Ten Habits Of Incredibly Happy People - Travis Bradberry

There are a lot of "influential thinkers" out there - Travis is the real deal!

Here is a good piece😊 

We’re always chasing something—be it a promotion, a new car, or a significant other. This leads to the belief that, “When (blank) happens, I’ll finally be happy.” The mistaken notion that major life events dictate your happiness and sadness is so prevalent that psychologists have a name for it: impact bias. The reality is, event-based happiness is fleeting. Happiness is synthetic—you either create it, or you don’t. Happiness that lasts is earned through your habits. Supremely happy people have honed habits that maintain their happiness day in, day out. Try out their habits, and see what they do for you:


 1. They slow down to appreciate life’s little pleasures. By nature, we fall into routines. In some ways, this is a good thing. It saves precious brainpower and creates comfort. However, sometimes you get so caught up in your routine that you fail to appreciate the little things in life. Happy people know how important it is to savor the taste of their meal, revel in the amazing conversation they just had, or even just step outside to take a deep breath of fresh air.

2. They exercise. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Happy people schedule regular exercise and follow through on it because they know it pays huge dividends for their mood.

3. They spend money on other people. Research shows that spending money on other people makes you much happier than spending it on yourself. This is especially true of small things that demonstrate effort, such as going out of your way to buy your friend a book that you know they will like.

4. They surround themselves with the right people. Happiness spreads through people. Surrounding yourself with happy people builds confidence, stimulates creativity, and it’s flat-out fun. Hanging around negative people has the opposite effect. They want people to join their pity party so that they can feel better about themselves. Think of it this way: If a person were smoking, would you sit there all afternoon inhaling the second-hand smoke? You’d distance yourself, and you should do the same with negative people.

5. They stay positive. Bad things happen to everyone, including happy people. Instead of complaining about how things could have been or should have been, happy people reflect on everything they’re grateful for. Then they find the best solution available to the problem, tackle it, and move on. Nothing fuels unhappiness quite like pessimism. The problem with a pessimistic attitude, apart from the damage it does to your mood, is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you expect bad things, you’re more likely to experience negative events. Pessimistic thoughts are hard to shake off until you recognize how illogical they are. Force yourself to look at the facts, and you’ll see that things are not nearly as bad as they seem. Subscribe To The Forbes Careers Newsletter Sign up here to get top career advice delivered straight to your inbox every week.


6. They get enough sleep. I’ve beaten this one to death over the years and can’t say enough about the importance of sleep to improving your mood, focus, and self-control. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, removing toxic proteins that accumulate during the day as byproducts of normal neuronal activity. This ensures that you wake up alert and clear-headed. Your energy, attention, and memory are all reduced when you don’t get enough quality sleep. Sleep deprivation also raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present. Happy people make sleep a priority, because it makes them feel great and they know how lousy they feel when they’re sleep deprived.

7. They have deep conversations. Happy people know that happiness and substance go hand-in-hand. They avoid gossip, small talk, and judging others. Instead they focus on meaningful interactions. They engage with other people on a deeper level, because they know that doing so feels good, builds an emotional connection, and is an interesting way to learn.

8. They help others. Taking the time to help people not only makes them happy, but it also makes you happy. Helping other people gives you a surge of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which create good feelings. In a Harvard study, employees who helped others were 10 times more likely to be focused at work and 40% more likely to get a promotion. The same study showed that people who consistently provided social support were the most likely to be happy during times of high stress. As long as you make certain that you aren’t overcommitting yourself, helping others is sure to have a positive influence on your mood.

9. They make an effort to be happy. No one wakes up feeling happy every day and supremely happy people are no exception. They just work at it harder than everyone else. They know how easy it is to get sucked into a routine where you don’t monitor your emotions or actively try to be happy and positive. Happy people constantly evaluate their moods and make decisions with their happiness in mind.

10. They have a growth mindset. 2/3 People’s core attitudes fall into one of two categories: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. With a fixed mindset, you believe you are who you are and you cannot change. This creates problems when you’re challenged, because anything that appears to be more than you can handle is bound to make you feel hopeless and overwhelmed. People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve with effort. This makes them happier because they are better at handling difficulties. They also outperform those with a fixed mindset because they embrace challenges, treating them as opportunities to learn something new.

Bringing It All Together Happiness can be tough to maintain, but investing in the right habits pays off. Adopting even a few of the habits from this list will make a big difference in your mood.

National Manufacturing Conference 2018

Getting A Promotion! Easy?

I cannot agree with everything here, but certainly one of the better articles I have come across recently. 

Looking for a promotion? Here are the 7 simple steps to getting there.

