How Happiness Can Help Your Business

All business entities build their companies in foundations known as core values. These foundations are what they normally stand for, both for their clients and employees. However, these values are often sidelined into oblivion. And if you bet on money as the replacement for these values, then you are right.

Monetary gain is often considered the cornerstone for every business entity and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But a business with money as its only goal leaves very few people satisfied, especially the workforce.

Right now, entrepreneurs are buying into this new breed of business model and remarkably, these companies are succeeding in both profit and personal satisfaction. In the UK alone, startup business surged into an estimate of 460,000 partnerships.

Could it be because they have a different business model in mind? As a matter of fact, yes. And it’s called happiness.

Recommended Reading: Searching For Happiness In The Workplace

The Ones that Actually Did It

Okay, if you’re still not convinced that the happiness business model is for real, let me present you with some proof.

Moo.com

Moo.com is a company that helps people print business cards, post cards and mini cards creatively. It was set up by Richard Moross in 2004 under the name ‘Pleasure Cards’. However, it suffered a lot of loss because of time, money, and bad branding.

(Image Source: eoffice)

In 2006, Moross came back with a new drive and revamped the business model, marketing plan and called the company Moo. He also replaced the proud “We’re the new coolest thing!” tagline into a more humble: “Hello, we’re just a little printing company. We love to print.”

After its renaissance, Moo joined with Wee World, an avatar company and made £2m! Today, Moo.com works with the likes of Etsy, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Moross changed the company’s vision and established a company culture that was built on happiness. He believed that employees that are happy make customers happy, and everything will fall into place after that.

He assured this by innovating a few things:

• He ensured that every employee has a share in the company. This means that when all things fail, everyone will be financially secured.


• He also emphasized work place environments where employees will work because they want to, not because they have to.


• Moo also hired for attitude before skills (because they believe that: “It’s better to have a hole in your team than an a***hole in your team.”)


• The crew works in an open and collaborative way.

Zappos

If you’re really want to start your own business, or you’re already looking for benchmark company cultures out there, Zappos is a pretty big inspiration.

(Image Source: Inc.)

If you haven’t heard yet, Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO, makes billions of dollars annually for making people happy.

So what are they doing right?

Anything worth doing is worth doing with WOW

That is Zappos’ company core value. Doing things with WOW and ensuring that when a customer buys something, they’ll be buying a lifetime of purchases and not just one. It is in this value that Zappos goes above and beyond the customer expectation and wants to have emotional values on its clients. They often do surprise order upgrades, free next-day deliveries and VIP upgrades out of the blue.

Weirdness and Fun

Zappos. Hates. Boring. They put great effort in making work hours fun rather than dull and serious corporate prisons.

Growing and Learning

Zappos also believe that everyone should maximize their potentials. This is why the company challenges and pursues personal and professional growth. They offer classes on finance, well-being and establishing a balanced work and personal life.

Honesty and Communication

They also believe that trust is what drives business. This is my they open their doors to both clients and employees for concerns and suggestions.

Less is More

Zappos believe that success is the middle ground of casual relationships and operational excellence. This is why they constantly drive their plans towards improvement of work and fun, and this produces a few benefits to employees like cab vouchers, massage chairs, nap rooms, free food in all company canteens and more.

Tips For Adapting A Happiness Business Model

Operate for People, Not for Money

The philosophy behind this business model is this. You, as a business, exists because there are people who need you. And as the main reason for your existence, you need to do everything for them to be fully satisfied.

(Image Source: The Happy Startup)

If you want to adapt a model that attracts happiness, revamp your core values and target what makes people satisfied. When in meetings, don’t ask yourself “Will this make us more money?” Try transforming it to “Will this make people happy?”

Loosen the Tie

If you will notice, the companies we mentioned have a common denominator: they make their clients happy. I’ve mentioned earlier that you operate because of people. And by that I mean customers who pay you and your employees that create the things you are paid for.

Remember to loosen the tie. Put the boring and monotonous aura aside and start redecorating your workplace. Remember that a happy crew means happy clients.

I suggest you start with a few in-office games, then maybe add a free-for-all pantry, and try and mimic the companies we have discussed.

Conclusion

The world is constantly changing. And this thought should push you to try new things. Get weird. Challenge the status quo and build your our own culture. People might see you as deviant or maybe even crazy at first but remember that people once thought the sun and stars revolved around the earth.

