Inspire ME Friday: Count Blessings, Not Problems

Good Morning Folks,

With only 51 weeks now remaining in 2016, I remind you that each day is a precious gift with no guarantee of tomorrow. 

To make each day count as if it's your last, here is some perspective:  

If you could fit the entire population of the world into a village consisting of 100 people, maintaining the proportions of all the people living on Earth, that village would consist of: 

• 57 Asians
• 21 Europeans
• 14 Americans (North, Central, and South)
• 8 Africans
• There would be:
• 52 women and 48 men
• 30 Caucasians and 70 non-Caucasians
• 30 Christians and 70 non-Christians
• 89 Heterosexuals and 11 homosexuals
• 6 people would possess 59% of the wealth and they would all come from the USA
• 80 would live in poverty
• 70 would be illiterate
• 50 would suffer from hunger and malnutrition
• 1 would be dying
• 1 would be being born
• 1 would own a computer
• 1 (yes, only one) would have a university degree

If you woke up this morning in good health, you have more luck than one million people who won't live through the week.

If you have never experienced the horror of war, the solitude of prison, the pain of torture, were not close to death from starvation, then you are better off than 500 million people.

If you have a full fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are wealthier than 75% of the world's population. 

If you currently have money in the bank, in your wallet and a few coins in your purse, you are one of the 8 of the privileged few amongst the 100 people in the world.

If your parents are still alive, you're a rare and lucky individual.

If someone sent you this message, you're extremely lucky, because someone is thinking of you and because you don't comprise one of those 2 billion who can't read.  

And so if you win the potentially $ billion Powerball this weekend,  you might expect to find happiness, but chances are greater that the happiness you seek already lies within you.

Have a HAPPY, SAFE and HEALTHY Weekend.

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 
"Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.”
~~William A. Ward.
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

btw, If you still, think you can improve the odds of winning Powerball, read this

TED Tuesday: Tali Sharot- The Optimism Bias

In the talk Tali shows a cartoon and speaks about a Penguin in a way that meshes perfectly with our own (re)IMAGINE theme. She notes, "Because if you're one of these pessimistic penguins up there who just does not believe they can fly, you certainly never will. Because to make any kind of progress, we need to be able to imagine a different reality, and then we need to believe that that reality is possible."

Good Morning Folks,

What a great way to start of 2016 then commit to look at things through a more optimistic lenses!

Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side — and how that can be both dangerous and beneficial. While the past few years have seen important advances in the neuroscience of optimism, one enduring puzzle remained. How is it that people maintain this rosy bias even when information challenging our upbeat forecasts is so readily available?

Optimism bias is a tendency to overestimate the likelihood of good things happening to you, and underestimating bad things. For example 40% of people divorce, but people marrying assume the probability for them is zero. Even people marrying for a second time don’t see it: “Remarrying is the triumph of hope over experience”. People tend to be optimistic about themselves and their family, while at the same time predicting a bad future for the world in general.

Optimism about your own traits gives you a confidence and sets you up for success. But are low expectations the secret to happiness? This will mean you will be happy with success in love and career, but are not disappointed if it doesn’t happen. Our speaker today, with almost 10 million views of this program racked up between YouTube and on TED, is the author of author of The Optimism Bias and a research fellow at University College London's Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging. She argues the opposite, that optimistic people are happier because:

• Optimists interpret things differently. Whether they win or lose, they interpret successes as due to their own traits and failures as poor luck or biases.
• Anticipation makes people happy – something pleasant (a kiss from a celebrity) immediately isn’t as enjoyable as one in 3 days time – which lets you look forward to it
• Optimism acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy – it makes you try harder to achieve your goals. Optimism leads to success.

So how do we maintain optimism in the face of reality? That is: stay optimistic despite evidence to the contrary. Tali did a study – asking people to estimate their cancer risk (for example), then giving the population rate (30%) and asking them again their likelihood. People did change their estimate, but they changed it a lot more if their first estimate was high (i.e. changing their estimate from 50% to 35%) rather than when it was low (going from 10% to 11%). Tali found that there were 2 regions of the brain: one responsible for receiving good news and one that processes bad news. The ‘bad news region’ did not trigger in optimistic people: they kept the rose tinted spectacles on.

On average, we expect things to turn out better than they wind up being. People hugely underestimate their chances of getting divorced, losing their job or being diagnosed with cancer; expect their children to be extraordinarily gifted; envision themselves achieving more than their peers; and overestimate their likely life span (sometimes by 20 years or more).

The belief that the future will be much better than the past and present is known as the optimism bias. It abides in every race, region and socioeconomic bracket. Schoolchildren playing when-I-grow-up are rampant optimists, but so are grown-ups: a 2005 study found that adults over 60 are just as likely to see the glass half full as young adults.

A cancelled flight is hardly tragic, but even when the incidents that befall us are the type of horrific events we never expected to encounter, we automatically seek evidence confirming that our misfortune is a blessing in disguise. No, we did not anticipate losing our job, being ill or getting a divorce, but when these incidents occur, we search for the upside. These experiences mature us, we think. They may lead to more fulfilling jobs and stable relationships in the future. Interpreting a misfortune in this way allows us to conclude that our sunny expectations were correct after all – things did work out for the best.

