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Saturday, September 10, 2022
Friday, September 09, 2022
Media Man News Blog: WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS
RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
STAMFORD, Conn. and LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2022 -- Tomorrow, Friday, June 3, WWE Moonsault will debut its first official NFT collection in advance of the annual WWE premium live event HELL IN A CELL. The marketplace’s launch was announced today by Scott Zanghellini, WWE Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Development, and Scott Greenberg, CEO of FOX Entertainment’s Web3 studio Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL).
The limited-edition collection will include 10,000+ “NFT Flips,” each featuring a WWE Superstar tied to the HELL IN A CELL event. In the days after HELL IN A CELL, each NFT Flip will transform to reveal a 10-20 second video highlight of the featured Superstar. The NFT Flips will be sold on “Moonsault” in “Cases” of three, randomized at minting, for $30 per Case. “Moonsault” will be powered by Eluvio’s eco-friendly blockchain technology.
WWE and BCL launched WWE’s official NFT marketplace, “Moonsault,” this past Friday, May 27, during SMACKDOWN on FOX, and promoted the debut across WWE and FOX media platforms, as well as on WWE Discord. The first 10,000 fans to create a wallet on the platform received a free Moonsault Genesis NFT, all of which were claimed within only a few hours.
In the future, more limited-edition Cases of NFT Flips, and other video highlights and digital collectibles centered on WWE Superstars and iconic moments from the company’s history, will be dropped on “Moonsault,” timed to major WWE premium live events throughout the year.
HELL IN A CELL streams live this Sunday, June 5, on Peacock.
ABOUT WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 30 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. The Company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS
Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL), a business and creative unit formed in 2021 by FOX Entertainment and its Emmy Award–winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment, provides content creators, IP owners and advertising partners end-to-end blockchain computer ecosystem solutions to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) content and experiences, and fungible tokens, as well as digital goods and assets. BCL also manages a $100 million creator fund, established by FOX Entertainment and Bento Box, which identifies growth opportunities in the NFT space. In August of 2021, Fox Corporation made a strategic investment in Eluvio, a global pioneer for managing, distributing and monetizing premium content via blockchain, that will provide the underlying technology platform for BCL.
Wednesday, September 07, 2022
Media Man, Casino News Media and Greg Tingle Promotions news: Pop culture, casinos, gaming, sports...
Media Man, Casino News Media and Greg Tingle Promotions news: Pop culture, casinos, gaming, sports...
New Las Vegas resident Mark Wahlberg promises ‘Hollywood 2.0’
Nevada (Las Vegas) - John Katsilometes, Review-Journal - Mark Wahlberg is not moving to Las Vegas. He already has. We need to shift to the present-tense when referring to Vegas plans for the Hollywood A-lister, who has purchased a two-story estate in The Summit Club for $14.5 million. “My hometown,” is how Wahlberg referred to Las Vegas in the latest episode of BeondTV’s “Lights, Camera, Vegas,” hosted by Rachel Smith. “I live in Nevada. I plan on making, hopefully, a film studio, and we want to build a shoe factory in Nevada. “We want to create a lot of jobs, and a lot of excitement. Hollywood 2.0.”
Summer tourism profitable despite nagging inflation
New Jersey (Atlantic City) - Eric Conklin, The Press - Between Atlantic and Cape May counties, tourism officials say the summer season may not have been as hindered by inflation as was feared months ago. “I think the summer was strong,” said Michael Chait, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce. Cape May County tourism director Diane Wieland said, “This year, as we went into it, we kind of predicted that things were not going to be as great, but it was still going to be good,” Wieland said. Wieland said beach badge sales and occupancy tax collections — two revenue streams the county uses to gauge its tourism economy — were slightly down from a year ago 2021 but remain strong.
Turning Stone plans biggest expansion since it opened
New York (Indian gaming) - Don Cazentre, Post Standard - Turning Stone Resort Casino is about to embark on its largest expansion project since opening in 1993. The project, which will be completed over a period of several years, will nearly double the Oneida Indian Nation-owned resort’s convention and conference space, while also adding a new hotel, dining options and other amenities.
Suppliers relocate resources to other Asian gaming markets
Asia (Macau) - Tony Lai, Macau Business - Suppliers of casino gaming equipment with operations in Macau are relocating manpower and resources to other gaming jurisdictions in Asia like the Philippines and Singapore, Bloomberg reported. The financial news agency quoted Jay Chun, chairman of the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, saying at least four multinational casino suppliers in Macau were doing so. Data from Bloomberg Intelligence said the gaming revenue of Macau only recovered to about 18 per cent of the 2019 level…the Philippines and Singapore recuperated back to 79 per cent and 68 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels respectively in the six months ended June 2022.
