The Hump Day Humor-Gram, September 13, 2006 Issue Number 187

WARNING: I kid you not, September is “Subliminal Marketing
Month,” so if you feel mysteriously compelled to buy 
copies of my latest book, “Inspiring Workplaces,” please
know I really had nothing to do it. By the way, I hope
you work in a really inspiring workplace. 
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1. Humor + Friendships = Increased Workplace Engagement

Several studies have suggested that having at least one 
good friend at work can substantially lower employees’ 
stress levels and increase their level of engagement. 
In fact, according to recent Gallup research, the chances
of being engaged in your job are only 1 in 12 if you 
have no close friends at work; whereas having at least 
three friends at work can increase engagement and life 
satisfaction by 96%! Yet, Gallup found that fewer than 20%
of organizations recognize the value of friendships.  

Creating a positive workplace that creates opportunities
for people to connect at a personal level and socialize 
with each other not only boosts morale, it increases
the opportunities for friendships to develop. And at the 
individual level, developing a healthier, more self-
effacing sense of humor can be one of the easiest ways to 
build new friendships & create an inspiring workplace.      
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2. Mike's Fun at Work Tip (for Inspiring Workplaces only!) 

Grab a camcorder and conduct “person on the street”
style interviews of employees asking them this question: 
“What is one thing you would do if you were the CEO/Pres/
Big Kahuna for the day?”  This is a fun way to involve
employees AND get some inspiring workplace ideas!    
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3. Quote of the Week (Good advice for an inspired workplace) 

“The best servants of the people must whisper unpleasant 
truths in the master’s ear. It is the court FOOL, not
the foolish courtier, who the king can least afford to 
lose.” Walt Lippmann, a truly inspiring guy  
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4. It's a Wacky, Wacky World  

A research team from Israel discovered an unusual finding: 
women that were exposed to clowns were twice as successful
at in-vitro fertilization! Doctors attribute the difference
to a reduction in stress levels. (Watch for the sale of
clown noses to skyrocket. . .)  

Happy Hump Day everyone! I hope your workplace is a truly
inspiring workplace, and that you have a happy subliminal 
marketing month . . . 
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2006  mailto:mike@mikekerr.com     
Reach Michael at 1-866-609-2640, http://www.MikeKerr.com.