The secret to being happy at work

We've all been sold a really harmful lie, by a lot of people. That lie is, to be truly happy at work, you must do what you love (or some variation of the same theme). It's complete garbage that's usually told to you by ultra-rich people who can do anything they want! Someone who really doesn't have to earn a living because they have a spouse earning a living for them, or someone who just flat out got lucky. Right place, right time, and does something they actually love for a job. Still, most of us define our happiness like this:

Step 1: Work really super hard. 

Step 2: Really super hard work will make you successful.

Step 3: Being successful will make me happy.

I hate to break this to you, being successful will not make you happy. It will allow you to buy a lot of stuff, and let’s face it no one is ever sad riding a jetski!  You might even feel good about your success, but if you're not happy before all of that, there's a really good chance you won't be happy after you gain success.

Let's start with this concept: Work Success ≠ Happiness

Have you ever met someone working a dead-end job, a just-not-going-anywhere type of job, but they're completely joyous? 

I have. I envy those people. They don't define their happiness in life by the level of success they've obtained in their career. Their happiness is defined by a number of other things: Are their basic needs met? Do they enjoy the people they surround themselves with? Do they have a positive outlook on life? These individuals don't allow the external world to impact their happiness.  Their happiness is derived from within.

In HR, I've been forced to learn this because I've had people try to sell me on the idea that engagement = happiness, which is also a lie. I've had incredibly engaged workers who are very unhappy people and very happy people who weren't engaged. I've found over time that I can do almost nothing to "make" someone be happier. I'm an external factor to their life. Don't get me wrong, as a leader I can give praise and recognition, I can give merit and bonuses, etc. While that might have a short-term impact to one's happiness, it's not truly lasting happiness that comes from within.

So, how can you help someone find their happiness? I think we have to start realizing that you don't have to "work" at something you love to have happiness at work. Putting work into the perspective of life is key. I like what I do a whole bunch, hell, I blog about it! But if I really thought about it, I don't "love" it. I love my family. I love floating on a lake on a warm summer day. I love listening to my sons laugh in pure joy. I find my happiness in many ways, only part of which I gain through my career.

My secret to happy work is finding happiness in a number of aspects in my life. That way if I'm having a bad day at work, or a bad day at home, I still have pockets of happiness I can adjust my focus to.

What is your secret to being happy at work?