Return On Happiness - JoAnna Brandi - Small things matter more than we think. (500 x 333 px)

Small things matter more than we think.

While the season can look flashy on the outside, when we slow down just a bit — and take a deliberate 7breath or two — this beautiful time of year reminds us of something simple and true:   Small things matter more than we think.   A moment of appreciation lights up a heart.  …

JoAnna Brandi - Return On Happiness - Happy Hanukkah

Are you being the light your people need right now?

This week, as Hanukkah candles are lit one by one, we’re reminded of something leadership desperately needs right now:   Light doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.   The original story of Hanukkah isn’t about abundance. It’s about scarcity. A small amount of oil. A long stretch of darkness. And the decision to…

JoAnna Brandi - Return On Happyness - Thanks Giving - 1

Can you enjoy the season of small miracles now?

Every year around this time, I notice something funny happening.   People soften.   Not everyone, not all the time — but enough that you can feel it. The smiles get a little easier. The patience stretches a little further. The world seems to remember, even briefly, that we’re all just humans doing our best…

One Simple Shift - Return on happinest

One Simple Shift

It happened halfway through a customer care workshop.   We were talking about empathy, how every interaction either builds trust or breaks it, when one participant shared a story about a recent customer encounter.   A man had called in, frustrated and curt. Instead of rushing him off the phone, she took a deep breath,…

JoAnna Brandy - Return On Happiness - Are you ignoring your bodys whispers - woman-having-neckache-while-working-home 2

Are you ignoring your body’s whispers?

Have you ever ignored your body’s whispers until it started to shout, or in some cases scream?   Most of us have. Especially those of us who lead — the ones others count on to keep going, keep smiling, keep showing up no matter what.   I know this pattern well.   I recently spent…

Why Most Stress Advice Fails Leaders

Let’s be honest—most stress management advice feels like it was written by someone who’s never had to fire an underperformer, handle a really angry customer, or manage up to a difficult boss while keeping their team motivated.   Leadership stress is different.   Usually, you can’t “just take a mental health day” when your team is counting on you.…

The “No Problem” Problem

What’s the hidden cost of “No Problem”?   I was rushing to pack up after a speaking engagement at a conference when I realized I needed a late checkout. The Scottsdale hotel had been stellar all weekend, so I called the front desk with confidence.   “Hi, this is JoAnna Brandi in room 352. I’m speaking…

What can beach glass teach you about leadership now?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been drawn to beach glass.   You know those smooth, frosted gems you find scattered along the shoreline?   Last week, walking along the beach here in Florida, I picked up a particularly beautiful piece of sea green glass and had one of those moments—the kind where…

Beyond Perks

Can you move beyond to perks to create a mentally healthy culture now?   May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ve been reflecting on a powerful insight from workplace culture expert Catherine Mattice who said “Good perks can’t fix a bad culture.”   This resonates deeply with me, especially in light of recent research from Michael…