Happy Melly is an experimental business network created in November 2012 by three people who wanted to help knowledge workers be happier and live better lives. The business aims to bring inspiring content, games, courses, and other resources to workers through various activities like publishing, event planning, and sharing stories. Rather than a traditional hierarchy, Happy Melly operates as a democratic network where anyone can start their own legal entity or become a stakeholder involved in decision making. The goal is to practice creating a happier organization and then help others achieve happiness.

1. Who Is
Happy Melly?
an introduction
version 1

2. In November 2012, three guys
got together because they shared
a purpose.

3. We want to help people
become happy workers, and
live better lives.

4. They were inspired by the
famous photo of Melly Shum
who hates her job.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bertwerk/623288901/ (c) 2007 Bert Werk, Creative Commons

5. They realized only a happy
business can help other
people be happy.

6. And so they named me
Happy Melly

7. My business is bringing great
ideas to knowledge workers
and improve their lives.

8. In my day-to-day activities
this goal can take many
practical forms.

9. I can work with writers and designers to
produce inspiring content.

10. I can help to bring great games and courseware
to trainers and facilitators.

11. I can manage licensing programs and
the central storage of assets.

12. I can create apps, videos and websites
around popular topics.

13. I can help publish books and podcasts
and coordinate translations.

14. I can assist in the manufacturing and
distribution of cards and games.

15. I can support conferences, workshops,
seminars, and other events.

16. And I seek, collect, and share
stories of happier people.

17. All these activities require
that I am a business with
creative workers.

18. But I don’t want to be
just another traditional
hierarchical organization.

19. Instead, I am a network
of free creative people, just
like in a democracy.

20. Anyone who has the mind of
an entrepreneur can join my
business, as a startup.

21. It’s just a matter of
launching a legal entity and
offering a service.

22. Important decisions
concerning the legal entities
are made in Gatherings.

23. Anyone with a creative
mind can also join my
business, as a stakeholder.

24. It’s just a matter of registering,
joining the network, and
getting involved.

25. The stakeholders vote on
who should be their
representatives.

26. Decisions for stakeholders are
made by the representatives in
Huddles.

27. The CEO is appointed by,
and represents, both legal
entities and stakeholders.

28. The CEO may need help
from a Board, including a
CFO and a CMO.

29. The Board decides which
services are central and
offered to the business.

30. And all this management
stuff is properly documented
in a Constitution.

31. ?
Including a description
of the brands we use for
our products.

32. I am Happy Melly, and
you should see me as an
experiment.

33. I am an experimental organization,
implemented as a business network.

34. Experiments enable learning, and we
must learn how to achieve happiness.

35. We should apply ideas for better
organizations to our own business first.

36. By practicing what we preach we
can improve what we teach.

37. And we can only help others be happy
if we are happy ourselves first.

38. I am Happy Melly.
I’m a different kind of business.

39. Are you an entrepreneur looking
for more interesting work?

40. Are you a creative worker looking
for a better organization?

41. I would love to work with
you. Will you join me?

42. www.happymelly.com