Creating Magical Experiences

“Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others with them” 

~~Walt Disney

Good Morning Folks,

While the Weiners pursue our last two days of R&R in the Napa Valley, I leave you in the very capable hands of our Corporate Trainer Shalaine Adams, who is at a conference at Disney where, in addition to entertaining children, they also teach and train adults in the art of business hospitality which has become their hallmark.

Shalaine… over to you…..

Good morning FSO & Happy Thursday,

I hope you had a wonderful week so far!

I had the pleasure of attending the SHRM conference with Kim, Chelsea this week in Orlando Florida and boy, was it a blast!

Being in Orlando, you are surrounded by the magic of Disney. Over and over again it was mentioned in the advertisements, at restaurants and even at the conference:) You couldn't help being touched by it!

I'd like to bring you on a journey with me, back to when I was 7 years old. My grandparents took me to Disney world! I couldn't believe it, I was so excited and thrilled to be there surrounded by all of the princesses I'd seen on TV! My grandparents took me all around and when we we were on our last day, I was allowed to buy whatever I wanted at the Disney gift shop. I picked out a Minnie Mouse mug as I absolutely adored her. My grandparents bought it for me and I was so proud of my purchase! I picked it up off of the counter and Wham, it fell and shattered to pieces. 

I was so sad as I thought that was the end but oh no, a cast member (as the Disney employees are affectionately called) came over, gave me a huge smile and said it’s ok, don’t cry look; she GAVE me another Minnie Mouse mug...just like that; free of charge. And although it was a long time ago, that is an experience I will never forget! I felt so special! Not only do I want to go back, I want to bring my future family with me!

At the SHRM conference, it was said that people may not remember what you say or how you say it, but they always remember how you make them feel!

It is us (You & I) creating a MAGICAL experience that keeps FSO at 98% client retention and it is that MAGICAL experience that enables us to become sticky and expand our service lines like we have with PWC, Capco & Y&R!

So I ask our FSO team, how does your clients feel after they leave your presence, is it magical; did you go above & beyond for them anticipating their needs?

How do your teams and peers feel, do you show that you care, are you a team player; do you make the experience a personal one?

Disney World is the happiest place on earth providing experiences that keep their guests coming back to visit over and over again!

We at FSO, stand poised to become the Happiest place to work; providing a Magical, Hospitality driven experience for everyone we come in contact with both our clients and our teams!

Let's do our part and make every moment count, our culture is Personal, Passionate & Productive! FSO is our Magic Kingdom, and we as the cast members make the Fire, Skip & twinkle come to life!

Wishing you a Magical day!

Let's Rock it!

Shalaine Adams
Corporate Trainer

MDW: Thank you Shalaine. I too was impressed with the Disney way and my encounter with one of their legacy pioneering hospitality champions. I blogged about him here. 

If you ever have a chance to leave the kids behind and want a really unique experience and romantic Adult getaway for your next vacation, you really should consider a soiree in the Napa Valley. Like Disney, there is no place like it on earth.  

From the wine and the food to the spa, shopping and more, you’ll become intimately drawn to Napa Valley. It is our greatest joy to share our knowledge and expertise of this majestic dreamscape, making it a landmark journey for the senses. In fact my wife has built a business around our love for Napa. 

Experience Napa is the ultimate gateway to the intimate enclaves and best-kept Gems of Napa Valley. Check it out. I am always happy to share what I know so don't be shy with questions.

I will also be on the road quite a bit in July and excited to see all of you, your staff and our awesome Clients. 

I am bringing back some great wine for our clients and for us. 

Enjoy and stay in touch. Mitch. :-))

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

InspireME Friday: 9 Moments the Happiest People Have EveryDay

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

Good Morning Folks,

Success and happiness aren't easy to achieve. It takes a lot of time, hard work, and luck to get there. That's why, along the way, you've got to take advantage of moments- those brief periods of time when all can be right in your world.

Dave Kerpen, CEO, Likeable Local, NY Times Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker penned the above 9 Moments the Happiest People Have EveryDay for American Express' Tumblr Happiness page.

American Express also has a Tumblr "Passion" page that you also will find inspirational.

Click here for more #EveryDayMoments and more inspiring words related to the info graphic featured above.

Neal Michael shared a fantastic email yesterday talking about our competitive differences and the lack of care for our new client from the haphazard way they maintained the space and cleanliness, to how they failed to provide any process improvement, innovation and can’t even think about what (re)IMAGINE looks or feels like. None of our competitors can and they just don’t get it.

