1. Discovering Joy at Work Billy Schewee Administrative Assistant/Secretary Conference April 14, 2014 ESC Region 11

2. Breakdown Disclaimer I know, write?! Sharing is caring Operation Get the Wheels Turning

3. Joy (joi): noun A deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

4. If it falls on your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and Earth will have to pause and say, Here lived a great sweeper, who swept his job well. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

5. Activity Time: Lets Get Real Take a moment and write down something/some things that bring you joy. Now take another moment and write down why you have the job you have (be honest). Share with a shoulder partner.

6. Friendly Suggestion #1: Acknowledge Reality Using your body as a compass, literally acknowledge how your body feels while working. Compare this feeling to how your body feels when youre doing something you absolutely love. Are there any connections?

7. Friendly Suggestion #2: Be Proactive Brainstorm new ways to approach a problem or process at work. Look to improve current job tasks. Work to add to your repertoire of skills. This will empower you with a sense of control over your own work and increase the impact you feel you have.

8. Low-Pressure Reflection Time On a sticky note, finish this sentence: One thing I can improve upon at my job starting tomorrow is ____________. Place that sticky note in your notes pages.

9. Friendly Suggestion #3: Be Positive and See What Happens Your attitude is the only one you can control. Health benefits of positive thinking include: Increased life span Lower rates of depression Lower levels of distress Greater resistance to the common cold Better psychological and physical well-being Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease Better coping skills during hardships and times of distress (Mayo Clinic, 2014)

10. Activity Time: Remember the Time When… Stand up, hand up High-five a new friend and introduce yourself Discuss THAT time Positive outcome

11. Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. – Norman Vincent Peale

12. Friendly Suggestion #4: Recognize that Joy is Synonymous with Gratitude Gratitude is the key to happiness. If you dont appreciate what you have, you wont appreciate what you get. Gratitude is a habit that must be cultivated. Say, Thank you. Nothing is all bad or all good. Poignant Thoughts from an Expert

13. Activity Time: Simon, Er Zig, Says Finish this sentence: I love my job because ____________. Write as many answers as you can think of. Write your answers in your notes pages. Share aloud.

14. Friendly Suggestion #5: Consider Fulfillment and Purpose Analyze your personal goals and overall vision. This can help you get in touch with your current state of fulfillment and where youd like to grow. Aligning these goals with your work life can create a powerful ripple effect that is cumulative over the long term.

15. Low-Pressure Reflection Time On a different colored sticky note, write three personal goals (one per sticky note). Place those sticky notes in your notes pages.

16. Friendly Suggestion #6: Celebrate Moments of Accomplishment Every mountain is climbed with small steps of success. Every task completed contributes to the end goal. Never underestimate the impact youre making.

17. Activity Time: 3-2-1 Write down three accomplishments of which you are most proud (related to work). Share two of them with a partner whom you have not yet met. Choose one to share (loud and proud) with the whole group.

18. When people go to work, they shouldnt have to leave their hearts at home. – Betty Bender

19. Friendly Suggestion #7: Analyze Meaning – What gives me meaning? Where do I find purpose in what Im doing? Strengths – What are my strengths? What am I good at? Barriers – What prevents me from experiencing joy?

20. Activity Time: Ready, Aim, Fire! On a blank piece of paper, write an answer to the following question: What prevents me from experiencing joy at work? Wad up the piece of paper. Fire! Come and pick up a paper ball that is not your own. Think, group up, share your barrier buster.

21. The Truth? Our prejudice against work, or a narrow- minded perspective of the kind of work that can be meaningful, often makes us miss the truth – which is that the potential for happiness is all around us. Meaningfulness is in the eye of the beholder.

22. An Interesting Take on Gratitude

23. Lifes Little Instruction Book Compliment three people everyday, and say Please and Thank you a lot. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated. Live so that when people think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

24. Lifes Little Instruction Book Dont expect others to listen to your advice and ignore your example. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Avoid negative people if you can help it. Be kinder than necessary. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Dont forget, a persons greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

25. Lifes Little Instruction Book Commit yourself to constant self- improvement. Dont major in minor things. Praise in public; criticize in private. Seek out the good in people. Keep it simple. Avoid gossip. Practice empathy – try to see things from other peoples points of view. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

26. Lifes Little Instruction Book Dont say you dont have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyones day. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

27. Lifes Little Instruction Book Dont miss the magic of the moment by focusing on whats to come. Just to see how it feels, avoid criticizing anyone or anything for the next 24 hours. Never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed. Count your blessings. Remember that 80% of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

28. Lifes Little Instruction Book Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to the superintendent. When there is a hill to climb, dont think that waiting will make it any smaller. Remember that whats right isnt always popular, and whats popular isnt always right. Perform your job better than anyone else can; thats the best job security. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

29. Lifes Little Instruction Book Someone will always be looking at you as a way to behave; dont let them down. Be happy with what you have while working for what you want. Remember that a grateful heart is almost always a happy one. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.