HappyUP!!! Day 356

Only 16 days left - have you booked your room in Paris?....will you be celebrating in a villa in Tuscany? It's probably too late to make a reservation.

When 1 year of HappyUP!!!'s are upon us - the people who have been planning will already have taken up all of the places in the streets for dancing.

That's OK - you can celebrate in the comfort of your own living room.

HappyUP!!! - all reviews practically done
Why it happened - I am grinding them out
Why it makes me happy - it is just a relief every time I get one done. If you are a supervisor, you know what I mean. If you aren't, there is no way you could get it.

HappyUP!!! - grinding out the annual trainings
Why it happened - it was Friday afternoon. I had a few minutes. I turned it into an hour and I am well on my way to having this annual chore done.
Why it makes me happy - we have to take the compliance refresher courses every year. It's a good thing. It's a wonderful reminder to all of us to do the right thing. It's just a great feeling when you finish them. Though I have a few to go, I knocked some pesky ones off today. Relief.

HappyUP!!! - sitting with the auditor
Why it happened - the auditor was doing one of my branches today
Why it makes me happy - I like our auditor. I learn things about the company so I always make sure that I do a debrief when the audits are done.

HappyUP!!! Day 355

HappyUP!!! - the Dow Jones drops 300 poi.........ooops! Not a HappyUP!!! but it is a testimony to the HappyUP!!! process. If all I was focused on was the stock market, it would be a bad ending to the day.

HappyUP!!! - call from a colleague
Why it happened - he said he would call
Why it makes me happy - he has some good ideas to help get through this market

HappyUP!!! - call from a friend
Why it happened - he returned my e-mail with a phone call
Why it makes me happy - I got caught up with this person. We hadn't talked in forever. He is doing great. He said he would do me a favor. He also is going to make a custom item for me when I need it.

HappyUP!!! - budgeting should be easy to do
Why it happened - I have no idea
Why it makes me happy - it is going to be a tough year. "Making budget" should be one less thing to worry about and have to manage......there are enough other things to work on.

HappyUP!!! Day 354

HappyUP!!! - interview
Why it happened - we are always looking for people
Why it makes me happy - I think we found a solid "doubles" hitter today. We just keep building the team.

HappyUP!!! - knocked out some reviews
Why it happened - I forced myself to sit down to that computer
Why it makes me happy - my HR "In Box" is close to empty. I would really like one more push tomorrow and empty it. It will quickly refill but I now can see that an empty in box would feel great.

HappyUP!!! - indoor kitty
Why it happened - I heard a scratch at the door
Why it makes me happy - it's a little nippy out there. I don't usually let the outdoor cats in. I had Shadow in tonight.....and then back in....hey, I think she is still in. Even though she is not used to it, my bet is she is going to pop up and snuggle down next to me to sleep tonight. I could do an entire posting on the therapeutic qualities of a cat purring.

HappyUP!!! Day 353

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it's Tuesday
Why it STILL makes me happy - after 20 yrs. I wrote and gave a great talk. I heard another great talk. We had a very interested guest. The list goes on and on

HappyUP!!! - part two of my physical
Why it happened - I go and get an annual
Why it makes me happy - blood work, blood pressure, cholesterol were all in good shape. So was that "other" part.....hey, the world makes you think that every other guy has a prostate issue. You can't worry about that or you would go crazy. You can celebrate when, at least this time around, you aren't the other guy.

HappyUP!!! - home decorating solution
Why it happened - I had the TV setup guy come out
Why it makes me happy - we came up with an innovative solution that is going to work perfectly!....should save me some dough, too!

HappyUP!!! Day 352

HappyUP!!! - calling people about compensation
Why it happened - it's bonus time
Why it makes me happy - they were both getting more than they expected. I could hear the joy in their voices. That joy was precious to me.

HappyUP!!! - having my idea presented to my peers
Why it happened - my boss thought it was a timely suggestion
Why it makes me happy - I felt like I had been crying wolf for a few months about a problem. Finally, we are on the road to getting the issue solved.

HappyUP!!! - finding out about a subordinates comp
Why it happened - the comp came out right....the first time
Why it makes me happy - I thought that I was going to have to fight for one of my employees to get paid correctly. When the info came out on the website today, it was correct the first time. All I had to do was hit an "approve" button and pick up the phone (see first HappyUP!!!). Sometimes, you have to appreciate when the anticipate worst doesn't happen. Did I say "sometimes"? You should do it everytime!


