Get more great ideas - spend less time at work

In: BlogDate: Oct 31, 2013By: Henry Stewart

Last week I was in Barcelona speaking to the international conference of the Dogs Trust, and exploring overwork. I asked a simple question of everybody there:

Think of a great idea you’ve had in the last year? Where did you get that idea?

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The answers included “in the bar”, “in the shower” and “walking the dog”. Out of 300 people, only two got their idea at work. This is always the case. People rarely get great ideas at work. I normally get mine while out cycling.

So the choice is simple:

Spend endless hours at work and settle for less innovation

or

Spend less time at work and have more great ideas.

It is back on the bike for me…..

 

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Henry Stewart, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer

Henry is founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Ltd, originally set up as Happy Computers in 1987. Inspired by Ricardo Semler’s book Maverick, he has built a company which has won multiple awards for some of the best customer service in the country and being one of the UK’s best places to work.

Henry was listed in the Guru Radar of the Thinkers 50 list of the most influential management thinkers in the world. "He is one of the thinkers who we believe will shape the future of business," explained list compiler Stuart Crainer.

His first book, Relax, was published in 2009. His second book, the Happy Manifesto, was published in 2013 and was short-listed for Business Book of the Year.

You can find Henry on LinkedIn and follow @happyhenry on Twitter.

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