(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard, Fun and Beautiful – Team Work Edition)
Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.
There were so many great responses from last week’s Hard, Fun and Beautiful post. I’m amazed by people’s compassion, understanding, and encouragement. My readers listened and gave me some great feedback. Click here to go check it out if you have a chance.
We all struggle. This will never stop.
What we can do is share and help each other grow. That’s why I created Work Happy Now: so we can create a group of people who want to do great work and enjoy the heck out of it.
OK, enough of my gushing. All of you know I love you for being regular readers of Work Happy Now.
Let’s begin…
Hard
Staying up until midnight working on sales materials.
I had to email a contact my information, but I also needed to adjust the material to fit this company’s needs. My wife edited my changes then I fixed it and sent it off.
I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep right away. The next day was a struggle. It was interesting to be so high then watch my mood the next day be so low.
Fun
A big company is interested in work happiness. It would look great on my resume.
I was contacted by a big time company to see if I was willing to do a workshop with them. The manager wants to help his team of 25 employees to become more engaged with their work.
I can’t disclose the company, but if I get the job then I’ll be sure to tell you. It’s great to see that larger companies are following this blog and are interested in making their people happier.
Beautiful
Team work.
It takes a team to get anything done. My wife is editing my book right now (yes, there is a book due out soon) and I’m so grateful to have her support. Some spouses don’t believe in the other spouse’s dreams, so not everyone gets the kind of support that I am receiving.
In my case, my wife is behind me 100% and I’m so glad she is because I feel like I can accomplish anything.
I’ve read and talked to many people who don’t have the support of their spouses. I can see how difficult that would be.
What about you?
What has been hard, fun and beautiful in your life? I’ll see you in the comment section.
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* With the holidays coming up we want to simplify our gift giving. Well I know I do. That's why I loved Tess's post 50 Ways to Simplify Gift Giving This Holiday Season.
If you enjoyed this post then you will probably like this one too:
Karl - Congrats on the potential speaking gigs. YAY!
Hard - Budget and Marketing planning for 2010. Not my favorite part of work!
Fun - An uncle and his wife came in from out of town and we spent a night in Boston hanging with them. Fun!
Beautiful - The city of Boston at night...I love it so much!
thanx for the post.
Hard-my first job where i had to sell food in the hospital like a street vendor and yet i have a degree. i needed the money. thank God i changed to a better job.
Fun- i went swimming with my best friend and cousin. i normally do it alone. it was so much fun.
Beautiful- none that i remember this year. its not been a gd year.
I can't wait to see your book in print, Karl, and yes, it is great when we find or have partners who support and believe in us. Awesome!
Hard: Receiving word that I didn't get a job I was really excited about. However, I believe everything happens for a reason, so it's all good.
Fun: Surprise decorating a friend's house so it's decked out in the spirit of Christmas. This friend is returning from Iraq on Sunday and will be home during the holidays for the first time in two years. I wanted his house to just scream "Christmas!" What a blast!
Beautiful: Shoveling snow at 3:00 a.m. in a perfectly quiet, pristine, and snow-covered neighborhood as part of a winter job I have. WOW! No one else around (or awake) except me and some sparkly Christmas lights.
Karl,
This is great, that your message is getting out there and getting people (and organizations) interested in work happiness. Whatever comes of this opportunity, it's all good - and steps in the right direction!
Hard: A planning meeting for a basketball board that I am part of. The program itself is very well run, it's just that I have lost interest in this role for myself. I have committed to continuing through the basketball season this year...and that part feels good - seeing the transition out that will come in a few months.
Fun: The game of basketball! In this case, we had 8 games of basketball over the course of about 30 hours over the weekend. I was tempted to skip the late game on Saturday evening after I had shuffled some kids back home. I ended up going, and my daughter's team won the game by one point, on a shot by by daughter with one second left. An exciting finish, and even more so in that this team has never even come close to winning a tournament before.
Beautiful: (1) Being asked to write a letter of recommendation for a young man who is applying for a specialized school to get his master's degree. And then, having him stop over at our house yesterday, and hearing his deep appreciation for this. An honor for me to write this, and to have his presence in our family's life. (2) My wife. It was a busy week, and it seemed like there was too much to do, and not enough time. And she graciously and generously volunteered to completely take over a project I had to get ready for a cub scout meeting - doing all the behind the scenes work - so I just had to go to the meeting and present the material. And all because she "sensed" this, and instinctively jumped into help...
Hi Karl
Congratulations on the wonderful prospect!!!
As for me:
Hard: Beings compassionate enough to deal with a difficult person.
Fun: Planning and booking a trip down south.
Beautiful: Doing yoga - I just love how it makes me feel, and it is so beautiful to be in a room with everyone doing those poses and just feeling so liberated.
Hi Karl - That's fantastic to hear you've got a bite from a big company. Congrats! Isn't that interesting how that happens? I love the serendipity of it, especially after you were experiencing that struggle last week, as you say. Sometimes I have these hurdles, and I'm often amazed by what I find on the other side.
Hard: End of year business stuff. Paper work. Trying to get my act together. Grrr.
Fun: A crowded restaurant. Holiday cheer. Dinner with my best friend.
Beautiful: Winter Soltice.
Hi Stacey, Budgeting and marketing is not easy or fun, but so necessary. Hope it wasn't too painful.
Hi Agnes, The work that we do makes a big difference. I'm glad you have a better job too.
Hi Megan, Sorry to hear that you didn't get the job. They don't realize how great you are. Another company will come along that will probably be a better fit.
Hi Lance, Sometimes our work just runs its course. Just hang in their and try to enjoy what you can. I know that you are already pretty good at this, so I'm not worried.
Hi Evita, A difficult person is always a challenge. Hope you took some good notes. When we take some time to reflect on why we feel the way we do, we can adjust and not get so upset the next time.
Hi Patty, Paper work - arrrrrgh. I'm with you on that. I also love a crowded restaurant. I can feel the good energy in the air.
> In my case, my wife is behind me 100% and I’m so glad she is because I feel like I can accomplish anything.
That IS beautiful.
Hi Karl,
Well, I'm a bit late on replying to this post, but better late than never. Looking back over this week, it feels like I've done a lot and not very much all at the same time....
Hard: This week I spent some time contemplating how the year has unfolded and came away feeling a bit despondent. Even though I know I've also taken a lot of positive steps to shift my life in an entirely different direction, I haven't yet felt or seen a noticeable shift yet and I guess I'm just feeling a bit impatient. I am really grateful for all the supportive people in my life--including this online community--who have been there for me and encouraged my tentative ventures down new avenues. Also rather hard at the moment is not getting to spend the holiday season with my sweetie (the first time in three years). 🙁
Fun: Going to my favourite tea salon and a favourite Indian restaurant--all on the same day!--for an early birthday celebration. Just for fun, I did a free online tarot card reading and at least it had positive things to say about moving past difficulties to a new phase characterized by more creative expression. That works for me! 😉
Beautiful: Making a dessert that takes the concept of "slow food" to a whole new level! I decided last night to make carrot halwah for the winter solstice since the colour (a beautiful shade of yellowy-orange) reminds me of sunshine and warmth. This dessert took just over three hours to make and required a lot of patient stirring to make sure the carrots and milk fat did not get stuck to the bottom of the saucepan, but I decided to approach it as a meditative experience and only thought positive thoughts for the upcoming year while stirring the mixture. (The dessert is essentially a milk-based pudding that is simmered down almost to the texture of a fudge.)
Well, that's my belated update on the hard, fun and beautiful. I wish everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season and as the sunlight gradually increases may everyone's happiness increase and their best dreams come true.