There are Four P's in Happy

Identifying the key ingredients for 9-5 success

Many of us struggle with finding happiness at work; chasing the elusive ideal where all the
elements coexist in perfect balance, providing the balance for our lives.  However, we often find
ourselves at a loss to define exactly what those elements are.  I was searching for my own
happiness when Joanne Gordon’s book, Be Happy at Work: 100 Women Who Love Their Jobs, and Why  jumped out at me in the career section of my local library.   

Published in 2004, Be Happy at Work covers the return to career altruism that surfaced in the
post-9/11 career landscape, when people began searching for meaning in their 9-5 beyond just salary.  Although many started that search long before, the 9/11 tragedy really brought home the notion that life is too short and no money can match the value of being happy with your life and
your work.  

The author tells her own story which brought it home for me.  Gordon explains that while working in marketing and advertising a client of hers died suddenly.  Although the gentleman was very
stressed at work it would be conjecture to assume that work related stress was a factor in his
death; however, Gordon took it as her cue to go back to school and pursue her passion for
writing as a career.

While the book encapsulates the happy profiles of 100 women, their stories resonate regardless of gender and encapsulate four common denominators or the Four P’s:

Process:   You’ve got to like what you do and the process of doing it.  “It” can be talking to
people, crunching numbers, writing, working with your hands, driving, singing, or making the
donuts – happy workers find joy in “it”.  There’s a comfort and a rhythm in the day to day tasks
that add to the happiness, without it the job loses some of its luster.  For example, a manager
responsible for the tactical execution gets bumped up to the next level where they strategize
instead of execute.  The happiness factor goes down as a result.  Identifying those things that
make you whistle while you work is a good starting point.

Purpose:  The mission, the meaning, the ultimate goal of what you do matters, too. Lately,
people want to feel good about why they do what they do.  What purpose does it serve?  Does it provide a service, fill a need, or make someone’s life better?  Each of Gordon’s “Happy 100”
found something with a purpose they could get behind.  Whether it’s providing safety instruction, making great soundtracks for the movies, teaching children how to read or feeding the hungry,
the purpose is of your work is just as important as the process… and the people.

People:  Employees often spend more time at work than at home.  Eight or more hours per day -- whether working in an office, in a cubicle or travelling side by side by train, plane or automobile – is a long time to spend with people you don’t like or respect.  Therefore, the company you keep, no pun intended, can have profound impact on your job satisfaction.  When employees get a along with their customers, coworkers and bosses the happiness quotient multiplies.

Proactive: Whether you’re evaluating a job offer or just taking stock of your current situation,
keep process, purpose and people in mind.  Then the final step is being proactive in creating
your own happiness at work.  Do your homework; figure out what you want, what works and
what doesn’t.  Talk to your boss; seek out a career coach, or a mentor. Start investigating other
companies, jobs, industries that have the right balance – then advisedly make your move. 

Keep these four P’s in mind as you take control of your job situation or career.  Knowing what
makes you happy is a great place to start.

The Passion Conspiracy: The evolution of passion at work

Once upon a time it was all about the job. You went to college to get a good job. You chose your major based, in no small part, on the job you could get after graduation. You drove a bus, learned to type or got your MBA from NYU Stern so that you could get a great job making great money. There was never really any talk of what do you like to do. Oh sure you could say that coloring with crayons made you happy, but there was no feasible way you could make a living at it so you settled for a job instead.

Then suddenly, everyone started talking about passion instead of a job… do what you love and be passionate about your work… passionate about what you do… Even as I counsel my kids on their college choices I’m not asking them what kind of job they want. I am telling them to study what they are interested in. Do what makes you happy. Do what you love and (hopefully) the money will come. Hold on… Where did all that passion come from?

I remember watching Oprah, a few years ago as she interviewed Po Bronson. In his best seller, "What Should I Do with My Life?" he interviewed over 1000 people about how they found their ideal work. The work that fed their soul, the work they were meant to do and the work that makes them happy. I think the evolution of passion at work was right on time, but I don’t know if it was coincidence.

Is it a coincidence that we started this search for passion around the same time as the ever expanding real estate bubble loomed large overhead? I think not. How about real estate…. We can’t count on those golden nest eggs of home equity anymore…. A fortunate few may have gotten in on reverse mortgages while real estate prices held steady. But many current retirees got caught in the real estate bubble burst and are now holding upside down mortgages instead of sitting pretty on their home equity nest eggs. Without that safety nest, you may need to work longer, and if you’re going to work longer, I sure hope you love what you do.

Today’s dot.com Gen Y workers are not the work-40-years-for-the-same-company-and-retire-happily-and-comfortably-with-a-pension types… Most of today’s workers will not see the cushy and comfortable pension funded golden years as some of the baby boomers and other previous generations. One would be hard pressed to find a company these days that even offers a pension. With social security is breathing its last breath and many of us funding our own retirements with 401k’s and IRA’s, our golden years are getting further and further out of reach. A few years back 55 was retiring early, but realistically, 70 may be the new threshold. Work, work, work.

This all comes at a time when 40 is the new 30. Most of us are trying to extend our lives, living healthier to live longer. 30 minutes a day of cardio, cholesterol free organic heart smart dieting are buzz words from our new healthy life mantra. The Center for Disease Control has set the mark at 77 for the average US life expectancy. That means that we’ll probably have to work longer to support our longer healthier lives. All the more reason to love your work…. You’re going to be doing it for much longer than you thought!

So, let’s revisit the notion of passion at work. I maintain that the evolution of the idea is no coincidence, but rather an idea born out of necessity. The bad news is that financial factors may dictate that we work way past 55. The good news is that if we keep striving to live healthier, we’ll be healthy enough to keep working as long as we need to. The silver lining? If we choose our work wisely, and work at what makes us happy, our passions will keep us smiling. That’s not a conspiracy, that’s just good timing.