Overwhelm has plagued me since my first day at my first job. I was a mermaid at Marineland, and I stood in my damp concrete dressing room under the fish tank I called home, and hyperventilated. I had to get that cold wet costume on (those shells there, that tail there), clean my breathing tube, review which creatures to avoid, which I could pet, put in eye drops, make sure the sharks had been fed, and then smile. And wave.
I was sixteen and I had my first job and I was overwhelmed. I started my next job, as a trail leader on a dude ranch, and felt the same sensations.
Looking back, I think, I had no clue what real overwhelm is. But it was real. As real as it felt when I walked into my office this morning and saw the piles of files, the impossibly long To-Do list, and my overflowing e-mail inbox. I am overwhelmed! I cried daily.
I’ve been living my life in overwhelm since my first job and I’ve about had enough of it.
The Biz Diva heard my wail across the miles. And she has the solution. Really. It’s not that complex, but as you may have guessed, she’s got a different spin. She’s not going to tell you to get these tools, or try that system.
The Biz Diva says, Forget what you’re thinking. What are you feeling?
[more…]
Today is smile day.
Do just this one thing. It takes 4 minutes. I know, because I did it and timed myself.
We guarantee it’ll make your work life better OR YOUR MONEY BACK.
Oh wait, you didn’t give us any money. EVEN BETTER.
Print out this pdf, and cut out the reminders. Scatter them about, wherever you want, though I’ve made some suggestions. And whenever you see one, do one.
I am not in the mood for this, you say. Why should I do it?
Because smiling is the secret ingredient to good business:
1) It makes you look 10 pounds lighter and10 years younger—instantly.
2) It’s empowering—when you smile you control your outlook on the world.
3) It reminds you that life is good, life is funny, it gives you just that little distance so you can see that everything is really okay.
4) It’s free!
5) You can change the world: Notice how most people automatically smile back at you. When they turn their head, they are still smiling, and someone smiles back at them.
6) It is kind. It makes the world a kinder place.
7) It’s relaxing: It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown. (I have no idea if this is true. I found it on the internet.)
8) It makes you look successful, and success breeds success. And then it makes you realize that you are successful!
9) It makes people want to be around you.
I look forward to hearing all about your smiling experiences!
