4 months ago
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KSDK)--With increased layoffs, stagnant salaries and little job security, American workers have few reasons to smile these days.
But that may be changing. A new wave of corporate thinking is stressing that even in a period of economic uncertainty, companies need to invest more in employee motivation.
Sandy Hackenwerth believes smiles are contagious. She thinks there's one around ever corner.
"Ryan, may I interrupt you for a moment?" Hackenwerth asked an employee as she rounds the corner at Maritz into Ryan Fitzpatrick's cubicle. Every day, Hackenworth, a Vice President at Martiz, makes her rounds, handing out homemade, and as she describes, corny awards to fellow employees who have done something outstanding.
"You are a great asset to our team," she continued to a beaming Fitzpatrick. "People are raving about you and I personally want to thank you."
"Thank you. I appreciate it," said Fitzpatrick as he accepted the paper award handed him by Hackenwerth. "This is great thank you."
"I try to acknowledge people's achievements whether they are big or small. Sometimes the small one is just the catalyst that a person needs to know 'I'm on the right track,'" explained Hackenwerth.
Each day, after getting her morning coffee, Hackenwerth sits down at her desk and begins sending out emails wishing happy birthday's and anniversaries, to Maritz employees who have them that day.
"I have the best birthday and anniversary list," said Hackenwerth.
She says she's just a motivated woman - trying to motivate others.
"The feedback I get from people who get those corny emails that I send everyday makes my day and helps energize me," she said.
Morale raising is catching on too. A new study finds that to offset the effects of a sagging economy, companies are taking steps to boost employee morale.
Nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said they are implementing strategies to buoy the mood of their teams. However, not all employers have jumped on the bandwagon. More than one in four (26 percent) executives said their firms aren't doing anything to improve morale.
"The most common way businesses are attempting to raise workplace morale is through increased and improved communication," said St. Louis Accountemp branch manager Ben Daves. "We're seeing a lot of internal mass emails, news letters highlighting success stories within a specific company or specific department."
Maritz created an internal website called We-dot-com specifically for this purpose. Hackenwerth uses it to recognize co-workers she may not even know.
"If I'm in a meeting and another manager recognizes a worker, I make a note and after the meeting, the first thing I do is send a We.com card letting that person know that they were recognized publicly in a meeting and I wanted to thank them on behalf of Maritz for the great job they do for our company and our customers," said Hackenwerth.
Tight budgets and tough times have forced local employers like Bethesda Health Group to put a premium on creativity.
Last summer, when gas prices hovered at four dollars a gallon, the company gave employees a 15 cent an hour raise to help cope. When gas prices came down, the group kept the raise in place.
"Yeah, that was nice. I mean every little bit counts in these times," said Natalie Nunn, a licensed practical nurse. Nunn said Bethesda is doing even more to keep her morale up.
"I intended to be an LPN for one year, and then go back to be an RN, and that year turned into 15," said Nunn.
Late last year, Bethesda initiated a new scholarship program enabling 15 LPNs, including Nunn, to get the education required to become registered nurses.
"They just let us know that they were going to pay for this 100 percent," said Nunn. "There's a lot of things offered here and it's a good place to be."
Back at Maritz, Hackenwerth tries to do the same thing on a grassroots level.
"If you thought you could make a positive difference on someone's day wouldn't you want to try? And through recognition you can do that every single day. So my goal is every day is to make a positive difference in someone else's life," said Hackenwerth.
We asked Sandy Hackenwerth if employees could raise their own morale themselves. She passed on these thoughts.
A. I try to read only positive things and then I do book reports for myself . So depending on the area I need motivating, I go back and read my book report. I'll be sharing a few of those with you.
B. The first thing I do everyday - and sometimes throughout the day - I repeat the Daily Six. It's a reminder for me on how I want to show up everyday. Below is a card I made that I hand-out to others, and have taped to my medicine cabinet so that I'll reflect on it each morning while I'm brushing my teeth. I also have a copy in my padfolio and my wallet.
Below is the book report that explains the Daily Six in a little more detail.
Book Report by Sandy Hackenwerth:
The Daily Six: Simple Steps to Prosperity and Purpose
John Chappelear
The Daily Six
1. Willingness - Be open to change. LOOK, LISTEN AND LEARN. Face your fears, and give up controlling behavior. Focus on the success of others. Be willing to keep learning, and be willing to persevere. Willingness creates honesty, self-awareness, and open-mindedness.
