Go to work in search of happiness

 

The picture on the left is that of healthy cells – they communicate with each other (notice how they extend to touch their neighbors), they are large and look strong.  The cells on the right picture are cancer cells of the same tissue – they are smaller, and they tend to not communicate with their neighbors. They also look angry  and isolated in their endeavor to grow faster and faster.

Source: NCI/NIH, https://visuals.nci.nih.gov/details.cfm?imageid=2306, and http://visuals.nci.nih.gov/details.cfm?imageid=2304

I have not written for some time since there is nothing good to report. At work, things are going wrong and people are either evil or dejected, or both! I have not seen even a single truly happy faculty member in years. The problem with this dark plague is that everyone else around the unhappy teachers suffers, including the students.

Next time we are unhappy, we should think about how we impact the atmosphere for everyone around us. Do we want to leave a trail of unhappiness, devastation, negativity and sadness?

I would rather bring some sunshine and inspiration in people’s lives. It is not selfish to intentionally search for happiness. Why not proclaim that the mission of our institutions is the search for happiness? Instead, our missions are usually piles of lofty and empty words that do not amount to anything.

Are you dissatisfied with your place of work? Start a movement – forge a path to an intentional happiness. Start with your connections at the job. There must be a few good people whom you trust – secure good communications with them, establish the foundational network and then expand it.

Here is the first “baby step” to changing your workplace: propose to the few good people a daily meeting of 10-15 minutes. The purpose is to touch base and give support to each other. You will be amazed how much better it is to communicate face-to-face.

My final words are these of a cancer biologist: broken and missing cell communications are a defining characteristic of cancer cells. Just look at the pictures above. Get connected today – do not fall into a malignant state of mind.

Branding yourself, your business, or your company

I know that our blog has multiple personality disorder. My husband and I are all over the place – we write about science, jobs + related frustrations, herbs, finances, cancer, gardens, cooking, etc.

So, following up on our tradition – here is another post that probably you do not expect.

It is about branding. It was triggered by a talk by Simon Sinek, If You Don't Understand People, You Don't Understand Business.

Simon turns upside down the marketing/branding strategies employed by most companies. According to him, the businesses do not need to obsessively ask customers what exactly they expect, want, crave, look for, etc.

What companies need to do is to find their own symbol and declare their own mission. The companies have to define their own strong, true identity, express their beliefs and future trajectory. Only then they can attract true followers and establish the trust that customers develop with some brands.

Simon also gives a very apt analogy to this situation. He states that the behavior of the companies seeking the advice and guidance of their customers is equivalent to us going to our friends and asking, “How would you like me to dress, so that you to like me better; how do you want me to speak, so that you like me more?” The true friends would reply - just be yourself, I like you the way you are, this is why I am your friend.

Therefore, the message to the companies (or any business) is this: be authentic, declare your beliefs and mission, earn the trust of the people, create a trend, inspire the community, and only then you will have the followers and the success you are after.

Going back to this blog’s identity, I believe that my main mission is benevolence.

be·nev·o·lence:

1. An inclination to perform kind, charitable acts.

2.

a. A kindly act.

b. A gift given out of generosity.

I hope that I will continue to share as much wisdom and useful knowledge as possible. Today, this is an act of kindness.


PS 
Another great "branding" talk is this by Sasha Strauss, Think Branding, with Google - Conference Keynote - "Branding in the New Normal"