I’ve been reading “The Business of Happiness” by Ted Leonsis over the holiday weekend.  I’m about half way through the book and have been giving a lot of thought to the “6 secrets to extraordinary success in work and life” laid out in the book.

Only the first, goal setting, strikes me as an obvious business secret to success.  Of course goal setting is critical to the success of your business.  If you don’t have a plan to get to a destination, the odds that you’ll ever get there are slim.  If you have clearly defined goals for yourself and your company, you are better able to manage toward achieving them and rewarding yourself (and your employees) for success.

The remaining secrets are slightly more personal in nature at first blush, but with logical parallels to business on further consideration…

• Communities of Interest – If you’re involved in a community then you typically develop relationships, connections, and an expanded network.  People like to do business with someone they know, like and trust.
• Personal Expression – Your Company should reflect your philosophy, ethics, and corporate culture.  This adds warmth and authenticity that your customers will pick up on.
• Gratitude – After the past 2 years, I would venture to say that if you’re still in business, this one is obvious.
• Empathy expressed by giving back – A company with clear community service goals tends to be a happier place for the employees and well received in its community.
• Higher calling – A company with a mission should experience increased teamwork and employee accountability.

The message I’m taking from the book is that a “happy” company generally has motivated employees and loyal customers.  And generally that same company enjoys success and profitability.  As in life, setting goals that revolve around doing the right thing will generally produce favorable results.  Remember that business IS personal; focus on finding reasons for your customers to love your product/service and you’ll go far.