JollyJottings

Meeting with client
Meeting with a subordinate
Assisting with getting a deal fixed
A nice no rush morning before going to the office
Good eating
A fun e-mail project with a friend
Calling a subordinate about compensation
Finding out about a subordinates compensation
Having my idea presented to my peers

HappyUP!!! Day 351....Jan 13....LohriUP!!!!

HappyUP!!! - going to a Lohri celebration....the celebration of the bonfire.

Why it happened - one of my employees is East Indian and they celebrate this festival

Why it makes me happy - their community gets together in a joyous celebration to their God. They are giving thanks to the harvest. In the case of the one I went to, it had the added joy to celebrate that a male son was born since last Jan 13th. Joy and GREAT food are always a HappyUP!!!


I had to go here to get the real story - most of the young people couldn't explain it to me. The older folks knew it so well that they couldn't dumb it down for me....plus there was that pesky dialogue barrier.



HappyUP!!! - women out dancing with each other at the Lohri

Why it happened - it seems to be a tradition

Why it makes me happy - this starts to look very similar to how we anglos do it. The women want to dance so they go dance with themselves. Plus, look at those beautiful outfits. A gorgeous site.








HappyUP!!! - all the men were at the bar

Why it happened - it's what men do at functions like this

Why it makes me happy - it doesn't matter what language we speak. We are all the same. The women go dance with themselves why the men pound cocktails. It's like a world unifying concept!

HappyUP!!! Day 350

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - Saturday is likely to be breakfast day
Why it makes me happy - today it was just me and my friend. We were there for two hours discussing life and cutting up. It's the absolute best.

HappyUP!!! - found my camera
Why it happened - I glanced in "that last place"
Why it makes me happy - I hate losing stuff.....and I like to have a camera handy

HappyUP!!! - e-mail
Why it happened - I have some cool friends
Why it makes me happy - sometimes, the people you want to talk to aren't around....a phone conversation isn't convenient. I connected to "discuss" an issue with a friend far away.

Jan 12 - Is It a New Year?

(Note: to my friends at SundayScribblings , this is the correct link for this week's topic. I didn't mean to post twice)

How did you feel on New Year's Day? - forget about the public or private resolutions....

For most - those have already been forgotten. They were "head" decisions.

Think back - to that place where, if you got some quiet time, you secretly said to yourself, "this is the year where things are going to be different."

And you kind of sort of believed it - perhaps things weren't so rushed in the post-Christmas time.


You saw the change in lifestyle possible - and advantageous. You even may have started living it. The holidays are a fascinating time. Sure, they can be busy with parties and year end deadlines. But, there usually is some lull that we all find....some of us more than others. It is a time for reflection...

..and maybe therein lies the key - that time of reflection tells you that you may or may not be in a bad spot. You just know that it isn't optimal. You focus on how it is that you got there. Then, it hits you that there may be a slightly better place. You start to embrace it a little bit....

...Before you know it - "LIFE" as you know it steps up, defends itself, and gets in the way. You don't have the ability to push it aside and drive to that other place.

...and, you are right - you don't. In that frame of reference and time, you don't have the time to change. Maybe, just maybe, you have the time and power to reflect once again. The reflection may not be a power that lets you advance against the enemy. The reflection just gives you a foothold to say, "Life, I know you are trying to push against me and keep me in a certain spot. You can push but I am not giving in. I am going to stand right here. While I stand here, I am going to be gathering my troops. When the troops get a little stronger and the direction becomes a bit more clear, you WILL be pushed to the side."

Base camp....footholds....inches gained and retained - these are to be appreciated. It's nice to score a touchdown with a long bomb instantly. It's flashy. It's easy. It involves some luck. Most touchdowns are won by gaining a few yards...and then a few more. Then, you are stopped and have to punt. You stop the enemy. They punt back but you gained a few yards in the exchange. Your field position improves. You have a new base of operations.

It's only Jan 12 - if you wanted to change and nothing has, that's OK. Just don't give in and get beaten back to that place of dissatisfaction....

...or the conversation won't happen again for 11.75 months.

HappyUP!!! Day 349

HappyUP!!! - cancelled meeting
Why it happened - the other person was busy
Why it made me happy - one less meeting!

