We work to make money, so, what’s the point if it is doesn’t make us happy? Good question. A lot of people just work for the weekend to have some fun. Does that mean that during the week there is no fun? It’s discouraging to think that we might spend 70% of our time facilitating 30% of pleasure.

When we struggle under the pressures of deadlines, production targets, minimum spend and maximum exposure, it is a wonder that we find time for any pleasure at all. Even the weekends can be interrupted by the worries of work.

Stress and tension in short bursts are actually good for us. Over a longer period, however, they begin to tear us apart. The neurologist Robert Sapolsky says, “We are designed for the danger of an immediate attack, not a thirty year mortgage.” Stress is driving people crazy.

Right now, we are experiencing an epidemic of depression and unhappiness that is devastating the workplace: sick leave is up; we have ‘stress leave’;
production is affected; buying confidence is affected; companies spend lots of money on motivating their workers. To compensate, the new buzz words are innovation and communication. It is absolutely extraordinary that the most creative and talkative species on the planet has to have special programmes to do what we should do naturally. We have designed a system of business that can stop fundamental processes of being human. If we
do this only to make money, then we have made a mistake.

Something must be done to find the ‘business happiness factor’. Making money is necessary to survive, but a happy business needs more. It needs to be Helpful – to both staff and customer; Active – in the promotion and
production of its product; Productive – in a qualitative and efficient manner; Profitable – spending less than it earnt; Innovative – finding better ways to do things; Necessary – satisfying some purpose or need; Expanding – maintaining sustainable growth; Sensitive – to the needs of customers and staff; and Stable – to avoid unacceptable risks.

If money doesn’t buy you happiness, surely work shouldn’t just be about the money! Richard Hill will be launching his new book ‘How the real world is driving us crazy!’ as well as speaking on the subject at the Melbourne
MindBodySpirit Festival (9-12 June).

For details see www.mbsfestival.com.au.