Happy Accidents: The Transformative Power of "Yes, and" at Work and in Life

by David Ahearn, Frank Ford, David Wilk

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119428565
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/06/2017
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

DAVID AHEARN, FRANK FORD, and DAVID WILK are the founding members of Four Day Weekend Comedy. Four Day Weekend has performed nearly 6,000 live shows, has been awarded the Key to the City of Fort Worth, Texas, and was named Small Business of the Year by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. They have delivered their "Yes, and" keynote address to the United States Congress and work with dozens of Fortune 500 companies every year. As Entrepreneurs-in-Residence at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University, they collaborate with faculty and teach students improvisation and entrepreneurial skills.

Table of Contents

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 Darkness

How to Harness the Power of Positive Cooperation

Chapter 2: It’s Showtime!

It’s All About the Leap, Not the Landing

Chapter 3: The Winds of Change

How to Get the Maximum Return on Improvisation (ROI)

Chapter 4: Hollywood Calls

How to Treat Your Coworkers Like Artists and Poets

Chapter 5: Into the Darkness – Again

Why a Controlled Life Is the Enemy of a Happy Life

Chapter 6: Meltdown? Heck No! Melt-Up, That’s More Like It

How Being a Better Listener Makes You a Better Communicator

Chapter 7: Happy Accidents,

or Why There Are No Mistakes, Only Higher and Lower Percentage Choices

Chapter 8: Legacy: A Love Story

or How to Transform Your Labor of Love Into a Masterpiece

Chapter 9: Keep Going

When All Else Succeeds, Leap Again: How to Remain Passionate at Work

Chapter 10: “Yes, And” Comes Full Circle

It Takes a Village, Idiot 

Encore Exercises

Afterword: “Yes, the End”

Index