Design and Deliver Happiness

January 12, 2013

The all around good time, right livelihood, and value vibe created by Zappos is a result of excellent design. The products we buy from Zappos are of high quality. What is perhaps more important is that they are steering capitalism in a healthy direction by upgrading the way business is designed. Feudalism, slavery, share cropping and all other adverse forms of employment feature happiness for shareholders only. This short-sighted vision produces more unhappy servants of the apparently happy owners of companies than it does loyal customers.  With the contentment quotient working in reverse, quality, innovation, and value erode and vanish. I think this erosion is occurring in the public service sector.  If Vets kill themselves there is a clear indication that something essential is missing in the overall design of our public business.

How can we make the business of government switch from a stagnant vessel of  inefficient service to a lean mean contentment machine?  Are there ways to practice the Zap happy values in public service and politics?

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

I do see a little weirdness, but far too little.  The WOW Through Service is just not happening. Imagine the government being passionate to do more with less, or be humble.  These core values are created for the benefit of all.  Happiness compounds daily, as does negligence.  My dream government applies these guiding principles to create a better world.  Imagine, gentle reader, a government that makes us as happy as Zappos does, all while being creative and open minded.  We can dream.