HappyUP!!! - competitor bought
Why it happened - they were suffering
Why it makes me happy - it makes things interesting for our competitor

HappyUP!!! - the scale
Why it happened - the cleanse is over
Why it makes me happy - as long as I have a sensible day tomorrow, I'll have a very impressive health start to the New Year!

HappyUP!!! Day 348

HappyUP!!! - a comment
Why it happened - I had a meeting
Why it makes me happy - I was leading my meeting. We were at a serious point. One of my managers made a comment that was outrageously funny....yet, it was on-point so it wasn't disruptive.

HappyUP!!!- getting something off my chest
Why it happened - I am in the midst of something
Why it makes me happy - it was hard. It was scary. It was something I felt must be done. I moved it to the next step today. It was time to get the monkey off my back.

HappyUP!!! - a decision
Why it happened - it needed to be made one way or another
Why it makes me happy - I involved my team. I took their input. They are committed knowing all circumstances. That was the buy in that I needed to tip the scale and move forward.

Barrelling toward One Year of HappyUP!!!'s

(This post was originally run in early 2007. Yeah, I could have just linked to it but, without those catchy buttons, who would have traveled back into the past?)

HappyUP!!! Project Revisited

I just noticed - there are still a couple of people on the internet that have not found NuttersNotes

Because the last of the stragglers will probably be stopping by today - it is prime time for a little refresher course in what this HappyUP!!! thing is all about.

For an older explanation and the rationale - you need to nothing more than click here

...and you really should do that - because I can't devote this entire post to remedial students. I have to take care of the people following along.

If you are a follower - there has never been a better time to step up and lead. Your family needs you to do it. The world needs you to do it. I need you to do it. YOU need you to do it.

You may be happy - which makes you an excellent candidate for the project. The daily excercise is so easy that even the Nutster has been able to do it for over 300 documentable days....right here in front of your own eyes.

All I am coaching you for is - to do 7 days....and then stretch it until it becomes a daily habit. The net effect is that YOU create your good news. Tired of the newspapers and the fabricated stories that are beaten into the ground? Don't take more in....DO something about it. Here is a great example:

The HappyUP!!! - a fish with lips

Why it happened - I was carrying my camera when I went to dinner. I commented on the aquarium to the owner of the eating establishment. "Did you see the big fish....the one with lips?"

Why it made me happy - do you remember the old game when someone asked something really obvious? Today, we just go "duh." In a more creative time, we would say, "Is the Pope Cathholic?" or "Does a bear poop in the woods?" for a positive answer. If the answer was an obvious "No," we would say, "does a fish have lips?"
Well, as it turns out, I guess a fish does have lips!!!

....and that makes me happy - that's all there is to it! It's so easy, even the Nutster can do it! I took a moment, not all day obsessing, and recognized that little situation made me happy. The more times you realize what makes you happy, the happier you are going to be.

It's easy to single out all of the things - than make you mad, sad, frustrated, etc and attach all kinds of emotion to them. Why do you need to do that? The answer: you don't NEED to do it...you CHOOSE to do it. And, just like you made the choice to focus on the crappy, you can make a new choice to focus on the Happy.

Yes, it is a formalized version - of "count your blessings." Is there a better time to start than right now?

If you are a fellow blogger - you can even work it into a daily posting amongst the other wonderful things you are putting up. It's a wonderful accountability to yourself. I can't tell you the number of times I have gone up to bed, laid down, and said, "oops...I have the HappyUP!!!s. I just forgot to post them."...and back to the computer I went.

....and it has been worth every trip! - I have been hearing a comment from people lately that I have never heard before. "Nutster, you are so positive....I really like that." Hmmmmmm........I think I am going to continue.

HappyUP!!! Day 347

HappyUP!!! - phone call returned by a recruit
Why it happened - I called the recruit at the right time
Why it makes me happy - the right things are being said. We are heading in the right direction

HappyUP!!! - clarifying returned call
Why it happened - a heated call happened previously
Why it makes me happy - I am glad the person called to set the record straight exactly about what was said

HappyUP!!! - calls and e-mails from friends
Why it happened - who knows why they show up with an ear at the right time
Why it makes me happy - today was a tough, high stress day. Sometimes when people call me, it is for me to listen. Today it was their turn and it makes me happy they were there.