Circa still faces $4.5M overlay in football contests
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Todd Dewey, Review-Journal - Five days before Saturday’s entry deadline, Circa Sports is a long shot to meet its $6 million in guaranteed prize money for its $1,000-entry Circa Million IV contest. The downtown sportsbook needs 6,000 entries to meet its guarantee, up from $4 million last year. “I have a better chance of making the NBA than we do of reaching the guarantee in the Circa Sports Million,” said 5-foot-8, 130-pound Circa sportsbook operations manager Jeff Benson.
Flanker at Mandalay Bay could be Las Vegas’ next big sports bar
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Brock Radke, The Weekly - RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay was a paragon of Strip dining for nearly 15 years…seemed like an impossible act to follow after closing in late 2018…“As the sports scene in Las Vegas has evolved with professional teams coming to town, sports bar and grill concepts have also evolved,” Christie said in a statement. “Flanker Kitchen and Sports Bar will strive to become the next generation leader by delivering an approachable premium dining, drinking and sports-viewing experience.”
‘If you’re a gaming company, wouldn’t you want to be in Nevada?’
Nevada (Reno/Sparks) - Howard Stutz, The Independent - Century Casinos’ pending $195 million acquisition of the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks will rewrite the company’s corporate profile. The regional casino operator, which began in Europe, doesn’t have what gaming observers consider a flagship resort…Northern Nevada provides Century an opportunity to prove its operational expertise in a destination market. The Nugget has 1,382 hotel rooms, more than triple the combined hotel rooms Century has in its U.S. portfolio.
Changes make Colorado an enticing casino market
Colorado (Black Hawk/Cripple Creek) - Howard Stutz, The Nevada Independent - Nevada’s major gaming companies avoided Colorado for nearly two decades after casinos were legalized in the historic mining towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Initially, bets in the state were limited to $5 and casinos were not open 24/7…There was zero interest by Las Vegas or Reno casino operators to enter Colorado. Expansion from tiny storefront casinos to mid-sized resorts has been taking place over the last few years. In Black Hawk, three properties account for more than 1,300 hotel rooms, roughly 85 percent of the total market. In Cripple Creek, a 300-room hotel-casino that is being built by Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts will double the market size when it opens next year. Las Vegas and Reno gaming companies committed millions of dollars to change the perception of the Colorado casino communities.
Muckleshoot Tribe lifts final iron beam onto future hotel tower
Washington (Indian gaming) - Robert Whale, The Reporter - To the beating of drums, dancing and the chanting of sacred songs, the Muckleshoot Tribe gathered to celebrate the topping-off ceremonies for its 18-story, 400-room, luxury hotel tower on Aug. 26. Then, to a loud cheer, construction workers hoisted the final steel beam for the Muckleshoot Casino’s highly anticipated resort tower into place, and as it slid into place, the tribe celebrated the feat with fireworks. The event heralds the first major addition to the casino since the gaming establishment opened 27 years ago at 2402 Auburn Way S.
Foxwoods’ new $85 million casino project will create “vibrant hub”, CEO says
Connecticut (Indian gaming) - New London Day - Foxwoods Resort Casino’s plan to add a sixth gaming space is as much about rearranging the layout at North America’s biggest casino as it is expanding, Foxwoods’ top executive said Thursday. "The thought is to create a vibrant hub of activity in the heart of the property,” Jason Guyot, president and chief executive officer, said in a phone interview. "We’re spread out so far, from the Rainmaker Casino on one side to The Fox Tower on the other side, it’s difficult for guests to manage. There’s no better place to put it (a new gaming space) than Grand Pequot, the busiest section of the property ― the heartbeat of the property.” Guyot said the new gaming space, which will replace the Grand Ballroom, will have around 500 slots, including 175 high-limit machines, and 24 table games, including the usual mix of blackjack, roulette, craps and the like, as well as a 40-seat bar.
Monday, September 05, 2022
Media Man News: Interviews via Media Man Australia: Malcolm Turnbull (Google Users Conference), Craig Newmark (Craig's List), Quentin Dempster (ABC), Lee Holmes (Supercharged Food), Dean Foley (Barayamal) and more
Interviews via Media Man Australia: Malcolm Turnbull (Google Users Conference), Craig Newmark (Craig's List), Quentin Dempster (ABC), Lee Holmes (Supercharged Food), Dean Foley (Barayamal) and more
Media Man: Google On Why Helpful Content Update Appears Quiet; Google's Danny Sullivan with an update
Google On Why Helpful Content Update Appears Quiet; Google's Danny Sullivan with an update
A Continuing Effort...