Every business’ cornerstone is the one that everyone lives by. More than a corporate motto, it’s a company way of life. And everybody is expected to follow it, including you. So if you want to rebuild your culture into the ‘business of happiness’ then make sure you live by your words. After all, happiness is a need everybody desires. Good luck!

No related posts.

How Happiness Can Help Your Business

How Happiness Can Help Your Business

All business entities build their companies in foundations known as core values. These foundations are what they normally stand for, both for their clients and employees. However, these values are often sidelined into oblivion. And if you bet on money as the replacement for these values, then you are right.

Monetary gain is often considered the cornerstone for every business entity and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But a business with money as its only goal leaves very few people satisfied, especially the workforce.

Right now, entrepreneurs are buying into this new breed of business model and remarkably, these companies are succeeding in both profit and personal satisfaction. In the UK alone, startup business surged into an estimate of 460,000 partnerships.

Could it be because they have a different business model in mind? As a matter of fact, yes. And it’s called happiness.

Recommended Reading: Searching For Happiness In The Workplace

The Ones that Actually Did It

Okay, if you’re still not convinced that the happiness business model is for real, let me present you with some proof.

Moo.com

Moo.com is a company that helps people print business cards, post cards and mini cards creatively. It was set up by Richard Moross in 2004 under the name ‘Pleasure Cards’. However, it suffered a lot of loss because of time, money, and bad branding.

(Image Source: eoffice)

In 2006, Moross came back with a new drive and revamped the business model, marketing plan and called the company Moo. He also replaced the proud “We’re the new coolest thing!” tagline into a more humble: “Hello, we’re just a little printing company. We love to print.”

After its renaissance, Moo joined with Wee World, an avatar company and made £2m! Today, Moo.com works with the likes of Etsy, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Moross changed the company’s vision and established a company culture that was built on happiness. He believed that employees that are happy make customers happy, and everything will fall into place after that.

He assured this by innovating a few things:

• He ensured that every employee has a share in the company. This means that when all things fail, everyone will be financially secured.


• He also emphasized work place environments where employees will work because they want to, not because they have to.


• Moo also hired for attitude before skills (because they believe that: “It’s better to have a hole in your team than an a***hole in your team.”)


• The crew works in an open and collaborative way.

Zappos

If you’re really want to start your own business, or you’re already looking for benchmark company cultures out there, Zappos is a pretty big inspiration.

(Image Source: Inc.)

If you haven’t heard yet, Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO, makes billions of dollars annually for making people happy.

So what are they doing right?

Anything worth doing is worth doing with WOW

That is Zappos’ company core value. Doing things with WOW and ensuring that when a customer buys something, they’ll be buying a lifetime of purchases and not just one. It is in this value that Zappos goes above and beyond the customer expectation and wants to have emotional values on its clients. They often do surprise order upgrades, free next-day deliveries and VIP upgrades out of the blue.

Weirdness and Fun

Zappos. Hates. Boring. They put great effort in making work hours fun rather than dull and serious corporate prisons.

Growing and Learning

Zappos also believe that everyone should maximize their potentials. This is why the company challenges and pursues personal and professional growth. They offer classes on finance, well-being and establishing a balanced work and personal life.

Honesty and Communication

They also believe that trust is what drives business. This is my they open their doors to both clients and employees for concerns and suggestions.

Less is More

Zappos believe that success is the middle ground of casual relationships and operational excellence. This is why they constantly drive their plans towards improvement of work and fun, and this produces a few benefits to employees like cab vouchers, massage chairs, nap rooms, free food in all company canteens and more.

Tips For Adapting A Happiness Business Model

Operate for People, Not for Money

The philosophy behind this business model is this. You, as a business, exists because there are people who need you. And as the main reason for your existence, you need to do everything for them to be fully satisfied.

(Image Source: The Happy Startup)

If you want to adapt a model that attracts happiness, revamp your core values and target what makes people satisfied. When in meetings, don’t ask yourself “Will this make us more money?” Try transforming it to “Will this make people happy?”

Loosen the Tie

If you will notice, the companies we mentioned have a common denominator: they make their clients happy. I’ve mentioned earlier that you operate because of people. And by that I mean customers who pay you and your employees that create the things you are paid for.

Remember to loosen the tie. Put the boring and monotonous aura aside and start redecorating your workplace. Remember that a happy crew means happy clients.

