1. livethe8...
How To Stay Happy
(and get more stuff done)
...how to be happier, healthier, and
Created by a bunch of happy people at
Ascendi Training & Consulting
more productive.
ascendi.com

2. What does it mean to be happy?

3. cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly,
jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted,
smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a
good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented,
content, satisfied, gratified, buoyant, radiant,
sunny, blithe, joyous, beatific; thrilled, elated,
exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric,
overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh
heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air,
jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over
the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

4. Okay. But how do we stay...

5. cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly,
jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted,
smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a
good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented,
content, satisfied, gratified, buoyant, radiant,
sunny, blithe, joyous, beatific; thrilled, elated,
exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric,
overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh
heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air,
jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over
the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

7. That’s the hard part. It’s easier to get
happy, than it is to stay that way.

8. Especially when we all...

10. ...are inundated with decidedly un-happy
messages everyday.

12. Doesn’t it just make you want to...

15. Years ago, people identified one symbol with
happiness...

17. If only we could just wear
those buttons, and feel again.

18. Ahhhhhhhh..the good ole’ days.

19. Well, at Ascendi, we have the privilege
of partnering with cheerful, jolly, grinning,
radiant, ecstatic people everyday; individuals
at organizations like...

21. ...to name a few. And this has made us very...

23. We have trained and coached them (but not this
way)...

24. (I see dead people.)

25. ...we help our clients feel this way...

27. ...designing & delivering innovative,
cost-effective programs on topics like...

28. building on strengths

29. communication skills

30. stress management

31. teamwork
and...

32. time management

33. ...to name a few. And, you guessed it,
this stuff makes us very...

35. The people we work with feel
because at Ascendi, we

36. And here’s some of what we’ve heard over the
years, summed up in 8 key points...

37. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.

38. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.

39. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.

40. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.
4. We’re primarily concerned with what’s in it for us.

41. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.
4. We’re primarily concerned with what’s in it for us.
5. We tend to focus on the negative.

42. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.
4. We’re primarily concerned with what’s in it for us.
5. We tend to focus on the negative.
6. Many of us feel disconnected.

43. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.
4. We’re primarily concerned with what’s in it for us.
5. We tend to focus on the negative.
6. Many of us feel disconnected.
7. Many of our true beliefs are asleep.

44. 1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.
2. We don’t typically play to our strengths.
3. We don’t always say what we mean.
4. We’re primarily concerned with what’s in it for us.
5. We tend to focus on the negative.
6. Many of us feel disconnected.
7. Many of our true beliefs are asleep.
8. We don’t usually memorialize our victories.

45. Ouch.

46. So what happens when we try to
live a full life - while juggling all of this negative
energy everyday?

48. Yeah. That’s not good.

49. So here are 8 tips designed to help your family,
help your workplace, help your team members,
help you stay...

50. cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly,
jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted,
smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a
good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented,
content, satisfied, gratified, buoyant, radiant,
sunny, blithe, joyous, beatific; thrilled, elated,
exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric,
overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh
heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air,
jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over
the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

51. 1
initiate

52. Begin your day with purpose, set aside 15
minutes every morning for yourself, create a
gratitude list, read something inspirational,
sleep-in when you can, write out your plan
for the day (and stick to it), meditate, be quiet,
watch the birds, run, walk, workout, connect
with your higher power (whoever or whatever
that is),visualize what makes you happy,
commit to right thoughts & right actions for
the day, rock your power song, drive slow, play
nice with others on the road, listen to a funny
audiobook in the car, go to work with a smile.

53. 2
activate

54. Identify the specific activities you do very well,
write them out, own them, be proud of what
you have accomplished so far in your life,
acknowledge (today) those that have helped
you along the way, make your strong activities
habits, know your weaknesses, stop them,
share what makes you unique (and be humble
doing it), speak up about your shortcomings
(and be fair to yourself when doing it),
discover what is stopping you from being
truly happy, eliminate all obstacles.

55. 3
communicate

56. Understand the impact your words can have,
use words that celebrate and affirm life,
listen more, if you’re not sure what to say - be
quiet, paint verbal pictures, think of the top 5
words that have changed your life (for the
better), use each of those words at least once
a day, remember that you can’t take your
words back, don’t brag, don’t gossip, sleep
on an angry email, watch out for the“Reply All”
button, when you say something wrong then
quickly make it right, speak from the heart,
remember that our words are our choices.

57. 4
appreciate

58. Give people credit (they rarely forget it), send
hand-written thank you notes, mail one to
yourself every month, be specific and be
genuine with praise, accept compliments,
know that appreciation doesn’t have to mean
agreement, catch someone in the act of doing
something good, make others feel important,
be open to feedback, have an attitude of
gratitude, perform acts of service, spend
quality time with people, hug problems out,
text the love, smile and say “thanks”, be a
good friend, support your coworkers.

59. 5
illuminate

60. Help someone win, teach what you know, be
generous with your time, forgive, be patient,
practice compassion, help someone become
more independent, be a coach, be a mentor,
inspire others, encourage a child, practice the
golden rule, remember that life’s truths are
revealed through steady awareness, kindness
to others (and hard work) will take you further
than intelligence.

61. 6
associate

62. Know who your friends are, buy them a cup
of coffee this week, know who your friends
aren’t, buy them a cup of coffee this week,
spend time with people who share your
talents, spend time with some who don’t, sign
up for that class you’ve always wanted to take.

63. 7
integrate

64. Identify your core values, write them out,
align everything you do each day with those
values (even the tasks you hate), act in
accordance with your beliefs.
and...

65. 8
celebrate!

66. Keep a Victory Journal, remember that just
showing up is a victory sometimes, reward
yourself, point out others’ victories, choose to
be happy, remember that you can start your
day over at anytime.

67. Or as we say around here...

68. live the 8.

69. Do these things. You will find more energy than you
thought you had. You will recapture your joy.
You will be living life on purpose, and you
will get more accomplished every day.

70. You will be happier, healthier, & more productive.

71. Just like them...

73. So....

75. Are you ready?

76. Ready to stand out from the ...

78. Ready to rise above all of the ...

80. Ready to stop ...

82. stop investing in...

84. and enjoy a heaping plate of...

87. livethe8...
Connect with Ascendi
(and get more stuff done)
Organizational Development
On-site Employee Training
Executive & Life Coaching
Wellness Programs
Corporate Retreats
Happy Keynotes
Ascendi Training & Consulting
9010 SW 137 Avenue, Suite 238
Miami, FL USA 33186
800.558.4308 ...how to be happier, healthier, and
solutions@ascendi.com
more productive.
ascendi.com

88. Many thanks to:
All of our clients, colleagues, family and friends.
All of you make all of us want to be better.
David, Isabel, Lourdes, Vernon, Eddie, and Marilyn.
How To Stay Happy (and Get More Stuff Done)
Copyright © 2009 Ascendi Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Created by: David Vittoria, Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer
(...and in case you were wondering, David’s power song is Lose Yourself, by Eminem)