The Happiness Advantage Summary | Shawn Achor

The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work

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Introduction

Imagine a world where success doesn’t lead to happiness, but happiness leads to success. This is the world Shawn Achor introduces us to in The Happiness Advantage.

Achor, a Harvard graduate and positive psychology expert, challenges the idea that hard work and success lead to happiness. Instead, he proposes that happiness is a precursor to success.

Extensive research in the field of positive psychology backs this revolutionary perspective. It provides a roadmap for achieving personal and professional fulfillment. The Happiness Advantage doesn’t just explore happiness in theory; it is a practical guide to enhancing every aspect of our lives.

About Shawn Achor

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Shawn Achor is a distinguished Harvard alumnus and lecturer. He is also a leading figure in the burgeoning field of positive psychology. His research into happiness and human potential has garnered attention from numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN. Achor’s TED talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work,” is one of the most popular of all time, with over 20 million views.

His other bestselling books include Before Happiness and Big Potential. Achor’s mission is to share the findings of positive psychology with the world. He wants to help people and organizations realize their full potential and cultivate a culture of positivity and success.

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StoryShot #1: Happiness Fuels Success

Shawn Achor’s research indicates that happiness is not a byproduct of success but a critical precursor to it. He argues that when we are happy, our brains function better and are more productive, creative, and motivated. This means that happiness can help us maximize our talents and achieve our goals.

In fact, studies have shown that individuals with a positive outlook tend to outperform those with a negative outlook. For instance, a study conducted by MetLife found that optimistic salespeople outsold pessimistic ones by a huge 37%. This suggests that having a happy and positive outlook can directly contribute to one’s success in their endeavors.

In short, we need to prioritize and cultivate happiness in our lives if we want to unlock our full potential and achieve greater success.

StoryShot #2: Our Mindset Is the  Fulcrum and Our Effort Is the Lever

Our mindset and effort play crucial roles in determining our potential for success. Achor compares our mindset to the fulcrum and our effort to the lever. By adjusting our mindset and increasing our effort, we can conquer our perceived limitations and achieve more than we thought.

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To illustrate this concept, let’s take the example of a student who struggles with math. If they change their mindset from “I’m bad at math” to a growth mindset of “I can improve with practice,” it can have a big impact on their performance. With this shift in mindset, the student becomes open to the idea they can develop their abilities through effort and dedication.

In conjunction with this new mindset, the student must also put in the necessary effort to study and understand the material. By investing time and energy in practicing and grasping the concepts, they can massively improve their math skills. This shows the power of combining a positive mindset with consistent effort in achieving success.

In summary, by changing our mindset to one of growth and effort, we can reach our potential and gain fantastic outcomes, even in areas where we struggled at first.

StoryShot #3: The Tetris Effect Shows How Our Brains Can Be Retrained

Playing Tetris repeatedly can condition our brains to recognize patterns and shapes. In the same way, we can train our brains to identify possibilities for personal and professional growth. This phenomenon is known as the Tetris Effect.

By retraining our brains to scan the world for ways to enhance our performance and increase our success, we can unlock our full potential. For instance, a manager trained in the Tetris Effect might spot ways that processes can be improved that others miss. This can lead to increased efficiency and productivity in their team.

The Tetris Effect is about developing a mindset attuned to spotting ways we can improve every aspect of our lives. By consistently scanning our environment, we can develop a habit of seeking out ways to enhance our skills and abilities. This can lead to greater success and fulfillment in both our personal and professional lives.

In summary, the Tetris Effect is a powerful tool that can help us retrain our brains to identify opportunities for growth and improvement. By cultivating this mindset, we can increase our chances of success in all aspects of our lives.

StoryShot #4: Falling Up

Adversity and failure are inevitable in life, and it is our response to these challenges that shapes our future. The concept of “falling up” refers to a mental state where we perceive adversity not as a stumbling block but as a stepping stone to new opportunities.

