Happy accidents: the transformative power of ''yes, and'' at work and in life

Stop saying 'no' to opportunity, and start saying 'yes' to possibility Happy Accidents is your personal guide to transforming your life. As we take on task after task, responsibility after responsibility, we lose sight of who we are and why we're doing what we do; we rush through the day completing a to-do list, but we never really seem to accomplish the things that are most important. What goals do you have for your life? What steps have you taken toward them today? Consider this book your guide to getting back on track to your dreams and help inspire those around you. It's not about doing more or doing less, it's about making what you do worthy of the effort. From forging new relationships, stepping out of your comfort zone, and reframing your work—start valuing these as empowering choices you get to make toward a particular goal every day. To preserve our precious time and energy, we often default to 'no,' yet this only closes the door to our growth, while a 'yes' opens up a world of possibilities. The secret is adding 'yes, and' to our lives. This seductively simple turn of phrase opens the doors to better collaboration and positive relationships, and invites self-sustaining opportunities into our world. 'Yes, and' helps you get from where you are, as an individual or organization, to where want to be. No person or organization is an island, and none of us reaches our goals alone. This book shows you how to build on the power of open-mindedness, cultivate supportive relationships, and adopt a win-win mindset to reignite your purpose and unleash your best. Harness the power of team collaboration, cooperation, and creativity Reframe 'mistakes' and 'bad ideas' into 'Happy Accidents' that lead to opportunities Communicate more effectively by learning how to listen actively and build on the pertinent information Relinquish some degree of control to allow for more growth and discovery Children have a natural inclination toward curiosity. As we grow into adults, our curiosity gradually takes a back seat to obligations, responsibility, and duty—but that spark remains, and can be reignited. Don't spend your life adrift in a sea of 'could've, would've, should've'—take back your sense of purpose, positivity, joy, time, and energy with the power of Happy Accidents . For others, no is a learned conditioning that stops us cold in our tracks of discovery, stifles our desire for positive interactions with colleagues at work, and even shuts us off from the people closest to us our families whom we see at home after our workday. Stop saying 'no' to opportunity, and start saying 'yes' to possibility Happy Accidents is your personal guide to transforming your life. As we take on task after task, responsibility after responsibility, we lose sight of who we are and why we're doing what we do; we rush through the day completing a to-do list, but we never really seem to accomplish the things that are most important. What goals do you have for your life? What steps have you taken toward them today? Consider this book your guide to getting back on track to your dreams and help inspire those around you. It's not about doing more or doing less, it's about making what you do worthy of the effort. From forging new relationships, stepping out of your comfort zone, and reframing your work-start valuing these as empowering choices you get to make toward a particular goal every day. To preserve our precious time and energy, we often default to 'no, ' yet this only closes the door to our growth, while a 'yes' opens up a world of possibilities. The secret is adding 'yes, and' to our lives. This seductively simple turn of phrase opens the doors to better collaboration and positive relationships, and invites self-sustaining opportunities into our world. 'Yes, and' helps you get from where you are, as an individual or organization, to where you want to be. No person or organization is an island, and none of us reaches our goals alone. This book shows you how to build on the power of open-mindedness, cultivate supportive relationships, and adopt a win-win mindset to reignite your purpose and unleash your best. Harness the power of team collaboration, cooperation, and creativity Reframe 'mistakes' and 'bad ideas' into 'Happy Accidents' that lead to opportunities Communicate more effectively by learning how to listen actively and build on the pertinent information Relinquish some degree of control to allow for more growth and discovery Children have a natural inclination toward curiosity. As we grow into adults, our curiosity gradually takes a back seat to obligations, responsibility, and duty-but that spark remains, and can be reignited. Don't spend your life adrift in a sea of 'could've, would've, should've'-take