-
The weight of a snowflake
“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a coalmouse asked a wild dove.
“Nothing more than nothing,” the dove answered.
“In that case I must tell you a marvelous story,” the coalmouse said. “I sat on a fir branch close to the trunk when it began to snow. Not heavily, not in a raging blizzard. No, just like in a dream, without any violence at all. Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,471,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch–nothing more than nothing — as you say — the branch broke off.”
Having said that, the coalmouse ran away.
The dove, since Noah’s time an authority on peace, thought about the story for a while. Finally, she said to herself, “Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come to the world.”
I found this beautiful story in Synchronicity by Joseph Jaworski.
-
Declaration of content
Inspired by an ancient MAD Magazine article, I did this declaration of content, for the “happy at work” conference:
Typical conference Our conference Talk:
More talk:
Innovation:
Energy:
Action:
Boredom:45%
25%
2%
2%
1%
25%Talk:
Action:
Innovation:25%
50%
25%How does that sound?
-
Happy at work conference
I’m very proud to announce the happy at work conference on May 27 in Copenhagen.
We have a great program for the day, with more action and less talk than most conferences. And in a novel twist, we’re making the day a “Powerpoint free zone”. There are many great ways to use Powerpoint – and many bad ones. We thought we’d try and see what happens when you can’t use it for a whole day.
We have some great speakers, including Mads Kjaer, the CEO of Denmarks best workplace, and Jesper Bove-Nielsen, the author of Corporate Kindergarten.
Here are a couple of banners you can use, if you’d like to help us advertise the conference:
-
Motivation games
Yahoo has a whole section on Work/Life health with some interesting stuff in it. I especially enjoyed some of the games describes in this article.
-
Quote
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
– George Bernard Shaw
-
Book review: Synchronicity
Synchronicity, the inner path of leadership by Joseph Jaworski is the story of his own transformation as a leader. From his earlier life (as he calls it) as a trial lawyer to his quest of identifying and promoting better leadership.
His transformation began, as it often happens, with a personal tragedy. Until his wife left him, he had been living what must have seemed on the surface a perfect life. He had a high-payed, challenging job, a nice home, a wife and a kid. But when it all came tumbling down, he realized that he hadn’t really been living. His life felt two-dimensional.
He has since then been through an amazing transformation which is described in the book in a no-nonsense, down-to-earth manner. He’s met, worked with and learned from people like David Bohm, Peter Senge and Arie deGeus, and the lessons are passed on in the book.
And mostly, it’s about openness. About realizing that everything in the world is connected. That ultimately the border we perceive between “self” and “not-self” is an illusion. It’s about not trying to control life, but letting life flow through you.
Jaworski argues that when you live life in this way, it feels like the world is constantly conspiring to help you along, and I can’t help but agree. I’ve taken a very similar approach to my work on the “Happy at work” project, and highly skilled and wonderfully nice people are constantly coming out of the woodwork to help. It’s a great feeling to be reliant on the world to help you, and to see that the world does.
The book is an easy and enjoyable read, and the story of Jaworskis gradual unfolding from slave to a job to servant of a purpose is well told and very inspiring. I recommend it highly.
-
Nonviolent communication
Nonviolent communication (nvc) is an excellent tool, especially for communicating in difficult situations. Like telling an employee he’s fired, criticizing someones work or reprimanding a child.
The Center for nonviolent communication have an excellent overview of nvc.
Marshall B. Rosenberg, the man behind nvc says in an interview:
We call the language that we teach ?giraffe language,? though its official name is ?Nonviolent Communication.? I use the image of a giraffe because it?s a language of the heart, and a giraffe has the largest heart of any land animal.Unfortunately for myself, I was taught to speak ?jackal language.? You see, a jackal is closer to the ground. They get so preoccupied with getting their needs met that they just can?t see into the future like the tall giraffe. Jackals speak in ways that block compassionate communication, because they?re motivated out of fear, shame, and guilt.
-
quote
There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.
– George Bernard Shaw
-
Fun and earnestness
Den som kun
ta’r sp?g for sp?g
og alvor
kun alvorligt
han og hun
har faktisk fattet
begge dele d?rligt.Taking fun
as simply fun
and earnestness
in earnest
shows how thoroughly
thou none
of the two
discernest.Zwischen Scherz
und Ernst vermag
der nur scharf
zu scheiden
welcher gr?ndlich
missversteht
die Natur
der Beiden.Qui prend le jeu
rien q’uen jeu,
le serieux
aut serieux,
a m?compris
un tout petit peu
le vrait esprit
de tous les deux.– Piet Hein
Connect
Get our newsletter
“I can’t believe it – a newsletter actually worth reading!”
– Subscriber
Over 6,000 people subscribe to our newsletter with tons of tips about happiness at work.
Get our books
“It’s very, very good. It’s incredibly well written, full of insights, and there are exercises to improve your own happiness at work. You can’t ask for more than that!”
– David Maister, author of Practice What You Preach
“What an inspiring book. Every leader should read it. This type of leadership has been integral to our success and I know it will boost your results too.“
– Garry Ridge, CEO WD-40 Company
Get Our Free Newsletter
Over 6,000 people already get our free newsletter with useful tips, videos, links and articles about happiness at work.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Top posts last week
Non-inspirational quotesOctober 22, 2003
The movie "The Secret" is entirely fakeMarch 15, 2007
Steal our best exercise for happiness at work: The PonchoDecember 6, 2013
Have you ever quit a job without having a new one lined up?February 12, 2013
