Tess is a dear friend who has taught me a lot about blogging and building community. I’m always amazed by how many comments she gets on her posts.

I love how she starts each blog post:

Warning! My blog will challenge you to be more, give more, live fearlessly, take more chances and show up in the world unstoppable, daring and bold.

Her about page is also interesting. She chronicles her struggles to show you that she has chosen a bold life for a reason.

Here is a little excerpt from this page.

Our continuous bold action to make good things happen is why we have been so successful. Currently I work as an affordable coach. I started The Bold Life because I wanted to share the knowledge and power of bold living. We all make choices in our lives that either hold us back or keep us growing forward. We all have the opportunity to take bold action and make our dreams happen.

I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone.

I’m guest posting on her blog right now, so go over and check it out and join in on the conversation. I know Tess would appreciate it. The post is called – Local Grocery Store’s Happiest Employee.

Comments are turned off, so you can join us over at The Bold Life.

See you there.

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.

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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.

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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!

(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.

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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.

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Need some excellent career advice? Check out Andrea Levitt’s blog, Water Cooler Wisdom.

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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!

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 you need to use your superpowers at work so you can optimize our present happiness while planning your most rewarding future.

Superpowers are actions that excite you, get you in the zone, and play to your strengths. If you aren’t using your superpowers at work you are missing out on doing meaningful work that will engage every part of your mind.

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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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!

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!

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!

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!

(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 has taken great pains to create an atmosphere that promotes fun, creativity and accomplishing audacious goals. They do this because they understand people’s needs. People need to work in a place that cares about them.

Google shows they care in many ways. Their perks include:

• 11 free gourmet cafeterias
• Employee lounges
• Massage services
• Free laundry and dry cleaning
• Oil change service
• Personal concierge to place dinner reservations
• Weekly TGIF Parties
• Top quality speakers visiting on a regular basis

The list goes on and on. I think these are great perks, but the best part of working at Google is the ability to accomplish great things with great people. After every Google employee’s career comes to a close I guarantee they’ll remember two things:

• The people they worked with
• The things they accomplished.

I doubt that they will remember a particular meal or oil change five years later. I can’t remember my oil changes three years ago. Heck, I can’t remember what I had for dinner last Tuesday. I can remember most of my bosses and co-workers from every job I’ve had. That’s why you have to create an environment that encourages people to get to know each other and share their ideas.

Google has built a family that supports each other in every thing they do. They all believe in the vision and work their butts off to make it a reality.

You can build this same camaraderie at your company by showing your employees that you care. It’s about asking them about their family and actually listening. You might be surprised how much an employee wants to talk about their personal life. I guarantee you’ll get a better understanding of how to lead them.

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Work Happy Now 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 every Wednesday. 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.”

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

You should never have to struggle to enjoy a job because there are so many tools that you can apply. It just takes a little practice, emotional intelligence, and some friends to make it happen. Work Happy Now is all about “knowing yourself.” When you know what you want from your job, you can collaborate with the community at WHN to support and encourage your work happiness.

I’ve made a list of 55 reasons to join the Work Happy Now community through email or your RSS reader*. One of these 55 reasons will compel you to join up and start working happier right now. If not, then maybe you just aren’t ready for all this interesting content. 

* RSS stands for Rich Site Summary. Think of it as a radio signal – you just tune in and it’s sent to your reader. My favorite is Google Reader. All you need is a Google account and you can get a feed from your favorite newspaper or blog (Work Happy Now) sent to your reader. The best part is you pick the news you want to follow.

Let’s begin. Here are 55 reasons you should add Work Happy Now to your email or RSS reader.

1. Having fun at work keeps us going back.
2. You need to find a work/life balance.
3. Feeling happy makes you more productive.
4. We love to share new ideas.
5. Your company needs a morale boost and WHN has techniques that work.
6. Your dad told you that work wasn’t supposed to be fun. We’re proving him wrong.
7. You want to be a great manager.
8. You want to start your own business using positive techniques.
9. Every work happiness artist needs a group of supporters.
10. You can teach the techniques that you learn here to your family members.
11. Your employees are lethargic and you want to infuse some excitement into the workplace.
12. Living a rich life is about how happy you are, not how much money you have.
13. You can’t fake it any longer. You want real happiness.
14. You understand that developing your dream into a career is vital to your success.
15. Your emotional intelligence will multiply.
16. You want to develop a culture that encourages teamwork.
17. Your co-worker is always happy and you want to know how they do it.
18. You’re thinking about anonymously signing your co-worker up, but you want to check out the information for a little while before you do.
19. Your boss put you on a positivity diet for a week and don’t know where to turn.
20. Office politics are grinding on your last nerve.
21. You know that your current method of working won’t make you any happier.
22. Your company is losing money and you want to turn things around.
23. Getting free updates in your RSS or Emails is easier than coming back to the website all the time.
24. Your co-workers like you, but you want them to love you.
25. You want to join in the cool crowd at Work Happy Now. We may not be cool in the way that a tattooed biker is cool, but we have to admit that we are awesome.
26. Your spouse needs help to stop complaining about his/her job.
27. Your stress is overwhelming and you want to stop freaking out about little things.
28. You love your job, but you want your co-workers to love their job too.
29. Crazy-fun ideas can spur on practical ideas.
30. You understand that knowing yourself is the most important tool to working happy
31. People who have fun at work are more productive.
32. Happy Employees = Happy Customers, which means improved sales.
33. Your company needs to foster an environment of gratitude.
34. You believe in enjoying what you do for a paycheck.
35. Work challenges are easier to deal with when you are happy.
36. You would rather work happy or not work at all.
37. Praising employees is so much better than being a dictator.
38. You know it’s possible to enjoy your job, but you need a little help.
39. Your company has trouble retaining good employees.
40. You’ve been in such a bad mood that you know you need to do something about it.
41. You want your employees to evangelize your company.
42. You want your customers to evangelize your company.
43. If Buddha, Gandhi, and Abraham Lincoln were alive they would be reading Work Happy Now.
44. Leading with confidence, compassion and clarity is important to you.
45. Passion is a must when working with others.
46. You have an infectious laugh and want others to hear it more often.
47. You can’t wait for retirement.
48. Your company loves creativity – happiness encourages creativity.
49. Your small business needs an edge and WHN gives that to you.
50. You need to get your stress under control so you can live a long and enjoyable life.
51. You want to challenge yourself to reach new heights.
52. Leisure breaks are vital to maximizing your productivity.
53. Life is too short to not enjoy your job.
54. Laughing, loving and sharing is what WHN is all about.
55.  “Work Happy the Google Way” is free with when you sign up.

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