| Inspiring Workplaces |
ISSUE 963 - Mar. 15, 2023 |
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The Secret Sauce for a Healthier and Happier Life |
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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking in Costa Rica and traveling around the country for the third time. Costa Rica famously lands on many top-10 lists of the "happiest countries in the world" and tops the list as the happiest country in Latin America.
Costa Ricans happy spirit is captured in their "pura vida" (pure life) lifestyle, which embodies their spirit of positivity and is used as a catchall phrase to say hello; goodbye; you're welcome; life is awesome; chill out; and carpe diem!
This trip we are based in Nicoya Peninsula, which is one of only five official Blue Zones in the world. A Blue Zone is an area where residents enjoy an extraordinarily long, healthy lifespan, where residents often live past age 100.
Research suggests that the secret sauce for their healthy and happy lives is based on the following:
- Serious Rest: The pura vida lifestyle values healthy downtime.
- Purpose: Having a strong commitment and a strong sense of purpose linked to something you care passionately about.
- Natural exercise: Costa Ricans spend a lot of time outdoors and tend to get their exercise organically as they move about their days.
- Local Diets: Healthy diets based on local foods, with plenty of fish, beans, and corn.
- Deep social connections: Quality time with families and friends is considered extremely important.
Having interviewed some leaders from Costa Rica I can tell you that they try to embody this approach to happiness in their workplace cultures as well.
And wow, as I wrote about a few years ago, do their service staff ever embrace an attitude as being ambassadors for their country - always so proud to welcome you and share stories and insights about their culture and country (check out my video from Costa Rica in the sidebar). It's a great lesson for front line employees anywhere to embrace: Are you being a passionate
ambassador for your company, town, region, or country?
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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Every quarter hold a "fun audit" with your team where you ask the following questions:
1. What's one thing we could start doing that would make work more fun?
2. What's the #1 thing that is making work less fun?
3. What's the #1 thing that might be preventing our customers from having fun?
4. What's one thing we could do to make it more fun for our customers to do business with us?
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Deep Thought of the Week |
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“Some people have a way with words, and others…oh, uh, not have way.” Steve Martin
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Funny Business |
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A brilliant (in my humble opinion) marketing sign from Helsinki, Finland:
Nobody in their right mind would come
to Helsinki in November.
Except you, you badass. Welcome.
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Wanted: Audiences In Need of Inspiring Ideas! Respond to this email to find out how Michael can energize your workplace!
"Michael Kerr is one of the best speakers we have EVER seen and I would highly recommend
him for your next business gathering!” Veronica D. Bouvier, Executive Vice President and CFO, Aspen Properties Ltd.
Inspiring Workplaces YouTube Channel
I'm on location in Costa Rica talking about the importance of Being a Customer Service Ambassador (2 min.)
Ready to Ramp Up Your Workplace Culture?
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| Follow Michael Kerr - The Workplace Energizer! |
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Copyright © 2023 Michael Kerr. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
Suite #644, 104-743 Railway Avenue, Canmore, AB, T1W 1P2 |
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