Humor in the Workplace

The other day I was working on location in a newsroom at the Los Angeles Times. One of the reporters had a hologram of a beautiful Hawaiian woman posted on the partition of his cubicle. As you pass the picture, the woman winks and smiles.

Above the hologram was a sign that read, "Smiling Miracle Lady. If the lady smiles when you pass, you will receive a miracle. To claim your miracle please enter and remit a small processing fee. Your miracle will arrive shortly thereafter. "

His work area was cluttered with humorous figurines and funny slogans. Clearly, this is a fellow who likes to laugh and enjoys sharing his sense of humor with his co-workers. And I commend him for it. Injecting a little levity into the workplace reduces stress and, ultimately, helps people to be more productive.

The Elderly Lady with the Sweet Smile

There is an elderly woman with whom I often cross paths while she is out on her daily walk with her caretaker. The woman moves very slowly with the aid of a walker. Despite her fragile health and advanced age, however, she always offers a friendly hello accompanied with the sweetest smile you could imagine (a beatific smile, in fact).

I'm always struck by the aura of kindness that she carries. I guess I need to be reminded that, though are bodies deteriorate with the passage of time, our spirit need not follow suit. Her smile feels so sincere that there is no doubt in my mind that it genuinely reflects the joy and peace she feels inside.

I can recall past encounters with elderly people who were similar to this woman in their attitude and presence. But, sadly, they are few and far between. If she doesn't do so already, the woman with the beatific smile ought to visit convalescent hospitals and rest homes. There she will find many peers who are in desperate need of that smile.

Mad Magazine

I thumbed through a copy of a recent issue of Mad Magazine the other day. It is the first time I have done so in many, many years. It's still the irreverent, edgy and hysterically funny magazine I remember.

Back in the day, I had a complete collection. I distinctly remember that my copy of the first issue was in near mint condition. Regrettably, I sold the entire collection. I've got to believe that it would be worth quite a bit of money today. I'm having one of those "I could kick myself moments." Anyway, if you're a fan of the magazine, or know somebody who is, you may be interested to know that the entire collection (600+ issues) is now available on DVD.

Make a Joy List

Have you ever considered making a list of all the things that bring you joy and satisfaction? In the midst of our hectic, stressful lives, we sometimes need to be reminded of the things that make us happy.

I urge you to start a joy list and add to it as often as you can. As the list grows, you will be amazed at how many joy-producing activities you have at your disposal. Enjoy!

Blogsvertise

We bloggers are constantly writing about our favorite products and websites. Wouldn't it be great if we could get paid for it? Well, the good new is that we can! For information visit www.blogsvertise.com. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling than getting paid for what you love.

Travelvelocity CEO Michelle Peluso: A Great Role Model for Young Women

Michelle Peluso doesn't get much sleep. And she doesn't expect that to change anytime soon. Clearly, she's resigned herself to this as her motto is, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

As CEO of the online travel company Travelocity (a position she attained at the tender age of 32), she's simply been too busy to sleep. Under her leadership, the company has gone from losing $55 million a year to making $13 million.

Prior to her stint at travelocity, she helped start and develop the online travel company Site59. In 2002 she sold the company for $42 million to none other than......can you guess? ....yep, Travelocity!

Ms. Peluso has always been driven and ambitious. Before her rise to the upper echelons of corporate America, she studied philosophy at Oxford University, earned a BS from Wharton and served as a White House Fellow and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Labor.

And to what, you may be asking, does Peluso attribute all this glorious success at such a young age? It's all about passion. Feeling passionate about her goals has given her the wherewithal to blast through obstacles while rising to the top.

There can be no doubt that this impressive young woman, this superlative role model for young women, will accomplish a lot more with her life (maybe become president?). After that, she may be able to catch up on her sleep.

Suicide Epidemic Grips South Korea

Statistics demonstrate in no uncertain terms that a suicide epidemic is sweeping through South Korea. Over the last decade, suicide rates have more than doubled. It is the leading cause of death among men in their 20s and is the fourth-leading cause of death in the country overall.

One can understand the problem and its causes by considering the country's culture and recent history. Recoiling from a brutal colonial past, South Koreans in the early 1960s embraced a Puritan-like work ethic. The result of their efforts is the modern industrial nation we know today. The transformation has been so dramatic, in fact, that it has been described as nothing less than a miracle.

But then in 1997 catastrophe struck in the form of a financial crises. For the first time since the early 1960s, South Koreans began to experience substantial financial reversals. As well, they began to feel that hard work could no longer be a guarantor of upward social mobility.

This is the crux of the problem. For in South Korea, nothing is more highly revered than status and power. Leading South Korean psychologists and sociologists believe that this sense of economic stasis and hopelessness is fueling the rise in suicides.

Whereas South Korea has adopted the ethos of Western business practices, it has not done so with respect to Western philosophical ideals. Rather, it clings to its traditional preoccupation with status and class division. It seems to me that suicides will continue to rise unless South Korea embraces a value system whose central tenet is the principle that all men are created equal.