The impact of Google’s helpful content update may appear minimal because the intent is to refine the signal over time.
Update isn’t done. It’s also part of a continuing effort, as we’ve explained. We’ll keep refining how it works. Directionally, the guidance we’ve given is what SEOs and creators should be considering.
Danny Sullivan of Google explains:
“Update isn’t done. It’s also part of a continuing effort, as we’ve explained. We’ll keep refining how it works. Directionally, the guidance we’ve given is what SEOs and creators should be considering.”
Reports that the update is quiet got the attention of Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, who addresses the situation in a series of tweets.
Danny Sullivan Twitter
Update isn’t done. It’s also part of a continuing effort, as we’ve explained. We’ll keep refining how it works. Directionally, the guidance we’ve given is what SEOs and creators should be considering.
I also get that when we announce an update, there are the memes and the gifs and the jokes and the OMG the sky is falling reactions that can even make me laugh. But updates don't necessarily mean a big giant shift. If you have good content, you're generally fine...
It wouldn’t remove content. It just might have dropped out of the index for a variety of unrelated reasons. You might inspect & request recrawl.
Media Man says: Just as Google recommended, have helpful content, and remain Google friendly. You and your readers are not going to notice the changes overnight. Keep producing quality and unique contact and follow the guidelines.
References
Sunday, September 04, 2022
Media Man News: Las Vegas' Circa Sports Expands to Northern Nevada with Launch of New Sportsbook at Legends Bay Casino
Las Vegas' Circa Sports Expands to Northern Nevada with Launch of New Sportsbook at Legends Bay Casino
SPARKS, NEV. – Las Vegas-based sports betting brand Circa Sports has continued its rapid expansion with the launch of a new Circa Sports sportsbook at Olympia Gaming’s Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, Nev. The new book officially opened its doors Tuesday, Aug. 30, marking the sports betting brand’s first northern Nevada venture. Circa Sports at Legends Bay delivers an ultramodern and technology-forward sportsbook to the region and now offers northern Nevada residents the opportunity to participate in its record-breaking pro-football contests Circa Million IV and Circa Survivor, promising its largest guaranteed payout ever of $12 million, no rake.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests to our Circa Sports sportsbook at Legends Bay and expand our offerings to northern Nevada,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports. “Our team has brought some of the industry’s top oddsmakers and a menu featuring some of the best odds in the country. We are excited to kick off the new book with the Circa Sports contests and for northern Nevada residents to be able to join the fun.”
Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens and Olympia Gaming’s Chairman and CEO Garry Goett welcomed the new sportsbook to the property with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting followed by remarks from executives.
Garry Goett, Chairman and CEO of Olympia Companies, said, “This is a momentous occasion for northern Nevada. Derek Stevens and his team at Circa Sports have been an excellent partner in helping us deliver a sports betting offering worthy of this property. We look forward to ushering in a new era for Sparks together.”
Circa Sports at Legends Bay
Circa Sports at Legends Bay is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and boasts a 10-by-15-foot Daktronics video board displaying live odds and six of the day’s hottest games. The biggest events in sports are always be broadcast, including the full Sunday football lineup.
With a capacity of nearly 140, the venue features multiple 60-inch TVs and a variety of seating options. Each seat includes USB and power outlets for guests’ convenience. During their visit, guests can order a variety of gameday bites or libations. Three ticket counters and an ADA window are open for bettors to place bets, register for the sports betting app, make deposits/withdrawals and more.
Circa Million IV & Circa Survivor
Circa Million IV and Circa Survivor are taking entries through September 10 at Legends Bay, either in person or via proxy beginning the opening day of the book. Details are as follows:
Circa Million IV will deliver $6 million in guaranteed total prizes, with a $1 million first place prize that comes with a coveted, handmade Circa Sports blue jacket. The contest includes no rake, and any extra fees go into the quarter and full-season prize pools.
$3.65 million will be allocated amongst places two through 100 and $300,000 of prizes per quarter will be awarded every four to five weeks. The last place booby prize winner will receive $100,000 and second to last place booby prize winner will receive $50,000.
Each player will make five professional football picks against the spread each week. One point will be awarded for each correct selection and one-half point for each push. Each entry for Circa Million IV is $1,000, with a maximum of three entries per person.
