Podcast appearances and mentions of joy at work

Summary This winter, my pickleball game fell apart. I wasn't feeling low — I was still showing up — but I had quietly shifted from playing to competing. Focused on the outcome, the ranking, the score. The fun left. The pressure filled the space. I had pickleball burnout. In a hobby. And it turned out to be a signal about something much bigger than my backhand. In this episode, I share how I got my mojo back — and why the shift from playing to competing is one of the quietest, most damaging things that happens to leaders and their teams. Takeaways The mojo leaves before the metrics do. Disengagement is quiet. People are still showing up. But something has left — and the signal comes long before anyone names it. Self-imposed pressure is sneaky. I never felt low. I just stopped having fun. That's exactly how it shows up for leaders and their teams too. Playful inclusive leadership requires actually playing. Process over outcome. Curiosity over scorecard. Joy as a feature, not a reward for hitting your numbers. The question isn't whether your people are showing up. It's whether they're still in it. That's the check-in worth having this week. Connect with Me The Newsletter: This week in the newsletter, I wrote about gaming careers opening for autistic talent, Maryland restoring voting access during reentry, and blood donation rules expanding in New Zealand, and more!  Subscribe to the 5 Things Newsletter here. Work with Me: Let's talk. Watch 5 Things on YouTube. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Let's talk about building a positive workplace culture. What does it take to build a workplace where people truly own their work — not just show up for it? Anusha Iyer, Founder and CEO of Corsha, joins Toni to share the unfiltered journey from software engineer to CTO to CEO — and the leadership philosophy that underpins everything she's built along the way. Corsha secures machine-to-machine communications for the operational systems that run our world, from AI agents to robotic controllers in critical infrastructure. It's deep tech solving some of the most important and underprotected problems in cybersecurity today. But this conversation isn't just about technology. It's about ownership culture, the realities of founding a company as a woman, how to pivot without destroying your team, and why joy at work isn't a soft concept — it's a strategic one. Anusha also gets into the AI thread that's running through every organisation right now: why diverse voices need to be shaping these tools while the models are still being trained, and why using AI as an assistant rather than a replacement is a leadership decision, not just a preference. What we cover: The real financial and personal cost of starting a startup — and why it's worth it How to make strategic pivots without flip-flopping and exhausting your team The power of saying no — to customers, to money, to scope creep Building a positive workplace culture through ownership: the Joy at Work framework The CTO-to-CEO transition: what changes, what doesn't, and the vulnerability that makes it work Why the E in CEO stands for evangelist — and what that means for how you lead Communication training for the whole team, not just the C-suite AI as an assistant, not a replacement — and why women need to be in these tools now The 100% job spec problem — and the mindset shift women need to make Why diverse voices matter in AI training right now, while it still counts Connect with Anusha and Corhsa: https://corsha.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusha-iyer/  Resources mentioned in this episode Read the book Joy At Work by Dennis W. Bakke Emma Wainer, public speaking coach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawainer/  Listen to Emma on the Podcast:  Episode 107 - Being a great communicator with Emma Wainer Book a strategy call with Toni: tonicollis.com/lets-chat    This episode was sponsored by our guest, Anusha Iyer. Thank you Anusha & Corsha for helping to bring Leading Women in Tech to this community!  

Burnout is often treated like a badge of honor—but what if constant stress is actually sabotaging your performance?In this episode of the Career Warrior Podcast, Chris Villanueva sits down with leadership advisor and former C-suite executive Amy Leneker, who once experienced over 100 stress-induced panic attacks in just three months while leading at the highest levels of business. Despite advising Fortune 100 companies and building a high-powered career, Amy realized she had mistaken constant stress for a meaningful life. She recently released the book: Cheers to Monday: The Surprisingly Simple Method to Lead and Live with Less Stress and More Joy, which is currently climbing best seller lists.Now a leadership consultant who has helped 100,000+ professionals and executives, Amy shares the science and strategy behind working with less stress and more joy—without sacrificing ambition or results.Together, Chris and Amy explore why high achievers often glorify stress, how burnout sneaks up on even the most successful professionals, and what leaders can do to perform at their best without sacrificing their health or happiness.You'll also learn Amy's practical framework for “unstressing” your work life, the surprising research behind why 79% of people perform best when connected to joy, and simple habits you can use immediately to create more clarity, focus, and energy in your career.In this episode, you'll learn:Why ambitious professionals often confuse stress with purposeThe moment Amy realized her “dream job” had become a nightmareA powerful framework for sorting and managing different types of stressThe ABC of Joy (Awareness, Breathe, Connection) and how it impacts performanceWhether stress is actually necessary for successWhat to do when you have to work long hours but still want to avoid burnoutIf you're a driven professional, leader, or job seeker trying to grow your career without sacrificing your well-being, this conversation will help you rethink how high performance, joy, and ambition can coexist.Resources MentionedCheers to Monday: The Surprisingly Simple Method to Lead and Live with Less Stress and More Joy (Wiley // March 24, 2026)Follow Amy on LinkedInLess Stress, More Joy Podcast Amy's InstagramConnect with Chris, the hostLet's Eat, Grandma — Resume writing services to help you stand out with clarity and confidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you find joy at work without faking positivity or losing yourself in the process? Episode Summary In this episode of the Joyosity™ Podcast, Jenn Whitmer talks with performer, teacher, and creator Tara DeFrancisco about joy at work, authenticity, leadership, creativity, trust, and self-judgment. Together, they explore how to be fully yourself at work, why presence matters, and how authenticity helps people connect more deeply in leadership, performance, and everyday life. Tara shares insights on bringing your full self to work, letting go of the need to perform for your inner critic, and learning how to enjoy the work you have already earned. Jenn and Tara also discuss improv, emotional connection, workplace joy, online identity, and what it means to lead with truth instead of control. This episode is for anyone who wants more joy in work and life without forcing positivity. If you are a leader, creative, speaker, performer, or professional trying to stay grounded, authentic, and connected, this conversation offers practical wisdom and a refreshing perspective on authentic leadership and meaningful work. In this episode, you'll learn: 03:21 What do you do with joy when energy is low, and you still have to show up. 04:52 Why presence is the reward for the work you have already done. 07:43 How trust is built through modeling rather than controlling in leadership, improv, and creative work. 12:18 What happens when people realize they are actually allowed to enjoy the way they work. 17:33 What it means to be the same person everywhere you go, and why authenticity creates deeper connection. Key takeaway: Joy at work grows when you stop performing for your inner evaluator and become present enough to enjoy the work you have already done. About Tara DeFranciscoTara is a globally respected improviser, educator, speaker, and comedic performer known for her powerful blend of humor, connection, and authenticity. She has performed more than 8,000 shows on renowned stages, including iO Chicago, The Second City, and ComedySportz, and is especially known for HERE: The (Improvised) Musical, her acclaimed two-person show performed in 24 countries and more than 90 cities. Tara is also the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The Nest Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, and a sought-after teacher whose work has taken her around the world. Most recently, she began serving as a facilitator and artistic liaison for Cirque du Soleil. Through speaking, teaching, and performance, Tara helps people and organizations unlock more play, presence, trust, and connection. taradefrancisco.com/ Tara's Socials:Instagram: instagram.com/taradefranciscoTikTok: tiktok.com/@taradefrancisco About the Host: Jenn Whitmer Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results. jennwhitmer.com Jenn's Socials: Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/jenn_whitmer LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/jennwhitmer Podcast edited by Katey Perkins, Midsouth Story Co Resources & Links: Ready to stop over-functioning and start leading with more clarity, intention, and joy? There is a program for you. Join the waitlist here: jennwhitmer.com/waitlist Get Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbook Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn't extra. Joy is how you thrive. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish. Joyosity Works Playbook: Practical Plays and Strategies for Joy at Work and Beyond is the official companion workbook to Joyosity to help you practice joy every day. Find direct links to purchase at your favorite booksellers at https://jennwhitmer.com/books. Free 99: Joyosity Explorer Map → This map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what's in the way, and how to move forward with traction. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership. A Party for More: Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter. Loved this episode? Rate, review, and share with a fellow leader who's ready to ditch the drama and lead with more joy, curiosity, and clarity.

On this edition of 52 Coffees Kyleigh recaps her conversation with Dr. Rachel Gifford that discusses, among other things - finding joy at work in the things you cannot control.

Amy Leneker discusses how to spot and stop stress for more joyful days at work. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The top five barriers to joy at work 2) The three-step un-stressing method 3) The simple practice that leads to more joy Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1142 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT AMY — Amy Leneker is an optimistic, joy-seeking, recovering workaholic. She's also a leadership consultant who has helped over 100,000 leaders and teams – including those at Fortune 100 companies – lead with less stress and more joy. Her soul goal? To help one billion people do the same. With over 25 years of leadership experience – including a decade in the C-suite – Amy understands the soul-crushing toll of burnout because she's lived it. Twice. After surviving her own brush with burnout, Amy became determined to help others succeed without sacrificing their joy, their health, or their weekends. A first-generation college student, Amy earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees while working full-time and later raising a family. She has studied leadership at Yale, neuroscience at the NeuroLeadership Institute, and stress resilience at Harvard Medical School.• Book: Cheers to Monday: The Surprisingly Simple Method to Lead and Live with Less Stress and More Joy• Study: "The State of Stress & Joy at Work 2026"• Website: AmyLeneker.com— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brene Brown— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME.• Vanguard. Give your clients consistent results year in and year out with vanguard.com/AUDIO• Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/better• Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll with gusto.com/AWESOMESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with UofL School of Nursing Program Manager and Mindset Coach Rebecca Barrett to explore what it truly means to cultivate joy at work—not as a fleeting feeling, but as a powerful, practical skill.Brian and Rebecca dive into how to intentionally tap into your mind and emotions in the workplace so you can navigate both challenging seasons and moments of success with clarity and resilience. Rebecca shares actionable insights on emotional awareness, mindset shifts, and the science behind sustainable joy at work. Listen in to learn about how to respond rather than react, reframe obstacles, and harness positive experiences to build momentum and engagement.Learn more about the School of Nursing here.Send a CARDGram!      Check out all the incredible opportunities offered by the Employee Success Center here.

