What is a Zenployee?

Since writing the book, "Zenployee", I get asked the same question over and over; "What is a Zenployee?" It's actually a great question since we just recently coined the term so it will be new around your organization. So I figured, that is the perfect place to start our new weekly newsletter.

In the book, we define "Zenployee" as a person who uses their time at work to engage in the act of mindfulness. Too many people have a misconception of what this means so I would like to clarify what it is, and what it is not.

The easiest place to start is by telling you what it is not. A Zenployee is not someone who spends their time at work meditating all day. While meditation is extremely beneficial and we encourage you to meditate or contemplate daily, it would not be in your best interest or that of your organization, if that is how you spent your working hours, (Unless you're a Meditation Teacher of course).

What is far more difficult to provide is a definitive definition of what engaging in the act of mindfulness or Zen means. Most definitions you see today limit Zen and mindfulness by defining it as something that you do; a disciplined practice of meditation. It is also said that mindfulness and Zen are living every moment with awareness. I used to love that definition. Then one day I asked myself, "Aware of what?" I quickly realized that Zen and mindfulness are an experience, and since each person will have a different experience, there would be many ways to describe it. So, the best I can do is describe the experience as our true nature expressing itself moment by moment.

Therefore, a Zenployee is aware that moment by moment they are expressing their true nature. So the real question becomes, not what is a Zenployee, but who or what are you being at this very moment.. and every moment throughout your day? Wait.....What?

If you read that last paragraph and you really got that, you could have felt a shift. Maybe you don't fully know what that means yet, but you felt the energy behind those words and you will understand them as we go through this in these newsletters and in our LinkedIn Live videos that will be starting soon. However, that thought alone, "Who am I being at this very moment," will start the process for transformation in your life. Reflect on it. Notice who you are when you're at work. When you're in traffic. When you're with your friends, your spouse, your kids. Are you being the person that is expressing your highest, truest nature? Are you kind or are you a bully? Are you pleasant, appreciative, thankful, happy, caring, trusting... or are you negative, unhappy, self absorbed, ungrateful, and mean?

Have you ever gotten angry at your kids even though you were not really angry at them but you were stressed from work and you released that stress on your undeserving children? Have you or someone you know, ever been unpleasant at work because you were stressed about something that happened in a relationship that was not work related?

A Zenployee is someone who is working on this process. They are aware that if in every moment they are expressing their true nature, then who are they being at that moment and is that person they are being, they person that they want to be. We talk about using this process at work because this is where you spend the majority of your wakened energy during your adult life. This is also where a lot of people find their biggest inconsistency when living their true nature. They feel stressed and unhappy and very often feel powerless. A Zenployee is never powerless. That are inspired, empowered, and feel a sense of fulfillment because they are not just working on themselves at work, they are making their Self, their life's work.

In this newsletter, we will discuss how you can use this understanding to be the best version of you at all times. If you were the best version of you, how would that improve your work relationships, your performance, your health, your leadership ability, the culture of your organization, and every area of your life? Subscribe to this newsletter if you want to receive more of this content. Next week we will discuss the benefits to you and your organization when you declare that you too are a Zenployee.

I care about all of you and I will demonstrate that through my actions.

George Wheeler