The 4 Keys to Real Happiness at Work

Ashish Kothari: Hello everyone, and welcome to a very special episode of the Happiness Squad, our 100th episode!

I'm your host, Ashish Kothari, and today we're not just celebrating a milestone but also setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead.

Over the past 100 episodes, we've gathered countless insights and shared transformative experiences with leading researchers, experts, business leaders, and practitioners. These individuals are helping people and organizations integrate proven flourishing interventions into how they work and lead.

But guess what? We’re just getting started. We look forward not only to our next hundred episodes but to growing together, rewiring our brains, and enjoying the journey every step of the way.

I want to start by looking back over these 100 episodes. We've learned a lot together. Here are some key insights that I believe can change the way we look at happiness and success. The first insight is around what happiness is and is not.

What happines is and is not

Happiness is an inner game, something accessible to everyone. It's more than just an emotion; it's a way of being. Happiness cannot be pursued and isn't dependent on external markers like career success or material gains. It ensues from living a virtuous life where we integrate practices that rewire our brains from fear, scarcity, and self-preservation to joy, abundance, and interbeing.

These themes came up consistently in conversations with over 15 experts, including Dr. Alia Gourgouris, America's Happiness Doctor; Lars Kuur Juul, who teaches a happiness course at the University of Peace; Stephanie Harrison, founder of New Happy; Luis Gallardo, creator of the World Happiness Foundation and the person who coined the word “happitalism”; Dr. Shona Shapiro; Shrikumar Rao; and many others.

These episodes are filled with practical insights and tips that you can apply in your personal and professional lives.

Here are four key ingredients that appeared repeatedly in these conversations, ingredients that help us be happier, no matter what, help us be more adaptable, resilient, and more successful in what we do:

Meaning

The first is meaning—having a bigger "why" and a life of service, filled with compassion with others; high-quality relationships; investment in physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; and practicing equanimity by following the middle path instead of constantly chasing pleasure or avoiding pain.

Mindfulness

Insight number two is about the power of mindfulness. It not only helps us manage stress and anxiety but also transforms our productivity, creativity, and relationships.

Our episodes with Manish Chopra, Justin Talbert Zorn, Michael Amster, Amy Edelsteins, and Andrew White remind us that meditation is not just for monks; it's relevant for business leaders, politicians, schools, and athletes alike. These episodes are filled with powerful stories of how mindfulness has transformed possibilities for individuals and organizations.

Purpose

Third, the power of purpose showed up in many of our conversations. Purpose plays a critical role in making us more resilient and unlocking our full potential. Viktor Frankl’s words—today, people have more means to live but less meaning to live for—are more true than ever. We are facing a "meaning epidemic," driving hopelessness, loneliness, and disconnection.

Our episodes with Raj Sisodia, Nick Shaw, and Bob Quinn are filled with inspiring stories of how individuals and organizations use purpose to transform lives. Purpose allows us to navigate some of the most heartbreaking hardships that we might experience as individuals.

This topic of purpose and meaning resonated deeply with our listeners. My post on finding purpose in the second half of my life went viral as many of you shared your own struggles with meaning. Thank you for that engagement and sharing the word.

That theme showed up when Stephanie Harrison, creator of New Happy, shared her story of shifting from the "old happy" way to the "new happy," among others.

Organizational flourishing

Let's shift now from individual flourishing to organizational flourishing.

Upskilling leaders and making well-being a core business strategy, rather than a side effort, proved to be powerful—not just for employees but for business.

Prioritizing workplace well-being is not just a moral imperative; it's a financial responsibility that boards and leaders should take seriously. My conversation with Alex Edmonds illustrated how companies prioritizing employee satisfaction drive incremental shareholder returns.

My talk with Barbara Jeffrey from the McKinsey Health Institute highlighted why well-being programs often fail: they focus solely on individual demands, covering only 28% of well-being and 3% of burnout. We need action at all levels—individual, job, team, and organization—to fully integrate flourishing into our work.

Our last hundred episodes didn’t just discuss flourishing; we had experts who showed us the way. People like Jane Dutton and Monica Verlean from Michigan Ross, Jacqui Brassey from McKinsey Health Institute, Stephanie Johnson from CU Leeds, and business leaders like Jehanzeb Noor from Trivium Packaging, Chris Wright from Liberty Energy, and Patrick Critiser, former CEO of Tillamook, who have used well-being practices to drive record results.

These were the major insights that stood out to me. I’d love to hear what you’ve taken away from these episodes. Who were some of your favorite guests, and what have you implemented in your life or work that’s made a difference? Please engage with us and share.

Rewire contest on December 9th

For our podcast listeners, we’re also running a contest until December 9th. You can win prizes like a signed copy of my book Hardwired for Happiness or a subscription to our premier Rewire program, which includes 5-minute micro-practices.

As we wrap up, I want to thank each of you for being part of our community. We've learned so much together, yet this is only the beginning.

Here’s to another 100 episodes and beyond, filled with learning, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for listening, and until next time, keep finding joy in every day, loving the journey as much as the destination.

Take care and have a great day.