I just did video for the first time. Laying out what I’m going to say, shooting it, and editing it takes a lot of time, but I think the readers will get some really good value out of it. Plus it was a lot of fun. There is just something cool about being able to shoot video and have people watch you all over the world. I’m putting one up this week and one next week on Work Happy Now, so keep an eye out.

In the mean time check out some of my Work Happy Now links of the week:

• Leisure Expert Alison Link Answers a Work Happy Now Question (9)
• Tell Your Boss You Need Leisure Time (8)
• 10 Secrets to Motivating Teenagers (9)

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I’ve just reached the 1,000 visitors plateau and it only took me a little over a month. That stat is not based on a cumulation since the site started, but in only one day. To be exact it was 1,096 visitors on March 26.

I’m not talking about this site, but I’m talking about my new hit WorkHappyNow.com. I’ve been working my butt off trying to give great content and market the content and it’s working. I was generously given a link by getrichslowly.org and that one paragraph helped springboard this growth.

My RSS Feed has climbed from 7 to 31 in only five days. People who subscribe to your site believe in the value that you are creating.

My favorite link of last week as well as 379 other people was…

The Five Most Important Things You Need to Know About Working Happy

Working happy is not a mystery. We all know that when we do something we love, we’ll work happier. The tricky part of working happy is enjoying all aspects of a job – from the mundane to the exciting. Every job has its pitfalls. You may love interacting with the people at work, but struggle with the customers or vice versa. Whatever your job entails, it’s up to you to extract as much joy from it as possible.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

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I was working on a press release, Journalism Needs a Work Happy Make-Over, to help promote the site. I got so excited that I worked on it until 10:30pm then went to bed, but my mind was all amped up so I just laid there thinking about various newspapers that would pick it up. Who knows if that actually happens or not, but it’s got a chance and that’s all that matters.

The ideas are flowing so stay tuned and catch the latest and greatest at workhappynow.com. My favorite article of last week is…

Journalism Needs a Work Happy Make-Over

“Enjoy your job, enjoy your life.”

- unknown

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Gathering the box of unopened business cards in my hands for a brief minute before I opened them made me appreciate the moment. I opened the box with a bit of hesitation. They looked as good as I hoped. The color was perfect. The words were crisp.

Starting my own business was real.

I showed it to various friends and family and they were enthused about the design, but something was missing in their tones. It was a “we’ll see how it all turns out” type of tone. My first reaction was disappointment, but as I processed the information I realized that their signal really was helpful.

They were trying to convey their happiness without showing their hesitant belief. They’ve seen me get excited before, but was I going to follow through and make this latest dream a reality? Only time will tell whether I am a success or not.

I do believe that I will make this business a success. I know that good fortune will come from my trying to go against the odds.

People are practical and cautious and understandably so. I would be cautious if my friend told me that they were going to start their own business. Starting a business and making it a success is not easy and there is a reason that 9 out of 10 fail in the first five years, but as a dreamer you have to believe, otherwise we would never dream big. Our dreams become fantasy, an escape, instead of a reality. It’s up to me to work harder than my competition, create from my gut and help people make their work life better.

The best WorkHappyNow.com post of this past week was…

Opening Social Networks Within a Company

Check it out and leave a comment.

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I designed new business cards and sent the design to an online printer, Prints Made Easy. This is the second time I’ve used them. The first time they came out perfect. I expect the same great product. I was able to get 20% off because I searched for an online coupon. 500 full color business cards for only $43.89 is a great deal. They will arrive in 10 days, but the whole point is not to talk about my new business cards. When they arrive I will let you know how they turned out, but right now I want to talk about the creative process.

Designing the cards and knowing that they will be received by potential clients is a great feeling. I bring this up because I was explaining to a friend how the card looked and what the business will achieve. He felt my excitement. The passion behind the plan. He made a comment about how excited I looked about my business cards. At first it seemed silly. They are, after all, just business cards. Not to me. They signify my development. That’s what owning your own business is all about, watching yourself grow and improve with each choice.

My business cards are so much more than just a design on a piece of paper. It is a part of me. A third arm if you will permit me to exaggerate. It is an extension of who I am.

Check it out!

The digital image doesn’t do it justice, but you can still see the beauty. Hopefully they will signify that I aim to help people make their business happier and more prosperous.

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So check it out and let me know what you think.

Work Happy Now!

It’s still in the baby stages, so please be gentle with your comments.

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An article on Lifehack.org, Withstanding Personal Attack in the Workplace does an excellent job of explaining why stress reduction is so important.

Cultivate strategies for stress reduction. If I asked you to list the top four or five ways that you minimize stress, would you be able to populate your list? Do you have a menu of options for when work gets crazy and personal attacks chip away at your self esteem? Whether it’s jogging, meditation or reading a good mystery novel, stress mediation is no longer a luxury that we can afford to bypass. My advice: work on your stress reduction techniques and practice them each week. When personal attack comes up, your ability to handle the stress will be further honed.

Another Article at the Ririan Project, 10 Benefits of Power Napping, and How to Do It explains how napping can reduce your daily stress. I’m not much of a napper myself, but if I had a flexible schedule I would implement a regular napping routine to my day.

