What Is Happiness
Everyone gets to pen their own definition of happiness, but my definition is the best, feel free to adopt it for your use: Happiness is having positive connections with other people.
My favorite podcast is Akimbo by guru marketer Seth Godin. Akimbo is a podcast about our culture and how we can change it. The podcast goes into seeing what's happening and choosing to do something. A recent episode asks the question "how do we choose to spend our time when technological advances give us more time to spend?" Communication, data, and transportation technology have advanced significantly over the past few decades, which theoretically should have freed up time for the average professional, time which could be used in the pursuit of happiness. However, people feel like they have less time than they have ever had. I imagine this is mainly a function of how people choose to spend their time. Are we willing to trade watching the hour long show with the two or three phone calls we could have had in that same time? I'm often guilty of burning up some time playing Clash Royale when I know there are friends I am overdue to reconnect with. The same technology that allows us to be more efficient in our jobs is the same technology that offers us a thousand ways to squander that time on random games or shows or newsfeeds, most of which don't make us any happier.
Work gives us a fantastic opportunity to create positive connections with other people, especially when the goals are difficult. There is nothing like an intense shared experience when it comes to forging a positive connection. The best relationships generate enough trust to challenge each other without fear of damaging the relationship, because those in positive relationships want the best for each other. For me, these positive connections in business have generated happiness.
So for you, no matter if you work remotely, or in person, or hybrid, make sure you are working to intentionally build positive connections wherever you can. It won't be possible with everyone, but the effort is well worth the reward. Find some happiness.
