Wake up!

Ireland is the 15th Happiest Country in the world.
And has the highest GDP per capita of any nation in the world and Ranks 3rd as the most generous society in the world. I love this!

We have come a long way for a very small nation. In 1803 the average Life expectancy was 37 years old within Ireland. It is now 82.58 years.That is an incredible improvement in life expectancy

On this world happiness day there is much to celebrate.

So often the news about the world can feel incredibly heavy. There is no denying that.

But just go back 200 years and think of how life was so dramatically different for our ancestors. On the grand scheme of human exsistence 200 years is an insignificant jump. But in so many other ways it's a huge leap for us humans.

If you brought them to the present . How amazed would they be by what they see now, in how we live.

We flick a switch and light appears, we turn on a tap and clean water arrives.
We have refrigeration that keeps food fresh for longer. We can communicate with each other across vast distances with the simple press of a button. We can cook food without every needing firewood. We have medical advancements that help us live longer. Childhood Mortality compared to what it was is virtually non existent.

There is so much that we should be grateful for yet so often we take for granted.
We sit on airplanes at 32,000 ft and complain about the quality of the coffee or the fact there is no wifi.
You are sitting on a chair flying at 500 miles an hour across the sky in a metal bird!!. That alone is incredible.

So with that in mind on this World Happiness day find something to be grateful for that this world has given you.
I am just grateful to be able to share this with you on the tech ( that I have no Idea how it works) today. Because 200 years ago there is a likelihood that I wouldn't have made it this far in life.

It's a privilige to be alive now.

The new year has arrived and here are the top 5 leadership traits that show you are on top of 2025 already

✅- At meetings and brainstorming sessions go with the first idea shared, it is usually from the same 3 people that are quite happy to share ideas or hear their own voice. Quickly create a plan, consult no one and have it up and running in no time. Go team!!

✅- Avoid difficult conversations- Who likes conflict in the workplace? No one likes conflict in the workplace, thats who, so don't rock the boat. You want to be seen as nice and everyones favourite boss. No point in messing up everyones day by telling Dave you think he could do better.Dave knows what better looks like. He doesn't need reminding from you.
Go with the flow. We flow like a stream , people like stream,streams are nice.

✅- Share your expertise, wisdom and knowledge at any possible chance. Meetings need your input, lots of your input.You know stuff and people need to hear it.
Employee 1-1's and feedback, another great forum to share your incredible thoughts and your lucky employees get a chance to listen and ask the occasional question. Go you!

✅- Tell everyone how important employee wellbeing matters to you and your organisation. Get a big sign place it over reception and stick it on the website too, for everyone to see.
Then eat your meal deal sandwich and crisps at your desk while staring at a spreadsheet filled screen. While wondering, how the French and Spanish version of lunch, at tables, with people, elsewhere, fits into their working day. They're mad!
Also send your employees texts and emails at the weekend. You had an idea and you want to share it. They will love your idea. As Nike famously say. Just do it!

✅- Tell your employees "your door is always open". Just by sharing those five magical words you have built an unbreakable trust, an unbreakable bond that singles out your leadership above all others.
And when one of your team needs to take time out due to workplace burnout. You can refer back to the 5 magical words that you shared and wonder why they never walked through your "open door" with the glass pannelled walls, or brought it up at the 1-1 where you were talking endlessly about your vision for the teams future..... and the new sign you had designed for just above reception.

People spend most of their time avoiding what I love most in life- Magician.

What do you love most in life? -Me

Magic, of course- Magician

Can anyone do magic? -Me

Yes, I can show you, it is right here. - Magician

It is right where? -Me

It is within the knowledge that each an everyone of us has.........that if you are completely present and connected....... with this precise moment ................ there is absolutely nothing wrong? -Magician

That is why it's called the present.....it's a gift.

You may have cursed the alarm clock that signaled a new day.

You may not have noticed that that the light from the east this morning has illuminated our morning without asking.

You may also not have noticed that the clouds in the sky have formed a pattern that will never again be repeated.

You may even have noticed that the sky was a sheet of grey when you wished it was blue.

You may even have cursed the fallen leaves that have entered your garden.
Or the fact your toast fell jam side down on your kitchen floor

You may have even resenteed the fact you had a long commute ahead to your workplace.

But the undeniable truth for all of us (it could be four or fourty years from now )
is that......
"Someday ,everyone of us, will miss what we had today"

From the rugged magic of the Cornish coast to a world of air conditioned living and extrene heat. Both palces couldn't be furter apart in so many ways.
This the furthest I have travelled for work and certainly the hottest place I have ever had to work in.

What a wonderful 3 days in Beautiful Cornwall as a speaker and listener to a group of thinkers that are looking to change the communities, environment and societies for the better.
Goodfest was an inspirational window into what really matters in life.

Life is good when you can talk about good.
I am really looking forward to heading to Cornwall next week as one of the speakers at Goodfest Cornwall.
"What if your goal was making other people feel good"

These are the good times

Goodfest Cornwall – A Festival of Creative Conversations Goodfest Cornwall - A festival of creative conversations exploring how to inspire change through purposeful ideas and actions

Not a bad view for a workshop delivery in the beautiful County of Cornwall. Happy days

https://share.fireside.fm/episode/OuiDxewb+Y1Ehjy3H
Do you want to know what it takes to create a happier workplace?

Simply ask Sarah Metcalfe.
In this week's podcast episode, Sarah shares her insights into how we can all do just that.

From first reading Tony Hsieh's "Delivering Happiness" through to delivering workplace happiness with The Woohoo Partnership and Happycoffeeconsulting. Sarah is helping not only transform the customer experience for many organizations but also their employee experience worldwide.

Sarah knows that organizations that make their people feel good are the organizations of the future.

Join Stephen and Sarah today to learn how your team can do this too!

Wow @ Work 11: Life as a Chief Happiness officer, with Sarah Metcalfe

Always a pleasure to talk about personal happiness.

How to be happy Stephen Dargan can remember being seven, riding his bike in the sun and knowing that he was happy. Since then, he’s tried to bottle that feeling and kept being nourished by it.

You probably have experienced the benefits of remote work. Here you get a chance to hear from an expert ( Liam Martin) that has been remoteing for 20 years.

Wow @ Work 9: Remote working with Liam Martin – How to do your best work from anywhere Stephen and Liliana are joined by author, conference organiser, and remote work expert Liam Martin.