Archive for May, 2009
Daily Body Scan
(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.
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The Ultimate Procrastination Remedy
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.
A Work Happy Now Interview on Let It Flow
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.
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Work Worth Doing
(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?”
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My Work Happiness Manifesto
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:
- Share stories (Good and Bad – a little complaining can be good for bonding).
- Know yourself.
- Watch your emotions (even when I’m feeling down, my emotions can still be intriguing).
- 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).
- Office design matters.
- Be weird (We are all a little weird, embrace it and let it out).
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Escape From Cubicle Nation – Book Review
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.
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The “Yes, And” Technique
(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.
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Work Happiness Expert – Tony Hsieh of Zappos
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?
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Make Every Employee Feel Cool
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.
Where is Your Focus
(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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