Less stress. Curling up in a sunny patch on the floor or even lying your head down on your desk for a quick snooze brings relaxation. Research found that stress hormone levels were lower in those who took stress-reducing actions such as napping. Take a break each day from the stresses and reduce your risks, find a quiet, comfortable spot and take a nap. Even a short power nap can leave you feeling refreshed, renewed, and more focused.

Stress relief should be at the top of your “to do” list every single day. When you can keep your stress low you’ll also notice your relationships are more balanced and positive.

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Your pace of life dictates how you handle stress; if you have 100 things piled on your “to do list” then you are bound to create expectations that can’t be met. I’ll give you two simple techniques you can develop to help you reduce your stress.

The ability to say “No”

Appreciating your limits and understanding how to say no to things that stretch your stress level too far will go a long way to reducing your lengthy “to do” list to a manageable level. It’s difficult to say no to a child or a demanding boss, but there must be boundaries to your life. The people who do the best job of handling their stress don’t allow outside difficulties to make their choices for them. They are willing to say no to a child or boss asking for their time and be okay with that choice. Saying “no” is one of your most important tools to reducing your stress level. Anyone can say no, but a lot of people fret over their choice and it only makes them more upset.

Leo Babauta from Zen Habits wrote a guest post at Freelance Switch called 8 Essential Strategies to Saying “No”.

My favorite out of the eight was number 5.

5. Be polite, but firm. One mistake a lot of people make is being too nice, and too wishy-washy. They might say no but make it sound like they are wavering.

Learning to say no and feeling confident in this choice will take practice. You won’t be comfortable saying no at first, but the more you say no the better you’ll become at doing it wisely. You’ll probably make a few mistakes here and there, regretting that you said no to a great opportunity, but over time you’ll probably look back and appreciate your new skill. It will give you more time to do the things you truly love and reduce your stress level.

Slowing down your internal energy

As frustration increases, your ability to relax and enjoy a situation decreases. Many times I get worked up over something that should never have gotten me frustrated. Sometimes it’s a snide comment from a co-worker or the pressure of a deadline; whatever the aggravation may be, something needs to be done to sooth my nerves. I wrote a blog titled Learn to Relax in a Rushed Moment because I needed to create a map for how I could slow down my thoughts in a overwhelming situation.

When frustration kicks in you need to slow down your internal energy. You can do this by bringing your attention to the present moment. Take slow and deliberate breaths to calm your thoughts and anxiety.

Stay aware of how your body is reacting to a situation; don’t just plow through the work until you get to the end then deal with the emotional backlash. By staying aware of your thoughts and options you can learn to enjoy a relaxed push – getting what you need done and doing it in the time frame that is best for everyone. \

- KarlStaib.com

\I find it easy to slow down my internal energy, but maintaining it at a normal level is difficult. It usually wants to creep back up and raise my excitement. This can be a fun ride, but it’s really exhausting, so work on keeping your internal energy balanced. I don’t want you to emotionally crash out and not be able to enjoy spending time with your family or friends.

Your pace of life is dictated by you; if you like a fast paced lifestyle then learn to slow down every few hours to make sure your blood pressure stays low and you maintain a healthy heart. If you want to slow your life down, then learn to say no. You’ll reduce your high energy lifestyle to a manageable level that fits your needs.

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We watch:

• the news

• YouTube

• Movies

Read the:

• newspaper

• blogs

• books

Talk with:

• friends

• Relatives

• co-workers

Listen to our:

• own thoughts

• radio

• iPod

We attend:

• conferences

• classes

• meetings

It’s a nonstop deluge of information that comes across our brains, and I’ve only touched on a few things that the brain has to process throughout the day. We need to learn to let go of reading and watching every thing in our lives. There is always someone blogging, podcasting, and videocasting new information about your topic, but it’s impossible to keep up with every little thing.

The news keeps giving us the same stuff with a different twist. The Internet and email can wait while we do other things. It’s okay not to be the first to know what’s happening. It’s okay to hear the latest news from a co-worker. Because when you let go of the need to know every little thing, you are giving yourself the freedom to be happy. You don’t need a constant flood of information. You can be content just sitting on a park bench without checking your email on your Blackberry.

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The Three Shifts of Karl Staib:

• The Karl Staib website will also be named Work Happy Now. The shift will reflect my interest in work related issues. The website will still be found at KarlStaib.com as well as WorkHappyNow.com

• All the personal development articles will be moved to GetHappyNow.org.

• All the poetry will be moved to an undisclosed site and written under a pseudonym, so I can write with full creative license.

Separating my interest into three different sites will help give my readers a chance to read what interests them the most, without having to filter out the topics that don’t pertain to them.

I’m also doing this to help further my professional career. Speaking to groups of people and helping them become happier at work and at home is something that I want to pursue. The only way this is possible is if I clarify my objective to the readers. I hope that I have done that in this post.

As these changes start to happen over the next few weeks, please bear with me as they go into effect. I promise it will be worth your patience.

Thanks,

Karl Staib

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