Archive for February, 2009
Putting on Your Underwear Mindset
(If you can’t see this video then click here and visit Work Happy Now to view it.)
This site is all about working happy and I must admit. I love doing these videos. They take about as much planning and time as a regular post, but so much more dynamic.
We all use tricks to get us focused and pumped for a big meeting or a new job. What do you do to get your mindset aligned with your needs?
I use my red underwear – literally.
This PG-13 rated video does show my underwear, so look away and only listen to this video if you don’t want to see my red undies.
If you liked this video article you’ll like these too:
Pajama Day
In engineering building 40, Google has a “pajama day.” This consists of other Googlers wearing pajamas at work. How cool would it be to have a day when everyone is dressed up in pajamas? Awesome, right?
Even if you are a bank, you can take a certain angle to these events that might get your customers talking about you. “Don’t sleep on your interest rate, get a XYZ CD.”
I don’t know if that would work, but it sure would be fun for the employees and the customers that walked into the branch.
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Work in the Now
(If you can’t see this video click here and it will take you to Work Happy Now so you can view it.)
Working in the now is having the ability to see a look as just a look without putting some big emotional story behind it. We tend to want to create emotional attachment to experiences. What we need to do is pay attention to the way a look or comment makes us feel and adjust our emotional reaction.
Read the rest of this entry »
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Design Friendly Atmosphere
A place that feels friendly is friendly. As long as people feel comfortable they will work in a more relaxed and creative fashion. Google makes sure that their people can express themselves in ways that range from a pimped out Simpsons cubicle to an office that looks like it’s out of the Ikea catalogue.
Google Slide
This Google Slide is from their office in Zurich. It’s a great example of how to make the office feel fun. Even if no one rides it, the employees are still walking by it every day. This signals to them that they are in a special place.
The Necessity of Giving Gratitude at Work
My friend Rob told me that his co-worker complained about every little thing. It dragged him down. If someone left work early he would chime in. If someone didn’t send him the right format on a report he would grumble. No one went the extra mile for him because he would always find a way to complain about something.
Do you know anyone like this?
People complain at work because they focus on the “lack” instead of the “joy” that they get from their job. They do this for a number of reasons:
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Productivity is a State of Mind
(If you are unable to see this video, just click here and you’ll be forwarded to the site.)
Success or failure is really determined by how we feel. It’s up to us to figure out how to make ourselves “feel” successful every single day.
If you enjoyed this video post I have a good feeling you’ll enjoy these too:
Celebrate the Google Way
Every company should celebrate its successes. Google does this in various ways.
Small Scale – Google built lounges for people to gather and talk
You don’t need to physically throw a party to create a celebration type atmosphere. People want to gather and share. Your company can do this too by creating an area that’s dedicated to letting off steam and building a community.
Medium Scale – TGIF Parties
I’m all for throwing parties and Google does this every Friday. It gets other Googlers together. They usually have a band, but all you need is a little iPod dock and some cool music. Your employees can hang out and make new friends and your company can do this with a modest budget. I wrote an article called Create 12 Parties a Year Instead of 1 Boring Holiday Party. The idea is simple – throw a party each month so everyone gets to hang out and learn about each other.
The more friends people have at work the more they enjoy working at their company.
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30 Days of No Complaining – Wisdom Multiplied
I’ve learned more about my habits of thought during my thirty day “No Complaining” challenge than I have in the last six months – such an intense microscope on one area of my life. “No Complaining” forced positive change. The deeper I looked at how complaining affected my life, the easier it was to use this wisdom to my advantage.
I posted 7 articles about my No Complaining journey, each one giving a little different insight than the last:
- Day 29 of 30 – No Complaining – Listen to Your Fear
- Day 23 of 30 – Change Spurs Complaining
- Day 18 of 30 – No Complaining
- Day 16 of 30 – No Complaining
- Day 8 of 30 – No Complaining
- Day 1of 30 – No Complaining
- No More Complaining at Work – A Thirty Day Challenge
30 days of no complaining was so intensely interesting that I’m going to do more of these 30 day challenges. I haven’t cured myself of complaining. Far from it. I’ve actually become more convinced of the importance of complaining. We all know the basic methods of complaining.
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Don’t Be Afraid of the F Word
Welcome, Zen Habits readers! I hope that you enjoyed my guest post, “Bad Habits Slap Us Down, but a Theme Encourages.“
Work Happy Now is filled with tips for employees and managers who are trying to create a fun and exciting place to work. On the right are six red and gray banners that are links to some of my most popular posts.
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or glass of milk and browse around. I’m always available if you have any questions. Send me a message through my contact page and I promise to reply.
Below is a video that I shot talking about the dreaded F word. Fired.
Extend Your Company’s Recruiting Message to Social Outlets
In doing my research on Google I stumbled across a Google produced video on YouTube that interviewed employees and showed the viewer various locations at the Google offices. Everything looked so inviting from the sleek cafeteria to the game room and the beautiful outside patios.
If I wasn’t so invested in this whole “Work Happy Now” thing I would send my resume in right now. 
Google created this video to extend their marketing message.
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