This presentation is from Affiliate Summit East 2017 (July 30 - August 1, 2017 in New York).
Session description: Happiness is a key factor for success. We lead stressful lives. We lead busy lives. Do we lead happy lives? We’ll discuss 5 key things on which to focus to stay ahead of the happiness curve.
This session is to find some basic support systems. I’m not qualified, and probably nobody else in this room is qualified to deal with deep issues you might be facing. So if you are feeling truly depressed and having issues, please find someone to speak with. And I’d like everyone here to take out a piece of paper or phone and write down this information, even if you don’t need it. The person next to you might need it and might feel unconfortable and embarrassed. If we all jot it down, nobody feels weird about it.
This is the last slide with text on it, so you won’t have much more to copy down. All of your notes from now on are either wisdom that I’ve spoken, or awesome doodles because I’m not keeping your attention.
how do you remain marginally happy - through persistence –
Happiness It doesn't exist perpetually and do not expect that - ups and downs will happen - it's mainly gaining control -
Every time you’re on a downward spiral, recognize that spiral and realize that it will turn back up. Ride the roller coaster
Sometimes it feels like this. You’re piling up debt, no clients are calling you back. The end is year. As said by Young MC in Bust a Move –
Every dark tunnel has a light of hope - even if you can’t see it, know that there is a light
And at some point you’ll be back on the top of your cycle.
Don’t isolate youself. Friendship is a HUGE factor in being successful often overlooked
Not just online friends. Even if you just see them once per year, it’s important to meet people in person face to face.
Real friends give you the release that you need. You can’t build a box fort online. Maybe with Minecraft.
Real friends will be there to remind you of your ups and downs. And ask them to remind you – make sure they are there. Find people who understand your life & will remind you
Friends will always get you through the tough times and make sure that you recognize your happiness will come back.
Have a biggest fan
And the right friendships will automatically provide cheerleaders to boost you and your company up!
FIND YOUR BIGGEST FAN – will always lift you up
Lots of resources talk about goal setting – my happiness factor isn’t just about setting & reaching goals, also about the rwards you give yourself. Could be small – small goals throughout the day give me 15 mins to play Ghost Recon Wildlands. Hit a sales/revenue goal, have a nice dinner
Make sure you measure your goals appropriately, and keep them realistic. Fooling yourself will not lead to happiness.
Unrealistic goals, even if they are awesome, will not lead to happiness. Keep goals attainable, even small goals with short rewards. When you hit a goal…
treat yourself! Even if just a short break to play video games
#4 have an escape plan. I don’t mean to get out of this room, though the door’s back there. I don’t mean out of your career, unless you want to. I mean an escape from your everyday work life.
Make sure you have a way to get out of your own head. We get so wrapped up in work that we can’t sleep and we get bogged down.
Take some periodic time to do what you love, whatever gives you your escape, and your release. Read, video games, watch tv, or just have a damn fine cup of coffee
I like my release at the gym. Physical activity keeps my mind off work – I spend a few minutes at the beginning wishing I had a notepad, then I absorb into my workout or if I’m doing cardio whatever movie I’m watching. And It’s incredibly important to keep physically active. I could do an entire new session on the productivity benefits from exercise. Not just health but actual work productivity and focus benefits. How many people here get regular exercise – heart rate up 2-3 times / week for at least 30 mins? From a support perspective, get a training buddy.
Anyone here have a running buddy? I know many people find others to run with at conferences.
You could join a group a exercise together! Look at all that happiness! The goal of all of these escape activities is to avoid the eventual crash you’d have without them.
If you don’t have an escape plan and try to work all the time, you WILL burn out. Under your desk. With a bottle of wine.
#5 – stay flexible! Be able to pivot if need be. If you stay rigid and change happens, you will not be happy. Nothing you can do about change, so worktowards being flexible.
Sometimes we need to shift gears, and that’s okay. Life happens, and things will change. Work towards accepting that and staying flexible. Just because you shift to a different gear it doesn’t mean you are failing – it means you are meeting your new challenges head on and giving it the right power.
Don’t shift too much! You’ll go crazy
Having a purpose in life and/or with your work will help you to be a happier entrepreneur. Everything we’ve already reviewed comes into play here – you’ll go through the tough times knowing you have that light at the end of the tunnel that has meaning. That meaning doesn’t have to be changing the world – though that’s awesome. It could be helping a few other companies get off the ground. It could be improving life for your family.
Just try to make it something meaningful to you. And don’t let anyone else give you that purpose.