Rich Is Easier Than Happy

Happiness is the ultimate lagging indicator. It takes a lot of effort to have enough money here in the USA, so it’s understandable that many business leaders think that getting rich will make them happy.

They’re often disappointed when they achieve this goal because it doesn’t feel as good as they thought it would. Don’t get me wrong, having plenty of money is a great source of happiness. In fact, it’s one of the four major sources of happiness.

I help leaders double their revenue regularly, and it’s a very exciting achievement that often feeds many families. We focus on the leading indicators of strategy, team, and teamwork. Then we measure and adapt to changing circumstances regularly, and voila, it’s like falling off a log easy. However, it’s not enough to make you happy.

There’s even research that indicates that the uber wealthy are the least happy people in America because they spend too much time on money and not enough time on the other three major sources of happiness. Imagine that—they’re less happy than poor people that don’t have enough money.

My “secret sauce”, and what is most gratifying to me as a consultant and coach, is helping leaders to be happy along the way to being rich. The ultimate lagging indicator is feeling good now and being optimistic that you’ll feel good in the future, i.e. happiness.

And what are the other three major sources of happiness that the uber wealthy tend to overlook? A caring relationship with yourself (taking care of yourself), caring relationships with others, and work you love doing.

Notice that all three of these sources are about relationships. Isn’t it great that sustained business success is also about relationships?

How happy are you? If you’re not as happy as you’d like to be, what’s holding you back? Which ones of the four major sources do you need to improve? 

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com