Circa Survivor will offer a $6 million payout for the last entry standing. A $1 million undefeated bonus prize will be gifted for any entry that goes 20-0. To be eligible for this bonus prize, an entrant must not choose either of the teams that played in the 2022 Big Game.
Circa Survivor will consist of up to 20 legs throughout the year, one for every week of the football season plus two special weeks. Each week, participants will choose one different team to win straight up, but the player cannot pick the same team twice for the duration of the season. Thanksgiving and Christmas will each be considered their own contest weeks. Entries are $1,000 each, with a maximum of six entries per participant. An entrant can purchase up to six additional entries if they lose their original entries on the opening Thursday Night Football game. An entrant cannot go into the Saturday deadline with more than six active entries.
Entries are eliminated from the contest by selecting a team that subsequently loses or ties its game that week. If more than one entry remains after 20 legs, the pool will be split equally amongst all the entries that successfully submitted a selection during the leg. If an entry wins before the 20th leg of the contest, the winner will have the opportunity to continue making selections each week to try and achieve the 20-0 record.
Promising guests one of the most approachable betting scenes, Circa Sports is defined by incredible customer service, as well as an unrivaled team of experts leading the charge. This includes a diverse menu of wagering options and the option to take custom bets from the public. In addition to its new Legends Bay location, the betting brand is available to bettors in five properties across Southern Nevada – including the brand’s flagship location: the world’s largest sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas – via mobile betting offerings in Colorado and Iowa, and soon in a temporary book in Waukegan, Ill.
# # #
About Circa Sports
Helmed by casino owner and downtown Las Vegas developer Derek Stevens, Circa Sports is blazing a new trail in the gaming industry by combining customer-first approach to business with a team of the country's top oddsmakers. Circa Sports boasts one of the most competitive wagering menus in Las Vegas and is a leader in the city for sports futures. The venture currently operates in the world’s largest sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino, as well as sister properties Golden Gate Hotel & Casino and the D Las Vegas. Stevens launched his first Las Vegas books outside of his downtown properties at Tuscany Suites & Casino and The Pass Casino in Henderson. Additionally, Circa Sports’ mobile app is available in Colorado and Iowa. This summer, the brand launched a sportsbook at the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, Nev.
About Olympia Gaming
Olympia Gaming is the gaming development division of Olympia Companies, whose subsidiaries and related entities include Casino Fandango in Carson City and Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, opening in summer 2022. In addition, through its affiliated companies, Olympia owns the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Carson City and co-owns the Hampton Inn and Suites, and Residence Inn hotels in Sparks. For more information, visit Olympia Gaming.
About Legends Bay Casino
Building upon Olympia’s success in Carson City, Legends Bay Casino will feature the latest slots and table games, northern Nevada’s only Circa Sports | Sportsbook, several original dining and bar concepts, as well as seamless access to the open-air shopping and dining at The Outlets at Legends and the adjacent Sparks Marina. For more information, visit Legends Bay Casino.
Media Man News: Coach John Wooden on Succeeding with Integrity (Success Magazine)
Coach John Wooden on Succeeding with Integrity (Success Magazine)
You are standing at a critical crossroads in history.
Scroll through any news app and you’ll find slander, dishonesty and filth coming from the mouths of our current and future leaders. Take a look at the role models your children look up to and you’ll quickly notice patterns of loose standards, unrealistic expectations and unworthy pursuits. When your co-worker does something that violates your personal code of right versus wrong, you feel compelled to remain silent because of the pressure of office politics.
All this leaves you asking: Is success even possible in today’s world without sacrificing integrity or morals?
Yes. But you have to decide to take the path less traveled, and that can be tough. It’s rare to see those who develop and demonstrate integrity, self-discipline, loyalty and character because these qualities go against the crumbling decay of our current societal landscape.
Have you ever felt the pressure of knowing what was right but felt unable to stand up for what you believe? Have you ever had the desire to discover a better, more wholesome approach to success without having to sacrifice your integrity to do it? Have you ever wanted a mentor who could guide you along a more humble path to personal and professional achievement? Coach John Wooden, who led the UCLA men’s basketball team to 10 national championships, had answers to all of these quandaries.
Discover a framework responsible for building championship journeys—not just on the basketball court, where Wooden and his teams set numerous records, but in the game of life.
Sports legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Bowden, Joe Torre, Bill Walton, Dick Vitale and others called Wooden their teacher, mentor and friend. But even they knew his legacy as a teacher wasn’t limited to basketball or athletics.