2. Quiet Time - Start and end your day with a period of contemplation. Practice daily and you will learn to find your quiet center. Then, you will be able to return to it as needed throughout the day. Daily Quiet Time gives you the opportunities to set your heart in the right direction, and allow your life to follow.
3. Love and Forgiveness - With Love, you begin to understand someone else's needs and consider them as important as your own. With Forgiveness, you begin to let go of anger, resentments, and fears. Expressing love will bring you love. Practicing forgiveness will bring you peace. And, start with your self.
4. Service to Others - With Service, you begin to find new ways every day to reach out. It can be as simple as saying "thank you" and really meaning it. Your service to others will change your focus from "what's in it for me" to "what's in it from me.
5. Gratitude - With Gratitude, you become grateful for all things at all times. You begin to notice the 98 percent of your life that is going great instead of ruminating on the one or two percent of your life that is difficult. When you practice gratitude, your efforts are rewarded with a more positive and productive life. There is no direct line to happiness. Rather, you have to go through gratitude to get there. In fact, there is a direct correlation between levels of gratitude and levels of happiness.
6. Action - You may find much satisfaction in analyzing, planning and contemplation, but change only starts when you take that first step. Even a small step is important because small changes practiced consistently, transform great ideas into big results.
Everything is better with a smile! So, SMILE ALL THE TIME!
C. For many years, I've read and learned about the power of a positive attitude and the impact something as simple as a smile has on you and others you encounter. I try to smile all the time ( I added to the Daily Six). I live out in the country and during my commute, I practice smiling and laughing. This produces the positive chemicals to be released in the brain. I arrive at work 'smiled-up' and ready to make a difference. One of my key principles - make a difference is someone's day - everyday.
The Power of Attitude
By Mac Anderson Founder of Successories
o Passion Fuels Enthusiasm
o It's Never Too Late
o Understand This Life-Changing Law
o The Dash
o The Good News Girl
o Pull the Weeds
o The Power of Goals
o Laugh Loud and Often
o Keep the Faith
o Remember the Golden Rule
o Share Yourself
o Manage Stress Before it Manages You
o Live in Awe
o Use Emotional Triggers
o Unload Your Emotional Baggage
o Do More with Less
o Practice Sandbox Wisdom
o Understand the Power of Humility
o Build Trusted Relationships
o Our Aspirations are Our Possibilities
o Use or Lose Your Marbles
o The 30-Minute Theory
o I Wish You Love
o The Choice is Yours
o Find a Mentor
o Know Thyself
o Reinforce, Reinforce, Reinforce
Attitude is everything.
Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved. - William Jennings Bryan
Attitudes truly are contagious, and from time to time we need to ourselves ..."is mine worth catching?"
Inspire you to live the life of your dreams:
o Manage your energy levels
o Keep your soul alive
o Take new paths
o Reduce stress
o Develop the "Human Touch"
o Attack your fears
o Live in awe
o Savor small success
o Burn brightly without burning out
o Hang on when the storms blow through
Passion
Wherever you choose to go, go there with all your heart.
Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Passion Fuels Enthusiasm
Make a positive difference in the lives of others. We all know docks that make lots of noises, quacking and complaining about their problems in life. And then there are eagles, which go about their business and consistently soar above the crown.
When we choose not to focus on what is missing in from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present ... we experience heaven on earth. -- Sarah Breathnack
Dreams
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Chinese Proverb
It is NEVER too late.
Dreams - Hope breeds contentment.
"It is never too late to be what you could have been." Dreams are free and just having them can make your life worth living.
The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it and the faith to believe it's possible. - Rich DeVos
Do it NOW.
Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction. - Harry Truman
Expect the Best - Understand this Life-changing Law
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. - W. Somerset Maughn
You become what you think about. Harness the power of a positive attitude.
If we choose to think positive thoughts, we'll get positive results; if we think negative thoughts, we'll get negative results. You will reap the fruit of the thoughts you sow.
"Learn to expect, not to doubt. In doing so you bring everything into the realm of possibility ... It is amazing how a sustained expectation of the best sets the forces in motion which cause the best to materialize." Dr. Norman Vincent Peal, The Power of Positive Thinking.
Whether you think you can, or think you can't ... you're right. - Henry Ford
Attitude
First we make our attitudes. Then our attitudes make us. - Dennis Waitley
Success
It's not the things you get but the hearts you touch that will determine your success in life.