In the talk Tali shows a cartoon and speaks about a Penguin in a way that meshes perfectly with our own (re)IMAGINE theme. She notes, "Because if you're one of these pessimistic penguins up there who just does not believe they can fly, you certainly never will. Because to make any kind of progress, we need to be able to imagine a different reality, and then we need to believe that that reality is possible. But if you are an extreme optimistic penguin who just jumps down blindly hoping for the best, you might find yourself in a bit of a mess when you hit the ground. But if you're an optimistic penguin who believes they can fly, but then adjusts a parachute to your back just in case things don't work out exactly as you had planned, you will soar like an eagle, even if you're just a penguin."

Have a look...


Thanks to The Guardian and TedSummaries for inspiring me today and to you, for listening.

Have a GREAT DAY!

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

Welcome to 2016!

"As we head into 2016 it's important to take this moment and reflect on the past but more importantly how you will personally effect the future."

Good Morning Folks,

I hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to spend time with family and friends.

Thank you for your efforts during the past year. I hope you all feel the sense of accomplishment from within. And... thank you all for the presents, cards and the good words at our social events, training meetings and more as we closed out the year. The feedback drives me hard and fast every day, so keep it coming. 

Today starts what will be our best year ever. We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of leaders, staff, support folks and excellent clients and services that the marketplace is has embraced. 

Steve, Jim, and I are arm and arm to ensure, as a team, we bring a passion and DNA like never before, while delivering the greatest place to work.

The ELT has planned very exciting times ahead, and I am very excited for an awesome 2016! Our goal continues to be to WOW! Next week we will have our 2015 AWARD CEREMONY to RECOGNIZE our TOP employees for all of their hard work and achievements. This is my absolute favorite FSO celebration and I can’t wait to cheer you on.

Employees know that your owners believe in you and you have to believe in yourself to thrive. Strive and thrive. Think about it. Today is resolution day. If you have any or not, it's a great time to think about, "how can I do it differently," how can I (re)IMAGINE, and how can I be the leader I deserve to be?

Life is full of challenges: personal, family, health, financial, business and more. How you approach them and lead the way is what you have to manage. Attitude is everything. Keeping strong and positive. Never letting the world see you sweat and making the responsibility yours to win and overachieve.

2016 will be a year of growth for all as business professionals and allowing you to exceed all your goals. With your excitement and daily care there will be nothing that stops us. 

Welcome to 2016 at FSO – let’s MAKE IT HAPPEN together.

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
"Ultimately, passion is the driving force behind success and happiness that allows us all to live better lives."

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

2016 Resolutions: Forgiveness. Compassion. Gratitude.

"You are all very special and bring tremendous talent and spirit across every client that we take care of across all of our services – so I say thank you to one and all for all you do!!!"

Good Morning Folks,

As I write often we have lots to be thankful for and I am sure as a team 2016 will be our best yet. 

During my holiday vacation time I was catching up on reading and began curating articles for sharing next year on social media.

One of the best articles I read this vacation was Creative Leaderships "My Four Rules," New Years Resolutions written for the year 2000:

1. Don’t speak ill of others. 
It’s human nature to knock the other party down when they aren’t watching as a natural survival instinct. I always admire the people I meet in life who never feel they have to speak ill of others to make themselves look good.

2. Avoid passive aggressive behavior. 
Failing to be forthright with what you really want to say can be hurtful. Being honest and respectful is a good way to deliver a difficult message. 

3. Listen broadly, but don’t waffle on decisions. 
When people depend upon you to make a decision, they’re basically asking you to be responsible for the possible failed outcome. Your decision should be based upon expert opinions culled from your team, but in the end you make the final decision and are the one responsible — you bear the responsibility for the team. If you’re wrong, admit you’re wrong early and things will usually go better that way. If you’re right then consider yourself lucky and pass on the win to your team. Keep moving forward. 

4. When in error — admit, apologize, move forward. I am not perfect. 
The only way that I can guarantee not making any mistakes is if I were to do absolutely nothing. So by doing anything at all, I risk making errors of varying degree of intensity. When, and I will, make a mistake I will admit the

Since New Years is a a time for reflection and resolutions, today I'm going to give you a preview of some of the inspiration I discovered that can help you reflect on your career.

From Jet Blue's Outstanding CEO: "Finding a Great Mentor –  10 Things to Look for" by @JoelCPeterson on @LinkedIn 

Office attire that makes you look impressive... 

7 Habits of Highly Confident People by @kamaka_women on @LinkedIn 

Why Just A Job Is Never Good Enough 

And finally.... 35 things you should do for your career by the time you turn 35 (no matter what age you are!)

You may need to be logged into LinkedIn to view some of these. If we are not connected there yet, hit me up for an invite. 

And to keep up on my shares between blogposts, follow my PERSONAL twitter account where you can scroll back through 2015 and nearly 6,000 of no BS, hand-selected articles discovered by me, and passed on to you— to help improve your life and career. Leading to all the love, happiness and success you deserve.