I suggest you start with a few in-office games, then maybe add a free-for-all pantry, and try and mimic the companies we have discussed.

Conclusion

The world is constantly changing. And this thought should push you to try new things. Get weird. Challenge the status quo and build your our own culture. People might see you as deviant or maybe even crazy at first but remember that people once thought the sun and stars revolved around the earth.

Every business’ cornerstone is the one that everyone lives by. More than a corporate motto, it’s a company way of life. And everybody is expected to follow it, including you. So if you want to rebuild your culture into the ‘business of happiness’ then make sure you live by your words. After all, happiness is a need everybody desires. Good luck!

No related posts.

How Happiness Can Help Your Business

Happiness Can Be The Best Strategy For Increasing Productivity: Here’s How

You can call it a secret, “life hack” or just common sense but happiness is the key to productivity. Being positive and satisfied can be one of the fastest and most effective ways to improve productivity in the workplace. Various studies have shown that you’re going to feel significantly less stress in day-to-day activities – in and outside of the workplace – from a positive change in attitude

via BreakingPic

Unfortunately for a lot of members of the workforce who spend their week behind a desk or counter, feeling happy and working productively don’t sound like they go hand in hand (even if they should). Take a look at the most stressed out person in your office, likely wasting time staring out the window, grumbling at the computer, or floating from desk to desk.

They can have an effect on the entire office’s productivity. The sooner he or she can destress, the faster you can get those productivity rates higher.

More on Hongkiat.com:

• The pursuit of happiness


• Why you should search for happiness in your workplace


• 8 ways to increase your happiness, according to science

Removing stress from the office follows a simple formula: people who are not spending time stressed out and worrying have more time to be productive. Stress leads to wasted time and wasted energy, meaning an attitude adjustment can directly affect how work time is spent.

Choosing to Be Happier

While working towards a positive attitude is a simple idea in theory, anyone who has tried to adjust their personality knows that simply flipping a mental switch isn’t possible most of the time. A Mayo Clinic study shows that a person’s level of happiness originates from his or her personality and the people with whom he or she spends time.

This means that not only does spending time around happy people make you happier, but your own happy attitude can influence others.

Of course, the inverse is also true. Anyone who has experience in the workplace probably has seen this play out. Picking out the “slackers” in the building is often as easy as finding the table in the break room where the sarcastic complainers spend their time.

Their negative attitudes feed off each other, and can carry over well beyond break time, leading to unproductive hours spent at the desk. If you’ve ever had a job at which you were unhappy, chances are you – like me, at one point in my life – were spending time at the slacker table.

Make The Change

On the flip side, when you’re satisfied with your work situation, chances are that you’re going to spend time with others who share a similar outlook. The positive vibes shared at that new and improved break room table carry over when you return to the desk the exact same way.

Some other lifestyle changes that can help you become happier at work include:

Gratefulness

People who are happier tend to be grateful for the things and opportunities they have. This affects productivity by making tasks inherently more satisfying. The grateful feeling that accompanies success will help build a positive experience, making you feel good about investing more time in your work to achieve even more success.

Optimism

One way you can generate a better outlook on life is to maintain a positive attitude. Seeking the silver linings on even the tedious tasks that everyone has to do in the office will help you finish those tasks more quickly. Sometimes a positive attitude can lead to finding a new method for completing a monotonous task. For example, locating a new tool online or designing new workflow strategies can be the results of looking for a new outlook on old, repetitive tasks.

Finding A Purpose

To improve your level of productivity in the workplace, find work that is satisfying, which will naturally lead to a happier attitude in the office. Speaking from first-hand experience, it may take a few tries to find work that satisfies you. But don’t give up on yourself! Once you find a job where you’re able to see how your skills and tasks fit into the big picture though, you’ll be amazed at how the work day flies by!

Improving Relationships

Increasing productivity through a positive attitude also relies heavily on how well you interact with co-workers. Many studies show that employees who work together in teams will have greater success in their tasks and a greater ownership in the final product… as long as the teammates’ attitudes match, that is.

One of the biggest challenges a manager faces is creating the best possible teams within the workplace. Placing employees together who have no chance of working together successfully leads to unproductive workers. Pairing folks from the slacker table in the break room with one person from the positivity at the next table over is almost always a disaster, for example.

Taking the time to create teams where the personalities mesh well will almost certainly lead to more success and better workflow among all the team members.