The Dash
The heart that gives, gathers. - Hanna Moore
Love about life - when you wake up each morning you never know who you might meet who will make a positive difference.
Smile
A smile is the light on your face that lets someone know you're home.
By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways.
Start everyday by looking in the mirror and asking yourself, "Who do I want to be today? The GROUCH or THE GOOD NEWS GIRL?
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Courage
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
Courage is a door that can only be opened from the inside. - Terry Neil
Pull the weeds!
The physical and mental pain can be grueling, whether you're trying to exercise more, smoke less, drink less, eat healthier, or work less ... it's never easy.
But, the benefits toy our health and to your attitude can be priceless.
Break a habit starts with courage, ends with discipline, and is fueled by desire.
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed, just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
Machines and the intelligences of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then ... do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.
Like the weeds in the garden, bad habits can take over your life. Make a decision today to pull those weeds.
Goals
Take the long view ... one day at a time.
Find a purpose, and your passion will follow. But, write it down, and read it often.
"I proved that I had the guts and the discipline to stick it out. It was a giant boost to my self-esteem."
A goal, not in writing, is simply a wish.
Laughter
The earth laughs in flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Laugh loud and often!
Laughter is sunshine in any life. - William Thackery
Laughter is to the soul what soap is to the body.
Researchers suggest that we need a minimum of twelve laughs a day just to stay healthy. It can affect our brain chemistry and immune system in very positive ways. It also can be powerful in providing positive energy that fights off negative thoughts.
Laugh loud, and laugh often. It'll keep you happy, keep you healthy, and keep your attitude headed in a positive direction.
Faith
Beautiful light is born of darkness, so the faith that springs from conflict is often the strongest and best. - R. Turnbull
Sometimes you'll want to quit. You'll need all the help you can find to get through these difficult times. Draw on and get inspiration from others who have gone before; people that have demonstrated the courage and the strength to persevere ... to hang on while the storms blew through.
Passion, belief and self-trust are the fuel for a positive attitude that causes us to be totally committed to a goal.
Giving up is not an option.
The Golden Rule
If you teach your child the Golden Rule, you will have left an estate of incalculable value.
Learn the importance of hard work, discipline, and believing in yourself.
Treat people - ALL people - with love and respect.
"If you live the Golden Rule everything else in life will usually work itself out, but if you don't, your life probably will be very unhappy and without meaning."
Compassion - Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak... because in your life you will have been all of these.
Giving
Service is the very purpose of life. It is the rent we pay for being on this planet. - Marion Wright Edelman
Share Yourself. Think less of yourself and more about others.
Serving - It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life ... we can never help another without helping ourselves. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Joy
Life must be lived as play. - Plato
Manage stress before it manages you.
The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best - Thomas Jefferson.
Stress is, and will continue to be, part of our business and personal lives. So, if you can't avoid stress, learn to manage it.
Number one - exercise. A positive attitude is tied to your energy levels. And energy is tied directly to exercise. The increased oxygen and endorphins in your body can be "stress busters".
Second - take time for yourself. No cell phones, no email, and no schedules.
Quiet time helps to recharge your battery and reconnect with your soul. The key is to plan for it and JUST DO IT!
Live in Awe
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. - Samuel Ullman
All you have is NOW.
Jim Valvano, "I urge all of you to enjoy your life. Every precious moment you have on this earth. Spend each day with some laughter. Don't be afraid to feel ... to get your emotions going. Be enthusiastic, because nothing great be accomplished without enthusiasm. Live your dreams."
Sing Your Song
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has song. -Chinese Proverb
Look at everything as though you are seeing it for the first time, with eyes of a child, fresh with wonder. - Joseph Cornell
Emotions
People are like sticks of dynamite...the Power's on the inside. But nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.
Use emotional triggers. A deliberate act that stir your emotions and change the way you feel. It can be a powerful and effective technique if you understand how and when to use.
Remember: write it down and read it often.
Laughing is an emotional trigger that can sweep away negative thoughts and usher in a positive outlook.
Your triggers are personal, as unique as you are.
Music - words and sounds that speak to the soul. Music is to the soul as sunshine is to flowers.
Peace
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
- Reinhold Niebuhr
Unload your emotional baggage.
Our emotions are powerful motivators, and more than almost anything else in our lives they will drive our behavior. Sometimes our greatest challenge is to get inside our own heads to understand what makes us tick.
