So let me ask you a question. On a scale of 1 – 10, with 1 being “You’ve got to be kidding me!” and a 10 representing, “I can’t think of a better place.” , how would you rank the sense of “Well-Being” where you work? I ask because of some conversations I’ve had over the past few weeks, two of which stand out. One individual described her work environment as almost toxic. “It is highly competitive and you need to watch your back constantly.…
It’s 11:40 on Tuesday evening and I’m sitting on my deck reading and listening as the crickets and cicadas harmonize. This is my time, and being retired I have the opportunity to stay up and enjoy the stillness of the night. I use this time to read, write my gratitudes and gather my thoughts relative to each week’s newsletter. Over the next few evenings, it will go through numerous drafts and may even change direction from time to time. I also use this time to be mindful and reflect.…
Two weeks ago I visited by brother and his family in Chicago and on Thursday of this past week, my son, daughter-in-law, and the two grandchildren arrived to spend a few days with us. My brother is 55 and my son and his wife are 37. All work for Fortune 500 organizations. In preparing this newsletter I asked them to tell me how they balance work and life. My brother said a work/life balance is a choice defined by the individual when they pursue a career.…
As I previously mentioned, I am completing coursework through the Univ. of PA in the field of Positive Psychology. Required is the development and testing of a hypothesis related to the field of positive psychology. Specifically my hypothesis is that small businesses taking the time and specific actions to demonstrate gratitude to customers will see an increase in customer traffic and loyalty as measured by orders, repeat business and/or customer traffic over a three month period. My hypothesis considers the impact of gratitude as it relates to the relationship between a business and its client or customers, but there is something equally important we must consider!…
I may have shared with you that my father (Harry) was a practicing disciple of positive thinking. He began every day by reminding my brothers and I that, “It’s another day to excel! There are acres of diamonds waiting to be mined. You need to go get yours!”. His attitude and approach to life were contagious. He was the eternal optimist, and always found a way to make us smile. Whether it was stories about his youth, “My mother took me down the corner and told me we were signing-up for summer camp.…