Jeremy Bloom and Scott Hess, Chief Marketing Officer of Starcom and Chief Marketing Officer of Publicis Media, discuss the significance of the Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day, the importance of mentorship and networking in the advertising industry, and personal experiences that shaped their careers. They reflect on the joy of working in advertising and the opportunities available for young professionals entering the field. Takeaways Scott Hess is the Chief Work Officer of Publicis Media. The Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day is crucial for networking. Mentorship can significantly impact career paths in advertising. Career Day demystifies the advertising industry for young people. Networking events provide access to industry leaders and opportunities. Scott's son found joy in advertising after initially pursuing engineering. The advertising industry offers diverse career paths and opportunities. Personal connections can lead to job opportunities and mentorship. The excitement of young professionals can reinvigorate seasoned veterans. Chicago's winter can be a downside, but the city has much to offer.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:43 The Importance of Career Day 05:37 Mentorship and Networking in Advertising 08:50 Personal Experiences and Career Paths 11:38 The Joy of Working in Advertising 14:37 Conclusion and Upcoming Events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWhat if joy isn't a perk but the operating system of high performance? We sit down with visionary leader and five-time entrepreneur Marissa Levin to unpack why joy—grounded in psychological safety and clear structure—creates cultures where people do their best work and stay longer. No fluff here: we connect joy to engagement, retention, and real business results, while sharing practical steps leaders can take this week.Marissa introduces her joyful leadership model, built around the symbolism of the lotus: growth through the mud, resilience in the storm, and the softening of ego. We break down the six petals—principles, process, perspective, presence, people, and play—and show how each petal translates into daily leadership moves. From clarifying values and mission to eliminating chaos with clean processes, from widening your lens to being intentional about your energy, the model offers a roadmap any leader can use to reduce friction and unlock creativity.We also tackle skepticism head-on. Drawing on research around psychological safety and gratitude, Marissa explains how safety becomes the gateway to joy, and how joy fuels sustained performance. You'll hear concrete stories from remote teams, a powerful “soul behind the role” lens for seeing your people, and a simple joy audit you can run on yourself before you try to shift your culture. Expect fresh language you can take into the boardroom and immediate actions that move joy from “woo-woo” to “must do.”If you lead a team, coach executives, or simply want work to feel alive again, this conversation will equip you with tools to align purpose and paycheck, spark innovation with play, and build the kind of culture that holds steady under pressure. Listen, take notes, and tell us: where will you plant the first petal today? Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more leaders discover joyful leadership.Watch the full interview by clicking here. Find the full article here.Learn more about Marissa here. Marissa has graciously provided our listeners with her PDF of The Art of Joyful Living and Leading. Grab your free issue of choice Magazine here - https://choice-online.com/

Send us a textSomewhere between the back-to-back meetings, the unread emails, and the endless performance goals, many leaders lose something vital, joy. Not fleeting happiness, but that deep sense of meaning, energy, and lightness that makes you remember why you started in the first place.In this episode, we're diving into the very real emotional toll of leadership and how to rebuild joy, not through grand gestures, but in small, intentional moments that bring back creativity, connection, and purpose. If you've ever thought, “I love what I do, but it doesn't feel good anymore,” this one's for you.What You'll Learn:Why joy is a strategic leadership tool, not a luxuryThe most common “joy drainers” in the workplaceSimple, powerful ways to rebuild lightness in your leadershipKey Takeaways:Joy fuels creativity, connection, and resilience, it's not optionalLeadership doesn't have to feel heavy all the time, even in high-pressure rolesProtecting your joy allows your team to feel safe, inspired, and connectedCall to Action:Take five minutes today to reflect on where joy has faded in your work, and how you might invite it back. Whether it's a small celebration, a handwritten note, or simply pausing to laugh with your team, joy doesn't need to be scheduled. It just needs space.If this episode encouraged you, tag @GingerBiz and share what joy looks like in your leadership journey. And if you haven't yet, leave a rating or review to help more leaders find the show.Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.______________________________You can find me here:Instagram: @gingerbizWebsite: https://www.katymurrayphotography.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TipsandTricksforyourbusinessX: https://twitter.com/GingerBizKMLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-murray-ginger-biz/

In this episode, Cindy Esliger asks ‘What if work could actually be fun?' She's talking about finding room satisfaction, creativity, and fun in our careers instead of simply viewing work as an endless, stressful grind keeping us from the weekend. When we make work more enjoyable and better suited to us, we reduce our stress, protect our spark, and perform better as well. It may sound like a radical mindset shift, but Cindy walks us through exactly how to approach it.   If all we're doing at work each week is just trying to make it to Friday, or to retirement, we're basically postponing our lives. There's more to work than just surviving it. There is room for joy to help offset the stress we're under. Cindy describes exactly what stress does to our body, a physical stress response, and our feelings, an emotional stress response, and then offers us four ways to interrupt the stress spiral before it takes over: 1. Close our eyes and reopen them slowly, 2. Yawn on purpose, 3. Move our bodies, and 4. Label what's happening. There are a hundred little ways to inject personal satisfaction or creativity into our tasks at work. Where can we find moments of joy? Cindy shares three tiny joy experiments to test what brings more lightness to our day: 1. Work with people we like, 2. Tweak a task to reflect our creativity or skills, and 3. Insert our perspective into a process. We need to find ways to better manage our stress and resent our jobs less. Cindy assures us that we are allowed to find our spark again and inject it into our careers; in fact, we should.Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Reigniting Your SparkAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Project professionals across the globe deliver meaningful work in myriad ways—all with a goal to make the world a better place. So how did two project managers start their careers, one producing concerts across the globe and the other inspiring teams at LEGO? We discuss what makes them proud to be project managers, some of their favorite projects and more. Our guests are Jim Digby, PMP, project manager and tour and production director at Show Makers in Philadelphia, and Liliana Janette Gómez Castrejón, PMP, project manager at The LEGO Group in Herning, Denmark.  Key themes01:03 Delivering projects, from major music tours to LEGO06:32 The project management skills that help deliver creative projects08:40 Overcoming challenges with stakeholder management and finding your leadership style12:39 Bringing creativity into leading creative projects 17:55 Project manager pride: Creating healthy, diverse team environments 

"Most people can't remember the last time they went to bed and thought: today was fun."   In this conversation with Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun, we recenter the conversation on joy, pleasure, and meaning at work. Bree shares why her mom always said, "I have the best days," what it taught her about how we spend our lives, and why fun is not frivolous, it's the driver of creativity, performance, and belonging.   We also dive into the future of work and AI: "If the AI is a train speeding up behind you, don't try to outrun it. Step off the tracks. Be the most human version of yourself." Why we should measure success not only in revenue and customers, but in whether our companies create good days. Why Mondays are not a renewable resource and how leaders can treat each day as a responsibility.   As Bree says: "The pain is optional, and the fun is free."

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we explore what it takes to create a fulfilling professional life while also protecting our well-being. My guest this week is Bree Groff, a seasoned consultant, transformation expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously).Bree shares her unconventional career journey from teaching middle and high school math and physics, to acting, to consulting and culture change and ultimately to authoring a book about joy at work. Along the way, she opens up about identity shifts, learning to slow down and the hard-earned perspective that comes from life's toughest seasons, including caring for her mother through terminal illness.Together we talk about:The messy, non-linear path to a fulfilling careerWhy “future you” is stronger and more resourceful than you thinkHow to create more joy in your workdays without ignoring hard realitiesPractical strategies for setting boundaries, pacing yourself and making space for what matters mostAbout My GuestBree Groff is a workplace culture expert and author of "Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)". She has spent her career guiding C-suite leaders at companies such as Microsoft, Google, Pfizer, Calvin Klein, Target, and Hilton through periods of complex change. She is a Senior Advisor to the global consultancy SYPartners, previously served as the CEO of NOBL Collective, a consultancy pioneering new ways of working, and she holds an MS in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. Bree lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.~Connect with Bree:Book: www.breegroff.com/bookSubstack: https://breegroff.substack.com/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bree-groffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bree_groff/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

Losing her mom to cancer reminded Bree that life is fleeting.  Working as a consultant, she also saw how many people are miserable in their jobs.  Connecting these dots, she decided to help people find more joy and meaning in their work and rather than count the days to the weekend, turn things around and actually look forward to getting to work, perhaps even embrace a “TGIM” mentality.  In her book, Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) she gives numerous examples of way we can find more joy from our work and our colleagues and encourages employers that creating a fun-filled workplace can improve an organization's performance and bottom line.    Chapters: 00:00 Work Should Be Fun  Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) shares how her mother, a kindergarten teacher, inspired her to believe that work can be enjoyable. After experiencing consulting and witnessing widespread job dissatisfaction, Bree realized that many people are not having fun at work.  03:59 A New Perspective on Work  Bree's perspective on work drastically changed after her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis, leading her to question why people wish away their workdays. She advocates for a “middle way” where work is a pleasant way to spend time, not just a means to a paycheck or an all-consuming passion.  10:56 Fun Boosts Productivity  Bree argues that fun at work increases productivity and employee engagement, citing research from Gallup. She challenges the traditional notion that work cannot be fun and explores how elements like comfortable dress codes can enhance well-being and authenticity.  17:29 Embracing Authenticity in Work  Bree uses the example of a heart surgeon listening to ‘Napoleon Dynamite' during operations to illustrate that even serious work can benefit from a relaxed and authentic environment. She emphasizes the importance of treating our brains like athletes by prioritizing sleep, comfort, and mental health.  21:43 Micro Mischief and Generosity  Bree suggests ‘micro mischiefs' for employees to subtly challenge restrictive workplace norms and encourages leaders to assume the best in their teams. She advocates for a cycle of generosity, where leaders support their employees' well-being, leading to increased commitment and better work.  29:01 Humanizing the Virtual Workplace  Bree discusses the benefits of remote work in humanizing colleagues, as shared glimpses into personal lives foster empathy and stronger relationships. She highlights how moments like the BBC interview interruption showcased the human side of professionals, breaking down traditional barriers.  33:11 Future of Joy at Work  Bree emphasizes that physical distance doesn't mean emotional distance in virtual work and suggests structured check-ins to maintain human connection. She notes a positive shift, especially among younger generations, towards valuing mental health and work-life boundaries, which aligns with her vision for joyful workplaces.  41:48 Reflections and Closing  Bill Burke reflects on the work-from-home versus in-office debate, acknowledging both the benefits of in-person interaction and the strong arguments for virtual work. He expresses appreciation for Bree Groff's insights and her book, encouraging listeners to engage with the podcast and the Optimism Institute.  

