Psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity. The brain works significantly better when you're feeling positive, so developing a good outlook allows you to be smarter and more creative. "We found that optimism is the greatest predictor of entrepreneurial success because it allows your brain to perceive more possibilities," said Achor. "Only 25 percent of job success is based upon IQ. Seventy-five percent is about how your brain believes your behavior matters, connects to other people, and manages stress."
We also recommend watching: "Matthieu Ricard: The Habits of Happiness" and "New American Dream: The High Price of Materialism".
Shawn Achor is the CEO of Good Think Inc., a Cambridge-based consulting firm where he researches and teaches about positive psychology. Based on his research and 12 years of experience at Harvard, he researches positive outliers -- people who are well above average -- to understand where human potential, success and happiness intersect. He is also the author of The Happiness Advantage.
Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work