Life With Happiness

Play to Win

jsmith — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:28:05 +0000

I was fortunate to begin my career with a company that really lived into the mantra, “work hard, play hard.” We used employee meetings to celebrate accomplishments, we threw parties to mark successful projects, invited family to annual picnics and frequent open houses, and encouraged people to decorate for nearly every holiday – with Halloween as a peak [...]

Play Like a Kid

jsmith — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:18:53 +0000

I was recruited to deliver the keynote presentation at a regional Human Resources conference in Tampa. My dear wife suggested that I take an extra day to enjoy the sunshine. What?! No way! I’m too busy. I have backlog. I… I’m burned out. So after the conference ended I drove to Orlando, had dinner with [...]

Are You Serious About Play?

jsmith — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:05:51 +0000

When I ask any audience about the value of Happiness, they quickly create a long list of positive outcomes. Among these are better relationships and health, lower stress, and higher productivity and creativity. What if I told you there was something that could give you all the above PLUS make you more flexible and adaptable? [...]

How Do You Keep Your Edge as a Coach?

jsmith — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:01:20 +0000

I mentor other coaches, in addition to working directly with clients. One of the coaches I'm currently mentoring wrote to ask how I keep learning. It caused me to reflect, and I ended up sending her and others a list of the resources and some books that I use to keep my own edge sharp. I share them here.

Act Happy Week, Day 5: Say Thank You

jsmith — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:00:20 +0000

Today is the final day of Act Happy week: a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Say Thank You -- expressing Gratitude changes your body chemistry AND changes the environment around you (a 60-second lesson -- read more at the blog)

Act Happy Week, Day 4: Fake It to Feel It

jsmith — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:00:29 +0000

Today is the fourth day of Act Happy week: in a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Fake It Till You Make It -- change your body to change your emotional space (a 60-second lesson -- read more at the blog)

Act Happy Week, Day 3: Reach Out and Touch Someone

jsmith — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:00:43 +0000

Today is the third in a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Reach Out and Touch Someone -- create a conversation (a 60-second lesson -- read more at the blog)

Act Happy Week, Day 2: Tell a Positive Story

jsmith — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:00:20 +0000

Today is the second of a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Tell a Positive Story -- the Skill of Savoring (a 60-second lesson -- read more at the blog)

Act Happy Week, Day 1: Smile on Purpose

jsmith — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:17:10 +0000

Today is the first of a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Smile on Purpose -- at home and at work! (a 60-second lesson -- read more at the blog)

Why didn’t we listen to Henry Ford?

jsmith — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:31:42 +0000

In the early days of the modern age, we had a leader who believed in the power of the human spirit. When he created the assembly line, we embraced that as a tool that ultimately extinguished the human spirit in the workplace. Why didn't we listen to what else he had to say? (read more)