This week, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber welcome Caroline Mabon, co-founder of Compassionate Cultures, to discuss the concept of thriving in the workplace. They explore how individuals can take care of themselves, find joy and grow in their professional lives. Caroline shares insights from her company's research, including their Thrive and Grow Index, which helps organisations create environments where employees can thrive.Caroline shares tips on how to 'Lead Yourself', aligned with her simple model: setting intentional goals, owning your personal development, and building resilience. Don't settle for work being ok. You deserve moments of joy every day!To find out more, check out Compassionate Cultures makes us Future FitGot a question - get in touch. Click here.

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Bree Groff, transformation consultant, speaker, and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). Bree challenges the idea that work must be draining to be valuable, offering a refreshing and practical vision for how leaders can help teams thrive, and even enjoy, their workdays. They explore how her upbringing shaped her perspective on work, why so many teams normalize burnout and busyness, and how leaders can model a healthier, more joyful approach. Bree introduces rituals, such as user manuals and daily check-ins, that foster trust and psychological safety, and she explains what it means to build “cozy teams” that perform through connection. You'll also hear her take on performative professionalism and how to lead without losing your humanity. If you're looking for ways to lead with more energy, authenticity, and yes, fun, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “Most work, most days, should be fun.” “Being busy is not the same as being brilliant.” “Cozy teams are teams that trust each other enough to tell the truth.” “We've confused being professional with looking professional.” “You can either be consumed by your calendar or create space to consume ideas.” “Even shoveling tough work can be joyful if you like your co-shovelers.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Start of Interview 02:03 Bree's Background and Family Influence 05:47 The Normalization of Burnout 10:54 Optimizing for Good Laughs with Good People 17:50 Performative Professionalism vs. Authenticity 26:26 Creating Fun and Cozy Work Environments 33:08 Building a Trusting and High-Performing Team 34:42 Practical Tools for Team Cohesion 35:15 The User Manual: A Quickstart Guide to Teamwork 37:01 Daily Check-ins: Enhancing Team Communication 38:28 The Fast Food Rule: Effective One-on-One Communication 40:38 Prioritizing Personal Well-being for Better Work 46:24 Milton Glaser: Finding Pleasure in Work 49:45 Applying Team Principles in Family Life 51:39 End of Interview 52:12 Andy Comments After the Interview 56:52 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Bree and her work at BreeGroff.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 458 with Elizabeth Lotardo, about finding joy in the job you have Episode 333 with Bob Nelson and Mario Tamayo, on how to make work more fun Episode 82 with Bill Catlette, about how contented teams deliver better results Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Work Culture, Team Rituals, Burnout, Psychological Safety, Joy at Work, Authenticity, People Management, Communication, Employee Engagement, Project Management, Emotional Intelligence The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Terry Haayema: Why "Working Myself Out of a Job" Is Wrong for Scrum Masters Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. "Success for a Scrum Master is to do myself out of a job... which I don't buy into at all, because a team will always need a coach." Terry challenges the common belief that Scrum Masters succeed by working themselves out of a job, arguing instead that teams always need coaching as they continuously improve. He emphasizes the importance of separating his outcomes from the team's success to avoid becoming part of the system he's trying to help. For Terry, success is measured by the visible joy he can create in people - when leaders approach him with happiness, when team members are excited to see him, when absenteeism drops because people actually want to come to work. He shares a powerful story of how helping teams find joy not only improved their performance but reduced their stress-related sick days from the highest to the lowest in their division. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Drawing Retrospectives Terry loves retrospective formats that use drawings and visual metaphors, like Draw Your Feelings, or the Sailboat retrospective. He explains that when teams draw pictures instead of immediately processing thoughts through language, they generate much richer and deeper insights. The approach works by having people first draw their thoughts, then asking "What led you to draw that picture?" This method bypasses the analytical mind and taps into more intuitive understanding. For longer-term retrospectives, Terry recommends Open Space Technology, which allows groups to self-organize around the most important questions they need to answer. Self-reflection Question: How do you measure your own success as a Scrum Master, and does that measurement inspire you to do your best work? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

What happens when life throws you the hardest challenge—and you choose to turn grief into growth? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Gretchen Schott, (https://www.gretchenschott.com/) speaker, author, and leadership powerhouse, to talk about her new book Joy at Work When Women Lead and what it really means to bring authentic joy to the workplace.Spoiler: joy at work isn't about plastering on a grin. It's about clarity, self-awareness, and leading with love; a blend of humility, courage, and being lovingly direct when it counts most.Gretchen shares her deeply personal journey, how she reframed heartbreak into purpose, and the practical tools leaders can use to build stronger, more joyful workplaces.What you'll learn in this episode:  How “cleaning the windshield” helps you banish overwhelm and get clarity  Why the content you consume matters, and how to find true contentment  Practical steps to protect your mental well-being and shift from burnout to joy  Why tolerating a toxic workplace is a choice, and how to know when it's time to move onWhether you're leading a team, searching for more fulfillment at work, or just craving more joy in your day-to-day, this episode is full of wisdom, heart, and actionable takeaways.

In this episode of The Happiness Challenge – September Back to Work Series, Klaudia Mitura, work psychologist and learning development specialist, explores why joy at work isn't just a perk but a key to wellbeing and performance. Discover five simple, science-backed habits to spark more joy in your workday.

Ever feel like you're counting down the minutes to Friday? You're not alone—but it doesn't have to be that way! This week, JVN is joined by Bree Groff: workplace transformation expert and sought-after consultant for companies like Google, Microsoft, and Calvin Klein. Bree offers tools for navigating toxic bosses, seven game-changing rules to live by to actually enjoy your workday, and the reasons why you should absolutely go ahead and take the PTO.  Her new book, Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously), is out now. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Bree Groff on Instagram @bree_groff Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Big Skip Energy, Skip is joined by Dr. Christie McMullen, who helps people make work fun to prevent burnout and increase productivity. Christie shares her insights on how to create a better workspace, emphasizing the value of joy, appreciation, and leveraging talents. She and Skip discuss the significance of intentionality, the importance of aligning passions with talents, and how to properly train and equip employees. Christie also talks about her book, 'Learning Can Stick,' and methods for improving team dynamics.

From baristas at Starbucks to retail workers at Tiffany & Co, emotional performance is now part of the job description. But is mandating joy at work a way businesses can thrive – or just another path to employee burnout? Helen asks workplace culture psychologist Hajra Hussain and Mindvalley co-founder Ajit Nawalkha. Meanwhile, Dubai has made history, becoming the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere. But what does that really look like beyond airports and check-in counters? OT Adam Griffin explains, with the help of some parents...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part One. Joy at work? Sounds suspicious. But Rahshea Cardiff is making it happen.As VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies and a corporate veteran of Microsoft, Starbucks, and Best Buy, Rahshea has serious street cred. But her story isn't just about big names—it's about big life lessons.In this episode, she gets real about love, loss, and career reinvention—plus why she believes your workplace should feel a little less like a chore and a lot more like a choice. Join us as she shares how her personal journey brought her to a company with “happy” in its name—and how she plans to make that more than just branding.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Conditioned Ambition: The Corporate Ladder Wasn't the Life I Wanted“As we're growing up, we go to school, we get good grades, we go to college, we get married, buy a house. Climb the corporate ladder—it's what we're taught, what we see. But in 2016, everything shifted—I realized I was chasing something that no longer felt right."Loss and Legacy: Realizing We're Not Promised Tomorrow“Losing my mother and going through a divorce within a year taught me that we all fall into this trap of thinking there's always tomorrow. I began asking myself, ‘If today were my last day, would I be at peace with how I spent it?' Too many times, the answer was no. I knew it was time to recalibrate.”Choosing Purpose Over Position“I walked away from corporate stability and took a leap into entrepreneurship. And now, working with Happy, I'm able to stay close to my family and focus on meaningful work that aligns with my values.”The Gift of Presence: Living in the Moment“When we are able to shift our mindset and perspective to live in the present, it really is such a gift.”Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.10 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>130,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.

