The Most Overlooked Competitive Advantage for Any Business

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it at the keyboard and can’t seem to find any inspiration, and I experience writer’s block. My knowledge hasn’t changed. The only difference is my state of mind.</p><h2 id="1587">State of mind is the secret competitive advantage.</h2><p id="2b31"><a href="https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/63228/7/WRAP_Oswald_681096.pdf?_ga=2.77037717.1842123499.1552272642-306591983.1551038892">A 2014 study</a> found that a good mood or state of mind led to a productivity increase of 12%. Unhappy workers proved to be 10% less productive. The study came to the following conclusion:</p><blockquote id="ba28"><p>“We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity. Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings.”</p></blockquote><h2 id="dd31">A mindset of happiness and a vision of a higher purpose</h2><p id="03b4">In 1999 the late Tony Hsieh became CEO of US online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com. Over the course of 10 years, Zappos grew from zero sales to a company worth $1.2 billion. The amazing thing is that it accomplished this without ever paying a cent for marketing. You can find out more about this impressive story in Tony’s book, <i>Delivering Happiness.</i></p><p id="1fdc">Tony believed that by creating happy employees, they would offer great customer service. Zappos’ customer service was so renowned that it won many awards. Tony showed how company culture and employee mindset are what it takes to be success

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ful. These are the sustainable means to having a business of profits, passion, and purpose.</p><p id="b155">Zappos put all the money it would have spent on marketing back into customer service. They offered free shipping on every order and a 365-day return policy. Because they went out of their way to “wow” the customer, it was the customers who did all their marketing for them. It was their customers who created the buzz around their business.</p><p id="2873">Tony believed that companies need a higher purpose as part of their company culture. In his case, that purpose was beyond selling shoes or clothes and making company profits. Zappos’ purpose was to make people happy — both their employees and their customers.</p><h2 id="0838">A clear focus on employee well-being</h2><p id="724e">Human capital is the biggest asset that most companies have. It follows that companies should focus more on their employees. Employees that have the right mindset will be the most productive. Having a vision bigger than what you’re producing creates a culture with meaning.</p><p id="7abd">When you focus on employee well-being, productivity isn’t the only benefit. You will also see improvements in creativity, resilience, attendance records, and teamwork.</p><p id="edac">Employee state of mind is your secret competitive advantage! You can use it to help you in your career, and your company can use it to get extraordinary results.</p></article></body>

How to have employees who are “in the zone” more often.

What if it took minimal effort for success to fall into your lap?

If you’re an athlete, your performance is at its peak.

If you’re a writer, the words flow.

If you need to be creative, the ideas come.

If you need to be productive, the work gets done with speed and accuracy.

I’m sure you’ve experienced times, like those above, when you were “in the zone.” Everything you touched turned to gold. Then there are other times when you can’t find the motivation to even start your task. So what accounts for the big difference? Your skills haven’t changed, your knowledge hasn’t changed, and your experience hasn’t changed.

Writing a blog post is a good example. Some days, I put my fingers to the keyboard, and the words flow. In no time at all, I’ve knocked out 2,000 words and have to cut the article back because it’s too long.

On other days, I sit at the keyboard and can’t seem to find any inspiration, and I experience writer’s block. My knowledge hasn’t changed. The only difference is my state of mind.

State of mind is the secret competitive advantage.

A 2014 study found that a good mood or state of mind led to a productivity increase of 12%. Unhappy workers proved to be 10% less productive. The study came to the following conclusion:

“We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity. Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings.”

A mindset of happiness and a vision of a higher purpose

In 1999 the late Tony Hsieh became CEO of US online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com. Over the course of 10 years, Zappos grew from zero sales to a company worth $1.2 billion. The amazing thing is that it accomplished this without ever paying a cent for marketing. You can find out more about this impressive story in Tony’s book, Delivering Happiness.

Tony believed that by creating happy employees, they would offer great customer service. Zappos’ customer service was so renowned that it won many awards. Tony showed how company culture and employee mindset are what it takes to be successful. These are the sustainable means to having a business of profits, passion, and purpose.

Zappos put all the money it would have spent on marketing back into customer service. They offered free shipping on every order and a 365-day return policy. Because they went out of their way to “wow” the customer, it was the customers who did all their marketing for them. It was their customers who created the buzz around their business.

Tony believed that companies need a higher purpose as part of their company culture. In his case, that purpose was beyond selling shoes or clothes and making company profits. Zappos’ purpose was to make people happy — both their employees and their customers.

A clear focus on employee well-being

Human capital is the biggest asset that most companies have. It follows that companies should focus more on their employees. Employees that have the right mindset will be the most productive. Having a vision bigger than what you’re producing creates a culture with meaning.

When you focus on employee well-being, productivity isn’t the only benefit. You will also see improvements in creativity, resilience, attendance records, and teamwork.

Employee state of mind is your secret competitive advantage! You can use it to help you in your career, and your company can use it to get extraordinary results.