More than the passion to care about ourselves and our client's welfare so deeply, it's all the happy, inspired people who do a great job supporting us every day that have made FSO the unstoppable force in outsourcing. Thanks for all you do.

Be Inspired Today as I am and Make a Difference!!!!!!!  

Have a sunny and relaxing weekend,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

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"Be yourself. Everyone else is taken" — Oscar Wilde 

. . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .  . . . . .. . . . .  . . . 

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

InspireME Friday: Tips For a Beautiful and Stunning Life

Smile Wallpaper From HDWallPapersPlus

“SMILE. 
It Is The Ultimate Antidepressant.”

Good Morning Folks,

Here’s some great advice from an old friend that showed up on social media this week that I wanted to share for having a beautiful and stunning life:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day & while you walk, SMILE.
It is the ultimate antidepressant.
2. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
3. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food
that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, and almonds.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for
everything!
11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years,
will this matter?’
17. Help the needy. Be generous! Be a ‘Giver’ not a ‘Taker’
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. Time heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your
friends will. Stay in touch.
22. Each night before you go to bed, be thankful.

Love Life!

Have a Happy, Healthy and COOLER Weekend,





Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  


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Life lessons from a dog: - wag more, bark less - never stop playing - be loyal and faithful - be quick to forgive - love unconditionally.
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Guest Post: Sally Hogshead's Six Tips to Help Develop and Sell Your Best Ideas

At one point in your life, many years ago– approximately nine months before you were born, in fact– you competed in your very first new-business pitch. You were competing against a few hundred million others, but apparently you won, because you’re reading this today.

The principles of fertilization offer a handy reminder that in chaotic or competitive situations, many must die in order for one to live. So it goes for spawning ideas.

It wasn’t always this way. I remember watching a famous, award-winning creative director describe his philosophy on idea development. His agency would present only one idea — the big idea — and if the client didn’t buy it, the agency would go into hiding for two weeks before returning with another (single) idea.

That agency has, regrettably, since closed… surprise surprise. In the hope of avoiding the same fate, I’ve spent the past few years trying to get the idea of THE idea out of my head.

As time goes on, I realize that successful careers, like successful agencies, are built upon the rules we learned back when we were swimming upstream with a few hundred million of our would-be siblings:

1. There is no such thing as THE idea.

If you can break out of the mind-set that you have to create that one almighty concept, you can stay more open to client feedback, integrate other media platforms and forage outside of your comfort zone for creative thinking.

2. Beware your ‘brilliant’ ideas.

Truly brilliant ideas are dangerous. They can quickly become the idea. They let people off the hook to beat those ideas with something fresher, smarter. Instead of clinging to your most brilliant idea, keep yourself open to the possibility that there’s a better one.

3. Spread your bets around.

Think like the movie-studio executives, who have stopped putting all their bets on one or two blockbusters, and instead back a multitude of movies that are all little bets. Many will fail, a few will break even and one or two will become massive hits.

4. Start profusely and finish brutally.

At the beginning of a process, stay open to everyone’s comments and all possibilities. But as time goes on, focus on your winning ideas and kill the rest without sorrow or sentiment. Why? See rule No. 5.

5. Ideas are not precious; opportunities, very much so.

There is no limit to the number of ideas you could potentially generate, but there is a definite limit to the number of opportunities you can take on and succeed with. Focus your resources on winning ideas.

6. Fight to the death for your ideas.

This might sound counterintuitive to the above. Here’s the difference.

Ideas are our raison d’être. Yet once you’re willing to create more of those ideas — and watch more of those ideas die — your career will survive and thrive.

Sally Hogshead, CEO and Founder of HowToFascinate.com

Can You Add Value— Every Hour— Every Day?

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of only standing still" ~~ Chinese Proverb

Good Morning Folks,

The landscape of the job market is shifting at an alarming rate and as a result, employment in America is increasingly operating in anew reality. 

Every employee today can easily lose their job. 

If your career is in trouble if you either are, or should be, afraid of where you'd be if you lost your current job. Take control of your career so you won't be afraid of losing your job. 

First figure out who you are, what you want to do, and where you can fit in to do it. 

Second strategize and plan what you need to do to take charge of your situation. 

Third strengthen your relationships and build a professional network. This network must include powerful alliances and a diverse mix of relationships. Work your plan as you continue to build your network. 