Wooden taught what he called the Pyramid of Success, a road map for individual and team excellence you can use to set goals, take action, overcome obstacles and achieve more in life. The Pyramid of Success was the core of the framework and success philosophy Wooden taught for more than 50 years.
Social Media
Greg Tingle
A brilliant and fascinated read about a great man.. Coach Wooden. There's a few expressions that come to find for me... Integrity is everything, and If you want to know the truth worth of a man look at his character and integrity. To that effect. I also say in my business endeavors, Media For Good (one of our business arms) and business as a force for good. Success meets inspiration, perspiration and integrity. He scores, K.O or Touchdown! ...or whatever your favorite sporting code for good sports.
Media Man News Blog: Betting Controversy on ESPN During Serena Match (Gambling911)
Betting Controversy on ESPN During Serena Match (Gambling911)
"Holy s*** Caesars is paying a lot of money to sponsor the U.S. Open Tennis telecast and this doofus says let’s not encourage Gambling," Gambling911.com's own Thomas Somach reported Friday night while watching Serena Williams take on Ajla Tomljanovic.
ESPN had the odds up on Serena provided by Caesars to win the title and those odds were being slashed. Commentator John McEnroe was mentioning this when the other announcer, Pat McEnroe, chimed in and said "let's not encourage gambling."
Huh?
"I’m sure he’s going to be in big trouble for that I’m listening closely now waiting for the apology waiting for him to say it’s OK to gamble," Somach said.
"(This) reminds me of the time a few years ago when Miss America contestants in Atlantic City were instructed not to smoke, drink or gamble in public lest it hurt the image of Miss America.
"The casinos complained and the restriction on gambling was lifted."
Soach questioned how ESPN could show an ad for Caesars and then say don’t use the product.
"It’s like advertising dishwashing detergent but then at the end of the commercial telling people it’s a bad product, don’t buy it."
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
Social Media
Greg Tingle
So the odds are that ESPN has a solid sports betting deal, and the odds are that not all the ESPN commentators are big fans of the arrangement! That's sports business. Odds are hundreds of folks will read this. You can bet on it sport! Ha.
Media Man News Blog: Why Netflix's New Ad Hires Are Another Blow To Snap (AdAge) LinkedIn News
Why Netflix's New Ad Hires Are Another Blow To Snap (AdAge) LinkedIn News
Jeremi Gorman and Peter Naylor were powerhouses for Snap's ads team, but are now batting for Netflix
Netflix gets Peter Naylor and Jeremi Gorman, and Snap gets ... players to be named later. Gorman and Naylor going to Netflix from Snap is a real-life example of how advertising interest is moving from mobile devices to connected TV. Snap was once the "must-try" new social media ad offering, with some of the most innovative formats—vertical video, AR. Now, Snap is trying to build a subscription business because ad markets are tight on mobile. Meanwhile, Netflix used to only be subscription-based, but now sees the potential for big TV money in ads.
I spoke with Matt Barash about why Naylor is the ad sales exec Netflix wants walking into holding companies and top brands, and why Gorman is coming off a good run at Snap. But the tide has shifted from the excitement of mobile and social media to connected TVs, as it once shifted from traditional TV to mobile and social.
Also, spoke with advertising leaders who said Snap is losing two top leaders at a crucial time. “It’s a brilliant move by Netflix, they are getting the best in commercial strategy and video advertising,” a senior agency executive tells Ad Age. “It’s a huge loss for Snap. Snap needs to urgently hire great people and focus or they risk becoming irrelevant.”
Social Media
Greg Tingle
Great get by all accounts. There's what I call a friendly streaming war going on for end/consumer customers, and the same can be said for staff including executives and management at the streaming firms also. I'm happy Netflix customer also.. In Australia I worked for over 4 years for Optus Vision and the switched almost seamlessly to Telstra, Fox and then ID Media/Wavecam. Good people will always be sought after. The Google Chromecast that I purchased for $55AUD continues to work a charm with all the services in Australia. Watching this space with interest.
Happiness Is… a New Career Path (Success Magazine)
Happiness Is… a New Career Path (Success Magazine)
Amber Slone was on a mission. It was early May, a couple of months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and her coworkers had been working from home for 10 weeks. They were bored. She was bored. And the last thing anyone wanted was another Zoom call. Nevertheless, she wanted to engage her colleagues. So the 33-year-old found herself driving around Dallas, darting from one coworker’s home to the next with dozens of soda bottles and ice cream pints in tow.
