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.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“As Ted shows, the happier the company, the more successful it can become.”
—Maria Shriver, author, journalist, First Lady of California
“A happy team can be a winning team. It is all about following Ted’s belief in happiness and success. I buy into it completely, and it really works; I believe Ted’s book can help you become MVP in your life, at work, and at home.”
—Alex Ovechkin, two-time NHL Most Valuable Player—Washington Capitals
“Ted Leonsis has one of the most creative minds in business. His insights on business, career planning, and how to succeed in today’s 24/7 environment reflect the wisdom of a renaissance man. . . and in The Business of Happiness, he is your personal guide.”
—Ken Chenault, CEO and Chairman, American Express Company
“Ted’s successful path to happiness in life, from the mean streets of Brooklyn to AOL executive to philanthropist, moved him to share his story and his way. Do yourself a favor: read it and be inspired.”
—Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development Corporation and the Mozilla Foundation, which created the Firefox browser
“This wonderful book is as bouncy, ebullient, energetic, and likeable as its author.”
—Don Graham, CEO and chairman of the board, The Washington Post Company
“Read this book. You may not end up with his life. But there’s a good chance you’ll get something even more valuable—his outlook on life.”
—Chris Wallace, FOX News
“Ted Leonsis is absolutely correct that money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you Ted’s book, which will bring you happiness—and success.”
—LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
From the Inside Flap
What’s Your Plan For Happiness?
When the plane he was on prepared for a crash landing, Ted Leonsis asked himself the crucial question, If today is my last day on earth—will I die happy?. . . and realized the answer was no. Despite having achieved massive business success—he was a self-made multi-millionaire at the age of twenty-seven—he realized he would die unfulfilled. He told God that if he survived, he would turn his life around, give back more than he took, and pursue happiness. After walking off that plane, he got to work.
In The Business of Happiness, Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals and former group president and vice chairman of AOL, shares the six secrets of happiness he discovered since that fateful plane ride. Treating happiness as a goal like any other, he made a list of what he thought would make him happy, and made a plan to achieve his goals. Along the way he discovered an incredible truth—business or financial success doesn’t bring happiness, but happiness can bring you business and financial success.
Inside The Business of Happiness, you’ll learn, as Ted did:
* How success follows happiness (not the other way around)
* The importance of having a “double bottom line”—and how you really can do well by doing good
* The key to finding your own higher calling
* Why you should have a life plan for happiness, just as an entrepreneur has a business plan to launch and sustain a business
* The six essential secrets that lead to happiness and success
* How Ted lived his journey from a Brooklyn kid to sports team franchise owner—and the lessons learned along
* What was on Ted’s list—and what should be on yours
Nothing is more universal than the desire to be happy. Ted Leonsis has made a lifetime’s study of that desire and how to achieve it—and now he wants to share what he’s learned with you. The Business of Happiness will show you how to become the happy, successful, and generous person you’ve always wanted to be.
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More About the Author
Ted Leonsis is an Internet industry pioneer who helped build AOL into a global phenomenon. He is a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple successful businesses over three decades, culminating with the recent sale of Revolution Money to American Express. He owns the NHL's Washington Capitals and other sports properties. He is an award-winning producer of documentaries, and the founder and chairman of SnagFilms. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, and later, Lowell, Massachusetts, he now lives in McLean, Virginia, and Vero Beach, Florida, with his wife and two children.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Yanik Silver
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a 20+ year Caps fan, serial entrepreneur and voracious business book reader, I immediately pre-ordered the book when it was first available...and it was one of the best books I've read this year!
There are 2 main parts to the book. The first starting with Ted's story and the second with the 6 principles outlined and dissected. Following Ted's blog I've read parts of his story but never the whole thing and found this really insightful and inspiring.
I loved the journey and how each new endeavor (business or charitable) lead to more insights and distinctions for Ted towards happiness. Starting with a list of 101 items it was instructive to see how `business-like' Ted started with this journey to happiness or what he thought would make him happy. I really like how he pointed out buying a Ferrari (which was on the list) was like an empty calorie and didn't have much meaning afterwards. But other items on the list had a tremendous impact on his happiness.
The life list is the first of 6 tenets of happiness as identified by Ted. 1) Life list. 2) Multiple Communities of Interest. 3) Finding Outlets for Self-Expression. 4) Gratitude. 5) Giving Back. 6) Higher Calling.
It's a great list to focus on and this was the first business book I've seen to mention "Higher Calling" and "Finding Outlets for Self Expression" to help with your happiness. I love that and totally believe in it!
Ted repeatedly warns readers that `over-indexing' in one facet of your life - business success - prevents you from being happy. It's in the variety and living a full life that happiness occurs as a by-product. And this is certainly a good roadmap for anybody who wants to get there and take a shortcut.
There are 2 main parts to the book. The first starting with Ted's story and the second with the 6 principles outlined and dissected. Following Ted's blog I've read parts of his story but never the whole thing and found this really insightful and inspiring.
I loved the journey and how each new endeavor (business or charitable) lead to more insights and distinctions for Ted towards happiness. Starting with a list of 101 items it was instructive to see how `business-like' Ted started with this journey to happiness or what he thought would make him happy. I really like how he pointed out buying a Ferrari (which was on the list) was like an empty calorie and didn't have much meaning afterwards. But other items on the list had a tremendous impact on his happiness.