Whatever you may be thinking when you apply for a job today, you can be sure your prospective employer is thinking this: 

• Can this person add value every hour, every day--more than a worker in India, a robot, or a computer could? 
• Can he or she help my company adapt by not only doing the job today but also reinventing the job for tomorrow? 
• And can he or she adapt with all the change, so my company can adapt and export more into the fastest-growing global markets? ‘

In today's hyper-connected world, more and more companies cannot and will not hire people who don't fulfill those criteria.

Want a job in today's economy? You also need to think, talk and write better.

At a recent meeting of area job recruiters and hirers, I heard several members emphasize the basic abilities they look for when they evaluate job candidates. Attitude and communication, along with a basic work-ready appearance, topped their wish lists.

FSO searches for employees who are intelligent, confident and who can master a broad spectrum of skills. Integrity, trust and the ability to balance hard work and fun are essential to FSO’s unique culture and we are looking for these traits in those we hire. 

It is true that employers have not been willing to train employees as extensively as the bygone era of lifetime employment. This is why job-retraining programs at a macro scale are sorely needed at a time when businesses are more interested in outsourcing human capital to foreign countries.  So at FSO, investing and developing people is key to our success.

My advice to keep yourself relevant and valuable: treat yourself just as you would a new business venture. This, in turn, means a need for continuous growth and evolution, or in startup jargon "learn, pivot, iterate". Just as a new business needs to evolve with the market, so should your own skillset always adapt and continue to grow.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

• Have A GREAT Day!

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Mitchell D. Weiner

  Chief Happiness Officer

  
  

  Ps. I am now microblogging in between posts here so be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, information and career opportunities. (BTW, these are NEW accounts so if you have already subscribed on other pages the company has published, you'll need to reapply for my "personal" VIP list.)

My Secret: Define Your Values. Then Become Them.

Good Morning Folks,

Someone once said, “each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.” I believe the key to doing so is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best. That’s the culture we are building at FSO.

I have a great day every day because I love the people I work with and am in a sense a product of those I work with. And I am heartened that people who work for FSO seem genuinely pleased with their job, and pleased with the organization that supports them.

==> My Secret:  Define Your Values. Then Become Them.

==> We are family.

We treat our teammates like we would our own family-with care, integrity and respect.  We share knowledge, ask for advice, recognize great efforts and lead by example every day.

==> Be generous with praise.

Everyone wants it and it's one of the easiest things to give. Praise every improvement that you see your team members make. Once you're comfortable delivering praise one-on-one to an employee, try praising them in front of others. 

==> Get rid of layers of managers.

Allowing people to work together as a team, on an equal level with their co-workers, will often produce better projects faster. People will come in early, stay late, and devote more of their energy to solving problems.   

==> Make your ideas theirs.

People hate being told what to do. Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. "I'd like you to do it this way" turns into "Do you think it's a good idea if we do it this way?"   

==> Never criticize or correct.

No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear that they did something wrong. If you're looking for a de-motivator, this is it. Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them. Ask, "Was that the best way to approach the problem? Why not? Have any ideas on what you could have done differently?" Then you're having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.  

==> Make everyone a leader.

Highlight your top performers' strengths and let them know that because of their excellence, you want them to be the example for others. You'll set the bar high and they'll be motivated to live up to their reputation as a leader.  

==>  Take an employee to lunch once a week.

Surprise them. Don't make an announcement that you're establishing a new policy. Literally walk up to one of your employees, and invite them to lunch with you. It's an easy way to remind them that you notice and appreciate their work.   

==> Give recognition and small rewards.

These two things come in many forms: Give a shout out to someone in a company meeting for what she has accomplished. Run contests or internal games and keep track of the results on a whiteboard that everyone can see. Tangible awards that don't break the bank can work too. Try things like dinner, trophies, spa services, and plaques.  

==> Throw company parties.

Doing things as a group can go a long way. Have a company picnic. Organize birthday parties. Hold a happy hour. Don't just wait until the holidays to do a company activity; organize events throughout the year to remind your staff that you're all in it together. 

==> Share the rewards-and the pain.

When your company does well, celebrate. This is the best time to let everyone know that you're thankful for their hard work. Go out of your way to show how far you will go when people help your company succeed. If there are disappointments, share those too.

Caring about the human being helping people move along in their life is easy for me because I love what I do and love the people I work with. I believe that no mater how good you are, everyone has a chance to grow, that no one person has all the right or perfect answers in changing tines.

