs. I read Zen Habits to teach me these tools.

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Did you enjoy this post then why not join my RSS feed via email or online reader and stay updated on every post? It’s good for me and you - because a happy you makes me smile.

*

If this article was your type of thing then click on one of these:

• Change Messes With Everyone
• 6 Exercise Hacks While You Are At Work
• 55 Tips to Make Work More Fun

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

What you focus on will determine how much joy you can extract from a situation. When you can focus your thoughts on enjoying the moment instead of trying to reach a goal, success will come naturally.

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Creativity is vital to work happiness. If we can’t find a way to constantly improve we are just floating along bored out of our minds. LifeDev always gives me a new perspective on creativity. Thanks Glen - you rock!

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Need quick bursts of work happiness to brighten your day then look no farther - follow me on Twitter and I’ll solve all your work problems (just playing). I might not solve all your work problems, but I will give you tips, ideas and some fun to make work more enjoyable.

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Enjoyed this video? Then try these on for size:

• Your Emotional Boxes
• The Work Buzz
• Enjoy the Nitty Gritty Details

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

I love my readers. They always have such passion for working happier. One commenter wrote a response to - How You are Silently Signaling Your Co-Workers to Treat You. Check out what this reader is struggling with:

Ever since I was a kid, people have considered me to be “weird.” (Karl’s Note: We are all weird, some of us are just better at hiding it.) I have a very hard time connecting with people. The reality is that I love being alone. I love to write and read–watch birds…stare at the night sky. I have a rich imagination–and can entertain myself with my thoughts alone. I fantasize about moving to a little town where no one knows me, buying a little house, and not having to work…I’m not rich, I’m married, have children, and work with a group of people who ignore and avoid me. I’m pretty invisible. Then when I have to work with my team–it is a nightmare for me. No one listens to me, or they tell me my idea won’t work, then later someone else brings it up…and it is the greatest idea ever! I think I read somewhere that that means you’re the person with the lowest status in the group.

I’ll admit I feel impatient–I tend to see things quickly and clearly, and it is hard to wait while people hash things out…trying to understand. I’m sure with my poor social skills my impatience shows and that I’m not always pleasant to work with.

Anyway–I am in a lot of pain. My boss seems to be giving me fewer and fewer assignments, doesn’t work with me anymore–and I read that this could mean that she’s pushing me out.

Are there people who spend most of their time alone–and lead productive lives? Are there any jobs out there that I could do all by myself?

The pain of what is going on at work is tearing me apart.

Is there a place in this world for me?

My response…

I feel your pain. I’m a shy person at heart. I’m afraid of all kinds of people and situations, but I’ve learned that this is the stuff I need the most. I need to be pushed to be outgoing.

The first thing you need to do is try to make your present situation better. I always thought a change of jobs would help me. The thing is I kept falling back into the same problems.

It seems like you are a good problem solver. Try to find small ways to improve on what you are good at. That means volunteering for work that fits with your strengths. Hopefully your co-workers will respect the quality work that you are doing. If they don’t then you at least know in your own heart that you are doing good work.

While trying to improve your present situation keep looking for a new job. There are a lot of jobs that allow you to work from home, i.e. - virtual assistant, call center, computer programming, etc. The reality is, you can’t be an island. You will still have to interact with people, so building up your social skills will help you wherever you go.

Life is a myriad of puzzles. This puzzle is one that you are just going to have to dive into and find some solutions. I know you can make your working life better. It’s why I started Work Happy Now. I wanted to make my working life more enjoyable. 

Remember that it all starts with you. You have to take 100% responsibility for your happiness. No one can make you happy. They can only assist in helping you become happier.

Work relationships are never easy, but just keep trying new tactics and eventually you’ll find solutions that work for you.

Please keep me updated. Everyone deserves to enjoy what they do to earn a living.

We all struggle with our jobs at some point, whether it is a difficult co-worker, a mean boss, or a project that grinds away on our last nerve. We can’t let these problems get to us. We need to find solutions within ourselves so we can still enjoy the process.

No job is perfect, but as long as we take responsibility for our own happiness, we will find ways to extract the joy out of a tough situation.

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Are you a creative person looking for solid productivity techniques then check out Charlie’s blog Productive Flourishing and read away.

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Did you enjoy this post then why not join my RSS feed via email or online reader and stay updated on every post? It’s good for me and you - because a happy you makes me smile.

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If you enjoyed this article then check these out too:

• When Your Career Sucks, You Can Fix It
• Creating A Project Ritual to Encourage Happiness
• How to Be Happy at Work – Right Now!

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

My mother is an amazing woman. Almost everyone says that about their own mother. I guess that’s why we have “Mother’s Day.”

To shine a little light on them.

My mother was a part-time accountant (for my father’s electrical business), counselor, homemaker, retailer, coach, and artist. She did a little of everything and basically kept our house together.

I was a mama’s boy. Growing up I always turned to my mom when I needed advice, so her work habits rubbed off on me.

