The Happiness Practices with Phil Gerbyshak

It’s kind of funny when I think about it—throughout my entire career, I’ve taught people how to use tools. Tech tools, communication tools, leadership frameworks, sales systems—you name it. And while the tools keep evolving arp speed, the way I teach them hasn’t changed a bit. I teach people, not platforms. I bring a human-first approach to everything I do. Whether it's helping someone close a sal...

From the military to tech, sales to social media, and now teaching, my career path has been anything but conventional. Along the way, I’ve learned invaluable lessons that have shaped my ability to reinvent myself time and time again. Here are 10 key lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey—from Navy cryptologist to sales leader to educator—and how each experience contributed to my ongoing reinve...

"A meatball sundae is messy, disgusting, and ineffective. It's the result of combining two perfectly good items that don't go well together." Seth Godin In this conversation I had with Seth Godin back in 2008, we talked about how we can AVOID the meatball sundae, the title of and topic of a book he published 10 years ago, that is STILL relevant today. I hope you enjoy it.  Get a copy of Meatball S...

In a world where adulting seems to dominate every hour of the day—deadlines, responsibilities, bills—it’s easy to forget that play isn’t just for kids. But when it comes to relationships, a playful spirit might just be the secret ingredient to lasting love. Playfulness in romance isn’t about acting childish or dodging serious conversations. It’s about injecting joy, curiosity, and spontaneity into...

"The Best Present is Your Full Presence" argues that giving someone complete and undivided attention is a powerful and often overlooked ability. The author posits that in a world filled with distractions, intentional presence communicates value and can positively impact relationships and well-being. By silencing distractions and focusing fully on the present moment , individuals can reduce burnout...

Almost 20 years ago I wrote a book called 10 Ways To Make It Great!, about some of the things you could do to take control of your life and create (make) the life you were living (it) better (great). The title of the book came from the 10 chapters and this idea - and naturally, I included one additional chapter about going the extra mile, because why the heck not? Anyway, I decided to upload the b...

This week’s article, "5 Simple Ways to Be Happier at Work This Week," presents practical strategies for enhancing workplace satisfaction. I suggest small, actionable steps that individuals can implement immediately. These hacks include starting the day with a small accomplishment, connecting with colleagues, taking brief "joy breaks," focusing on progress over perfection, and identifying moments o...

I’m testing out creating an AI audio version (9:19 in length) on Wednesday of my Monday article for you so you can get another take on what I’m writing about, or to enjoy in a different way in case you prefer audio to text. Let me know what you think as I’ll be continuing this for a while until I get enough feedback or until I determine it’s not useful. This week is Seizenso, the funeral while you...

Market volatility. Sustainability demands. Hybrid working. Opportunities and hazards of fast-changing technology and regulations. Companies and nonprofits face more daunting challenges than ever. How can we collaborate in our organizations—and with outside partners—to solve problems, innovate, and succeed? The new book, Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transformi...

In a recent conversation between Michelle D’Atillo of Sōsh and yours truly, Phil Gerbyshak, we talked about resilience: how to be more resilient and what to do when it all goes sideways, so you can strengthen that resilience muscle. With permission, I’m sharing the conversation from the Get Sosh Social Soup podcast with you in its entirety. I hope you enjoy it and it helps you in your happiness pr...

Give this a listen and let me know what you think about the ideas in my new book, The Happiness Practices. I fed it into Google Notebook so this is completely AI generated. I think it came out pretty darn good. Let me know what you think. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyaf.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Highlights: In this episode, I sit down with Rochelle Melander, a writer, teacher, and creativity coach, to explore journaling, creativity, and leveling up in your personal and professional life. Rochelle shares actionable insights from her books, Level Up and Mightier Than the Sword , offering inspiration for anyone looking to ignite their creativity or reconnect with their inner child. K...

One of the most resilient people I know is Jason Mefford. He handles change like few people I know. As I’m going through a lot of changes lately, I felt it would be good to have a chat with him about how not just to change, but how to embrace change. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. In this enlightening conversation, Phil Gerbyshak and Jason Mefford dive into the challenges and opp...