GETTING A PROMOTION in work is no mean feat – the competition is fierce, and the ladder is a tough climb. There can often be ‘rules’ around getting promoted that will never appear on paper, and office politics can play a role, too. Clara Whitaker, a ‘Career Doctor’ specialising in bringing a spark back to burned-out executives, says that there are two main factors that hold people back from promotion. Firstly, “a misalignment with their managers and/or the company”. And secondly, “lack of trust in [a person’s] own ability to pull it off.” Misalignment is difficult to get around – your job may only promote after a certain amount of time in a role, or not at all. But a lack of trust in yourself can be even trickier to manage. If you’re ready for that extra responsibility, though, these tips will help to get the spotlight on you.

1. Know exactly what you want “When I work with my clients, I always use a set of tests and questionnaires to clearly map out what they want out of their careers and lives, why they want it and how they’re going to get there,” says Clara. “So they can have a clear vision of what success looks like for them, instead of for other people.” This helps them understand where they can fit themselves into a new role, as well as the promotion market at their company and beyond. It is, in Clara’s words, being “smart about your career”. Kieran O’Connell, an executive with DIT Hothouse, also recommends having a clear roadmap for yourself. “You have to have a permanent campaign for career progression,” he says.

2. Decide whether you need to upskill “Investing in education, learning and development is one of the single biggest factors influencing both employability and the ability to progress,” says Dr Ronan Carberry, Senior Lecturer in Management at UCC and the Irish Management Institute. It may not seem like the most obvious thing to do, but going back to education can have a real impact on your job aspirations. Kieran O’Connell recently completed a Masters in Business in order to keep up with the demands of the market. “When everyone has a degree, no one does,” he says. “So one of the best ways to differentiate yourself is to upskill.” Not only does it differentiate you, but letting your boss know that you’re working on something new shows initiative and drive. “The ability to articulate what specific skills and competencies have been developed as a result of completing a course or programme is hugely important [to career progression],” says Dr Carberry. If you can’t take on a degree – and let’s face it, many of us can’t – you might have a think about night or online courses too.

3. Prepare, prepare, prepare Once you decide you want a promotion, it’s best to set the wheels in motion – so that by the time a position crops up, you have everything ready to go as if the interview were tomorrow. “For starters, assess your current skill set, check out what the new position would entail, and prepare, prepare, prepare for the role,” says Clara Whitaker. “Look beyond your current position to see where else you can add value: what opportunities or threats can you perceive?”

4. Find a mentor Another tactic is to ask for help within the organisation. Dr Carberry recommends “seeking out mentoring or sponsorship opportunities.” Having a powerful employee on your side can make all the difference, he says. “Here the sponsor acts as an advocate for an employee when it comes to career opportunities, promotions, and who has the power to effect change.”

5. Help your manager succeed “If you want to get ahead, you have to start thinking and acting like you’re ahead.” says Clara. “That means understanding the differences in scope, responsibility, skills and vision that will be necessary to the new role, and preparing accordingly.” In other words: start acting like you’re already in the role you’re coveting. Taking on extra responsibilities and working as hard as you can get you noticed by a superior – in all the right ways. “You are more likely to be noticed as someone deserving if you consistently help your boss succeed, and rally the troops to help you help her succeed,” according to Clara. Dr Carberry recommends preparing “a concise document that clearly outlines your proven track record and provides concrete details on the impact you’ve had on the business”. Aligning this with the company’s objectives, where possible, is a sure-fire way to stand out.

6. Know where the company is going “What helps [with self-promotion] is to think about the position you want and then build a compelling argument as to how it aligns with the objectives of your boss and the organisation,” says Dr Carberry. Many companies have a long-term strategic plan or vision for the company, as well as for the staff – it’s worth finding and studying this, as more often than not it’s a bible to management. Knowing it inside out not only impresses in an interview setting, but it can help you build a coherent strategy for your new role. Clara stresses the importance of doing your homework too. “Know what the company’s short and long term goals are and how you can add value to them. And research the market to find out what it pays someone with your experience and qualifications.”

7. Have a plan B (and be ready to look elsewhere) Much as the idea of being told ‘No’ may turn your stomach, Clara says it’s important to be ready for rejection – without expecting it. “Always have a plan B” she advises. “Companies are not always able or willing to promote employees at certain times. It happens. So what would your next steps be if your request for a promotion was met with a ‘No’?” If you’re knocked back, try not to take it personally – it really is just business. At the very least, your boss knows that you’re willing, ready and able to up-skill – and it also might be a good time to shop around, says Dr Carberry. “Research shows that one of the best ways to get a pay raise is to switch organisations between three and five years after you started there. Less than three years may be too little time to develop the most marketable skills and after five years people become tied to the organisation.” So maybe if your time is up, and you’re not getting that promotion, it’s best to take your newly sharpened skills elsewhere.

thejournal.ie/promotion-simple-steps-4173711-Aug2018