The journey toward happiness

"My life passes more swiftly than a runner.  It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.”  - Job 9:25 –

photo by dreamstimecomp

The Big Business and Technology Expo was held February 24-25th at Utah Valley University.  Hundreds of businesses were represented and many keynote speakers shared ideas and success stories.  Robert Richman, Insight product manager of the highly successful online shoe and clothing store, Zappos, spoke on Thursday night.  During his 60-minute presentation, he shared the company’s key to their success, and summed it up in one word - “happiness.”  At one point Richman indicated that if a new employee is not happy in the Zappos environment, the company actually pays them to quit – to the tune of about $4000.  The hope is that the employee (now an ex-employee) will use that income to “find a job they really want; one that will make them happy.” He adds, in conclusion that, “It all comes down to happiness."

Zappos Insights is a division of the company that teaches other companies how to create exceptional service and a solid company culture.While the principles Richman delivered seem to have great impact on running a successful business, one might question how these principles can really deliver “happiness.” 

That’s an interesting concept; that a job can actually make you happy.  If ten people were asked what makes them “happy,” it’s unlikely that “my job” would top the list.  It seems that today’s attitude about work is more something that has to be done, not enjoyed. Many have lost the happy factor in their 9 to 5 routine.  Dan Miller, in his book 48 Days to the Work You Love, asks this question: “Is work that necessary evil that consumes the time between our brief periods of enjoyment on the weekends?”  Clearly the Zappos Insight group has asked the same question, and have put great effort into creating a work environment where enjoyment is not only encouraged, it is expected.

For those who have lost their jobs, there is an almost frantic need for employment to support their families, of course, but also to instill in them a sense of purpose, or in some cases their own personal identity. In his bestselling story, Who Moved My Cheese?” Dr. Spencer Johnson’s four tiny characters “ran through a Maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.”  Seeking and finding happiness at work and in life seems to be an ever-elusive pursuit.

So it’s important to enjoy our work and to work in an environment where we feel we are respected and appreciated, but can that employment itself actually create happiness? Consider those who worked in a job that they enjoyed, but their hard work was not particularly appreciated?  Perhaps some have been highly praised at their job and treated fairly, but disliked the type of work in general.  Or how about those who spent years and years enjoying their job, being recognized, and quite content, only to come to work one day with their personal belongings packed up in a box with a pink slip taped on top?  Today the sudden loss of employment is not an uncommon event, highlighting the importance of understanding that you are not your career.

Employment or company culture as a source of happiness is a misnomer.  Employment is fleeting, and therefore happiness based on such will also be fleeting.  Rather begin a journey toward understanding yourself better.  What are the God-given gifts and talents that make you unique, and how can you utilize them more fully to improve your life, and the lives of those you come in contact with?  You may have the perfect job to maximize those gifts, or you may come to realize that you are the round peg trying to squeeze in the square hole that everyone has claimed you are supposed to fit into. 

Stehen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People defines happiness in this way: “Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.”

H. Jackson Brown Jr., author of Life’s little Instruction Book, defines happiness like this: “Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own.”

The unknown author of Psalm 119, recognizing that the Creator himself had designed happiness into our lives, puts it this way: “Give me understanding and I will obey Your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of Your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.”  (Psalm 119:34-35)

However you define it, happiness can’t be formulated in a business plan, or detailed in a Powerpoint.  Instead it comes as the result of pursuing truth, integrity and a life focused outward and not inward.   H. Jackson Brown puts this so aptly, “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” 

This week, try finding ways to inject happiness and joy into the workplace, instead of expecting the workplace to somehow infuse happiness into you.

• What will you do today to begin pursuing an outward focused life?
• How will you use the next 24 hours to make the best use of the one, ever so brief life you have been given?
• Use the comment field below to respond. I’d love to hear about your journey toward happiness.