World Happiness Summit

This week was the International Day of Happiness, and I was fortunate enough to attend the World Happiness Summit 2024 in London. It was truly something special. Although some people may feel it's not for them (I was one of 'them’ before), I believe there are valuable lessons to be learned. These insights can be seamlessly integrated into our businesses. Those who know me understand that I see personal and business growth as intertwined, advocating for an integrated life over the traditional work/life balance approach.

Before I dive in, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Karen Guggenheim for this gift to the world. I am in awe of what you have accomplished, and it fills me with joy to witness the beauty and impact of the ripples of WOHASU ? spreading across the world. You stand as a shining example of the remarkable achievements possible when one leads a life of purpose.? I also want to highlight your team and all the volunteers; as always, they orchestrated a phenomenal event. I eagerly anticipate the next one—hopefully, it will be closer to me ;)

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I initially wanted to share all my thoughts from the summit, but I came away with an immense amount of pictures and notes. I quickly realized it would take me until Christmas to share everything—it's too much for a single article. Many of the ideas presented are so rich that they deserve their own dedicated discussions. So, to give you a taste of the event and help you decide whether to explore the speakers and concepts further, here is a raw hodgepodge of insights, opinions, shoutouts, and comments.

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Just as a clear purpose enriches your life, it does the same for a business, becoming arguably the best tool for decision-making. When faced with major decisions, tough choices, and demanding efforts, a clear purpose and understanding of your company's purpose (your why) guide you confidently through. I'm convinced this clarity not only helps in navigating uncertainty but also paves the way to greater profitability in the long run. Sandro Formica, Ph.D. led a workshop that I believe would be the highlight for the business-minded, the entrepreneurs, and executives; it gets to the core of everything—our purpose as a person and the purpose of our business. I strongly recommend exploring his work further; his insights hold immense value for integrating profound purpose into both your personal life and your business. The key takeaway, perhaps the most crucial from the entire conference, is foundational: knowing and meeting our needs (and I'm talking beyond just food and water here, friends) is vital.

Equally important is ensuring your values are in alignment with what you do, or else you cannot be happy, nor can your team be as happy and productive. Period, end of. Underlined and highlighted with both highlighters, you know—making that cool orange with little yellow and pink on the edges where they didn't overlap, you older nerds know the beauty of which I speak.

You cannot be a good leader without introspection. It’s vital to revisit personal fundamentals regularly. Harmony within you will reduce dissonance in your organization. If you have a genuine understanding of your purpose and that of the company, it will inspire others – Walk the talk, and people will follow. ?Concepts and frameworks like those offered by Dr. Arthur Brooks may be useful. He spoke about the macronutrients to happiness; Enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose. A tricky one for the work-hard-play-hard crowd: Enjoyment is the pleasure you get PLUS the people you enjoy it with (creating good memories). Satisfaction is the joy you get when you achieve something you have STRUGGLED for. Overachievers, beware, mind the striver’s curse, and avoid the hedonic treadmill; where you want more and more, so you struggle and struggle to achieve, but then it doesn’t give you much satisfaction. Sometimes, you don’t need to have more; you just may need to want less. Your satisfaction is derived from the delta between what you have and what you want. ?Mr. Brooks put forward that in order to figure out if you have a clear purpose, ask yourself: “Why am I alive, and for what am I willing to die today?”

And now for the lightning round; some comments on some of the other amazing speakers:

Frederic Luskin (Fred): Sir, I understand that being vulnerable is a good thing, but I hope to one day make it through one of your talks without tearing up in public. Fred’s work on forgiveness is incredibly powerful, and he is both a sincere and engaging speaker, delivering some of the most touching talks you will ever hear.

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Alla Klymenko : Alla is one of the coolest people I have met, inspiring me to consider taking up more courses this year. She spoke about how being or feeling lost is not necessarily negative; rather, it's an opportune time for exploration, which can lead to some of the best experiences in life—a sentiment I wholeheartedly share. A very fun and inspiring speaker from the Ukraine.

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Michael F. Steger , the Director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University, offers unparalleled expertise. He's a fantastic resource for diving deep into the concept of purpose. Despite towering over me—let's be honest, that's the case with most people, though not usually by 3 feet—he's remarkably down-to-earth and generous with his insights. Always ready to engage with anyone, his openness was refreshing. Seeing him participate in Sandro’s workshop, fully embracing the role of a lifelong learner, was a highlight. Great meeting you!

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Kelli Harding MD MPH : Her talk on the positive effects of living with purpose on health was enlightening. Key takeaways include the longevity of people with a clear purpose, the importance of pursuing what matters even in the face of potential failure, and the reminder that it's never too late, and you should never be too busy to engage meaningfully.

Non-sequitur-ish comment here; Speaking of the “too busy” thing; it can sometimes make me miss out on the little but important things—I arrived at the summit with my brain zooming at one hundred miles an hour and still stuck in work mode, and forgot that not slowing down could mean accidentally snubbing someone in the elevator. Imagine missing a chat with someone amazing because you're too caught up in your head! So, let’s try not to sprint through the day on autopilot. Taking a moment to ground ourselves is always the way to go.

Ricardo Sunderland : Representing LATAM! We will talk about Medellin soon!? Ricardo brought the abstract concept of energy down to earth in a useful and practical way.? He has a book called The Energy Advantage that made it to my must-read list this week.

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Laurie Santos: If you know, you know. If you don’t, you should, my friend. So, don’t ask questions; just sign up for her Yale course "The Science of Well-Being" on Coursera, and thank me later. You can also check out her podcast "The Happiness Lab".

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Paule Valery Joseph Ph.D., MBA, CRNP, FAAN , a talented Chemosensory Scientist, among a million other things, who I'm thrilled to now call a friend, shared insights on the significant impact of smell on well-being. It's far more influential than many of us realize. Interestingly, businesses are already harnessing this underrated sense in retail spaces and marketing strategies.

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Despite my best efforts, I had to step away a couple of times to take work calls—integration, remember? So, I know I missed some speakers and, therefore, some gems. But keep your eyes peeled; a lot of people in the well-being movement attended and are sharing great insights on LinkedIn and other platforms.

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On that note, a shoutout to all my great WOHASU ? friends, new and old. The most enriching part of attending this summit isn’t just the knowledge gained; it’s the incredible people you meet. I’m overflowing with gratitude for having you all in my life. I look forward to our continued journey together in personal and professional growth and our shared mission to spread happiness across the globe. Sending you all much love and happiness. See you next year, Abrazos!