As the end of year approaches it's the perfect time to reflect on how FSO has flourished in such a short year! We have continued to grow exponentially and expand our presence with great new sites and wonderful new staff nationally. Your commitment to service and our clients saw us recognized as the fastest growing onsite outsourcing yet again. 

We also created thousands of new jobs, recognizing and rewarding more employees than ever! I launched the "Happiness" team as part of my unbridled commitment to ensure that training and development, recruitment and hospitality were the best in the industry and that FSO will be the happiest place to work. 

The one thing that has been unwavering throughout has been the FSO culture. 

You are all very special and bring tremendous talent and spirit across every client that we take care of across all of our services – so I say thank you to one and all for all you do!!!

This has been and always will be, our differentiators. Our skip, fire, and twinkle will never be replaced. It is what our clients BOUGHT and what attracted many of you to work for Me and FSO. Our motivation, power of positive energy, fun, spirited and personal approach to business will ever be compromised! 

Thanks to everyone for their great efforts this year - we are blessed to have such dedicated and employees.

I want to wish all of you and your families a wonderful Holiday Break and a fantastic New Year. Celebrate happy but safe with friends, colleagues and family. 

The countdown has begin and in 2016, FSO only gets better from here. From the Forrests. Catons and Weiners, have a very  Happy, Safe, and Fun filled New Year's Eve. 

Life is too short, so why wait?

Have a GREAT weekend,

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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

Lose weight, finding love, advancing your career-whatever your 2016 resolutions and goals may be remember: “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." [Dale Carnegie]

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

Ted Tuesday: Stacey Kramer: The Best Gift I Ever Survived

"I cannot say enough how much sharing your story will help others. "

Good Morning Folks,

Today's talk is short, moving and relevant to a lot of folks we know.

Stacey Kramer offers a moving, personal, 3-minute parable that shows how an unwanted experience -- frightening, traumatic, costly -- can turn out to be a priceless gift.

In 2009, Kramer found herself confronting a terrifying diagnosis: a CAT scan revealed she had a brain tumor -- the size of a golf ball. She told her remarkable, personal story at TED2010.

Very moving story, the emotion is plain to see, and I like the message. 

Enjoy the holidays,

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

A Few Of My Favorite Things

While Mitch takes some family time-out for the holidays this week, he's left a few links to some of his most popular recent posts. Enjoy!

Throw Back Thursday: Everybody Leads; Everybody Cares
“This Will Always Lift You Up”
‪http://goo.gl/GWdcnc ‬

TED Tuesday: Jeff Iliff: One More Reason to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
http://goo.gl/64CTn3 
#aGoodNightsRest

TED Tuesday: Life Is Beautiful (A TED Playlist)
Wonderful reminders for the season of gratitude and joy!
http://goo.gl/3ZNL8E 

Inspire ME Friday ==> Letting Go of Keeping Up
“The tendency to compare oneself to other people is fundamental”
http://goo.gl/d3FTTn 

Inspire ME: Purpose is eternal, limitless, and absolute.
“Do you, everyday, purposefully move towards your goals?”
http://goo.gl/8LR8ws 

Ted Tuesday— “Modern work is about solving brand-new problems every day, flexibly, in brand-new ways.”
http://goo.gl/Iy8Pqd 

TED Tuesday: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: Meet the women fighting on the front lines of an American war 
http://goo.gl/CKBTbO 

Inspire ME Friday: Appreciate Me
What can you celebrate right now?
http://goo.gl/8KZmvY 
#InspireME

At FSO, We Are Thankful For You
http://goo.gl/4meqKl 
"Stop being afraid of what could go wrong 
and start being positive about what could go right". — zig

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

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." 

~~ George Eliot

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

At FSO, We Are Thankful For You

Good Morning Folks,

Our lives are peppered with mentors, bosses, colleagues and teachers who have helped us with our professions. But I bet you're like me and got your first career lesson from family.

I'll never forget mine. I think of it almost daily around the holidays.

Holidays are a time for family and good memories. And for saying thanks.

At FSO, we have a lot to be thankful for. We had another record year, advancing rapidly from a blank canvas to the fastest growing privately-owned outsourcing company on the planet. But, the best is yet to come (more about that in my 'kickoff" message back here on Jan 7).

Saying "thank you" — sincerely and with heart — feels good. Not just to the person receiving it, but also to the person offering it. And that's part of work too. It's hard to remember, as we process our 580th post, that behind each message being read is a person..

So, as we celebrate the end of one year and usher in another, I want to say "thanks" to you. The support I feel from you, my readers, our customers, employees and clients, is an unending source of encouragement to keep at it. 

It is a huge gift to me that you are interested in what I have to say and spend your valuable time reading and sharing it. It touches me and I am so thankful for it. 

Remember...

Zig's New Years Resolution: 

"Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right"

We'll be pausing the blog until Monday so our ever-growing FSO family can spend quality time with their own. 

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
"Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold."

~~ Maurice Setter
. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .  .