"The world is full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be happy as kings." Robert Louis Stevenson "Happy, when was the last time you felt truly happy?  Happiness has been defined,described, scripted, and much more to the point that people have forgotten what it really means to them.   Why be happy?  In determining the Emotional Intelligence* of employees, managers and leaders, every factor in this assessment is influenced by the individuals happiness, at thattime.  Think of the implications of this for yourself.  Your ability to be productive, successful and do the things you hope to do is directly affected by your happiness.   For fun today, check out a few things that will tell you more about your current happiness and how to get happier, should you need to do so.   1.  Can you name very quickly the five things in life you are the most grateful for? 2.  Can you look at a serious or bad situation in or around you at the moment and clearly see that it is not the be all and end all? 3.  Are you able to think of a wonderful time in your life, on the spot, and bring a smile to your face? 4.  Is there a rhythm in your life of things that make you happy, that you allow yourself to do? 5.  Are you in congruence, meaning are you speeding up the things that work well for you while leaving behind the things that do not work well for you? Check this list often to put happiness back in your life." "Treat Your Employees to Some of the Secrets of Happiness" Schedule This Program Today! Click to Buy "Stop Going Bananas - The Secrets of People Working Together"- Based on the book, "Office Peace" this takes a "sore" subject and turns it on its head to help people understand that a few simple things can make the workplace a great place, without politics, feuds or any of the other interaction issues that crop up.   As always, a fun, spirited looks at the workplace. Who will enjoy this? Organizations with employees at odds Employees with a highly diverse work force Organizations with departments at odds Trends this addresses/Outcomes - Like "The Office" people get along less and less in the workplace rather than finding ways to work together.  This gives the reasons and rewards for finding that common ground.

Work+Fun=Profits and Progress

What would it take to get you and all the people in your company to say "I'm so excited to get to work today!"  Excitement is something most people associate with a fun trip, vacation, adventure, party or new experience. Work is traditionally none of these. How can you change that? Take these three steps to start to make your workplace something people can look forward to: Create a start of day "experience" people will look forward to and enjoy. Here are a few Ideas: A) Have music at the entrance of your company's office for arrivals. Change it daily and keep it upbeat.  B) Post a motivational quote to pop-up as computers are powered up or in lieu of computers, post something at the workplace entrance. C) Do a "Perk Me Up" event- Schedule a one hour all hands meeting titled- "Play and Profit." - In this session your group will learn four great ways to reduce the stress, "perk-up", and bring more innovation, collaboration and creativity to the workday. Call 303-984-9271 to schedule this now! (See valuable coupon for July/August below)  P.S. "Knowing how to play, the right way, is important, as people have a strong need to "let it all out," even in the workplace. To prove my point, when you don't get it right you might see this instead.............Click Below This doesn't make money for you.

Hippo and Dog

Don't you think that living and working in these times is like living inside a washing machine?  First you get soaked, then they drain you, spin you around, soak you again, spin you some more and in the end you are clean, but very soggy. Our spirits at work can become this way unless we make a move to be sure that we aren't getting soaked, spun around and drained. One sure way to do that is to break the rhythm of the day.  Try this little exercise to the video attached.  If you can't master the moves, just hum or sing along. Pat your head and rub your belly to the music.   If you are really talented follow the dog's steps.                               Click Here for the hippo and the dog Call Barbara to find out about her great new program, Thirval versus Survival.   Playfully,   Barbara Brannen Playmore

Who is the Hound Dog in your Life?

Plato said it best, "You can learn more about a person in one hour of play than a year of conversation." Watch this great National Geographic video with the following three questions in mind.. 1. Who do I share my "stuff" with at work and at home? 2. Who do I play with this freely? 3. How am I a better person because of these things? Click here to see "Who are the Hound Dogs In Your Life?"

---

Spring Has Sprung Have You?

This Is the time of year to come out of your cocoon and pump some energy into your life, your work, and your career.

Here is how:

1. Start spending a minimum of one hour outside every day.

Go Play! Fly a Kite, Jump in Puddles, Do Yoga on your Deck, Watch Birds, Take a Walk, Bike Ride, Kayak. It doesn't matter what you do just make sure it is outside.

2. Do a Tune Up.

Like Ferris Bueller take a day to Twist and Shout!

3. Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  ~ Robin Williams

Now might be the time to interject some fun into the lives of your staff, friends and family.  Pull out your copy of "Office Peace" and try the Banana Book exercise that is talked about in here for one week.   See how much good stuff you can find out about those around you.   Give this book as a graduation gift.  It is a great foundation for a career that is about to begin. Click Here.

 

---

Happiness

Would you like to be just a little bit happier than you are right now? Has too much bad news, work, financial or health woes got you down?

While there are pockets and places of happiness, you may even be one of them, too many people are not as happy as they would like to be.

In the Great Depression of the 1930's Mickey Mouse was just coming into the world. He brought 3 things with him that we need to be happy and here is what they were:

#1 - A sense of adventure

#2 - A simple, unsophisticated outlook on life

#3 - Absolute loyalty to those he loved

Bring these 3 things back into your life and the lives of others and be happy again.

Click here for a dose of Mickey Mouse.

---

Piano Stairs

What in your world needs the "fun theory" to get you or your people to do the better thing? 
 
Volkswagen has instituted a fabulous new challenge to all of us via their website www.thefuntheory.com. As you look at this youtube video (the piano keys), you will note that all it took to get people walking up the stairs was a little fun.
 
Now here is the challenge, take one thing in your world that needs you or someone to do the better thing and make it fun.  Here are some ideas to get you started;
 
1.  For yourself or your team meeting a project timeline or quota for January - 

• A wall chart with 31 boxes for January that are colored in each day you have made some progress or have a silly sticker that goes in the box.
• Set up three flip chart size pieces of paper side by side on a wall with one being red on the left, one being yellow in the middle and one being green at the right.  Make post'um note horses and have a horse race to the end of the month from red to green.
• A jar that gets one penny for each hour you or they work on this.  At the end of the month donate a dollar equivalent to charity or some other fun use of the money.
• Large neon footprints that lead around your office for each step you get done in the project
• -Your ideas.....................

2.  Get someone to call you back

• Tell part of a joke in your message and have them call back to get the punch line
• Give them a clue in a scavenger hunt and have them call back to get the next clue
• Make them laugh in your message
• Share part of a good story and have them call back for the ending
• Your ideas .........................

3.  Lose Weight

• Put a laughing mat at the entrance to your kitchen
• Buy a gallon jug to carry water around with you
• Place a bet with a good friend
• Your ideas......