(NOT EXACTLY LIKE KEYNOTE) Can we continue to live in Unhappiness?

1. BUSINESS
HAPPINESS ?
“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That
is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one
believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something
better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards
happiness …” Dalai Lama

2. JOB SATISFACTION

3. “THE POWER OF HAPPINESS”:
Roger Martin at HBR
WHY happiness matters.
C
What GENERATES happiness.
Three DIMENSIONS of happiness.
S O
i) one’s perceived value in the eyes of the relevant
community.
ii) how much the self values the community in question.
iii) the degree to which the community is valued by others
outside of it.
Implications for business LEADERS.

4. HAPPINESS AT WORK vs.
STANDARD MBA PROFILE
It ’ s about the process, not the outcome. vs
Outcome is all that matters. (vision)
Paradox— Insist on your way, lose your goal. vs
Aggressive risk rewarded. (stress)
You play a role, you are not the role. vs My
prestigious MBA defines me. (recognition)
It’s not about $$$. It’s about the why. vs It’s all
“Before taking the
about the $$$. (sacrifice) class, they’d never heard
anyone encourage them
to get a deep sense of
The models are not reality. vs Prestigious MBA + meaning from what they
wanted to do
well-paying job = reality. (anger) professionally. “

5. SAS: BEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD
Initial pERKS: Free M&M’S.
Fitness Center / Day CARE /
Medical Care.
35- hour Week / NO Dress Code.
Masseur / Putting GREEN /
Cafeteria.
“I am basically my own
PROFITABILITY / Loyalty. board. “ James
Goodnight
COMMITTED CEO vs Pleasing
Shareholders. www.sas.com/presscenter/fortune11/

6. COCA COLA: HAPPINESS TRUCK
We DELIVER happiness.
Happiness IS subjective: SWEET.
We BUILD happiness for you.
Happiness can be FREE: just PUSH.
Happiness is PRODUCT-
ORIENTED.
CHILDREN are the happiness “No words needed.“
barometer.
www.youtube.com
“Where will happiness strike next?”

7. ALAIN DE BOTTON
Career crisis = HOPES vs. REALITY ...
Why?
Why material goods? = emotional reward.
Huge expectations for realization: YOU
CAN DO ANYTHING.
Spirit of EQUALITY ENVY.
MERITOCRACY: Winner OR Loser
(deserved!) “Success yes,
but let’s probe our ideas of
Role of FORTUNE in life: tragic art. success.”
www.ted.com
Human heroes vs. TRANSCENDENTAL.

8. QUESTIONING: JOB HAPPINESS
What is HAPPINESS? Is it simply SUBJECTIVE? If subjective, then WHO decides? Each and
everyone of us? Or is happiness COMMUNAL? Can you TEACH happiness? Is it SUCCESS?
What makes the employees in your company HAPPY? Can you MEASURE it? How? Does THAT
make sense? Is there a relation EMPLOYEE HAPPINESS and CUSTOMER HAPPINESS? Do
happy employees make happy customers? Or is it the other way around?
What does a happy CEO/MANAGER look like/do? Can you give examples? Does one think of Steve
Jobs as happy? Can a LEADER be happy? But isn´t leading ALL about self-sacrifice? Isn’t this why
many CEOs say they DESERVE their BONUSES? Can a salary become PAYMENT for
unhappiness?
Is JOB SATISFACTION the same as JOB HAPPINESS? How important is your WORK in relation to
your OVERALL happiness as a human being? Would you stay in a position if you were UNHAPPY?
Are some jobs HAPPIER than others? Why? What is the HAPPIEST job?
BUT MOST IMPORTANT: How happy are YOU?

9. HAPPINESS IN ACTION: DALAI LAMA
“The purpose of our lives is to be happy”
www.dalailamafilm.com