Part Two. Joy, but make it scalable.After opening up about grief, growth, and career pivots in Part One, Rahshea Cardiff is back—this time to talk about the business side of happiness. As VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies, she's building tech-driven tools that actually help humans (imagine that!). From burnout prevention to culture repair, this episode explores her vision for making workplaces feel a little less like work.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Unbecoming to Become: Shedding What Isn't You"Maybe it's not about becoming anything. Maybe it's about unbecoming everything that isn't who you really are."The Power of Staying True to Yourself“I was told I needed to change who I was… to fit into somebody's picture of what they thought I should be. Instead, I learned to step into who I am and be proud of it.”Unlocking a Team's Full Potential through Behavioral Insights“With Happy, leaders get a snapshot of every team member—how they're wired, their strengths, their energy drivers, and what drains them.”Putting a Personalized Coach at Every Leader's Fingertips“Happy's platform essentially puts a one-on-one coach at the fingertips of every leader and employee, including self-coaching to improve communication and motivation.”Human Stories and Tech-Driven Scalability: A Perfect Balance“Technology is terrific for us at Happy; it provides the behavioral insight, but it's that human coach who can tell the story, make it personal, and take it to the next level of impact.”Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.10 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>130,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.

Work: it's something most of us have to do, but can it really be a source of joy? That's the question I'm answering in today's episode as I bust some myths about joy and work.    Get your free workshop ticket: Can joy accelerate your career success?   Get your copy: The Hustle Cure   CONTACT SOPHIE: Coaching - Your Joyful Year Buy My Book - Choose Joy: Relieve Burnout, Focus on Your Happiness, and Infuse More Joy into Your Everyday Life Blog - www.sophiecliff.com Instagram - @sophiecliff Email - sophie@sophiecliff.com   

In this episode, Alliance Podcast Task Force member Milini Mingo, MPA, CHCP, interviews the presenters of the Alliance 2025 Annual Conference session “Practicing What We Preach: Inspiring Lifelong Learning, Well-being, and Joy at Work!” Listen in to her conversation with Vickie M. Skinner, DHA, CHCP; Jennifer Ipsen, MS; and Lauren Winters, MA, as they advocate for incorporating well-being principles into CE/CPD programming. Then, check out their Friday, Jan. 10 session at the Alliance 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.  || LINKS *Alliance Websites* https://www.acehp.org/ | https://almanac.acehp.org/ | https://www.acehp.org/Annual-Conference/Program

When work and life are overwhelming, reclaiming a sense of joy at work can be difficult. But the author of the new book Burnt Out to Lit Up, Daisy Auger-Domínguez, is here to share the research and strategies that prove it's possible to find joy— even on your worst days. You'll learn:The benefits of incorporating joy, hope, and optimism into the workplace to help combat burnout, 4 strategies for reconnecting with joy at workDaisy's favorite work habit for keeping “joy” present in her workdayShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Career Contessa: http://bit.ly/2TMH2QP Happy Hour Course: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/happy-hour Guest Resources:Daisy's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisyaugerdominguez/ Daisy website: https://www.daisyauger-dominguez.com/ Daisy's book: https://www.daisyauger-dominguez.com/books Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Browse open jobs: https://www.careercontessa.com/jobs/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Doug and Una dive into the myths and facts surrounding happiness at work. They challenge common beliefs, revealing that workplace happiness goes beyond perks like free snacks and ping pong tables. Instead, they emphasize purpose, recognition, and belonging as the true drivers of satisfaction and engagement. They discuss how productivity and happiness are connected but distinct, exploring research that shows happy employees are 20% more productive and 25% less likely to leave their jobs.Una and Doug also delve into the power of recognition, with insights on how appreciation fosters loyalty and reduces turnover. They explore the difference between fleeting happiness and lasting joy, referencing key ideas from the book Joy at Work. Finally, they highlight how workplace culture and personal joy are everyone's responsibility—not just HR's. Tune in to learn how meaningful recognition and a culture of gratitude can transform workplaces and drive success.Keywords: workplace happiness, employee engagement, recognition at work, productivity and happiness, joy at work, reducing turnover, company culture, employee satisfaction, team loyalty

Feeling the weight of burnout and wondering where the joy went? You are not alone! In this episode, I chat with physician coach Dr. Nora about simple yet powerful strategies to reclaim joy in medicine and life. Dr. Nora gets real about her own burnout journey and the practical tools she used to rediscover joy in her busy life as a doctor, mom, and wife.You will:Discover why joy is a gift you give yourself, not something you earn or wait for.Learn practical ways to incorporate joy into your daily work, even charting!Explore the power of transitions and how a simple 5-minute ritual can change the energy you bring home to your loved ones.Let's ditch the burnout and embrace a life filled with joy! About Dr Nora:Dr. Nora Vasquez is an Internal Medicine Doctor and Christian Physician Life Coach. Balancing her career and family life as a mother of two, she understands the pressures of modern medicine and the toll it can take. After questioning her career choices and feeling overwhelmed, she discovered Physician Coaching, which transformed her approach to work and personal life. With newfound tools to combat burnout and enhance her relationships, she now empowers fellow physicians to cultivate a growth mindset and live authentically. Dr. Vasquez is passionate about helping others find joy and peace in their lives. You can reach Dr Nora atWebsite: https://www.renewyourmindmd.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noravasquezmd/ Click Here to Secure Your Spot for the 2025 Wealthy You In-Person Gathering.It's time to finally take action on your financial goals. Join other women physicians who are choosing an uncommon life of financial and life freedom by registering for the 3-DAY Money Moves Challenge for women physicians. Register HereReady to explore the transformative power of sabbaticals?Download the free Sabbatical Guide at Moneyfitmd.com/Sabbatical and embark on a journey to financial freedom and personal growth. Share the link with your fellow physicians and join the movement to normalize taking pauses for a healthier and more fulfilling life.If you are a Hardworking, Busy Woman physician who wants to get good at money without wasting more time sifting through the internet. This is for you. https://www.moneyfitmd.com/guideWe are social:Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MoneyfitMD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneyfitmd/Youtube: youtube.com/@money...

Managing is a tough job, sometimes a seemingly thankless one where you can feel squeezed from all sides. But for team leaders who are feeling burnt out or overwhelmed with their job, Daisy Auger-Domínguez has advice on regaining your joy at work. She recommends various techniques to incorporate optimism and well-being into your management role. They include remembering your purpose, embracing a beginner's mindset, keeping a folder of positive feedback as inspiration, and celebrating the contributions of team members. Auger-Domínguez is a workplace strategist and the author of the HBR article "Finding Joy as a Manager — Even on Bad Days."

Gabriel Francisco is an executive assistant and a seasoned globetrotter, leveraging almost two decades of international speaking engagements, teaching endeavors, and business relationships that enrich his professional tapestry.In this episode of The Leader Assistant Podcast, Gabriel talks about developing your soft skills, joy in the workplace, being a culture manager, and tips on public speaking and performance.Show notes -> leaderassistant.com/293Sponsor -> leaderassistant.com/nova--Nova Chief of Staff's course provides you with the knowledge and confidence you need to stand out on the job. Whether you want to land your dream position or level up in your current role, Nova's self-paced course gives you hands-on practice doing what Chiefs of Staff do every day.Visit leaderassistant.com/nova to enroll before the price increases in January 2025!More from The Leader Assistant... Book, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.com Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership Events -> leaderassistantlive.com Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/community

In this episode, Lou connects with the inspiring Elizabeth Lotardo, a consultant, writer, and online instructor who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. Elizabeth is the author of "Leading Yourself," a refreshingly candid playbook that teaches you how to create a work experience worth loving right now. Join Lou and Elizabeth as they dive into the concept of self-leadership, exploring practical tips and tricks to find meaning, joy, and opportunities in your current job—even in the face of imperfect bosses, weird economies, and annoying systems. From her personal experiences to professional insights, Elizabeth shares how anyone can take control and thrive in their workplace. Whether you're looking for inspiration or concrete advice, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in as they discuss: The journey and early seeds that led Elizabeth to write "Leading Yourself." Tips for finding daily meaning in work, even when it's frustrating. How to raise your hand for new opportunities and debunk limiting beliefs. How organizations and HR leaders can create a supportive environment for self-leadership. The importance of seeing purpose in what you do and the power of workplace momentum. If you want to learn how to lead yourself better and find more fulfillment in your current job, this episode is a must-listen! Guest: Elizabeth Lotardo - Consultant, Writer, and Online Instructor Host: Lou Diamond - Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Master Connector Don't forget to check out Elizabeth's book "Leading Yourself" and connect with her on LinkedIn for more insights and content. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

You have a culture whether you're aware of it or not. Pay attention to culture, even if you're a one-(wo)man show. Here's why: as you grow you want to make sure it's what drives your hires, fires and business decisions. Whether you realize it or not, culture will create conflict ,and we want that conflict productive and repairing. In this episode, Shelby and Jenn discussed some ah-ha moments we got from our wonderful guest Moe Carrick, and lessons we've seen in our own lives and business around culture. We talked about how to - welcome questions as a leader (even when they're hard!) - foster a culture where people feel comfortable challenging you when you step outside of your values. - be honest about where you culture is “The way you do things here” is up to you! And it takes being an intentional leader and welcoming conflict to create a culture that bring joy at work. Here's what we talked about: 04:51 A common mistake business owners make when hiring 10:06 How values impact your culture at work and how conflict arises 14:05 How to foster curiosity and the story of porky the pig 19:30 The truth about leaders in toxic cultures 25:30 Culture and conflict 28:34 How you can influence culture as a middle manager 34:10 What is bringing joy at work right now Links/ Resources: Resources from this Month: Episode 53: Great Workplaces Need Conflict https://youtube.com/live/gDAtiNEbg8I Episode 54: How Culture, Productivity, and Joy Go Hand In Hand With Moe Carrick https://youtu.be/yhVKXqA5xIo?si=4f-LJTjJjAcY350M Episode 55: Cultivating Culture Starts with this Question with Moe Carrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCjgYHsSqk All about Moe: LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/ Website - https://moementum.com/ Grab Moe's Book: When Work is Good https://amzn.to/4giUNi2 The Free 99 Step: Joyosity Explorer Map http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-explorer will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity Jumpstart https://jennwhitmer.com/jumpstart If you're ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session https://jennwhitmer.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3TxtmrUFUqPUT55qA3P3hOdr~a-jjAT0w-xlk5HEIFnKDXV8y_xGh.ae3HVViwBfx1K2Z5UWKXOd954KzNLKUr is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what's getting in the way so you can make a real plan. Ready to Dive In: The Joyosity Leadership Retreat http://jennwhitmer.com/joyosity-retreat Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