Highly motivated, positive people are focused. The mind is clear, and energy levels are high.
Anger or resentment is like a cancer, and when you let it go untreated, it will put an invisible ceiling on your future.
"Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the handcuffs of hate." - William Ward
And, you need to start by forgiving yourself.
Simplify
Things that matter most must never be a t the mercy of things that matter least. - Goethe
Do more with less. Simplify your life.
When you continually prune the areas not bearing fruit, you will be able to focus your energy on what matters the most.
Say goodbye to "the Joneses" - chasing symbols of success can be an all-consuming, hollow existence.
Live by the 80/20 Rule - Identify the twenty percent of problems that create eighty percent of your stress in life. Then, focus on resolving that twenty percent. You'll be amazed at the boost in attitude from just making the list.
Unload your emotional baggage - get rid of hate, anger and resentment.
Focus on the critical few - not the insignificant many.
A Child's Spirit
The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age.
Practice Sandbox Wisdom
Imagination - In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind, there are few. - Chinese Proverb.
In addition to curiosity and honesty, let's revisit our childhood to see what we should strive to rekindle as adults:
- Fun, Laughter and Enthusiasm
- No limit thinking
- No inhibitions
- Read People and situations
- Creativity and Imagination
Kindness
I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not return this way again. - William Penn
Understand the Power of Humility
Humility is a magnetic force that attracts goodwill from people, and it honors those who possess it.
Humility is not an act, but an attitude. It's an attitude of serving and caring for others more than you care about yourself.
A humble person is always a great listener. Listening is wanting to hear. It's an emotional process, not a physical act.
Greatness - The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with which he treats lesser men. - Anonymous.
Friendship
A true friend is someone who can make us do what we can. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Build trusted relationships.
The question is not if you're going to have fear and doubts, the question is how do you react to it?
One of the most critical issues in maintaining a positive attitude during adversity is to have positive people to whom you can turn. They'll give you strength and self-confidence to fight on.
Relationships - I am a part of all that I have met. - Alfred Lord Tennyson
We all need "truth-tellers" in our lives. Trusted relationships provide our greatest opportunities to stay positive, to stay focused, and to grow.
Aspirations
Your dreams and your attitude will determine your altitude in life.
Our aspirations are Our Possibilities
To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France
Priorities
Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important. - Charles E. Hummel
Use or Lose Your marbles.
Nothing shapes our attitudes more than focusing on our priorities, because when we move toward our reason for being, the result usually is happiness and peace of mind.
"There's nothing like watching your time here on earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
Lance Wubbels wrote:
If Only I knew ...
This was our last hug,
I would hold you tight
And hope to never let you go.
If Only I Knew ...
That even when everything in my life
Seems to go wrong
And comes crumbling down around me,
Even when my heart is broken,
God has promised
To always be with me.
The love of your family, your friends, and your faith will shape your attitude and determine your true success in life.
A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. - George Moore
Clarity
Knowledge is Power.
The 30-minute Theory
Spend one hour a day pursuing your goal.
Sometimes we have to crawl before we walk - so start with 30 minutes a day.
Identify a goal that is important to you.
Take 30 minutes a day to seek knowledge and clarity on the goal you've selected.
Understand that knowledge and clarity are power and will help bring your goal to life.
Once you can visualize clearly, your attitude and your confidence soar. So do your chances to succeed.
Remember, knowledge is power. It gives you the self-confidence to make difficult choices in life and to stay positive in times of adversity.
Love
Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. - Franklin P. Jones
I wish you Love.
Love, simply stated, is the essence of life. It can put the smile on your face, the bounce in your step, and most importantly, the joy in your heart. Even when your world is crumbling around you, one person holding your hand, looking into your eyes, saying "I love you" is enough to get you through.
Love is to attitude as the rain is to flowers. Surround yourself with people who love you, and who you can love back. This, more than anything else you can do, will provide the music for your life and the fuel for your soul.
Attitude
You become what you think about. - Earl Nightingale
The Choice is yours.
Your success or failure in life will not be decided by the number of setbacks you encounter, but rather how you react to them.
"Whatever does not kill us makes us stronger."
If you choose a positive approach in difficult times, you can take control of your life.
Charles Swindoll wrote:
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important that the facts...I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you - we are in charge of our attitudes."