HappyUP!!! Day 346

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it's Tuesday
Why it makes me happy - we were off two weeks for the holiday. I missed the group so it was good to be back. More importantly, we had a FANTASMIC meeting! Two great speeches. Sharp evaluations. Awesome.

HappyUP!!! - my presentation
Why it happened - I had to cover when someone ran late
Why it makes me happy - I had an important piece to give at a meeting. This was an important one with some fairly big people in the room. At the last minute, the person opening the meeting called because he was late. Because I was up after him, I covered his spot. Everything went great. One of the big people, who has been to MANY of these rollout meetings...many.....went out of her way to tell me how great a job I did. Because of the way I presented it, she had never thought of it that way before and said that I was super on-point. I was able to deliver my prepared portion (what she was talking about) after delivering the piece that I was tossed into. No problem. Why? See HappyUP!!! above.............Toastmasters

HappyUP!!! - finding a mistake
Why it happened - my on-line stock account wasn't jibing with my off line tracker
Why it makes me happy - I owned 500 more shares of a stock than I had recorded in my tracker. It made me feel like I "found" a TON of dough. Did I really? Literally, I didn't. In my mind, I did. Which is right? All I know is that I feel much wealthier catching my mistake!

HappyUP!!! Day 345

HappyUP!!! - trading chairs
Why it happened - it's a new year
Why it makes me happy - I go to a meeting every Monday morning. I have for over 6 years. The first meeting of the year is "musical chairs" where we all change locations. Fun!

HappyUP!!! - an e-mail
Why it happened - a friend shot it to me
Why it makes me happy - I got some unexpected (and welcome) information

HappyUP!!! - crab
Why it happened - I scavenged
Why it makes me happy - I couldn't join some associates immediately for appetizers. I had to get there late. They had a bunch of leftover crab legs. They begged me to eat them....and I did...with no butter, no sauce!

SuperHappyUP!!! - sugarless, sandwichless meeting
Why it happened - I showed restraint
Why it makes me happy - I had to be in a 5 hr meeting. Candy dishes were all around me. It was one ladies birthday and they brought in a gorgeous cake. I had none of it as I am sworn off sugar right now. This is an accomplishment that must be recognized. I didn't have any of the sandwiches/chips either. Winner!!! I am still alive.

JollyJottings

Trading chairs
E-Mail
Crab
Hard Talk

HappyUP!!! Day 344 - Walking with Dinosaurs

HappyUP!!! - trip to the gym
Why it happened - I made myself go
Why it makes me happy - I was a relentless gym attender in 2006.....a stranger in 2007. I didn't want to go today but I got my 30 minutes in today for the first time in 2008. It may not seem like much but every journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step

HappyUP!!! - weighing in
Why it happened - it's Sunday...it's when I do it.
Why it makes me happy - the work that I am doing resulted in 3 pounds lost this week. That, friends, is a great start of the day.

HappyUP!!! - a run
Why it happened - I forced myself
Why it makes me happy - I have a new 2 mile best for the year. It was a full 20 second faster than New Year's Day.

JollyJottings

Trip to the gym
weigh in
run...I went
run...I beat my time of 5 days ago
Company to Walk with Dinosaurs
Walk with Dinosaurs
Sprint Help Line - I multitasked
No flooding
Driving my car
Loaded the shuffle...no problem

HappyUP!!! Day 343

HappyUP!!!- another good eating day
Why it happened - it needed to after that Mexican dinner last night
Why it makes me happy - I should be heading for a good initial 2008 weigh in tomorrow

HappyUP!!! -drainage
Why it happened - I got on it
Why it makes me happy - I think I discovered the problem that was causing some flooding. Yes, I had to get out the shovel in some really muddy territory but I think I got the problem solved....more rain on the way.

HappyUP!!! - got my data back
Why it happened - I made another try
Why it makes me happy - long story but I have been getting all of my CD's on to my computer. I have been shooting the data on to my external storage and taking it off my hard drive. I wasn't able to get it back....then I did! That is a HappyUP!!!
HappyUP!!! - going to bed early

HappyUP!!! Day 342

HappyUP!!! - a nasty, nasty storm
Why it happened - nature does that
Why it makes me happy - when nature does what nature does, it let's us know who is really in charge around here. It's humbling. All of a sudden, all the "all so important" things we do aren't so important anymore.

