“Driving to...” Footprints

Today we are talking about leaving your footprints and maximizing your strengths and personal skill set that you bring to the table!

"Driving two..." The Hannah & Eleni Show

See what I did with the title...very clever this one is

My show was taken over today...this is what happens when you leave your phone sitting around 😀

It's ok though...they are practicing to be the next Oprahs!

Throw Back - Choose to Be Happy

I don't know why but this song by Rihanna popped into my head today as I was writing another post about leaving footprints.  I thought about writing on it too but then I remembered that I already had!  So...it's Throw Back Time...

Friday, April 10, 2015

Choose to be Happy

Find light in the beautiful sea
I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I
We’re like diamonds in the sky

These are lyrics from a Rihanna song titled “Diamonds.”  I have heard this song a million times.  When you listen to Top 40 radio you become sick of songs you once liked because they play them over and over and over and over and over…I switch the station very quickly even when I hear Pharrell’s “Happy” song now and I love it!

Now I don’t really like the song "Diamonds" too much but it came on my Pandora the other day while I was doing some things around the house.  And the lyric…which again, I had heard seemingly a million times…caught me this time.

“I choose to be happy”

Why did it catch me this time when it hadn’t the previous million times?

“I choose to be happy”

I really don't know but I do believe happiness is a choice...a mindset.  (I'll define happiness in a later blog post)

We can all choose to be happy and we must if we are leading people.  We have a responsibility to the people who follow us to choose happiness.

Why?

Well…I could put it into my own words but I found the following on the web at The Happiness Start-up School (click here to visit the site)…

Take a second and think about how you work when you’re not happy, when you’re feeling negative, anxious or stressed. Are you creative? Inspired? Motivated? Engaged? Is our productivity at its peak?

Our ability to work at our most effective reduces when we’re feeling stressed or under pressure. We can’t make decisions thoughtfully or work to our full potential.

Now turn it around. When you feel happy, how do you work? Are you charged up, feeling creative and positive about outcomes? More resilient and persistent when we suffer setbacks?
Our brains become more alert, open to ideas and innovation when we’re happy, letting us to work to our full potential. It’s a recipe for productivity that comes much easier to those whose business idea revolves around something they believe in.

Study after study proves that happy teams are more creative, productive and effective. Just think about it for a second. Happy employees are nicer to be around, they like making their customers happy and therefore work harder to achieve that. Happy customers spend more money, are more loyal to a brand and tell their friends and family. It’s a marketing plan in itself. 

So…follow Rihanna…well don’t follow her…no one likes a stalker but follow her advice when she sings…

“I choose to be happy…”

You’ll be glad you did…

Taking Care of Business...

And I'll be taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime...

Bachman Turner Overdrive recorded this song in 1973.  I'm talking about it in 2019. 

(and planting the tune in your head!)

Of course the song takes a different view on taking care of business than the one I am going to be talking (writing) about.  It popped into my head as I was thinking about the most important thing to do if you're "taking care of business."  I started singing...

Taking care of people (every day)
Taking care of people (every way)
I've been taking care of people (all the time)
Taking care of people...and the business will be fine!

Not great lyrics and probably would not be a hit song but it will give you the opportunity to create a great business and that's pretty cool.  It seems so simple - take care of your people and they will take care of your business.  

Actually...it is that simple...

I wish more "leaders" would do it

"Driving to..." Leaders as Learners

Beware - there is SINGING in this episode!  

Also, as I listened back on it I discovered I used the word "fantastic" a lot.  I need a thesaurus..

Finally - the first minute or so of this video is a little wonky - kinda blurry and jumpy.  I have no idea why but we don't re-shoot at the "Driving to..." podcast...maybe we should.

I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC day! 😀

"Driving to..." Appreciation

We are driving to get our passports and it got us thinking about how great it is to travel and gain the appreciation of other cultures and ways of life.

If you ever wonder if your kids are listening...they are

My 5 year-old daughter, Eleni, had my phone as we were driving yesterday and decided to record her own "Driving to..." episode.  Here is "Driving to..." Heaven by guest host Eleni Munnell