Here are my 28 Lessons on Working Happy from My Icelandic Mother:

1. Make other people laugh; it feels good.
2. Be honest and you will have nothing to hide.
3. Ask people what they need; you’ll actually help them.
4. Chip away at a project every single day and you will succeed.
5. Don’t settle for second best. (If she knew all I could manage was a C in a certain course that was ok, but if I got a B and should have earned an A, she wouldn’t accept it.)
6. Be yourself, even if it means someone else doesn’t like you.
7. Talk to everyone; you’ll learn something from each person.
8. Listening is more important than speaking.
9. Share your pain, but try to leave on a positive note.
10. Keep trying new angles until you feel good about the finished project.
11. Sleep is nice, but it’s not the most important part of life.
12. Who you spend time with is a reflection of who you are. (Pick your friends wisely because they will dictate your success)
13. Share your intelligence.
14. Organizing your mind will encourage you to organize your workspace.
15. Don’t beat yourself up for a mistake that was probably meant to teach you a lesson.
16. Guests may be coming soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun preparing the food.
17. You have to put in the time to get to where you want to be. (Short cuts means something was missed)
18. Don’t try to be normal because we are all weird. (Your weirdness is what people remember)
19. Say “no” when necessary.
20. Learn to do it yourself so you can teach someone else to help you.
21. Lunch breaks, when done right, can recharge the battery.
22. You can’t control everything, so learn to steer the ship instead of tug it.
23. Use your mind, not your back.
24. Don’t be afraid to ask for a raise if you deserve it.
25. Get to know the people you work with; they will help you grow.
26. Anger only makes the situation worse; let it go then make your choice.
27. Don’t hang out with cool people, hang out with interesting people.
28. Push people to their edge then pull back before anyone gets hurt. (I pushed my mom to the edge, but she was always the one steering the ship)

What have you learned from your mother?

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Barbara over at Blogging Without a Blog always gives me a fresh perspective on building a community on my blog.

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If you are crunched for time, but still need work happiness in your life then follow me on Twitter - @workhappynow.

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If you liked this article then check out…

• 25 Lessons on Working Happy From My German Father
• Why are Icelanders so Good at Working Happy?
• 30 Seconds of Laughing and a Few Minutes of Learning

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

True happiness grows within us when we are able to let go of our attachment to pain. We should all practice this vital skill in order to bring consistent joy into our lives.

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Whenever I need a kick in the butt to get myself in gear I stop by Dave Navarro’s blog Rock Your Day. Plus he can launch the bejesus out of any product.

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If you enjoyed this video then check these out:

• The Work Buzz
• Stressed Out and Loving It
• Unleash Your Creative Beast

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Sick and tired of taking those man-made drugs that drag you down? Then try my magic drug that’s all natural.

A nap.

Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.

Hey, if you would like to:

• Reduce your stress
• Improve your Short-term memory
• Increase your patience and motivation
• Process information more efficiently

Then you will love “the nap.”

Cut!

Ok, the infomercial is now over. Just having a little fun.

Napping during an afternoon break may just be that boost that can separate you from the crowd. You’ll be less prone to making mistakes. Many of your co-workers may be downing coffee or something even more potent, just trying to push through their sleepiness.

If you can add a nap that lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, which fits into your natural body rhythms, you can increase your productivity. It’s the best natural drug to enhance any career when you’re feeling like you are on the edge of burnout.

When I’m feeling sluggish I like to take naps in my car for a half hour during lunch. It’s usually on a Thursday and Friday afternoon, when the work week takes its toll and I need to refresh myself without overdoing the caffeine.

Action:

Plus, your skin will look more vibrant and healthy. Who doesn’t want to look sexy and refreshed? Freshly matted hair is beautiful on everyone.

Cut!

Are you afraid to take a nap during lunch? Would your work ever have a place designated for naps?

Nap rooms are so cool. Here is one I found at Intuit.

Let us know what your company does to keep you refreshed.

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Forcing popularity is never the solution. Check out Maki’s post on DoshDosh about finding Twitter followers the old fashion way - being really helpful and interesting.

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I’m on Twitter too - @workhappynnow. Work happiness in quick and healthy bites.

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If you liked this article then check out these:

• Stressed Out and Loving It
• Your Company Should Do Annual Career Counseling
• How to Change Your Company’s Office Culture

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Spreading the work happiness message to anyone and everyone has been an amazing experience. There are so many people who struggle to enjoy their jobs, so the faster I reach people the better. We should all be doing work that expresses our creativity.

That goes for plumbers, directors, and everyone who wants to work happy.

One of my favorite ways to promote work happiness is to take over a blog for a day. I’ve made it my mission in 2009 to take over 20 blogs by the end of the year. Ha ha ha (my evil laugh)

Here are some of my guest posts that have brought a little “work happiness” awareness to other bloggers’ readers.

Check out one and give it some love – comment, social thumbs up or pass it on to a friend. The Karma of work happiness will flow into your life. If it doesn’t just let me know and I’ll figure out a way to send some good Karma your way.

