happiness Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

28
Dec 20
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Growing Popularity May Be An Illusion

Tags : absurd authentic happiness popularity selfie

Growing popularity is one reason that many people participate in social media. Are other people gaining traction or otherwise growing their social presence at alarming rates? Is it real, authentic, and justified?

Do you post regularly and if so, why?

Consider the selfie as an example. Is it real? Does it use filters to dress it up? What is the reason for the post?

Is it for a significant event or just boredom dressed up like, “Bet you wish you were here.” Better yet, “Bet you wish you were me.”

One trouble spot is the algorithms of big tech. What type of posts are rewarded, shown more, shared or kept alive?

Post a picture of the final days of a beloved pet and it will get some attention. The same is probably true for something that appears outlandish.

A picture of you hand washing your dishes in the kitchen sink at 4:30 AM might be kind of boring. Unless of course, it is so out of character for you others notice and consider it preposterous.

Social media has a way of rewarding the absurd.

Except when they choose to block it for what is commonly labeled as fact-checking.

Growing Popularity

Facts are often nothing more than opinions presented in a compelling way that makes it feel or appear factual.

The selfie with filters comes to mind.

Popularity often becomes a race to escape reality. In other cases, it is a race to be bizarre, outlandish, or just totally outrageous.

The truth is that many social media threads are not rewarded by creating something better.

They are often rewarded for all the wrong reasons.

Many people engaged in frequent posting are addicted to the count of clicks, likes, and shares. The algorithms are definitely addicted, that is if they are not disabled through fact-checking.

What appears popular does not mean that it is the most helpful. It doesn’t confirm that the intentions are honorable or even desirable. The absurd gains popularity equally to the beautiful.

Perhaps any press, is good press.

Be cautious of what is popular.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

11
Sep 20
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Workplace Interpretations Drive Outcomes

Tags : culture excitement happiness stress work ethic

What are your workplace interpretations? Everyone has some. Have you considered how they drive outcomes?

It’s 2020, and we’re in the middle of a U.S. presidential election. There are lots of opinions, concerns, and hopes about what will happen next.

One person watches a democratic commercial and gets angry, a different person watches the same commercial and gets excited.

Republican commentary comes on the news. Someone will say it’s all lies, someone else will cheer for more.

And that is just connected to the election. There is more.

An on-line shopper observes a back-ordered item and believes the item has sold so well, it’s out-of-stock, what a great product and a great company. Another shopper a thousand miles away sees the same item but believes the company is lousy because they can’t build the product.

A restaurant franchise owner sees cars backing up on the street to enter the drive-through window of her establishment. She gets really excited. A passer-by sees an accident waiting to happen and believes the owner is making too much money.

The difference is in the interpretation.

Those interpretations will also condition what happens next.

Does it happen in the workplace?

Absolutely.

Workplace Interpretations

People come to work every day. They show up, follow a routine, take a deep breath and dive in. Some may drag around for a while. Slow to get started, hesitant to give their energy.

One person will see a batch of new customer orders and be excited about the opportunity. Yet, another person will see the batch of orders as the worst part of their day.

One person will see the meeting with the boss as worrisome and stressful. Another believes it is a great opportunity.

Someone will watch the clock eager to get away from work at the end of the shift. Another worries that there is not enough time in the shift to satisfy every customer.

You will interpret something today. You’ll be energized and excited, or you’ll be stressed out and maybe a little angry.

You’re part of the culture and will help create what happens next.

Which part would you rather be?

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

29
Nov 19
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Think Improvement When It Is Less Than Perfect

Tags : appreciation gratitude happiness improvement perfection

Is perfect possible? Some might quickly suggest that it is. Are you ready to think improvement instead of perfect?

When someone offers to schedule the meeting within your preferred time slot you may respond with, “Perfect.”

It is a kind gesture and also sounds a little energetic. All of that is great.

As time goes by, you may decide that time slot wasn’t so perfect after all.

Your project slipped. You hit a roadblock, or the client just asked for more within the same timeline. Now it’s not so perfect anymore.