It’s in these changing times that we all must change with the times or get left behind. Many of our employees came to us from employers who didn’t care about them, where they were just a number.

That doesn’t happen here. As other companies cut back on recognition and rewards, we add programs. Because we know that or core business is our employees themselves, that they have to become special, and we have to help develop them into the diamonds they are capable of being.

It’s simply impossible to come to work here everyday and not be excited about what you are doing.

I look forward to sharing more of the recipe for how we do it, right here as I wish you a GREAT day!

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

Inspire ME Friday: Expect Something Wondrous

Good Morning Folks,

You always hear me say that no one has the right answer or all the answers and that we must stretch ourselves to evolve and change with changing times or get left behind. There is a tremendous sense curiosity in the FSO family, we never stop learning, growing or being on a relentless quest for self-improvement.

Just as an attitude of doom and gloom makes you see more problems, facing the future with a sense of wonder makes you alive to all sorts of wonderful things that are going on, right now, everywhere around you. 

That in mind, and in the spirit of our “Inspire Me Fridays” series, I present: 

==> Positive Thinking: 6 Easy Ways to Improve a Bad Day

1. Remember that the past does not equal the future.
There is no such thing as a "run of bad luck." The reason people believe such nonsense is that the human brain creates patterns out of random events and remembers the events that fit the pattern.

2. Refuse to make self-fulfilling prophesies.  
If you believe the rest of your day will be as challenging as what's already happened, then rest assured: You'll end up doing something (or saying) something that will make sure that your prediction comes true.

3. Get a sense of proportion. 
Think about the big picture: Unless something life-changing has happened (like the death of a loved one), chances are that in two weeks, you'll have forgotten completely about whatever it was that has your shorts in a twist today.

4. Change your threshold for "good" and "bad." 
Decide that a good day is any day that you're above ground. Similarly, decide that a bad day is when somebody steals your car and drives it into the ocean. Those types of definitions make it easy to be happy-and difficult to be sad.

5. Improve your body chemistry. 
Your body and brain are in a feedback loop: A bad mood makes you tired, which makes your mood worse, and so forth. Interrupt the pattern by getting up and moving around. Take a walk or eat something healthy.

6. Focus on what's going well.
The primary reason you're convinced it's a bad day is that you're focusing on whatever went wrong. However, for everything going badly, there are probably dozens of things going well. Make list, and post it where it's visible.

Thanks to Geoffrey James and INC.com. And thanks to you for listening.

Have a happy, healthy and JOYOUS weekend,

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

Simon Bailey: Success Is An Inside Job— "Dream, Focus, and Grow!"

"That was an amazing keynote! Gave me goosebumps!"

Success Catalyst Simon T. Bailey delivers a personal tool chest of actionable strategies to help you rediscover and refocus your unique values and brilliance. Learn to confidently maneuver the business marketplace, grow personally and professionally, and take advantage of the next round of changes. Find your brilliance and position yourself to control your future.

I was poking around the website of keynoter Simon T. Bailey and getting fired up. He writes, "finding success in a changing economy takes more than inspiration and adaptation. It requires aspiration and evolution. In times of change, with market fluctuations and advancements in technology, the one thing you have absolute control of is your own path to success, both personally and professionally."

Everyone possesses potential, insight, genius, and creativity. It’s all just waiting to be released. Sometimes, in order for change and shift to happen, we need to review or walk back over some of the stepping stones of life. Here are some ways Simon suggests re-shaping yourself from the inside out:

• Feed your belief in your future and starve your fear to death.
• To change your outside, look inside to see who is controlling your inner steering wheel.
• Real learning is not about finding the right answers; it is asking the right questions.
• A job is what you are paid to do. Releasing brilliance is what you were born to do!
• When you develop an appetite for the spectacular, you no longer settle for the crumbs of the ordinary.

Here are a few keys to reignite your passion for your career and business.

• In the future you will be paid, promoted, and praised for the value you create.
• Be a dynamic intrapreneur – organizations are looking for men and women who will step up and are willing to be uncommon in their work ethic, professionalism, creativity, performance, and productivity. Own your job!
• Teams are looking for leaders who will challenge them to rise to the occasion and not forget to say thank you for a job well done.
• Raise your hand to volunteer on a project team tacking an issue that impacts your department, division or organization as a whole.
• Invest in yourself by subscribing to www.getabstract.com - the iTunes of business books.

Photo: Barbara Dillman Neu