Knowledge
The key to success in life is using the good thoughts of wise people. - Leo Tolstoy
Find a mentor. Nothing boosts your self-confidence or nurtures your positive attitude more than a mentor. And remember this ... you're never too old or too young to have one.
Ask yourself who could make a positive difference in your life. When faced with difficult choices or challenges, to whom could you turn for guidance?
List the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, and rate potential mentors in the order of preference.
Read books about mentoring relationships. The right mentor can change your life in many positive ways.
Purpose
Your vision becomes clear when you look inside your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. - Carl Jung
Know thyself.
Find what makes your heart sing and create your own music.
Loving what you do is one of the most important keys to maintaining a positive attitude. You can't fake passion. It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive.
But, the first step is to self-analyze, to simply know what you love.
Start by 1) Discovering your gifts and 2) Discover what moves you.
Have patience. Finding your reason for being brings a positive attitude than can be unstoppable.
Renewal
The will to win ... the will to achieve... goes dry and arid without continuous renewal. - Vince Lombardi, Jr.
Reinforce. Reinforce. Reinforce.
Zig Ziglar said, "People often say to me that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing ... that's why we recommend it daily."
During challenge times, you need shots of inspiration to reinforce, to encourage, and to motivate.
Don't wait until you get down; make the time to reinforce on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Vince Lombardi, Jr. said, "Continuous renewal is an umbrella term for anything you can do to keep in touch with your values and your life purpose. This is a discipline that all successful people fashion for themselves. The will to win - the will to achieve - goes dry and arid without continuous renewal."
Conclusion:
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Attitudes truly are contagious; do decide today to make yours worth catching. Attitudes are mental habits.
Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thoughts, and habits can be acquired. An action repeated becomes an attitude realized. - Paul Myer
Laughter is the Best Medicine
How many of you have heard the saying, laughter is the best medicine?
Last year I attended a seminar - Speaking on Women's Health. The keynote speaker,
Leigh Ann Jasheway - spoke from her book Don't Get Mad-Get Funny. This began my education on the health benefits of laughter.
During today's briefing, I would like to introduce you to some of the health benefits of laughter and provide to you some techniques that will help you increase your humor quotient - a lighthearted approach to stress management.
Research shows that laughter not only lifts your spirits but it also pumps hormones and endorphins into your system.
Laughter is the easiest, most practical, and most affordable way to cope with stress. You can't overdose and the only harmful side effect is snorting Pepsi through your nose.
Dr. Annette Goodheart, from Laughter Therapy gives three reasons to laugh:
1. It strengthens you immune system
2. It makes your cheeks strong
3. It actually increases your intellectual performance
Volatire said "the art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the ill." There are documented cases of patients with positive attitudes and a high laughter quotient that have recovered more quickly - or in some cases completely.
Washington University School of Medicine is now applying "Patch Adam" techniques for cancer patients.
Willibald Ruch, psychologists at University of Dusseldorf, Mahadev Apte, a cultural anthropologist at Duke University and Robert Provine, a behavioral neurobiologist at the University of Maryland - have all studied laughter and believe that like birdsongs, laughter is a social signal for trust and comfort. When someone laughs, muscles do in fact relax and in turn reduces stress.
The American Association for Therapeutic Humor was created to educate health care officials and laypersons about the values and therapeutic uses of humor and laughter.
Now that we've touched upon some of the health benefits of laughter, let's review ways to add laughter to your life - it's cheap, there is no equipment to buy and you can do it everywhere.
In a 1997 article in Psychology Today, they stated "the average six-year old laughs 300 times a day, the average adult just 170." Somewhere during our life we have learned NOT to laugh. What age were you when you started hearing, "Don't act so silly", "Wipe that smile off your face". Then as we grew, we entered the world of No-Laughing-Zones - school, work, and church. Then there are the laugh-stoppers within us - embarrassment, humiliation, and criticism.
In her book Don't Get Mad-Get Funny, Leigh Ann Jasheway says you should exercise your humor muscles a few minutes every hour.
I'd like to share with you a few tips on increasing your daily laugh quotient:
1. Figure out what makes you laugh - laughter is a personal thing - sitcoms, funny movies, humorous books or comedy performances
2. Surround yourself with funny people - laughter is contagious, it puts people in a good mood and encourages interaction and wins affection
3. Develop your own sense of humor - take a comedy workshop, read and learn to tell jokes or humorous stories
4. Think funny - everything you do can be turned into a funny moment - take a deep breath before reacting to a negative situation and think about how you can turn it into a humorous story
5. Be the target and Share your humor - when I was managing the Convergys call center I use to welcome each class and so they would get to know me, I told them the stories about my slipping falling down around my ankles in the middle of the call center floor, or how while in a hurry, I walked into the men's restroom instead of the women's and there were 10 people watching me do it.