(Really sorry my brother had to lose the tree in his front yard. As you can tell, I wasn't sorry enough to get out of the truck and do anything....yes, that is the antennae of my truck you see....hey, there wasn't anything I could do. What? Was I supposed to lift the thing up and re-root it?)


HappyUP!!! - MEXICAN FOOD!
Why it happened - my nephew stopped by and said he, my bro/sis, and another couple were going to Carmelitas. I hadn't been there in awhile
Why it makes me happy - real food! OK....shame on me. I am on a cleanse. This was in violation. I was ready to eat my piece of salmon at home...but I didn't. I am happy that I only had ONE item along with the rice and beans.....I was the only one at the table that did that.

HappyUP!!! - haircut
Why it happened - I do get my haircut
Why it makes me happy - I am now being known at the barbershop....even if it is as "the banker." It's a weird cast of eclectic characters down at the ear lowering joint....I fit right in. It's kind of like a Cheers thing...where everybody knows your name...even if mine is "the banker."

HappyUP!!! Day 341

HappyUP!!! - dinner
Why it happened - it was dinner time
Why it makes me happy - the first real food that I have had in 72 hours! A piece of salmon, a little salad with oil and vinegar, and a little brown rice. No salts....no sugars. I ate at 5:30 and I am wonderfully full.

HappyUP!!! - conversation with a co-worker
Why it happened - he came into the office
Why it makes me happy - he had a heart attack last weekend! He got angioplasty and a stint. He's alive. I've known the guy for 19 years. I got a chance to talk with him about "the experience." Scary.

HappyUP!!! - seeing my staff
Why it happened - we were all in the office
Why it makes me happy - we all kind of scattered after the holiday. I miss them when I am gone...and vice versa.

HappyUP!!! Day 340

HappyUP!!! - blood draw
Why it happened - I made the appointment
Why it makes me happy - it's just for my physical. I don't know the results but, up or down, I'll know. I didn't exactly follow through on my entire physical last year. It will be done...and early...this year.

HappyUP!!!- bought a consultation
Why it happened - I made an appointment
Why it makes me happy - I am finally going to get a pro out to the house to give me my TV/Home Theater options. This little project procrastination has set back my entire decorating situation. Not for much longer.

HappyUP!!! - day 2 of my cleanse is over
Why it happened - I started the cleanse yesterday
Why it makes me happy - the first two days on my cleanse, you get NO REAL FOOD...not even a powder shake. Hence, with the system used to eating anything, the system does not like day 1 & 2. It's done!

HappyUP!!! Day 339.....HappyUP!!! New Year

Note: Sunday, Feb 3. Do you have it marked in your calender? What? You marked Christmas and somebody's birthday. You don't have the most important day IN HISTORY marked yet? C'mon....get that Outlook Calender out and get with it. ONLY 33 days until we celebrate 1 year of HappyUP!!!-ing on-line. What will you be doing to celebrate?

HappyUP!!! - goodbye to 2007
Why it happened - once again, it's a calender thing
Why it makes me happy - I have a habit of reflecting back on the previous year when we get to this point. I keep a few notes in a word document. I'll jot down the date and the high (or low) light as it occurs. As I was preparing to dig in, I really thought 2007 was going to be average...or below. A relationship ended, my dad got sick and died, my industry is in a downturn, and the muckity mucks at work are up to no good....and have been for three months. On top of it, I went from 4 pounds down going into the last quarter to 3 pounds up for the year. Yet, as I reflected back on the good things, it was a solid year. I won't call it a banner one...but a good one to build off of for 2008. I am incredibly optimistic about the next 12 months.

HappyUP!!! - day one of the cleanse is nearing completion
Why it happened - I am committed to two cleanses a year....might as well get number one out of the way
Why it makes me happy - I believe day one is the worst. You just drink root juice and eat the human equivalent of a dog biscuit. I could be facing the worst when I try to go to sleep later. Today has been no picnic....but it's almost done!

HappyUP!!! - day off tomorrow
Why it happened - I need to take some more days off
Why it makes me happy - I don't take nearly enough days off. I already have several planned for this month. I'll get out ahead of that curve! Something to look forward to tomorrow is always a HappyUP!!! today.