I recently read a blog by Entrepreneur Network contributor, Jeff Rose, on what makes him so happy in his work. Here are his ‘bullet points’:
- Turning off phone/computer notifications to stay in the moment.
- Be present when you’re spending time with others.
- Don’t blame other people for anything.
- Go after what you want.
- Don’t whine about your life — no one wants to hear it!
- Let your mindset stay on the positive side — there are others who have it worse than you do.
- Don’t waste time on people who bring no value to your life.
- Spend time with those who bring you happiness.
Sounds a bit simplistic, but doesn’t it make sense?
How many times a day or a week do you find yourself frustrated? What about disappointed? Then there’s that defeatist attitude which can rear its head at times.
I think Rose has excellent focus. And that’s what you’ve been reading about in this edition of SB. People who have a clear vision, a focus, a drive, to follow a passion until it becomes a reality.
I know I see that in our youngest daughter — now in her thirties — as she follows her bliss. She was about four years old when her desire to learn about the birthing process became evident and today, after attaining her Health Education degree at Ithaca College, she is a doula as well as an herbalist, a placenta encapsulator and is currently earning her certification as a Community Fertility Educator. I need to tell you her second major was Complementary Alternative Medicine/Integrated Health so it doesn’t seem so disparate. So mix both majors together, along with her lifelong passion, and you get a successful entrepreneur!
Being present and personally accountable are what Rose and my daughter are about. The Ones-of-a-Kind you have read about also show those qualities.
Does that mean we can be let off of the hook of Life by telling ourselves we don’t want to become entrepreneurs? Of course not!
- Being productive — crossing items off of your To Do list — can make you feel good. And, to be able to do that, we need to stay in the moment by reducing distractions.
- But, as Rose states, to be exceptionally happy add a few more thoughts to the first eight bullets above:
- Don’t check your phone while talking with someone else — even in a hallway — be present!
- Don’t multi-task during a meeting — be present to hear every person in order to be engaged in what’s going on and able to add value in conversations.
- Don’t interrupt — listen actively — we don’t always know what the other is going to say, even though we think we do. And, remember, ask a question. Don’t turn the story into You.
- Don’t talk about others behind their backs — even when the office gossip wants to tell you the latest. This is the one time you NEED to interrupt and let the person speaking negatively about someone else know that you don’t want to be engaged in that type of a conversation.
- Spend time with people who are willing to spend time and resources (not necessarily financial) with you.
- Each morning (or evening before bed) list three things you are grateful for.
- Don’t let your Past be your Future — make the Future bigger than your Past.
- You can’t help everyone. Saying ‘no’ can make your ‘yes’ more valuable. When you become overcommitted, you can’t give time to the people or things which really matter. “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you,” is the best response.
- The last point Rose makes is, “Don’t let Fear consume you.” How can you be happy if you’re Prof afraid? How can you be focused? How can you be confident? How can you be in the Present?
- Commit to taking action — for yourself. You’ll be happier and those most important to you at work as well as in your personal life will appreciate you. Then you will have surrounded yourself with happier people. THAT’s Life!
This has been a lot of ‘bullets’ for you to review. Let’s all work at being our true selves, in the moment — with the people who matter most.