READERS GUIDE

For Students

1.   Have you ever surprised someone by doing more than expected? What was their reaction? How did it make you feel?
2.   The book suggests that you can continually reinvent yourself and your approach to work and life, highlighting the power of small, consistent changes. Reflect on your daily routines and identify one habit you’d like to change or a new habit you’d like to form. Outline the steps you plan to take to achieve this goal, considering obstacles you might face and how you can overcome them.
3.   Let’s take a closer look at Fred’s mindset: he wasn’t in it for the external recognition but for the sheer joy and satisfaction of doing good work, which is a powerful lesson in intrinsic motivation. Think about what motivates you—is it the approval of others, personal satisfaction, or something else? Discuss how finding motivation from within can help you stay on track when pursuing your goals.
4.   Fred demonstrates that finding meaning in even the most mundane tasks can transform how we view our responsibilities. Reflect on a job or a chore you consider tedious. How can adopting Fred’s mindset help you find deeper meaning in an activity you’re not naturally drawn to?
5.   Have you had a classmate help make a boring group project more enjoyable? What did they do?
6.   When group projects don’t go well, it’s often because someone didn’t pull their weight. How do you deal with frustration due to unequal effort? What’s a constructive way to motivate someone to participate without embarrassing or alienating them?
7.   Fred’s positive attitude significantly influences his ability to handle the challenges of his job. How can maintaining a positive outlook help you manage school-related stress and anxiety? Discuss strategies for cultivating a positive mindset, even in the face of academic pressures and uncertainties.
8.   The book highlights the importance of building strong relationships. Reflect on the role that relationships with family, friends, and teachers play in your mental health. How can you seek support from or provide support to others during stressful times? Discuss the concept of a support network and its significance in managing stress and promoting mental well-being.
9.   Considering the creativity Fred brings to his work, explore how creative outlets (like art, music, writing, or any hobby) can serve as a means of stress relief and emotional expression. Reflect on your coping mechanisms for stress—what are they and how effective have they been? Discuss how understanding your triggers for stress and incorporating more creative outlets into your routine could support your emotional and mental health.
10. Expanding on the idea of expressing gratitude, discuss how recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of your life can impact your mental and emotional health. Reflect on a daily gratitude practice, such as writing down three things you’re grateful for each day, and how this might help shift focus from stressors to positive experiences.
11. Inspired by the idea of doing one extraordinary thing a day, think about a small, achievable action you can take daily to positively affect those around you. It could be as simple as sharing a genuine compliment, offering help without being asked, or bringing a positive energy to class. What’s one thing you’re excited to start doing?


For Businesses

For Employees:
1.   Think back to a moment when you did more than what was expected at work without seeking any rewards. What motivated you, and how did it affect your view of your role and relationships at work?
2.   Consider the unique challenges of remote and hybrid work. What specific actions can you take to ensure your work continues to foster meaningful connections with colleagues or customers, even from afar?
3.   Identify a routine task that feels monotonous to you. How can adopting a mindset of finding meaning in every task transform your engagement and satisfaction with your work?
4.   Reflect on your current level of engagement with your work. How can the principles from Fred’s story help you rediscover passion and purpose in your role, especially in light of the quiet quitting phenomenon?
5.   Recall a time when a simple act of kindness from a colleague brightened your day. How can you incorporate such gestures into your daily routine to improve your workplace environment?
6.   Think about a source of stress in your work, particularly with the shift to remote or hybrid environments. What strategies can you develop to maintain positivity and effectively manage this stress?
7.   In today’s digital-first customer service landscape, how can you add a personal touch to your interactions that leaves a lasting impression on customers or clients?

For Managers:
1.   Reflect on how you currently recognize and value each team member’s contributions. How can you adapt your approach to ensure everyone feels acknowledged and appreciated, especially in a remote work setting?
2.   Considering the challenges of maintaining team cohesion in a remote environment, what new initiatives could you introduce to keep your team feeling connected and engaged?
3.   Contemplate the methods you use for public recognition within your team. How can these be adapted to be more impactful and meaningful in a digital workplace?
4.   Consider the trust dynamics within your remote or hybrid team. What steps can you personally take to enhance trust and transparency among your team members?
5.   Reflect on the quiet quitting trend and its implications for team motivation and value recognition. How can you employ Fred’s principles to make every team member feel valued and engaged?
6.   With the increasing expectation for personalized customer experiences, how can you inspire your team to innovate in delivering “high touch” service, even remotely?
7.   Given the importance of mental health in the workplace, what personal steps can you take to support your team’s well-being and stress management?
8.   Reflect on your leadership style in the context of today’s changing work environment. How can integrating Fred’s principles help you to invigorate meaning and motivation within your team?
9.   With engaged teams showing higher productivity, consider how you can apply lessons from Fred’s story to enhance your team’s engagement and productivity, acknowledging the unique challenges of the contemporary business landscape.