Why Aren't We Awesomer?: Michael Neill at TEDxBend

20 Things You Must Do to Advance

1.    Show up to meetings early and prepared

2.    Get along with co-workers

3.    Finish projects on time

4.    Have project management skills

5.    Avoid workplace gossip

6.    Handle conflicts well

7.    Willingly help others (be a team player)

8.    Volunteer for difficult assignments or projects (that will give you greater visibility in the company and to upper management)

9.    Be organized (your office, your projects, or running meetings/conference calls)

10.  You’re okay giving presentations to small groups, but not if there’s more than five people

11.  Dress like you already have the job (look the part)

12.  Have a career development action plan and can demonstrate progress to your manager

13.  Share your career goals with your boss

14.  Actively solicit constructive criticism (or don’t take feedback well)

15.  Achieve positive results in your current job

16.  Have enough time in your current position

17.  Have the necessary skills (including leadership) for the management job

18.  Exude a positive, can-do attitude

19.  Your coworkers come to you for help or advice

20.  Have an mentor helping you with your career

Based on the moster.com post http://news.monster.com/a/business/20-things-that-could-be-ruining-your-promotion-opportunities-7ac910?WT.mc_n=CRM_US_B2C_LC_TWOM_Ac_140509 but I thought it would be better in the positive.

A donkey in a well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL:

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from yourself

10 signs that happy people share

 Leaders need to be happy.  In general, the leaders I have been associated with that have been happy are more productive, better mentors, and enjoy more satisfaction.  

Taken from an infographic titled 10 signs that you are truly happy, I agree that you must take care of your self. Physical fitness leads to mental toughness.  Exercise helps leaders withstand great strain without tearing or breaking when the team needs a leader the most. Getting enough sleep ensures that the body recovers, resets and is ready for the next day's challenges.  Surrounding yourself with associates that are generally happy can make a world of difference.  A lot of the time, people don't it's cold until someone starts complaining that it's cold.  Attitudes are contagious.  Respect yourself enough to know the difference between thrilling and dangerous activities.  Understanding that line is an important aspect of being a leader.  Yesterday has already happened, tomorrow hasn't happened yet.  Focus on what you can control.  Learn from the past, prepare for the future, but live in the present.  

1. Exercise Daily — Happy people engage in health-promoting behaviors like exercise.

2. Get Enough Sleep — Happy people get enough sleep.

3. Smart Thrills — Happy people enjoy the things that are safe and good for them.

4. Get Happy Friends — Happy friends make for happy people. Good friends are golden.

5. Trust yourself — Happy people trust themselves. They don’t live in doubt about their own judgment.

6. Live in the Now — Happy people live now. They enjoy what they are doing now. They don’t look to the past or to the future.

7. Express Gratitude — Happy people are thankful for what they have.

8. Bounce Back — Happy people bounce back from disappointments and euphoria.

9. Get Unplugged — Happy people turn off the television, the computer, the smartphone, the iPad, the Xbox.

10. Smile — Happy people smile more. They smile from the inside out.

http://infographicaday.com/happiness-infographic-10-signs-that-you-are-truly-happy/