The Personal Business Plan: A Blueprint for Running Your Life

6

How Do I Become Happy?

“There is a crack in everything.

That's how the light comes in”

Leonard Cohen

Every day above ground is a happy day. Think of your life as the result of your relationship management. You need to balance results and relationships to find happiness in business. At a certain point in life you may ask yourself: Is this what I want? Is my life meaningful? Am I happy? What is my personal life project? What is my desired goal in life? Is it a means or an objective?

As people, we need to have fulfilling relationships all the way round: Partner, children, parents, relatives, friends, bosses, peers, employees, and community – this is a mental model I call Happiness 360. I see these relationships as part of a gigantic Ferris⁶³ wheel. Imagine being at the center of the wheel that is your own life while navigating between these crucial groups of people:

Figure 12 Happiness 360

These can be grouped roughly as family, work, friends, and community:

Family: Partner, children, parents and relatives;

Work: Boss, peers and employees;

Friends; and

Community.

Friends and Community ...