BE HAPPY DAMMIT TIP: BUSINESS FRIENDSHIP PERKS YOU UP!

Today on my sirius show -- BE HAPPY DAMMIT -- I was talking with one of my regulars, Jonathan Fields, a serial entrepreneur, about the importance of friendship not only when it comes to life happiness -- but job happiness!

For example...

People with a best-friend at work are 7 times more likely to be engaged in their work!

Close friendships at work boost employee satisfaction by nearly 50%!

People with at least 3 close friends at work were 46% more likely to be extremely satisfied with their job -- and 88% more likely to be satisfied with their lives!

Being around a boss was generally considered the least-pleasant part of the work-day. But, employees who were good friends with their bosses were more than TWICE as likely to be happy with their work!

All of this is especially interesting to me now that I've been hiring people to help me out with my radio show. I must confess one of my top job hiring assessments was to ask myself "Would I want to have lunch with this person outside of them working with me?" I only wanted to hire people I'd enjoy spending time with -- and so far so good! I love my new Be Happy Dammit Team: Carolynn Kutz, Allison Maggy, Alexis Robertson, Laura Cantor, and Sharra! So far they've definitely been making my life and job far more than 7 times as engaging!

CAREER TIP: Seek Skillset Promotions!

Today on my Sirius show BE HAPPY DAMMIT we were talking about how too many people think the way to become happier is to focus on getting bigger and bigger monetary promotions.

Wrong.

You become far happier when you focus on getting more and more "skillset promotions."

What I mean by "skillset promotions": When you focus on stretching your skillsets to
higher levels -- so you're growing in your talents and abilities. This also means constantly testing out NEW skillsets -- so you keep on rising up higher and higher on "your total life potential ladder" -- and not just simply that "career ladder"!

I'll be talking about this concept of seeking constant "skillset promotions" LIVE in NYC this Thursday (yup, 2 nights from now!) at 7:30 at the West Side YMCA on West 63rd Street, between Broadway and Columbus -- with a panel of 4 multi-skillset-blessed writers and an agent.

This panel was put together by Marci Alboher -- the author of the amazing book ONE PERSON/MULTIPLE CAREERS -- which explains the new hot trend for more people having "slashes" in their career titles. For example... Marci is a lawyer/author/coach. (I am an ex-ad chick/author/radio host.)

The evening promises to be a fun and inspiring one -- so come on by if you're in NYC.

More info ....

The Writer's Voice (in association with The New York Writers Workshop) Presents:
ONE PERSON/MULTIPLE CAREERS: A New Model for Work/Life Success
Panel Discussion hosted by Author Marci Alboher
Thursday, April 26, 2007
7:30 PM
The George Washington Lounge
Reading/Discussion/Q & A
West Side YMCA-- The George Washington Lounge
5 West 63rd Street (between Central Park West & Broadway)
Admission Free and Open to the Public
Books from Mobile Libris/wines from 67 Wine.
5 W. 63rd Street, between Central Park West & Broadway. Accessible Trains: A, C, B, D, & 1 to Columbus Circle.

BE HAPPY DAMMIT TIP

Every morning on my BE HAPPY DAMMIT sirius radio show, I start your day by making you write a TO BE LIST -- instead of a TO DO LIST.

But I take it easy on you. I only make you write one TO BE -- so you can truly focus on it.

A favorite “TO BE” : openminded.

Marcel Proust said: “The voyage of true discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in seeing with new eyes.”

If you’re unhappy right now, you might NOT have to change your entire life -- just openmindedly view your life with “new eyes.”

It’s like this: Much of your view of your present reality is created due to your past experiences -- and the stubborn expectations and limited beliefs they’ve created – which block you from fully seeing your world with clarity.

Okay! Quick Buddhist tale to explain and inspire!

One day a very wealthy dad took his son on a trip to the country, to live a few days on the farm with a very poor family.

His goal: Teach his son how it was to be poor.

Upon return, the father asked his son, “So, what did you learn about what it means to be poor?”

The son answered, “I learned that we have one dog. They have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden. They have a creek with no end. We have imported lanterns. They have an abundance of stars at night. We have a small piece of land to live on. They have fields that go beyond our sight. We buy our food. They grow theirs. We have walls around our property. They have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then the son added this final remark: “Yes, dad, you showed me how poor WE truly are.”

THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED: With an open mind – with “new eyes” -- you can create a new reality.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Today, I encourage you to stop reacting in the same old ways to the same old things which get you upset. Create a new reality by viewing your life with “new eyes.”