Zen Habits

Bad Habits Slap Us Down, But a Theme Encourages

Productivity books and websites talk about creating habits that support a better life.

If you think positive then you’ll have a better outlook on life.

If you exercise on a daily basis you’ll have more energy.

If you stay organized you’ll reduce stress.

The problem is creating the habit. It’s easy to read something that sounds good, but it’s infinitely harder to implement. We have trouble creating good habits because it’s easier to keep doing what we are doing.

To view the rest of the article click here.

Successful Blog

How’s Your Relationship with Yourself?

To get yourself to the next level of your career, the most important development is to be able to communicate with yourself so honestly and effectively that every choice improves your life.

Wow! Every choice?

Yes, every choice can add or subtract to or from your career.

I’ve made many mistakes with my career, but one thing I pride myself on is the fact that I never settled for less than what I really wanted. I wanted a career in teaching and I found it. I wanted a creative career I landed it. I wanted a people interactive career and I got it.

To view the rest of the article click here.

LifeDev

Listen to Your Career Vibrations

So your career just isn’t living up to its hype. Maybe it’s the workplace or maybe it’s you, but something has to change. This is common. I’ve gone through this problem quite a few times.

When I graduated from college I was raring to go. My first job was in the valve industry. I just couldn’t take the torture; creativity was in my blood and the job wasn’t satisfying my needs. I was a poet damn it!, not someone who could sell valves for a living.

To view the rest of the article click here.

Positivity Blog

How to Create Positive Thought Rhythms

There is no such thing as perfect happiness because it varies widely. That’s the beauty of honing your ability to enjoy life. It strengthens your mind to adapt to new ideas.

“We are what we focus on.”

In other words: The people who practice happiness every day are the people who bring happiness into their lives.

Since you are reading this you probably have a healthy brain, which will allow you to create a positive rhythm for your thoughts.

To view the rest of the article click here.

Marketing Minute

The best kind of marketing

What’s the best kind of marketing? Easy. Word of mouth marketing. The reason it’s so good… it’s relevant to the consumer. We relate to what our friends like.

We want to own what makes our friends happy because we believe it will make us happy too. If my friend buys the latest U2 album from iTunes, I’ll be more likely to hear it in his car, enjoy it and want it too.

To view the rest of the article click here.

If you enjoyed these articles then I really appreciate your taste.

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

(email subscribers: click here to go to Work Happy Now to view the video)

We are working in the right direction when we get those body tingles. You know what I’m talking about - those natural chemicals that shoot through your body saying, “Yeah, that’s how you do it.”

No drugs required, just the fun that creative work can give us.

I’m curious…what gives you that natural buzz? Playing a guitar? Writing a poem? Finding an accounting mistake?

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A positive attitude is so much easier on my soul than when I’m Mr. Grumpy pants. When Mr. Grumpy pants kicks in, I can always rely on Patricia’sWisdom to ease my pain.

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Sometimes you don’t have time to read a blog post or watch a video, but you always have time for a tweet. Check me out on Twitter, @workhappynow. You’ll laugh, think, and enjoy your job 10%* more.

* disclaimer: I can’t actually prove that you’ll have a 10% increase (it’s probably higher than that), but rest assured you’ll receive some cool 140-character messages.

If you enjoyed this video then take a peek at these:

• Unleash Your Creative Beast
• You Are Awesome
• Putting on Your Underwear Mindset

Download the Free eBook Work Happy the Google Way * Post from: Work Happy Now!

Google will lose awesome talent because not everyone will want to stay and work with a large company. The bigger they get the harder it will be for them to stay agile. A lot of employees don’t mind working in that type of environment, but many of them dislike it and they will end up leaving.

Wayne Rosing, an early vice president for engineering, has left to pursue his love of astronomy. Paul Buchheit, the celebrated engineer who dreamed up Gmail, “retired” recently. (He’s 30.) Evan Williams, the highly regarded founder of Blogger, a Google acquisition, has left to launch another startup. 
- Great Place to Work 

No company can retain every employee. People’s desires change. What made them happy three years ago is different than today. Google understands this and does their best to retain as many employees as possible. They retain about 95% of their employees and that’s way above the standard for a technology company.

Google hired the human resources pro Laszlo Bock because they are losing some of their best talent. They are starting their own companies (Friendfeed), or leaving for other companies that offer them a different environment (Facebook), or to pursue their passions such as their old VP Wayne Rosing who left to pursue astronomy. Whatever it is that forces them or entices them to leave, Google is taking an active role in minimizing these loses.

You need to do everything you can to keep the superstars with your company, but as long as you recognize that you will lose some of them then it makes it easier. You don’t have to be perfect. You can only try your best, measure results, and keep on improving.

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I created an ebook to share some of Google’s secrets on how you can grow your company and be happy at work. You’ve just read a chapter from the ebook. It contains enlightening and practical information that businesses and employees can all use.

I will be publishing a new chapter during the middle of every week. If you don’t want to wait that long for this glorious information then just sign up for my RSS or email and receive the Free eBook “Work Happy the Google Way.”