When faced with setbacks, we can choose to view them as devastating roadblocks or as valuable learning experiences. A prime example is an entrepreneur whose business fails. Instead of being discouraged, they can adopt a “falling up” mindset and see the failure as an opportunity for growth and improvement. They can learn from their mistakes, identify areas for improvement, and use that knowledge to build something even better.

Using the “falling up” mentality, we can reframe adversity as a catalyst for personal and professional development. Rather than allowing failure to define us, we can use it as a springboard to propel us forward. This mindset shift enables us to approach challenges with resilience, creativity, and a wish to learn from our experiences.

In summary, the concept of “falling up” encourages us to view adversity not as a roadblock but as an opportunity for growth. It helps us to change setbacks into stepping stones toward new possibilities and shape a more successful path forward.

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StoryShot #5: The Zorro Circle Can Help Us Beat Overwhelm

Shawn Achor recognizes that feeling overwhelmed can hinder happiness and success. To overcome this, he proposes a strategy called the “Zorro Circle,” which involves focusing on small, manageable goals.

The Zorro Circle suggests starting with smaller elements within our control. Then, we can gradually expand our circle of influence and gain control over larger ambitions. For instance, imagine someone who aspires to write a book but feels overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Instead of fixating on the entire book, they can break it down into smaller, achievable goals, such as writing just one page a day.

By focusing on writing one page each day, we can make steady progress towards their larger goal without feeling overwhelmed. This approach allows them to build momentum, gain confidence, and establish a consistent writing habit. As we expand our Zorro Circle and become more comfortable with the process, we will have greater control over our ability to complete the book.

The Zorro Circle strategy stresses the importance of starting small and slowly expanding our efforts. By breaking down huge tasks into manageable steps, we can ease stress, stay motivated, and make steady progress toward our goals.

In summary, the Zorro Circle approach allows us to overcome feelings of overwhelm and work towards our larger aspirations. This strategy allows us to gain control over our ambitions and increase our chances of both happiness and success.

StoryShot #6: The 20-Second Rule Turns Intention into Action

Relying solely on willpower for long-term behavior change can be challenging since our willpower is limited. The 20-Second Rule involves making positive habits 20 seconds easier to start and negative habits 20 seconds harder to start.

By using this approach, we can turn our intentions into actions. This simple rule can make a significant difference in our ability to form new healthy habits. For instance, if someone wants to practice guitar daily, they can keep their guitar out and easily accessible rather than tucked away in a closet. The reduced effort required to start playing will make it more likely that they’ll follow through with their intention.

The 20-Second Rule recognizes that small changes in our environment can have a big impact on our behavior. By making it easier to start positive habits and harder to start negative ones, we can rewire our brains and establish new patterns of behavior.

In summary, the 20-Second Rule is a simple yet powerful strategy that can help us form new healthy habits. By making positive habits easier to start and negative habits harder to start, we can turn our intentions into actions. This increases our chances of long-term success.

StoryShot #7: Social Investment Leads to Success

Social relationships are an important resource in times of challenge and stress. Spending time and effort on these relationships can give us a support network. This is key to boosting our resilience and ability to overcome adversity.

Social investment is one of the most significant predictors of success during times of high stress and challenge. For instance, a study found that people with a strong social support network were more likely to survive a heart attack than those without one. This demonstrates the critical role that social relationships play in our overall well-being.

As well as providing emotional support, social relationships can also give us new viewpoints, ideas, and chances. By connecting with others who share our interests and goals, we can expand our knowledge and skills, and increase our chances of success.

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Therefore, we need to cultivate strong relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and mentors. This entails investing time and energy in building and maintaining these relationships. This includes being there for others and seeking out new connections.

In summary, social relationships can help us navigate through challenging times and achieve greater success.Such a support network makes us more resilient, provides emotional support, and opens up new opportunities for growth.

StoryShot #8: The Ripple Effect Can Create a Positive Environment

Our actions and behaviors have a ripple effect, influencing others around us more than we think. When we prioritize happiness, we positively impact others in our lives, creating a ripple effect that goes beyond us.

