Your Business Success Depends on Your Happiness

Guest Writer: Snowden McFall

Like most entrepreneurs, you may think that when you get to a certain level of profit, or triple your growth, that you will be truly happy. But the research at Harvard University shows just the opposite is true. You need to be happy first, and then the success and accomplishment will come.

Why is this important and how does it work?

Entrepreneurs are very stressed. 13% of those polled by Fortune Small Business reported having trouble getting to sleep every night.   Stress is the opposite of happiness, and dramatically decreases your likelihood of being happy or successful.

The latest research out of Harvard on happiness is that the most successful business people, entrepreneurs, doctors and workers are happy first. Our brains are actually wired to work at maximum creativity, resilience and effectiveness when we are in a state of relaxation and joy. Consider this:

• Doctors put in a positive state before diagnosing show 3x more intelligence and creativity & make diagnoses 19% faster than doctors in a neutral state.
• Optimistic salespeople sell 56% more than pessimists. (Are your salespeople optimists?)
• Happy students far outperform their peers on tests.¹

So how can you get happier?

The contrary is also true. Since I have been researching happiness (there are over 200 studies of 275,000 people,)the quality of my life is significantly better. My attention is on happiness, how to expand it, create it and bring greater joy into my life and the lives of my audiences and readers. My husband got a great new job seven months ago, I still have some dental issues but they are being handled easily and effectively. I have streamlined my businesses to focus on what gives me greatest joy and that is what I experience more of. I am the one who made the switch to be happier, and you can, too.

If you’ve been worrying about cash flow or business or meeting payroll, a much better use of your time and energy would be to focus on getting happy. The business and cash flow will improve in direct proportion to your genuinely positive attitude and optimistic perspective. The subsequent creativity receptiveness, resiliency and relaxation will make a huge difference in your business success.

Here are three quick techniques for increasing your happiness.

1. Celebrate your successes- large and small. Create a victory wall at work where you post achievements of any level- articles that have been published about you, your people or your company, new client logo to symbolize your working together, employee achievements, progress on work goals. Praise others publicly and specifically, and encourage them to do the same. Get in the habit of catching them doing things right and recognize them for it.
    
2. Find something to look forward to. It might be a weekend away, an upcoming conference, a vacation, or special time with friends. In one study, people who just thought about watching their favorite movie had an increase of 27% in endorphins (the ‘feel good’ hormone)- just from thinking about it. Every time something stressful occurs, think about what you are looking forward to and shift your state of mind. It works.
    
3. Do something you love to do for fun at least 3 times a week. Schedule in your favorite activities and don’t give them up- they will make a huge difference in how you joyful you are and how successful you are at work.

Your business can thrive in all areas, but you need to thrive first. Take the time to really focus on your own happiness and see how it impacts everything!

If you would like more information on how to become happier and more successful, please join me on my free teleseminar April 26 at 7:00 PM EST or April 28 at 11:00 AM EST. Visit this page and register for Increase Your Happiness & Success, and Regain Your Joy.

Snowden McFall, professional speaker, trainer and author, is the owner of 27- year old Brightwork Advertising and Training and 15-year old Fired Up. She has written 5 books, including Fired Up!, which has sold  63,000+ copies, and her new book Stress Express! 15 Instant Stress Relievers. An expert on stress and motivation, appeared on 300 radio shows, CNN Financial News, The Home Shopping Network, Bloomberg Television, Success Magazine, Investors Business Daily, and foxnews.com. She was named National Women in Business Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration and was honored at the White House and Congress. She can be reached at www.firedupnow.com