1: The big thinkers say no.

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it,” Ben Franklin once said.

Centuries before, Aristotle wrote: “The life of money-making is one undertaken under compulsion, and wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking; for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else.”

More recently, Maya Angelou observed: “Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love … continue reading

Harvard Study of Human Development, 2003 Questionnaire

Q: “What is the secret to aging well?”

A: “Happiness, caring.  Watch what you’re eating.  Try to get out and do a little walking or exercise.  Have friends.  It’s so good to have friends.” —Harriet Vaughn, Study participant, age 80

1: What does it feel like when we love someone?  Or when we know someone loves us?

“Think about how you experience … continue reading

1: The year was 1946. 

John Marsden and Leo DeMarco were both at major crossroads in their lives,”  Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz write in their book The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

Both men had volunteered to serve in the military during World War II.  John served stateside, while the Navy assigned Leo to duty in the South Pacific.

Both John and … continue reading

1: “People are terrible at knowing what is good for them,” Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz write in The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

There are several reasons for this reality.

First is our belief that happiness is something we achieve. “As if it were an award you could frame and hang on the wall,” Bob and Marc write.  

“Or as if it … continue reading

1:  Are we destined to be happy or unhappy?  Loved or lonely?  Does what happened to us in our childhood define us, forever? 

“We get asked questions like this a lot,” Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz write in their book The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

Bob and Marc are the current Director and Associate Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development… continue reading

1: “Most of what we know about human life we know from asking people to remember the past,” Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz write in The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

The only problem with this approach?

People’s “memories are full of holes,” the authors write.”  Just try to remember what you had for dinner last Tuesday, or who you spoke with on … continue reading

1: “If you had to make one life choice, right now, to set yourself on the path to future health and happiness, what would it be?” Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz ask in The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

Would we start saving more money?  Change our occupation?  Decide to travel more?  

Back in 2007, a group of millennials were surveyed regarding their … continue reading

1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.

Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we are working on at PCI.

The last several Fridays we’ve been exploring ideas on how to have better and deeper conversations.  We’ll continue with this theme in upcoming Fridays as we revisit ideas from prior … continue reading

1: “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period,” says Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the longest and most comprehensive study on human happiness.

Period. Hard stop.

Robert tells us: “It’s not the number of friends you have; it’s the quality of your close relationships that matters.”

In his book The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor shares … continue reading

This week we’ve been looking at relationships: how the strength of our relationships is the number one driver of happiness and how to create moments – personally and professionally – that deepen our relationships.

Today we revisit public enemy #1 of building relationships: technology.

First, to be clear: I like technology.  Technology is a good thing.  Technology makes our lives better.

And…  Technology is also a relationship-chiller. 

Let’s say we’re … continue reading