Now, let me demonstrate some techniques from the Laughter Therapy Session Organization:
First Breathe - this will help you relax and be more open to laughter
HoHoHaHa Exercise - bend your elbows and hold hands slightly raised
Big or Hearty Laugh
Silent Laughter with Mouth Wide Open - be careful about straining during this exercise
Humming laughter with lips closed
Medium laughter
Dancing laughter
A comedic writer once said, after learning about a friends' cancer, "You can be terminally ill, but you don't have to be terminally serious." Norman Cousins' wrote in Anatomy of an Illness, "We who laughs - lasts"
In closing, I'd like to refer you to this April's issue of Toastmaster magazine. Barbara Marquand suggests that on hectic days, force yourself to smile - the simple act of turning up the corners of your mouth releases endorphins. And, remember it takes fewer muscles to smile than frown.
I encourage you to improve your health, reduce your stress and go out there and smile and laugh...Don't Get Mad - Get Funny!
"The Enthusiasm Virus," by Amanda Gore
"What I do best is share my enthusiasm."
This quote from Bill Gates, the co founder of Microsoft is worth making a life philosophy. After all folks, lets face it, this man is one of the richest in the world. He has had a greater influence on business and communication than any one else - ever. He has changed the whole paradigm of work and how we do business. He even seems to have a successful home life!
I believe excitement 'jumps'! If someone is excited and enthusiastic and passionate about something, they 'infect' those around them with the virus! Of course, some people are more susceptible to the enthusiasm virus.
Jan Campion, the New Zealand film director and producer is quoted as saying "If anyone said "Let's do the washing up" really enthusiastically, I would leap up with great excitement!". I love that approach to life!
Why choose to be someone - or hang around anyone - who dampens enthusiasm? A wet blanket who puts out the fire of life? Make a decision to be enthusiastic about most things! Every task you do, do it with energy and vitality. Even if it's vacuuming the floor!
Do something to generate the enthusiasm if you don't have it - tell yourself great things about the importance of what you are doing; the contribution you are making; find some reason to recognize the significance of every minute of your life. Even if it's only that you'll never have that minute of your life again!
Be enthusiastic about ideas and jobs and people. About their potential - it's the most potent way to create an environment in which someone can be their best.
Think about how we treat toddlers. When we want them to learn something, we are enthusiastic - we cheer and clap every time they take a step - we don't begin a tirade of abuse over their stupidity. We encourage vigorously - my definition of enthusiasm!
How would a sports team perform at the grand final if everybody sat there and yawned? The cheering from the crowd inspires them to play their best. Being at a game or grand final is much more fun than watching it on TV because we get caught up in the enthusiasm of the crowd - it's like electricity that sets us tingling.
Enthusiasm is catching - it jumps from person to person.
Try waking up enthusiastic about life. Open your eyes and grin - Ok, fake it till you make it! Find something in your day to look forward to - even if it's only your shower!
Greet people enthusiastically - instead of a boring 'hi, how are you' in a flat voice. Imagine you are in a really great mood and use that tone of voice to ask people 'what's the best thing that's happened to you today?'!
When you have to complete a task that you have up till now, found tedious, become enthusiastic about finishing it! You'll be amazed at how much more quickly the time passes.
If you're the sort of person who is convinced that there is nothing in your life over which to be enthusiastic, you'd better get off your bum and find something about which you can become passionate!
If you need to inspire people - whether as a manager or a parent - be enthusiastic. Nothing inspires people to achieve or do things or be different than someone else's encouragement and enthusiasm - or passionate belief (another synonym for enthusiasm) -that they can make the change; and do it well.
Enthusiasm can be learned and it becomes a habit - just like pessimism and cynicism. Which quality would you prefer to have in your coach, mentor or leader? What sort of person would you rather live with?
If sharing your enthusiasm can build a company like Microsoft and make Bill Gates the richest man in the world, think what you could build in your own family!
WHAT COULD YOUR BOSS DO TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE APPRECIATED DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES? Let us kow in the comment box.
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