Laughter Leads to Success

One way managers can see whether teammates are working well together is measuring whether meetings involve a certain amount laughter. People who laugh together create stronger bonds, allowing them to work together more closely and with better productivity.

Laughter can diffuse stressful situations, leading to a better flow of work throughout the office. Laughter counteracts problems created when you’re feeling an increase in your stress level, too.

Many of the same workflow benefits that happy people enjoywill apply to those who laugh on a regular basis, too. Of course, you should be careful: you don’t want your office turning into The Office.

Better Listeners Are Happy

Those who work together on a team also experience higher levels of success when they learn how to listen to each other. Good listeners will maintain eye contact with the speaker, avoiding glancing at cell phones or computer screens.

If you’ve ever felt like taking the cell phone of someone you’re speaking with and tossing it under the tire of the nearest truck, you likely understand the frustration of dealing with someone who’s a poor listener. Such distractions lead to mistakes and poor productivity levels.

When you use clues to show someone that you’re listening on a regular basis, they’ll be confident they’re not going to have to repeat themselves, which is sure to make everyone more efficientin the office. If you have to constantly fix problems caused by poor listening skills, productivity is going to crash to a halt.

Path To Productivity Paved With Happiness

All that stands between your workplace and new heights of productivity is you. Adjust your attitude now, and not only will you be a happier and more effective employee, but those around you – save maybe the most jaded and cynical – will follow suit.

Fortunately, by the time you’re flaunting your newfound aura of positivity, those who still stubbornly hold onto a deep-seated cynicism won’t feel like wasted potential. By then, you’ll know that they’re just missing out.

Editor’s note: This is a contributed post by Owen Andrew, a writer and multimedia enthusiast based in Southern California. He is versed in social media, mobile platforms and work productivity and on his free time enjoys attending EDM concerts and spending time with his children. You can reach him on Twitter and Google+.

Related posts:

1. 8 Tips to Create An Organized & Productive Home Office


2. 8 Scientifically Proven Ways to Increase Your Happiness

Happiness Can Be The Best Strategy For Increasing Productivity: Here’s How

Searching For Happiness In The Workplace

When it comes to work and enjoyment, there are two polar opposites. And they’re summarized beautifully in 2 quotes. The first, “Do what you love and you never have to work a day in your life (Confucius)” and the other, “You’re not supposed to enjoy it. That’s why it’s called work (multiple sources)”. Let’s agree to disagree and move on.

At the risk of sounding childish, I have to ask you if happiness in the workplace is important to you? To me, happiness in the work place – or contentment of where you are at in your career ladder – is essential… to keep at your job for the long term.

If you are a job hopper, one day you will either end up with no place left to hop to, or no energy to do anymore hopping. We all have to settle eventually, or flat out retire (though most of us who can afford to wouldn’t and those who do want to retire couldn’t afford to).

While we work ourselves towards retirement, I leave you with this, a simple guide on how to find happiness in the workplace, put together from advice I have received from many people I have worked for, and with. I’m just the messenger; may you feel their wisdom in what they have to share with you when it comes to finding happiness in the workplace.

Recommended Reading: The Pursuit Of Happiness (& How To Be Truly Happy)

Make happiness essential

If you have ever heard yourself saying, “I left my previous job because I wasn’t happy’ then you should make it clear that you want to find happiness in your next one. Fact is, many people will list remuneration, benefits, perks, status, and even career goals as main factors in deciding which job to apply for.

It is only when they are in the job that they discover that happiness is also a prime factor, one which is severely overlooked in the midst of their job search. (I am also guilty of this. Well, was.)

Make it clear that you place happiness high up in your list of priorities, not only to your future employers, but also to yourself. It isn’t silly or naïve to want to go to work in a cheerful place; it is productive and rewarding.

In fact, your workplace can be a highly competitive environment, filled with ambitious goals and it is still possible for you to leave the office at the end of the day with a genuine smile on your face, as long as you know that what you want to achieve there can make you happy.

Work with people you look up to

Some people come to the workplace and light up the space with his or her presence. They make everyone full of optimism, and every word that come out of their mouth fills you with confidence to brave the office another day, knowing that you have this person backing you up in case something bad happens.

This person is also the person you can always talk to: their door is always open, everything can be brought up for discussion, and you can be sure that whatever requires resolution, you will find the solution in that person’s office or wisdom.