What do you do when someone tells you a story that isn't true? Maybe you were there or you heard it from someone else differently. As a leader, knowing how to handle stories (true or not) is so important for the integrity of your team. This month was all about the science behind why stories work and tricks for engaging others through story, thank you Kindra Hall! In this episode Shelby, who works behind the scenes in my company, and I dove into what we loved most about this month's content. What we noticed in our day to day lives about stories and my favorite part… what to do when stories don't feel true. We laughed about how to use stories in parenting and leadership and went through a few scenarios at work and home when a story was viewed differently from multiple people experiencing it. If you haven't been able to tune in to each show this month (we know you're busy!) This is a great one to get the overview of what we learned and what we're taking with us moving forward. Here's what we talked about: 04:07 Are you stealing stories? 08:42 The biology of storytelling 11:45 How to rewrite stories truthfully 13:02 What to do when someone tells a story that's untrue 16:06 What to do when you have two opposing point of views Resources from this Month: Episode 49: We're Literally Dying Without Joy Episode 50: The Biologial Power of Stories for Leaders, part 1 with Kindra Hall Episode 51: Storytelling as a People Power Skills, part 2 with Kindra Hall The Free 99 Step:Joyosity Explorer Map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan:Joyosity Jumpstart If you're ready to stop leading from survival mode and lead with connection and joy, the Joyosity™ Jumpstart Session is for you. Clarify what you want, where you are, and what's getting in the way so you can make a real plan. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator Walk through the process to identify your Enneagram type — accurately! But then also know what does that mean in your every day life. Ready to Dive In: The Joyosity Leadership Retreat Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive.

This is the Engineering Culture Podcast, from the people behind InfoQ.com and the QCon conferences. In this podcast Shane Hastie, Lead Editor for Culture & Methods spoke to Eb Ikonne about leading change without authority, joy at work and mental health in the workplace. Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/3Llhjsq Subscribe to the Software Architects' Newsletter for your monthly guide to the essential news and experience from industry peers on emerging patterns and technologies: www.infoq.com/software-architects-newsletter Upcoming Events: InfoQ Dev Summit Munich (Sept 26-27, 2024) Practical learnings from senior software practitioners navigating Generative AI, security, modern web applications, and more. devsummit.infoq.com/conference/munich2024 QCon San Francisco (November 18-22, 2024) Get practical inspiration and best practices on emerging software trends directly from senior software developers at early adopter companies. qconsf.com/ QCon London (April 7-9, 2025) Discover new ideas and insights from senior practitioners driving change and innovation in software development. qconlondon.com/ The InfoQ Podcasts: Weekly inspiration to drive innovation and build great teams from senior software leaders. Listen to all our podcasts and read interview transcripts: - The InfoQ Podcast www.infoq.com/podcasts/ - Engineering Culture Podcast by InfoQ www.infoq.com/podcasts/#engineering_culture - Generally AI Follow InfoQ: - Mastodon: techhub.social/@infoq - Twitter: twitter.com/InfoQ - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infoq - Facebook: bit.ly/2jmlyG8 - Instagram: @infoqdotcom - Youtube: www.youtube.com/infoq Write for InfoQ: Learn and share the changes and innovations in professional software development. - Join a community of experts. - Increase your visibility. - Grow your career. www.infoq.com/write-for-infoq

Today my friend Fola joins us to share her creative tips for deciding to go to work and social events with a joyful attitude. You'll hear in this episode: 1. The Bible verse about joy that helps Fola shovel a thousand pounds of Canadian snow with joy! 2. Tips for showing up to work or events with energy and joy, even if you are having a hard day 3. Fun advice to make work a more enjoyable experience 4. The difference between happiness and joy 5. Why joy and hard emotions can co-exist (and why that's okay!) 6. Why joy is a choice and not based on your circumstances or your material things Connect with Fola: Instagram Connect with Nyla: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nyla's IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nyla's website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nyla's second podcast (The Intuitive Eating with Jesus Podcast)⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Episode 71 of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Rob Orman, a seasoned emergency physician turned medical educator and coach. Diving into the crucial topic of burnout in the medical field and exploring the navigation of stress, overwhelm, and ultimately finding fulfillment. Join us as we uncover practical strategies for creating sustainable models of clinical medicine and prioritizing well-being in the demanding world of healthcare. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: Reflection & Resilience: Dr. Orman highlights the significance of slowing down to reflect on decision-making processes, documentation practices, and interactions with colleagues. Building resilience and patience in clinical practice can combat burnout and enhance overall well-being. Small Changes, Big Impact: Instead of seeking immediate and drastic changes, Dr. Orman emphasizes the power of making small, manageable adjustments and building upon them. Taking micro steps towards sustainable habits can lead to lasting improvements in work-life balance. Personal & Professional Alignment: Dr. Orman's journey showcases the importance of aligning personal passions with professional pursuits. Finding joy in your career and addressing stress through self-reflection and mindset shifts can transform your approach to clinical medicine and enhance job satisfaction. Dr. Rob Orman Bio: Rob Orman, MD spent 21 years as a community emergency physician and is a certified executive coach who works with doctors to build resilience within their medical practices, deconstructing ideas and strategies to live and work with intent. He specializes in helping doctors reverse maladaptive behaviors that might threaten their jobs and relationships. -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don't forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Joy at Work." Enjoy!

In 2023 the US Surgeon General issued a report on the epidemic of loneliness stating 1 out of 2 Americans reported experiencing loneliness. This tells me finding joy and making connections in the workplace are more important than ever. This podcast will provide you help with how to find more joy at work for yourself and your team. I would love to workshop this with your organization and facilitate how we can bring more joy bolster your team. Reach out to me at jay@jccharityservices.com and let's talk about how I can tailor an interactive program that will elevate your team's success! You can learn more about my work at www.makingourworldbetter.com. Some of my favorite subject matter leaders mentioned in this podcast: www.jongordon.com: Jon Gordon www.oceanpalmer.com: the official site of Ted Simendinger www.reallifecatholic.com: Chris Stefanik  