The life list is the first of 6 tenets of happiness as identified by Ted. 1) Life list. 2) Multiple Communities of Interest. 3) Finding Outlets for Self-Expression. 4) Gratitude. 5) Giving Back. 6) Higher Calling.
It's a great list to focus on and this was the first business book I've seen to mention "Higher Calling" and "Finding Outlets for Self Expression" to help with your happiness. I love that and totally believe in it!
Ted repeatedly warns readers that `over-indexing' in one facet of your life - business success - prevents you from being happy. It's in the variety and living a full life that happiness occurs as a by-product. And this is certainly a good roadmap for anybody who wants to get there and take a shortcut.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book that many in the workforce should be able to relate to: it describes one very successful entrepreneur's path to self-realization and fulfillment beyond the mere size of one's bank account, and provides concrete examples of how that actualization has actually resulted in more success in business. And, it does so without shamelessly promoting any particular religious philosophy or morality. Not only does it provide extensive details to serve as a blueprint for others, but it goes into considerable discourse about the reasons for the various components that make up that blueprint. Unfortunately, it does detour somewhat extensively, (the middle portion of the book), into more detail than is needed into the rise and fall of America On Line, (and a pre-occupation with the potential negative effects of short-term financial performance over long term goals). That portion reads more like a condemnation of public companies and wall street analysts generally than a book about why and how to be a happy businessman. It's the only distraction from an otherwise outstanding manifesto.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Okie Expat
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While I'm not quite done with the book yet, kudos to Washington Capitals owner and former AOL exec Ted Leonsis for a terrific book based on this simple premise: Happiness leads to success, not vice versa. Ted does a nice job of mixing personal experiences with "life lessons," both as a business owner and executive and lead owner of the most exciting NHL franchise in recent history. He makes a compelling and inspirational case for his premise.
It starts with the proverbial life changing event -- an "almost" plane crash that forced him to confront the fact that had he died that day, he would not have died a happy man. Using tried and true business techniques (building a "bucket list" of sorts, although he doesn't call it that), he created a personal metric to both largely define and measure his progress towards being happy. He shows that happy people are successful people, not vice versa.
It's a delightful read, chock full of common sense. As one who took Ted's "Happiness Survey" on his blog ([...]), I couldn't wait to order his book, and have not been disappointed. Ted is honest, open, transparent and inspiring. You'll discover why Ted's been a huge success as the transformational owner of the NHL's leading hockey team. And for those of us in business, we will discover some not-so-secrets of his success, including humility, transparency, and respect for all. A must read for hockey fans and business leaders, especially aspiring ones.
It starts with the proverbial life changing event -- an "almost" plane crash that forced him to confront the fact that had he died that day, he would not have died a happy man. Using tried and true business techniques (building a "bucket list" of sorts, although he doesn't call it that), he created a personal metric to both largely define and measure his progress towards being happy. He shows that happy people are successful people, not vice versa.
It's a delightful read, chock full of common sense. As one who took Ted's "Happiness Survey" on his blog ([...]), I couldn't wait to order his book, and have not been disappointed. Ted is honest, open, transparent and inspiring. You'll discover why Ted's been a huge success as the transformational owner of the NHL's leading hockey team. And for those of us in business, we will discover some not-so-secrets of his success, including humility, transparency, and respect for all. A must read for hockey fans and business leaders, especially aspiring ones.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
B C
Excellent read. He writes like I think, so it makes lots of sense to me. Thanks for writing a concise stragety for getting the most out of life. Kudos
Published 1 month ago by Betty Donaldson
4.0 out of 5 stars
It was a good book, I would recommend it.
I did not rate 5 stars due to the fact that I did not realize that half of the book was going to be about Ted Leonsis himself.
Published 4 months ago by Bradley Fry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Part Biography Part Handbook for Happiness
I enjoyed reading Ted's book and found some great take-home value. I, like Ted, have had a list for years, and work to achieve those goals. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Patrick Sweeney
4.0 out of 5 stars
I was amazed that I liked this book
I bought this book for my son, a MAJOR Caps fan, so I didn't expect to like it. As a forty-year veteran of the high tech industry, much of what he says makes total sense. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Hearth
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Business of Happines: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Life...
Misleading title. The book is all about the author and there is nothing for the reader to do but applaud/envy/read with stupefication the author's successes. Read more
Published on April 22, 2011 by Deepa Sanyal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Inspiring story, message, philosophy. I loved everything about his outlook. Much of which I already have, but some insights picked up along the way.
Published on January 31, 2011 by Alan Jobb
1.0 out of 5 stars
Better ways to be happy
Received this book as a Christmas present from dear old mom. Boy, this was one that I will not dare recycle. Read more
Published on January 27, 2011 by Meg Sparrow
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Dealer
Enjoyed the book, and it was a very good price. It arrived at my door within a week of purchase.
Deffo a recommended dealer.
Deffo a recommended dealer.
Published on January 25, 2011 by Mr Me Too
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very Disappointing
It's clear that Ted Leonsis has lived a remarkably successful and charmed life. He has given back time, money and opportunities to those less fortunate than him. Read more
Published on December 5, 2010 by MLeland
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book is changing my life, its good, there is a catch
Ted Leonsis seems to have lived in a world of elitists basically since high school and he comes off as really disconnected from the real world. Read more
Published on November 19, 2010 by Just A Review
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