The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work

by Ted Leonsis, John Buckley (Contributor)

Albert Schweitzer said, “Happiness is the key to success.” In The Business of Happiness, Ted Leonsis—business, sports, and media mogul—proves Schweitzer’s point, explaining that success may or may not make you happy, but happiness will almost always make you more successful. Through research studies, personal stories, and anecdotal evidence from celebrities, famous athletes, and influential businessmen, Ted reveals the six secrets to achieving true happiness—and how they make success almost inevitable. Showing people exactly how they can apply the six secrets to their work, at home, and in their personal lives, Leonsis also reveals how some of the most successful and happy people today—Bono, Michael Jordan, Steve Case—have put these secrets into practice for themselves. Dynamic, inspiring, and unique, The Business of Happiness proves that anyone can be more successful and happier, including you.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Christopher Lewis Kozoriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In order to live a life without regret, it is vital to both set goals and take available opportunities to achieve them. (Ted Leonsis, The Business of Happiness, Page 111)

Have you ever heard of AOL (America Online)..."You've Got Mail"? The author is one of the founders of this company.

Billionaire Ted Leonsis had a reckoning during a potential plan crash. He then prayed and asked God to spare him and he would give back. He then listed out a list of 101 Goals and set to achieve them. This list is provided at the back of this book and he has completed the majority of them. Some of them were:

√ Fall in love and get married;
√ Net worth of one hundred million dollars, after taxes;
√ Own a jet;
√ Give one million dollars to Georgetown University/sit on Board;
√ Own a sports franchise (basketball, hockey or football);
√ Go to Greece;
√ Write a book;

He completed all of these and more. He still has a few unchecked items on his list like:

* Sail around the world with family;
* Win a world championship;
* Give away one hundred million dollars in a lifetime;

This author has studied a lot about what makes people happy. Some of the things he mentions that happy people do are that they are involved in different communities, they give back, they have a higher purpose, they have a list of goals and are taking steps to achieve these goals, they have outlets of expression, they are grateful...

Great read.

[Blog on Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Leonsis is one happy guy. Perhaps you would be too if you had sold your first company for a cool $60 million before you even turned thirty.

Leonsis, a former internet kingpin (AOL) and a sports team owner in Washington D.C. has good reason to be happy with his success in business, but to hear Leonsis tell it, happiness is no accident. According to his book, "The Business of Happiness," you too can achieve an increased level of happiness just by applying several of the principals outlined in the book. To achieve improved happiness, Leonsis recommends things like keeping a list of life-long goals (a list he made after a life-changing near fatal airplane incident), give back to those more needy and activate the communities that you are a natural constituent for.

The book is divided into two halves; the first is a sort of mini-biography of Ted's years as a tech entrepreneur leading into combining his fledgling company with Steve Case's early AOL, the famed (and some say ill-fated) merger between AOL and TimeWarner, and finally life after the internet with the purchase of a series of sports teams that again emphasize the principals of teamwork, pride and community.

The second half of the book is where Leonsis outlines his six principles of happiness and how each one has pushed him further up the happiness chain. While Leonsis' recantation is filled with an upbeat attitude, it's hard not to imagine some obstacles along the way. But for all his optimism, Leonsis recommendations are concrete examples of just what can be achieved with a change in attitude as well as keeping a steady eye on the goal tiller. "The Business of Happiness" is filled with ideas for improving both one's outlook and results. Leonsis' own story is the prove of the pudding.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Leonsis is a fascinating person, and the first half of this book tells his story in a voice that's clearly his. The journey from childhood in Brooklyn, to high school in Massachusetts, to college at Georgetown is inspiring. The details of building his first business, working at AOL during good times and bad, and buying the Washington Capitals offer great fodder for reflections on how to run a successful organization - as well as plenty of examples of what not to do, both in business and in life.

But I think the book loses some steam in the second half, when the tone changes from memoir/business case study to self-help. The insights become less profound (Networking can happen at charity events too! Not just business meetings!) and the points get a little repetitive (no, really, Bono likes to help people). Still, a great read overall, and confirmation of my impression of Leonsis as a uniquely grounded individual.

[Bedour · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب جميل كان نتاجاً لرحلة على متن طائرة كان لها النجاة من حادث مأساوي , فانطلق الكاتب باحثاً عن معنى للسعادة وما ذا يشترك فيه الاشخاص الناجحين والسعداء , فضم ستة مبادئ رئيسية لتصنع سعادتك :
1-تحديد الأهداف التي يجب العمل على تحقيقها
2-المشاركة بأنشطة وعلاقات إجتماعية
3-التعبير عن الذات عبر وسيلة ثقافية أو فنية أو رياضية
4-امتلاك القدرة على التعبير عن الأمتنان
5-التعاطف والالتزام مع المجتمع مادياً ومعنوياً
6-الإيمان بالله وتنشئة أجيال تتمسك بالفضيلة

[Lew Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the way Ted looks at life. This book describes his life and provides lessons on why it is important to do good as well as do well. We need more people like Ted Leonsis running business. The world would be a better place.

Easy read. Full of insights.

[Belal Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billionaire Washingtonian, Ted Leonsis shares his story and inspiration of business, life, and happiness. Biggest takeaway was the importance of having your dreams written down, no matter how silly they may seem.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Leonsis and the force of his personality inspired me to seek out his book. It really does contain his "secret" and continues to influence my life in very surprising but subtle ways.

[The Book Studio]

Watch Bethanne Patrick interview Ted Leonsis about his new book The Business of Happiness on The Book Studio.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at Leonsis' life and his "research" into happiness. While it gets repetitive, it is still worth reading and thinking about.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've worked at AOL and Snagfilms. Ted's story is one I've heard him tell in person, and this book captures that story well. Worth reading, thinking about, and implementing in your own way.