Hear how when you allow life to unfold, you find that miracles happen I first interviewed Dr. Srikumar Rao in July 2023 and was so deeply inspired by the wisdoms he shared with us that I wanted to have him back so he could teach us more. And he does. The title of his new book is Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots, in which he offers solid tools we can use to let go of the mental chatter that gets in the way of seeing what's possible. The universe is benevolent, Dr. Rao says, it's your friend, and when we understand this, that's when we can change our story and thus, the direction of our lives. Are you ready to make a change, today? Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of Dr. Rao's wisdoms which you can apply to your own life The most important thing is not what you're doing but who you are being as you do it. Too often we get hung up on the doing, and we completely miss the fact that being is much more important than the doing. Allow life to unfold. And as you do, you find that miracles happen, and they happen on a regular basis. We never experience life the way it is. We always experience life according to the story we tell ourselves about it. When you change your thinking from the universe is indifferent to the universe is friendly, your experience of life has such a tremendous transformation. Open yourself up to possibilities. The universe is benevolent. The universe is your friend. Recognize that it's your friend. And the more you do this, the more signs you will get that it in fact is your friend. Your job in this life is to recognize who you really are and cast yourself free from this cage in which you have ensnared yourself. Trust yourself and recognize that the door to your prison is always open and unlocked. All you have to do is open the door and step out of it. Why does the universe give you stuff you don't want? Well, the universe doesn't give you what you want, but gives you exactly what you need for your learning and growth. We all have mental chatter. And the problem is not that you have mental chatter, the problem is you identify with your mental chatter. So sit back and observe your mental chatter. Observe yourself feeling worried. Observe yourself feeling anxious. And as you create that distance, you no longer have your mental chatter. You're the observer of the mental chatter. Then it loses its ability to take you to places you don't want to go. To contact Dr. Srikumar Rao You can reach out to Dr. Rao on LinkedIn, Twitter or his website, The Rao Institute. Watch his TED Talk here and email him at srikumar.rao@theraoinstitute.com. More inspiration for finding joy and purpsoe on your life journey: Blog: Time to Add Gratitude to Your Life—And Your Company's Culture! Blog: You Can Find Joy And Happiness In Turbulent Times! Podcast: Richard Sheridan—How To Lead With Joy And Purpose! Podcast: Meg Nocero—Can You Feel Joy As You Rethink Your Life? Additional resources for you My two award-winning books: Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business and On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights Our new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, co-authored by Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman and Andi Simon, PhD Our website: Simon Associates Management Consultants Read the transcript of our podcast here  Andi Simon: Welcome to On the Brink With Andi Simon. I'm Andi Simon. I'm your host and your guide. And as you know, this podcast is designed to help you get off the brink. The one thing we don't want you to do is get stuck or stalled. But you can begin to understand how you can change. And that's what we like to help people and their organizations do. So today, I have a wonderful gentleman here, and Doctor Rao did a podcast with us earlier, last July in fact, that was just a hit, but he's got a new book coming out. Actually, it's out and I have been reading it and you will love it. Let me tell you a little bit about Dr. Srikumar Rao. He is a creator of creativity and personal mastery. His bio doesn't fit a bio. It's a wonderful story about a life well-lived. He's a speaker, a former business school professor and head of The Rao Institute, and I urge you to take a look at that online because it's full of rich opportunities for you to begin to see, feel and think in new ways. And I use those words, but they mimic the words he uses. He is an executive coach to senior business executives, and he helps them find deeper meaning and engagement in their work. He also talks about the fact that work isn't work. And I love the idea because I love to work, and people say, when are you going to retire? I say, I'm never going to retire. Why is work bad? Because we define it as something that is not fun, but work isn't work. Work is something that gives us all kinds of things, purpose, meaning, joy. What could it do for you? My last thought today is to make sure that you understand Dr. Rao has programs and coaching that you can enjoy because they are joyful to help you begin to become the kind of person that you'd like to be. I'm going to call you Srikumar. Srikumar Rao: Works just fine.  Andi Simon: Thank you for joining me again. It's really a pleasure. Srikumar Rao: It's my pleasure, Andi. I had such a blast the last time you interviewed me that I was positively looking forward to this session. Andi Simon: For our audience, watch out, here comes some really wonderful, wonderful stuff. Give the audience some context, though. Who are you? A man of your journey and why was this book? The book is called Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots. Now when you buy an ebook, that's how I can show you the book. And I did buy a hard copy, but it isn't a hard copy. And as I'm reading it, I think you're going to find it wonderful. What is the context for this book and who are you? Why should they listen?  Srikumar Rao: Who am I? As you mentioned, I'm an executive coach, and I have a very well defined niche. I work with successful people, mostly entrepreneurs, who have already done very well for themselves. But they're driven. They want to have an outsized impact on the world. But at the same time, they have an explicitly spiritual bent that they would like to infuse into every area of their life. They know that life is about more than getting the biggest toys, or the most expensive toys. And there's something deeper, and they want to bring that into all parts of their life. So that's the sandbox in which I play, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm the only person who's playing in that particular sandbox. I may be wrong, but I'm not aware of any others. Andi Simon: Well, clearly it's not a red ocean of lots of competition pushing you away, is it? Srikumar Rao: No there isn't. By the time people come to me, they've already done their homework. They've listened to my TED Talk. They watched many of my videos on YouTube, and they know they want to work with me. Andi Simon: And when they do the kind of work you like to do with them, can you give us some ideas? Srikumar Rao: We have conversations. We have deep conversations, and I have an unusual take on coaching. So let me explain that. In my view, the only thing you ever do in life, Andi, is you work on yourself. A benevolent universe has given you many tools. Your husband is a tool. Your daughters and granddaughters are tools. The business you run, the clients you have, they're all tools. You want to do the very best you can for your clients. You want them to feel: Gee, hiring Andi was the best thing that I ever did. But in the process of doing that, what you're really doing is you're working on yourself. You want to be a great wife. You want to be a great mother. In the process of doing that, what you really do is you work on yourself. The only thing you ever do in life is work on yourself. Now the universe has given you wonderful tools and running a business is a Swiss army knife of tools. You use that skillfully, but you never lose sight of the fact that in using these tools skillfully, what you're really doing is you're working on yourself. Does that make sense to you, Andi? Andi Simon: Yes. Maybe because it requires you to be reflective of what you're doing, how you're doing it, and what the impact or the outcome is.  Srikumar Rao: Exactly correct. Because the most important thing, Andi, is not what you're doing. but who you're being as you do it. And too often we get hung up on the doing, and we completely miss the fact that being is much more important than the doing. Andi Simon: I'll stay on that for a moment. I don't want to lose track of why this new book and how it fits. But as I hear you, you work with successful people who may or may not realize how they have become who they are. They may not be happy with where they are, but they don't seem to have a toolkit to begin to take them to the next place. And that is a big theme that I'm finding that people find themselves either in retirement or transition or job change or career growth, and it's being done to them instead of them owning their life and who they are, something that you have found as well. Srikumar Rao: Absolutely, yes. Because too many people, Andi, go around trying to make life happen. Andi Simon: Forgive me for laughing. Srikumar Rao: I love life to unroll, unfold. And as you allow life to unfold, you find that miracles happen and they happen on a regular basis. Andi Simon: Well, you and I were talking about serendipity, but miracles are a different word. Similar? Your early conversation about a path through life, I think, is so valuable to think about for our audience, who's either watching you or listening that the steps aren't necessarily, you can't necessarily see them, but you can begin to live them. Srikumar Rao: Exactly correct. You know, let me share something with you, Andi. If you ask people: Are you happy? Most of them will say, Yes, I'm happy. Remember, these are successful people already, but we define happiness too narrowly. We define happiness as there's nothing really bothering me right now, and there are actually some things that I like, or I'm looking forward to watching a new Netflix series or having dinner with a friend or something like that. That's a very low part. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about, do you feel radiantly alive? Do you feel so full of gratitude that you feel as if you're bursting? Are you not walking, but joyously floating through the air, hitting ground every 100ft or so. Is that your experience of life? And if that's not your experience of life, why not? Because that is your nature. So how do you reclaim the joy you felt as a child, when you could spend an hour watching a dog chase its tail? Why have you lost that? And how can you bring it back to your life today? That's what my coaching is about. And the wonderful thing is that when you're in that space, your business and whatever else you know just floats effortlessly and you accomplish more than you could ever have dreamed possible. It just happens because you're not trying to force things. You're allowing the universe to unfold. Andi Simon: Let's dig deeper into that. Marissa Peer is really a renowned hypnotherapist who often talks about the fact that we live the story in our mind. And our mind also loves to go to pleasure, not pain. Even if the pain causes pleasure, like narcotics might. And the habits take over and you don't even know that you're habit driven. You think you have free will. And so this complicated human where we want to take and know our own selves and take ownership of it, determine our careers, determine our life, give it more intentionality, a purpose, isn't that easy. And so the question becomes, how do you change the story, modify the habits, begin to not simply just wish, but to begin to actually feel that gratitude, that happiness. I don't want to add my ideas, I want to hear yours because our listeners do. But there's a way of taking where you are. You may have your house, you may have your car, you may have your club. You may think you're happy, but take it to a whole next level where you are. Every day is a gift, and you wake up happy to be there. Srikumar Rao: And the short answer to that, Andi, is, you have to work at it. Because we have been programmed, we have been conditioned, and we are so programmed and conditioned that we don't even recognize that we have been programmed and conditioned. It's true. And what we have is, we've got a lot of extraneous thoughts going on. I call it mental chatter, and mental chatter is always with you. It's so much a part of your life that you don't even recognize you have it. You know, the kind of thing that goes: Oh, drat my secretary screwed up again, and should I keep her or should I fire her? And I'm sick and tired of having to go through these small snafus that keep coming up, which she should have handled. All of that is mental chatter. We live our life defined by our mental chatter, and we never recognize that we're living a life which is defined by our mental chatter and not by what is really happening internally to us. But one of the first things that I do with my client is, I get them to understand that this mental chatter, which you ignore, is actually creating the life that you live in. So the first step is to be aware that there is this stuff that is happening. The first step is to recognize that this is happening and this is really running your life. And when you do that and you become aware of your mental chatter as opposed to being carried away by your mental chatter, you start to say, hey, you know, the world isn't what I thought it was. It's something that's different. Yeah, that is the starting point. Andi Simon: With that in mind, I don't like to tease my audience, give us something a little bit more illustrative, concrete to take from it. Stop the mental chatter because when you stop it, then you're going to fill yourself with an opportunity. Srikumar Rao: Absolutely. Let me share something which I'm sure some of your clients and many of the people listening to this podcast can relate with. I was teaching in London Business School and I had a student who was an investment banker and a very successful investment banker. There were many problems in his marriage. Because he was an investment banker, he was working long hours. And because he worked long hours, he missed many family occasions, dinners. You know, his son's first piano recital and stuff like that. And his wife would get very upset at him. “You said you'd be back and you weren't.” And she accused him of not caring. From his perspective, the very fact that he was working long hours at a job that he didn't particularly like was evidence of his caring. And obviously they were able to maintain the lifestyle that they did because of the income he pulled in from his job. So the very fact that he was working long hours was, in his mind, an expression of caring. When she laced into him, he would get defensive, they'd have massive fights. And yet it was just a very uncomfortable, uncomfortable situation. And they were rapidly heading towards divorce. And then in my course, somebody suggested to him that, look, when your wife is lashing it to you for not caring, what she's really saying is, honey, I miss you. And I wish that I was with you or you were with me. Totally not convinced but he agreed to try it. And the next time he was late and his wife started getting mad at him and accusing him of not caring, instead of reacting the way he normally did, he said, Honey, it must have been really tough on you. I'm so sorry. Which is so different from what he usually said that she was taken aback. And what would have been an entire evening quarrel petered out in 30 minutes. And as he continued doing that, and each time that she got angry at him or started to get sarcastic, he would simply say, I love you. And I realize it's very tough on you, I will try to make it up. And gradually their bitter quarrels faded away. They didn't entirely resolve the situation, but it became something to be handled as opposed to: this is going to lead to the end of our marriage. I was about to say that's the way in which we're always telling stories to ourselves. And we don't recognize that we're telling stories to ourselves. We believe this is the reality. Andi Simon: Let's stay there. I'm making some notes. In the stories, we're always a hero. Stories that we're telling ourselves, we're always the hero. Srikumar Rao: Yes. Andi Simon: Right. And so the story you just shared is a beautiful one. Where he was right. She was wrong. She was right. He was wrong until they stopped being heroes to themselves. But literally, he just became, in the words he said to her, caring about how she was. It deflated all of the competition, the animosity. What a beautiful story to share and think about. Yeah, because it's not complicated. It's just, you know, change the story and change your life. Srikumar Rao: Exactly correct. What we don't recognize is that we never experience life the way it is. We always experience life according to the story we tell ourselves about it. And most of us never understand that this is what is happening, that it isn't reality. It's the story we have told ourselves and which we believe without ever recognizing that it is a story, and we have the opportunity to change the narrative. And what I'm very good at, is helping people understand that and to change the narrative. Andi Simon: That leads very nicely, though, into your new book. Tell us about the timing, the pacing. What was a catalytic moment for another book. Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots has a purpose, and there's something at the end of it for you to use to self-assess. But the context is important here because as the listener thinks about their story that's guiding their life either toward happiness or toward less than, it's an opportunity to begin to rethink who am I and the story I'm living and what am I thinking. Please, what was the motivation for this book and tell us about it. Srikumar Rao: A book, Andi, and you can understand this, being a multiple times author yourself, is like a baby. You know, it comes to a point at which it has to be born. Yes, that's what happened with this. I wanted to, as you know, I'm an executive coach and people ask me questions. And I noticed that there was a great deal of similarity in the questions. And this cuts across countries, cuts across culture, cuts across ethnic and other backgrounds. They're human problems, not problems related to any particular occupation, country, or religious or ethnic background. So I figured that if I put this down, it would be a help to people to understand that. And some of them, of course, might want to go deeper. And if so, they reach out to me and we discuss what I can do for them. But the idea is to give them solid tools, and the heart of it is to understand that the world we're living in is not a real world. It's a construct. We build that construct with our mental chatter and our mental models. Now, this is hugely liberating because if the world we're living in is not real and you don't like it, then you can deconstruct the parts of it you don't like and build it again.  But what do you do if the world you live in is real, and you don't like it, you're screwed. But if it's not real, you can change it. So how do you go about doing that? That's what my coaching is all about. And some of the tools that I use are given in that book Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots. And I've tried to illustrate it by means of stories, because I find that stories bring it home very, very powerfully. This is a story I shared with you about the investment banker and his wife. And, you know, they were able to make almost a U-turn. Andi Simon: Now stay on that. I want to talk a little bit more about some of the chapters in there but we often say that we live an illusion. The story creates an illusion that guides our day but isn't real. And the only truth is there's no truth. It's very hard for people not to say, this isn't real. Well, sort of, but the pen is only real enough when you write with it, and something happens but it's hard to understand that some of them, the stories that you have in there, though, are really very important for thinking about who am I and what am I doing and why am I doing this. Can you share a few of them? I'll say the short chapters, but there are a couple of major points. Srikumar Rao: Here's one. Now, how do you think about the universe? Einstein said that the most important question you will ever ask yourself is, is the universe friendly? Now we respect Einstein because he was a great scientist, but he was also a philosopher who had a very intimate understanding of how the universe worked. And Einstein said, the most important question you will ever ask yourself is, is the universe friendly? Now, there are some people who believe that the universe is distinctly unfriendly, and the sole purpose of the universe is to frustrate. The vast, overwhelming majority of us believe the universe is neither friendly nor unfriendly. It's indifferent. The universe doesn't know you exist and couldn't care less. So here you are going around doing your thing. There's a universe going around doing its thing. Sometimes it seems to work with you, sometimes it seems to work against you. But essentially it's a random process. What if that wasn't true? What if the universe was aware of your existence and the universe was well-disposed towards you? Why does the universe give you stuff you don't want? You want to go on vacation and the universe gives you pandemics and lockdowns. Why does the universe give you stuff you don't want? Well, the universe didn't give you what you wanted, but gave you exactly what you needed for your learning and growth. Like you're a small child and you want a tub of ice cream, and the universe gives you fruits and vegetables, and you don't want fruits and vegetables, you want a tub of ice cream. But the universe through your parents gives you fruits and vegetables. It isn't until you reach a much higher level of maturity that you can say, thank God I got fruits and vegetables rather than a tub of ice cream. What if the universe was exactly like that? That is a mental model, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it's a superior mental model. And regardless of whether the universe was friendly or not, if you believed the universe was friendly, your experience of life would be a whole lot better.  How do you adopt this mental model? And the idea is recognize that it's a superior mental model and look for signs that this is operating in your life. And I advocate people having a notebook where they write down the signs that the universe is friendly, and when you do that, you'll see them everywhere. I'll give you an example. This happened to me yesterday. So I had a plumbing issue in one of my toilets, and I called the plumber and he came and fixed it. And after he did that, he had come to my house earlier, and he was missing a drill, and he thought he might have left it downstairs. So I went to the basement to check, and he noticed that there was a pinhole leak in one of my pipes, and discovered it purely by accident. But he looked at that and pointed to my attention and said, I'm here and I'll fix it. It could have been quite major, and he fixed it. Completely serendipitous. That's a miracle. It's a sign the universe is friendly. Most of the time when something like that happens, we dismiss it as a coincidence. So coincidence is a miracle killer. But when you start noting the ways in which the universe seems to be working with you and has your back, you notice so many of them that you'll reach an internal tipping point. And in that tipping point, you will tip over from “the universe is indifferent” to “the universe is friendly.” And when you do that, your experience of life has such a tremendous transformation. Andi Simon: And I think that the timing of your conversation today is so interesting because I too, I believe in, in those kinds of chance moments which aren't clearly by chance. And there was nothing that made him go down there, except perhaps he left his drill down there and nothing that said, please take a look at a pinhole in the pipe or anything for you. I started a conversation today talking about where we're going and the kinds of things we're in. But, it is an interesting lesson for our listeners, a wisdom to begin to open up your mind to possibilities. Srikumar Rao: That is the key point. You've hit the nail right on the head. Open yourself up to possibilities. Andi Simon: Because that's the only way you're going to grow. As we know that the brain hates change, unfamiliarly. It fights everything that comes in and threatens what's current. You have to overcome that cortisol that's produced until it, nope, I want some oxytocin, because I think this is the greatest idea that I could begin to think about. But the only one who can manage that is you. Srikumar Rao: Absolutely. And when you start living in a friendly universe, then you say something happens to you and you say, okay, you know, there's a lesson in there for me. And what is the lesson and how soon can I learn it? And you'll invariably find that the unfortunate situation resolves itself. Andi Simon: So when you're up at two in the morning thinking about something that's really bugging you, let it go. Meditate, quiet the mind.  So I'm watching our time and it's almost ready to wrap up, but I want to talk about one thing more and that is meditation, mindfulness, managing your mind. Because unless you understand there are things you can do, in fact, I'm not going to say take charge of your mind, but quiet it, you're going to think, I don't know how to do that. I don't know how to let go of those negatives to absorb the positive. Any things that you particularly like to do? I've learned mindfulness myself, but please. Srikumar Rao: What happens? Andi we have this mental chatter going on, and you can't stop it. It's pointless saying, you know something is happening, don't worry about it. If you could not worry about it, you'd not worry about it. But you're incapable of not worrying about it. That's okay. You cannot stop worrying about it, but you can observe and be aware of the fact that you're worrying about it. So one of the cornerstone exercises of mine is, look, you have this mental chatter that's going on. And the problem is not that you have mental chatter. The problem is you identify with your mental chatter. And when you identify with the mental chatter, it can grab you by the neck and take you to all kinds of dark places. So sit back and observe your mental chatter. Observe yourself feeling worried. Observe yourself feeling anxious. And as you create that distance, you no longer have your mental chatter. You're the observer of the mental chatter. The velocity and the power of that chatter, it diminishes and it loses the ability to take you to places you don't want to go. It's very easy to describe and it's very easy to start off on that. It's very difficult to keep it there because you start observing your mental chatter and in seconds you've lost it and you become your mental chatter. When that happens, go back to being the observer. This is one of the cornerstone exercises of my programs and my coaching. But as you become better and better at that, you can be an observer for a longer and longer period, and you'll find that the things that used to bother you no longer bother you because you let them go. Andi Simon: And that letting go is a lot like what you have to do to grow up. Yeah. Let it go. And at any age, you can be, you know, still a child, let it go to get to the next stage in your own personal growth. I've enjoyed this so much. I do want to say one thing for our listeners and our viewers, that when you're working, when you're in an organization that may have gotten toxic or may seem to be unpleasant to get to work every day, or your folks are beginning to struggle, time to sit down with them and think about that mental chatter that's going on. It may come from outside of the workplace or inside. Or maybe somebody said something to someone. Think about the investment banker and the different ways he can deal with his wife, one of which is caring about the fact she's been alone, or the other is angry that she cares so much about herself that she's not thinking about him and the work he's doing. Same situation, two different stories. But, if you have an organization that seems to be fragile and it's not a bad methodology to begin to sit down and listen to the conversation, observe, be an anthropologist, hang out, listen to the conversations at lunchtime. Begin to pull out of the stories people are telling that mental chatter that's creating noise instead of joy. Because so much joy is there waiting to happen. The universe is joyful. Let it happen. Srikumar Rao: Absolutely. The universe is benevolent. The universe is your friend. Recognize that it's your friend. And the more you recognize it as your friend, the more signs you will get that it in fact is your friend. Andi Simon: And then every day, coming to work isn't work. It's about growing and learning and teaching and gratitude and just having joy. Srikumar Rao: Exactly, exactly, exactly right, Andi. Andi Simon: Last thoughts? Dr. Srikumar Rao has been with us today, talking about his new book, Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots. But it's about you and about how you can turn work into growth. Begin to think about that, that chatter in your mind as something to let go. Some last thoughts. Srikumar Rao: Your nature is happiness. You're not this shell of skin and bones and blood that you think you are, who you really are is pure awareness. Your job in this life is to recognize who you really are and cast yourself free from this cage in which you have ensnared yourself. Trust yourself and recognize that the door to your prison is always open and unlocked. All you have to do is open the door and step out of it. Andi Simon: This has been a pleasure. I could keep talking. I've enjoyed our conversation and I know our listeners and viewers will as well. Let me wrap up. It's such fun to share people like Dr. Rao with you because it takes us to the next stage in our own growth. And I don't care where you are, that noise in your brain is going to get in the way of seeing what's possible. And in fact, the little challenge here or a little opportunity there if you let it turn into an opportunity. Next thing you know, you're rising with it. And he's smiling and so am I. So thank you for coming today. Srikumar Rao: It's been my pleasure. And I look forward to a wonderful association. And I don't know which way it's going to go, but I know it's going to go exactly the way it's supposed to. Thank you. Andi Simon: Thank you. But the joyful universe is going to take us on its own way, and we're going to have some fun. The timing couldn't be better. Now, for those of you who come, remember, I love to help you see, feel and think in new ways. I can't thank you enough for coming. Refer to us anybody you'd like to hear on our podcast. We are getting booked up for the rest of the year and so sooner is better. My new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success is doing extremely well. It's full of wisdoms and people are learning. We often say, turn a page and change your life. Who knew? The book has an energy and a force well beyond being a book. There's more. You're smiling. The books aren't books, are they? Srikumar Rao: Books are in books. Books have a life force in them, and they reach out and grab the persons who are right for them. I could not agree with you more. Andi Simon: Couldn't say it better than you have. So I'm going to say goodbye. Let's say have a great day. Please turn your observations into innovations. Don't wait around. The world is waiting for your new ideas. Bye bye now. Srikumar Rao: Let's go further than that, Andi. Have a wonderful rest of your life. Andi Simon: I love it. Everyone's cup should be overflowing like yours and mine. Thank you.     WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO)