It took Slone three days, but she delivered all of her colleagues their own ingredients and guides for making an ice cream float. Under normal circumstances, this mission would have made Slone a strong contender for “Employee of the Year” at her software company, VMware. But for her, it’s just another day on the job.
“My title says ‘happiness director,’ but really I’m a people connector,” she says. “However I can make people love their work, that’s what I do.”
Slone is just one of a growing number of people whose job titles literally include the word “happiness.” Whether they are directors of happiness or chief happiness officers, their biggest priority is making people look forward to work every single day—regardless of their industry.
Jobs with “happiness” in the title are a relatively new development. They’re most common in startups or the tech world, and they’re sometimes part of the Human Resources department. But according to Slone’s colleague Lisa Berg, “happiness” jobs have little to no overlap with HR.
Berg is a happiness director at VMware in Chicago, and she sees herself as a resource for her coworkers.
“I’m always asking, ‘What burden are you experiencing and how can I help?’” she says. “If people are upset, it’s important to let them know they can be upset. It’s my job to understand why, so I can try to fix it.”
Her first week on the job, Berg saw a coworker storm out of the office, clearly upset. Berg didn’t know the coworker, and was still settling into her own role. But she still followed him out of the office to ask him if he was okay.
“He explained he was having an incredibly hard time, and asked if I [had] five minutes,” Berg says. “I said, ‘Yes! I have all the time you need!’”
Over the next several days, she and the coworker continued to talk regularly. She checked in with all of her other colleagues, too. Berg and the other happiness practitioners interviewed for this story talked about how crucial it is to simply be there for the people in their offices. That can impact more than the office; it can boost the company’s bottom line via employee retention and performance.
“We have people that could work for Google, Twitter, Facebook, wherever,” says Slone’s supervisor Jenn Donahue. “But they stayed here, and I honestly think she’s the reason.”
* * *
Happiness practitioners come from all walks of life. Slone came from sales. Berg came from the nonprofit world. Lauren Johnson worked in hospitality before her happiness director role with the Denver company JLL, and she echoes Berg’s idea that providing happiness means being a resource.
“A lot of what I do is finding answers for people so their days can be a little easier,” she says. “Sometimes that means preempting the questions and concerns before they come.” When her company moved locations, Johnson helped the brass design an office that gave each employee ample space.
“We work in the details,” she says. “It’s just the little things.”
Slone agrees: “It’s not always about bringing everyone ice cream floats or planning that one appreciation event that knocks everyone’s socks off,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just about remembering that someone’s family is going through a rough time, or knowing that they have a big sales meeting coming up and making sure they know they’re going to crush it.”
At the Florida-based company Presence, Chief Happiness Officer Holly Kickliter spends a lot of time focused on the little things. Kickliter’s role is unique: She is primarily focused on customer happiness. Imagine a customer service team on steroids. Her company provides software to universities hoping to lower the number of dropouts and transfers, and Kickliter leads the happiness team. Every day, she and a cadre of “happiness experts” and “happiness allies” review every iota of customer feedback, proactively searching for ways to improve their clients’ experience with the company’s software. It might be as simple as reimagining a user portal, but her overall strategy is pretty simple: The fewer steps, the better.
“I’m in the business of making work pretty easy for people,” Kickliter says.
Sometimes, clients’ tempers can run hot. Kickliter is never more stressed than when a client calls and says that they’re unhappy.
“That’s like my bat signal,” she says. “That’s a sign I have to leap into action.”
In those instances, Kickliter gets on the phone, listens to everything the client has to say, then figures out what she and her team have to do to solve the problem. She stresses that the listening might be the most important part, and even though her role differs from that of other happiness directors, each practitioner said the exact same thing: “Everybody just wants to be heard.”
“That’s what we do,” Berg elaborated. “We hear, then we figure out how to make people happy.”
Social Media
Greg Tingle
Interesting and thought provoking article. Happiness is also a state of mind, but if it's also listed in the job title, or even in the job and business spec, it can further amplify the importance of it. The Covid era certainly got people thinking about their lives, jobs, mission, purpose and so on. My industry, media and online media, had already been disrupted many times over the past 5 - 10 years, so the Covid era was just another disruption. I was more concerned for many associates and friends, as I have already mad significant life and business changes a few decades earlier. Life and business is not a sprint, it's a marathon. As Charles Darwin often gets referenced, adaption of the species. Again, happiness is a state of mind and other aspects of life can slot around that foundation. I hope the readership found this helpful. Good health and success.
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