Some would call them ‘mentors’, when in fact they could exist as your manager, team leader, and sometimes, if you are ever so lucky, your boss. If you have goals and ambition, respect will be a magnet to you. Work with people who are respected or admired by many, including yourself, and perhaps you will be able to find that utopia you can spend your 9-to-5′s in.

Work with people who have your back

It is hard to take instructions from someone you deem weaker than you when it comes to a voice of authority, but in the long run, it is more important to work with someone you know will have your back. It isn’t enough to expect people you can categorize as your “friend’ to watch out for you. You should be able to depend on members of your team, or even your team leader as well.

To have that kind of safety net ready to catch your fall is a great stress reliever, and will contribute greatly to your well-being in the office. The trick, of course, is to find these people in the environments you have placed yourself in.

For that, there is no shortcut. What you may need is to take the time to spread some goodwill, pay attention, and perhaps some luck.

Granted some workplaces are cutthroat hell-holes, but if you are already in one, it’s probably best that you throw your happiness search out the window altogether. Alternatively, you can quit and find a job that would actually make you happier.

Work in a place where emotions is not Deemed a weakness

I have never been a fan of the professional workplace, where people are asked to sideline their emotions, positive or negative, for the “benefit of the office”. If they ask you to calm yourself down after being victimized by a new policy – “be cool, be professional about this, this is how things work here’ – understand that in many workplaces, the need to steel yourself against human emotions is not a necessity.

Just ask anyone who is genuinely passionate about work.

You cannot talk about passion in the workplace if you want everyone to stay professional and ignore their emotions all the time. Penting up anger and suppressing frustration, opting instead to adhere to a state of professionalism will only leave you tensed, and uptight, and will probably leave a mark on your health.

We are humans after all – we emote, whether we like it or not. But instead of hiding our emotions, why not choose to be in control of it? Channel it into something positive rather than suppress it, and you might be surprised where you end up.

The Allure Of Comparing Lives

This one I got from a job recruiter whom I interviewed for a job-seeker’s article. If you have ever found yourself comparing where you are now with a former classmate or current friend, know that in about every circumstance, you are comparing apples and oranges. In some cases it’s apples and basketballs – they aren’t even in the same category to begin with.

Some companies pay high salaries but expect you to give up a lot of your personal time to stay in employment. Others pay less, but don’t get you in trouble with your spouse or partner by calling you up during your family holidays. There are also those who sort out problems in your life so you can deal with the company’s problem and the traditional type of offices that disallow you mixing business with home affairs.

Whatever their policies are like, at the end of the day, remember that you are in their employment to achieve their goals, not vice versa. And everyone has their own set of troubles they have to deal with, to cope.

Don’t add to the stress by deeming yourself less worthy when comparing your life with someone else’s. But if you really have to compare yourself with anyone, compare yourself, with yourself. To clarify, compare the current you with the you 5 years down the road, or 5 years ago. What do you have now that is deemed an improvement from what you had back then? What do you hope to achieve 5 years from now?

“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.” – Muhammad Ali

Don’t leave your job for something good, leave for something great

I had handed in my resignation letter to one of my first jobs early in my career and the newly appointed manager had called me into her office to talk to me about the matter. Although on the surface, it looked as though I was leaving because I disagreed with their company policy, deep down inside, my confidence was shaky at best, as I had no plans to fall back on once my notice of termination is up.

It was then when she told me, in a tone that was less managerial than it was motherly, to “never leave your current job for something ‘good’, leave for something ‘great’.”

If it was an attempt to make me stay, it didn’t really work because instead, it helped me steel my nerves, making me more determined than at the start of the discussion, to take my leave and venture out into the world because at that moment, I knew that I was going to settle for nothing less than great. (Whether I succeed or not shall be left a mystery at this point. Life is an adventure, after all.)

Conclusion

If all of this sounds like it belongs in the “easier said than done’ category, this time I beg to differ with you. You might have noticed that in many jobseeking articles, advice columns or motivational materials, we are rarely encouraged – or allowed – to associate the workplace with happiness.

At best it is “rewarding’ or “conducive’ or some other buzzword that is close to what you think constitutes happiness, but in reality, does squat to help you in the happiness department.

For something so important to the well-being of your personal relationships, career and life, don’t you think it is time you start making the search for happiness in the workload a priority?

No related posts.

Searching For Happiness In The Workplace