In this solo episode, Dr. Robin talks about how to renew your joy at work. She uses examples of personal experiences and expertise along with one of her favorite books - The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. Dr. Robin highlights the importance of operating within your "zone of genius" as the number one step toward becoming a person who has meaning and purpose in their lives and work. In this episode she shared: it is possible to have joy in your work choosing the types of activities that can bring us joy ways to get started today on your pathway to purpose   Would you prefer to watch or listen to the podcast on YouTube?Head on over to https://www.youtube.com/@leadershippurposepodcast   Want to connect? Connect with Dr. Robin on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlowensphd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinlowensphd Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/robinlowensphd/ Email: Robin@LeadershipPurposePodcast.com   Thank you for listening! Rate, review, & follow on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast player. Talk to you soon!   This episode was produced by Lynda, Podcast Manager #YourPodcastHelp at https://www.ljscreativeservices.co.nz    

"Organizing Your Professional Life"

This week's topic is JOY. How do we bring more joy into our work? Follow along and find out. This week's topic JOY is inspired by Ali Abdaal's new book Feel Good Productivity.Get your copy on Amazon.Educator State Of Mind is written, produced, and performed by Jake Ruzi.To learn more or get involved go to JakeRuzi.com/Podcast Intro/Outro music by Music_Unlimited via PixabayEnjoying the show? Considering Buying Me A Coffee

Do you find yourself on auto pilot for days or weeks at a time? Going through the motions of running your organization but not getting joy and awe from your work?  Steve Fredlund, known worldwide as The Safari Dude, helps you bring wonder and excitement back into your daily life. Steve was an actuarial scientist who recognized and escaped the “good life” trap. As an author, two-time TEDx speaker, coach, and keynote speaker, he guides others on their path to greater joy and fulfillment.  In our episode today, he will share with you 5 factors that can bring more happiness to your work, your leadership, and your life.  Links mentioned in this episode The Safari Dude's website Steve's LinkedIn  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: 8 Proven Ways to Feel Happier at Work with Bea Boccalandro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Solving Burnout at Your Nonprofit with Jennifer Moss on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Do you still feel the passion you had for plants when you started this game? Or are you just turning up to work each day, going through the motions?My guest Maria Failla from the Growing Joy Podcast is here to teach us how to "connect with nature," "find our joy," or practice "self care," even if those terms don't really resonate with us.Plant care is a form of therapy that's being used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, disabilities, and people of different ages. Even if you don't have access to a horticultural therapist, you can still take advantage of the healing power of plants by slowing down, breathing steadily, and turning your attention to the plants that you care for.Maria treats her mind like a garden where she sows seeds of joy, gratitude and wellness, and celebrates her harvest each and every day. As she points out, there will always be the weeds of negative emotion but through practice, we can learn to recognise and work with them so we don't feel overwhelmed.EPISODE LINKSGrowing Joy's website: https://growingjoywithmaria.com/podcast/Maria's book, Growing Joy - The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants): https://growingjoywithmaria.com/bookApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-joy-with-plants-wellness-rooted-in-nature/id1313519159Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/33ExNjMA35y9Uv7ceJZaOKYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bloomandgrowradioInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingjoywithmaria/Hort People: HortPeople.comFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIATwitter: @PlantsGrowHere / Facebook: @PlantsGrowHerePodcast - Join our Facebook group!VISIT OUR WEBSITEwww.PlantsGrowHere.comLET'S WORK TOGETHERAre you in the industry or an enthusiast with something of value to share? We're always on the hunt for interesting people, doing interesting things. If you'd like to work with us send a message via our online form or a direct email to plantsgrowhere@gmail.com.

Angel Scale Biotech: Learn More   Kevin Majeres, MD, teaches cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at Harvard Medical School. CBT is the gold standard to treat mental health conditions without drugs. CBT can also help with workplace issues such as burnout or anxiety. Dr. Majeres (pronounced Majors) has built a digital platform, OptimalWork.com, to improve the quality of work life. I learned really useful things from this interview.   Sponsored by Purdue University entrepreneurship and Peter Fasse, patent attorney at Fish and Richardson.   Highlights: Sal Daher Introduces Dr. Kevin Majeres What OptimalWork is Solving "... what we are doing is bringing the insights of cognitive behavioral therapy out of the normal context, which is working with the cognitive behavioral therapist. We're bringing that to people in the setting of their work..." "... In fact, everything with regard to eating behaviors, there's abundant evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy works. At one level, you could see that the more someone was afraid of hunger, the more likely they would be to act on it..." "... This is why I think anxiety is the most central emotion to understand because anxiety is the urge to avoid challenge as challenge..." "... Cognitive behavioral therapy, I should say, it also tends to focus on what's happening right now. What are the emotions showing up right now? Where's the avoidance right now? Where does the reframing have to take place right now?" "... I think that we need more and more things like Endeavor OTC that are helping to identify what are the particular mental muscles that can be worked out, and whether these things are going to be universally applicable, or maybe there are certain subpopulations that that's exactly the workout that they need..." "... How would you compliment this Cybex machine for the mind with cognitive behavioral therapy?" "... That in a sense is like what we teach people at The Golden Hour, is how to just briefly strategize what you're about to do, lay out the steps in advance, think of how you want to be stretching yourself in these steps, calm your mind down for a moment, and then launch into it. Then you're going to have full traction, and then you get momentum. Flow is really just momentum in work..." Dr. Majeres' Psychiatry Journey "... anxiety is adrenaline waiting to be reframed..." Advice to the Audience   Topics: discovering entrepreneurship, scholar

Is joy a work extra? When joy is absent, there are high costs — actual dollar bills (or pound notes or bitcoin…) are squandered when joy employees do not have joy at work. What exactly is joy and what in the world does it have to do with the workplace? In this week's Linkedin Live, we revealed some staggering statistics about the business outcomes of joy. We discuss the impact of joy in the workplace on productivity, employee retention, and profitability. We look even deeper into the “joy deficit” and experience a true coaching moment for you. Here's what we talked about: 2:44 Business Outcomes of Joy: productivity, retention, and profit 9:48 Is Joy at work a problem? The joy deficit numbers 12:46 Coaching moment 14:28 What is Joy at Work: the joy equation What do you think? Is this new for you? How do you set intentions for cultivating joy at work? Tell me in the comments.

In tonight's Sleep Hypnosis with Jessica, we're going to work on our negative thoughts, opinions and feelings about work. Let's bring up the worst of these thoughts, and start to relax into them, slow them down, and begin the process of turning them around. If work is a real challenge for you, I suggest you listen to this regularly. And it's a practice you can work on any situation, not just at work! Relax, get comfy, and let's begin.  As always, tonight's episode will start with a relaxing introduction from Jessica, before we sink into tonight's Sleep Hypnosis. Want more Sleep Magic? Join Sleep Magic Premium ✨ Enjoy 2 bonus episodes a month plus all episodes ad-free, access to Jessica's complete back catalog of over 60 episodes, and show your support to Jessica.  To Subscribe

Ebony Little: Focus on service and make the business case —  Many women of color face multiple challenges at work due to toxic work environments.  This results in many individuals not being as productive and resourceful as they could and would be, if they were treated well and felt valued and appreciated.  Ebony Little discusses what women of color can do to be proactive in creating meaning in their work and influence change in hostile work environments.  Ebony is the Program Director the National Association of African American Insurance Association (NAAIA).  A self-proclaimed “army brat,” Ebony has lived in Germany and Florida.  Currently she makes Fort Lauderdale, Florida, her home. Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonynlittle/   Highlights from our conversation: Ebony's personal and professional trajectory The importance of creating affirming relationships at work Identifying mentors, advocates and sponsors Finding joy at work through service to others Making the business case to employers about changing hostile work environments National Association of African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) How to address personal doubts of speaking up and speaking out at work Strategies for college success