In this engaging episode, Phil Gerbyshak sits down with Wayne Turmel, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader, to discuss the intricacies of leading remote teams effectively. With insights from both the first and second editions of the book, Wayne shares practical advice for leaders navigating the challenges of remote work. The episode dives into topics such as: * The evolution of leadership strateg...

The research on mentoring is clear. Those who are mentored, out-earn and outperform those who are not. They make higher salaries, get promoted more often, have greater job and career satisfaction and lower rates of burnout. For organisations that invest in mentoring their employees, they benefit from higher productivity and greater loyalty. Mentoring works as a great retention tool. But despite al...

This is a conversation between Lisa Haneberg, one of my favorite writers and thinkers, and yours truly. It’s a far from ordinary conversation, and I know you’ll be entertained if you listen to the whole thing. Enjoy! Phil Episode Highlights: * Lisa discusses her new book, Far From Ordinary: Predicaments, Misadventures, and Eliminations , a collection of personal stories, fictional pieces, and refl...

Click above to listen to the podcast conversation. What does it take to become a bookable speaker? In this conversation, Christa Haberstock, founder of the See Agency and someone who has decades of experience booking speakers, shares the secrets to becoming a bookable speaker. Rather than go in depth into what we discussed in text, I encourage you to give this a listen if you want to become a book...

In this episode of The Happiness Practices , Phil Gerbyshak sits down with Jack Craven, author of The Aliveness Mindset , to explore what it truly means to live a life of passion, purpose, and joy. They delve into the seven core mindsets that form the foundation of Jack's philosophy and discuss practical steps to cultivate a more fulfilling life. Jack shares personal stories of transformation, act...

Episode Overview: In this episode, Phil Gerbyshak sits down with Dr. Susan Kahn to dive into the theme of vulnerability and its transformative power in both personal and professional life. Susan shares her insights into how embracing vulnerability can lead to deeper connections, greater self-awareness, and ultimately, a more fulfilling and resilient life. Drawing from her experience as a psycholog...

In this insightful episode of The Happiness Practices , host Phil Gerbyshak welcomes Tamsen Webster, author of Say What They Can't Unhear , for an engaging conversation about connection, storytelling, and transformational change. Tamsen shares her journey as a master storyteller, exploring the importance of building bridges of belief and creating arguments that resonate with your audience on a dee...

In this insightful episode of the Sales Leadership Show , host Phil Gerbyshak sits down with Katie Smith, the founder of Wild Path Consulting and a fractional CMO, to explore the unconventional journey of guiding companies through growth and marketing challenges. Katie shares how her background as a wilderness guide informs her approach to business, emphasizing the importance of fun, authenticity,...

In this episode of The Sales Leadership Show , Phil Gerbyshak is joined by two powerhouse leaders in the agency space—Jason Kramer, founder of Cultivize, and Drew McLellan, CEO of the Agency Management Institute. They dive deep into the strategies that agencies can use to grow, streamline their operations, and foster better client relationships. Both guests share their wisdom on the evolving lands...

In a recent episode of the Sales Leadership Show, Phil Gerbyshak interviewed Joseph Michelli, author of Customer Magic . Michelli shared valuable insights on customer service and leadership, emphasizing that the best advice he ever received was from his parents, who taught him that his purpose in life is to create value for others. This principle of service has shaped Michelli's career and philoso...

In this episode of the Sales Leadership Show , host Phil Gerbyshak welcomed Jon MacDonald, the author of Behind the Click and a renowned expert in conversion rate optimization. The conversation centered around the critical importance of not just driving traffic to a website but ensuring that the traffic leads to meaningful conversions. Jon emphasized that understanding the customer's behavior and...

In a recent episode of the Sales Leadership Show , host Phil Gerbyshak sat down with Donald C. Kelly, founder of TSE Sales Training, author of Sell It Like a Mango , and host of The Sales Evangelist podcast. The episode, titled "Enabling Sales," delved into the nuances of effective sales leadership and how leaders can create environments where their teams thrive. Donald shared his journey, key les...