back your sense of purpose, positivity, joy, time, and energy with the power of Happy Accidents Stop saying 'no' to opportunity, and start saying 'yes' to possibility Happy Accidents is your personal guide to transforming your life. As we take on task after task, responsibility after responsibility, we lose sight of who we are and why we're doing what we do; we rush through the day completing a to-do list, but we never really seem to accomplish the things that are most important. What goals do you have for your life? What steps have you taken toward them today? Consider this book your guide to getting back on track to your dreams and help inspire those around you. It's not about doing more or doing less, it's about making what you do worthy of the effort. From forging new relationships, stepping out of your comfort zone, and reframing your work—start valuing these as empowering choices you get to make toward a particular goal every day. To preserve our precious time and energy, we often default to 'no,' yet this only closes the door to our growth, while a 'yes' opens up a world of possibilities. The secret is adding 'yes, and' to our lives. This seductively simple turn of phrase opens the doors to better collaboration and positive relationships, and invites self-sustaining opportunities into our world. 'Yes, and' helps you get from where you are, as an individual or organization, to where you want to be. No person or organization is an island, and none of us reaches our goals alone. This book shows you how to build on the power of open-mindedness, cultivate supportive relationships, and adopt a win-win mindset to reignite your purpose and unleash your best. Harness the power of team collaboration, cooperation, and creativity Reframe 'mistakes' and 'bad ideas' into 'Happy Accidents' that lead to opportunities Communicate more effectively by learning how to listen actively and build on the pertinent information Relinquish some degree of control to allow for more growth and discovery Children have a natural inclination toward curiosity. As we grow into adults, our curiosity gradually takes a back seat to obligations, responsibility, and duty—but that spark remains, and can be reignited. Don't spend your life adrift in a sea of 'could've, would've, should've'—take back your sense of purpose, positivity, joy, time, and energy with the power of Happy Accidents . Introduction: A Crazy Little Bet on "Yes, And"How to Reset Your Mind-set From "No, But" to "Yes, And"Chapter 1: Out of the DarknessHow to Harness the Power of Positive CooperationChapter 2: It's Showtime!It's All About the Leap, Not the LandingChapter 3: The Winds of ChangeHow to Get the Maximum Return on Improvisation (ROI)Chapter 4: Hollywood CallsHow to Treat Your Coworkers Like Artists and PoetsChapter 5: Into the Darkness - AgainWhy a Controlled Life Is the Enemy of a Happy LifeChapter 6: Meltdown? Heck No! Melt-Up, That's More Like ItHow Being a Better Listener Makes You a Better CommunicatorChapter 7: Happy Accidents,or Why There Are No Mistakes, Only Higher and Lower Percentage ChoicesChapter 8: Legacy: A Love Storyor How to Transform Your Labor of Love Into a MasterpieceChapter 9: Keep GoingWhen All Else Succeeds, Leap Again: How to Remain Passionate at WorkChapter 10: "Yes, And" Comes Full CircleIt Takes a Village, Idiot Encore ExercisesAfterword: "Yes, the End"Index How “Yes, And” Thinking Helps You Open Hearts, Change Minds, and Win Together in a “No, But” World Happy Accidents is an improbable story. This book relates the power of placing a deep and enduring faith in people and inpartnership. Most of us plod through our busy daily lives at work and at home doing the best we can while unleashing a barrage of “no’s” and “but’s” to stay on track, and as many “would’ve,” “could’ve,” and “should’ves” as necessary to compensate for the things we miss out on. For some, our “no, but” reflex action is a reflection of our fast-paced and often fear-based world, and our desire for control in the face of uncertainty. For others, “no” is a learned conditioning that stops us cold in our tracks of discovery, stifles our desire for positive interactions with colleagues at work, and even shuts... Foreword Introduction: How to reset your mind-set from "no, but" to "yes, and" How to harness the power of positive collaboration Life's all about the leap, not the landing How to get the maximum return on improvisation (ROI) How to treat your coworkers like artists and poets Why a controlled life is the enemy of a happy life How being a better listener makes you a better communicator Why there are no mistakes, only higher and lower percentage choices How to transform your labor of love into a masterpiece When all else succeeds, leap again It takes a village, idiot Encore exercises.