Doubtful About Perfect

We often wish for perfect. We wish for the perfect day, the perfect vacation, or even for the perfect relationship or marriage. Although, somewhere in the back of our mind, we’re doubtful about the possibility of perfect.

Because of our doubt, we don’t want to compare today’s accomplishments, we don’t want to discuss our plans for a stay at home vacation because it just sounds unattractive. For our relationships, we put on a good face, we smile, and say things are great.

Having something less than perfect shouldn’t be a reason to feel embarrassment. It shouldn’t be about a comparison to others, and honestly, the lack of perfection may just keep it all real.

Think Improvement

If we have something less than perfect that means there is an opportunity.

There is opportunity for more gratitude, more patience, and deeper listening. Opportunity also means there is a chance to evaluate the positive and to think about how to do more of exactly those things.

When you worry less about perfection and focus more on improvement life seems to offer a little more appreciation. On top of that, everything seems a little less stressful.

Think improvement not perfection.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

17
Mar 15
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What Gets Measured

Tags : accomplishment goals happiness pivot

There is an old mantra, “What gets measured, gets done.” It is true that having a consistent and conscious objective in front of us being measured causes most to continue the pursuit. The question may sometimes become, what are you measuring?

Many people express their desire for happiness, yet they measure sorrow. People want their job or workplace to be more simple, kind, and generous, yet they measure difficulty, anger, and how often they feel short changed. People push for the accomplishment of milestones, goals, and objectives, yet they often measure only the gap or shortcomings.

If what gets measured gets done, then perhaps we should be mindful of what we measure. What if we started to count or measure smiles, hellos, and things that make our lives easier? What if we count or measure every time we feel happy, relief, or a sense of accomplishment?

It seems like what you measure should be want you want, because that is what gets done.

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Bradhoc, Flickr, Tape Measure

08
Jul 14
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Win, Happiness, and Wealth

Tags : happiness luxury wealth win winning

There seems to be a correlation in many minds that winning equates to happiness. That happiness only exists if you win, that you must win at all costs, and that wealth is winning.

If you’re working towards a win at all costs, then the temptation to alter the goal, take unusually high risks, or worse, engage in unethical conduct to further support your obsession with the win; may lead you to a path you didn’t think you would choose. But you did, or perhaps, you will.

You may feel like you don’t want to do it personally, but your boss, your neighbor or your judgmental mother-in-law is ready to remind you of your position in life, wealth, and assumed happiness. This creates pressure for action.

Winning is great, but it isn’t always about the win. More real estate, faster cars, and bigger investments don’t necessarily lead to more happiness. Winning at all costs bears a price tag that most shouldn’t be interested in paying. The price may be too high when happiness is confused with wealth and wealth is confused with winning.

Measure for happiness and not the win, measure against past performance first, bench-mark data second. Focus on why you do it, not what you get paid. Focus on the people who benefit from the product, good, or service.

The win exists at happiness, not necessarily luxury, money, or what someone else defines.

– DEG

Photo Credit: Jeff Belmonte

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

13
May 14
-

Compared to…

Tags : comparison goals happiness

Comparison conversations often lack the comparison. My way is better, his business is better, she has a better job, and they have a better house, car, boat, and life. There’s more, this tastes better, these shoes are more comfortable, and her hair looks better. Compared to what?

Some comparisons occur because of the difference of what we have, want, or need. Other comparisons come with the price of judgment, bias, and envy. Still other comparisons are believed to measure health, wealth, or happiness. Compared to what?

Discovering your success may be a comparison, but it should always be compared to your goal.

– DEG

Photo Credit: Steven Depolo

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Tag Archives: happiness

Dec 20

-

Growing Popularity May Be An Illusion

Growing Popularity

Sep 20

-

Workplace Interpretations Drive Outcomes

Workplace Interpretations

Nov 19

-

Think Improvement When It Is Less Than Perfect

Doubtful About Perfect

Think Improvement

Mar 15

-

What Gets Measured

Jul 14

-

Win, Happiness, and Wealth

May 14

-

Compared to…

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