This ripple effect can create a more positive environment, boosting everyone’s performance. For example, a leader who models positivity and optimism can influence their team’s morale and productivity. When leaders focus on their own happiness and well-being, they create a culture of positivity that can inspire their team members to do the same. This can lead to improved collaboration, creativity, and overall performance.

Research has shown that happiness is contagious. When we are happy, those around us are more likely to experience positive emotions as well. This creates a virtuous cycle of positivity that can benefit everyone in our social network.

In summary, prioritizing happiness can have a profound impact on the people around us. By modeling positive behaviors and attitudes, we can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our individual reach. This can lead to a more positive environment, enhanced collective performance, and greater success for all.

StoryShot #9: Positive Psychology Can Help Us Maximize Our Potential

Positive psychology is not about ignoring life’s challenges or pretending everything is perfect. Rather, it’s about choosing a positive mindset to maximize our potential. Achor’s principles provide a roadmap for applying the power of positive psychology in our daily lives. This can help us to be happier and more successful. For example, gratitude is a key principle in positive psychology. It has been shown to increase happiness and reduce depression.

When we express gratitude, we acknowledge the good in our lives and build a sense of appreciation. This simple act can move our focus from negativity to positivity, leading to a more optimistic outlook on life. What’s more, positive psychology means we have more positive relationships, which is better for our well-being. By building kind, caring relationships, we’re happier and we help create a caring, supportive community. By embracing positive psychology, we lead more fulfilling lives and create a ripple effect of positivity in the world around us.

StoryShot #10: The Happiness Advantage is Effective at Work

The Happiness Advantage doesn’t only apply to our home lives, it’s also important at work. Creating a positive, happy work environment has many benefits. These include increased productivity, enhanced creativity, and higher employee engagement.

Research has shown when employees are happier, they are more motivated and resilient. This leads to improved performance and innovation within the organization. A positive work environment is also linked to better physical and mental health outcomes for employees. This is due to reduced stress levels and improved overall well-being.

A happy workplace fosters higher job satisfaction among employees. When people feel valued, supported, and appreciated at work, they are more likely to be happy with their jobs and stay with the organization.

A prime example of the impact of a positive work environment is Google. By focusing on employee happiness and well-being, it has created a culture of innovation, teamwork, and happy workers. This has contributed to its success as one of the most successful and desirable places to work.

In summary, applying The Happiness Advantage at work can bring significant benefits. A positive work environment enhances productivity, creativity, employee engagement, job satisfaction, and overall success.

Final Summary and Review

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor is a compelling and practical guide to improving your success and happiness. The book challenges the conventional wisdom that success leads to happiness. Instead, it presents a wealth of evidence suggesting happiness fuels success.

There are seven principles, each backed by extensive research and real-world examples. Individuals and organizations can apply these to increase their happiness and success.

Key ideas include:

• Happiness Fuels Success: We are more successful when we are happier and more positive.
• The Fulcrum and the Lever: Our mindset and our effort determine our potential to succeed.
• The Tetris Effect: We can train our brains to spot opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Falling Up: We can view adversity as a stepping stone to new opportunities.
• The Zorro Circle: Focusing on small, manageable goals can help us gain control over larger ambitions.
• The 20-Second Rule: Making positive habits easier to start and negative habits harder to start can help us change our behavior.
• Social Investment: Nurturing our social relationships can boost our resilience and ability to overcome adversity.
• The Ripple Effect: Our actions and behaviors can influence others and create a more positive environment.
• The Power of Positive Psychology: Choosing a positive mindset can help us maximize our potential.
• The Happiness Advantage at Work: A positive and happy work environment boosts productivity, creativity, and engagement.

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Criticism

The Happiness Advantage provides a compelling argument for the power of positive psychology. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The book tends to downplay the impact of systemic and structural issues on happiness and success. Also, while Achor’s principles are backed by research, they are mostly based on correlations, not causations. Therefore, individual results may vary.

Rating

We rate The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor 4.17/5.

How would you rate Shawn Achor’s book?

Editor’s Note

This piece was first published in July 2023. It was revised in December 2023.

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