Biz Owners: Can $'s Buy You Happiness? | Biz Money Matters | | Small business news; tips; networking

Posted by TonyJohnston_CNi under Management
From http://blog.tonyjohnston.biz 729 days ago
Made Hot by: m4bmarketing on February 15, 2010 1:40 am

Particularly in entrepreneurial and family owned business situations, the pursuit of personal happiness is the key motivator. This article helps business owners learn how they can maximize their happiness through learning about the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ of happiness motivation, ‘the why’ of happiness motivation, and ‘the science’ of it.

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Written by franpro
726 days ago

Nice job on this article. I have found in my years of helping folks get into business that;

A. They want to at least make as much as they've been used to making, if they become small business owners.

B. They want to get rid of the bureaucracy that has frustrated them for years, and have more freedom and control.

The Franchise King®

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

Thank you - given what you do, your comments have the weight of authority to them.

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Written by CFOWISE
727 days ago

I enjoyed the article, although I am of the opinion that happiness goes deeper than any of the points mentioned. I will put a link to it at the bottom of my comment.

Happiness is derived from living in a place where freedom and capitalism allow you to make your own way. Arriving at the big money is not the most relevant or impactful - it is the process we go through, and the underlying freedoms and capitalistic motives to improve, that foster an environment where people can be happy.

I have known a lot of entrepreneurs who sell their companies for a lot of money and retire. Usually within days they are bored to death and looking for the next challenge. Their motivation and happiness is derived from creating and building, not usually from the finished product.

Here is a link to a blog post I wrote a while back that links to the article: http://www.cfowise.com/part-time-cfo/capitalism-fosters-happiness/

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

Your comment was much appreciated. And I agree, thank God for the progressive capitalistic system we enjoy today - one where freedom reigns while providing all with enough reasonable restraints and controls so that the lawless old 'wild west' situation (or that in existence in China and Russia today) doesn't reward those who would abuse freedom through the use of force, cheating or self-interest motivated aggression.

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Written by lyceum
726 days ago

Ken Kaufman: I agree with you about the notion that a capitalistic system must be in place in order to be able to strive for the pursuit of happiness. You could be happy when you achieve your values. To make it clearer, you can't really be happy in a dictatorship.

Have you seen the movie, Pursuit of Happyness?

http://egoist.blogspot.com/2008/01/pursuit-of-happyness.html

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Written by smallbiztrends
727 days ago

This was an excellent article. It brings to mind some research by Guardian Life -- the "What Matters Most" Index. According to that, once you're in business, it's focus on others that adds meaning to your life and your business. Focus on customers, focus on employees....

http://www.smallbizdom.com/what_matters_most.html

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

And thanks for operating BizSugar for the benefit of us all.

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

Many thanks for your comment and the link to Guardian Life's "What Matters Most to America’s Small Business Owners" Index research. I find it refreshing how providing meaning to others so outranked narrow self interest, for as shown below, personal freedom only came in no. 4:

What Matters Most to America’s Small Business Owners

1. Customers who appreciate what we do (5.8)

2. Keeping the customers we have from leaving (5.6)

3. My employees (5.5)

4. Freedom (5.3)

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Written by ShawnHessinger
728 days ago

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Tony. I really think the major purpose of small business is not so much making a lot of money but creating the resources to fulfill your needs. So probably meeting the needs of you and your family should probably be the key to planning what success really means for you and your business.

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

Shawn, comments like yours make posting articles worthwhile - many thanks.

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Written by billrice
728 days ago

Tony,

You nail a key motivator many miss in family businesses. They aren't looking to be Warren Buffett they are looking for quality (control) of life as the big pay-out. Good stuff!

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Written by TonyJohnston_CNi
714 days ago

Bill, I'm encouraged that you have seen that family business reality too. Thank you very much for your comment.

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