Get All Access for $5/mo

This Hilarious Video Takes on Everything Awful About Open-Office Floor Plans Dan Zevin's painfully funny 'Very Modern Mantras' will help you find peace where chaos and sneezing co-workers reign.

By Dan Bova

Do other people's fabulous vacation Instagram posts kind of make you hope their house catches fire while they're away? Have you ever melted down at a Starbucks because you wanted one pump of vanilla goo in your coffee and they gave you two? Do you feel like maybe, just maybe, you're losing your freaking mind?

Relax. Breath. It's going to be okay. Dan Zevin is here to help you.

In his new book and video series, Very Modern Mantras: Daily Affirmations for Daily Aggravations, the very funny author has created a guide for navigating the multitude of frustrations we all face — everything from cracked phone screens to impossibly soggy paper straws to co-workers who insist on replying all to every single email.

In the above video, Zevin helps us find peace with one of the worst afflictions that mankind has ever faced: the open-office floor plan. Watch, learn and — next time you're at your desk and your co-worker is rocking a nose whistle — repeat this phrase until your head no longer feels like it is going to explode: "I am an open flower who blossoms in an open floor plan."

Check out all of the videos from the hilarious series here, and follow @ModernMantras on Instagram for more mindful meditations. You're going to need them.

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Branding

ChatGPT is Becoming More Human-Like. Here's How The Tool is Getting Smarter at Replicating Your Voice, Brand and Personality.

AI can be instrumental in building your brand and boosting awareness, but the right approach is critical. A custom GPT delivers tailored collateral based on your ethos, personality and unique positioning factors.

Growing a Business

He Immigrated to the U.S. and Got a Job at McDonald's — Then His Aversion to Being 'Too Comfortable' Led to a Fast-Growing Company That's Hard to Miss

Voyo Popovic launched his moving and storage company in 2018 — and he's been innovating in the industry ever since.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Apple Reportedly Isn't Paying OpenAI to Use ChatGPT in iPhones

The next big iPhone update brings ChatGPT directly to Apple devices.

Business News

Is the AI Industry Consolidating? Hugging Face CEO Says More AI Entrepreneurs Are Looking to Be Acquired

Clément Delangue, the CEO of Hugging Face, a $4.5 billion startup, says he gets at least 10 acquisition requests a week and it's "increased quite a lot."

Business News

Sony Pictures Entertainment Purchases Struggling, Cult-Favorite Movie Theater Chain

Alamo Drafthouse originally emerged from bankruptcy in June 2021.