Pleasure Vs. Happiness

"Don't mistake activity with achievement."

- John Wooden 

Have you ever noticed how we get such pleasure in doing the urgent all day and mixing in the pebbles (the small things) on our "to do" list? The pleasure we get from putting out that fire, answering employee questions, scratching through that small to do - sound familiar?

Notice I used the word pleasure. Too often people confuse that word with happiness. They are entirely two different things. Pleasure is all about the short term. We get pleasure from eating a nice warm donut. We get happiness from being active and eating right and staying in shape.

We get pleasure from being busy, knocking off those must do's. How often do you look back on your day, your crossed off lists and unhappily say to yourself, "Did I really accomplish anything today"? You might be thinking, "I never got to the Rock, the big thing I needed to do". We get happiness from working on the big things (the Rocks), the essential things that will keep us energized, passionate, and fulfilled.

We put off the big things until we don't feel like doing them or try to fit them in and procrastinate.

So think about it for tomorrow morning. Do the big things first (the Rocks) while you are the most energized and in a good mood.

Steve Chandler:

"Know ahead of time what the Big Thing is.  Set it up to be TAKEN OUT WITH MASSIVE UNSTOPPABLE ACTION while you are at your most resourceful and energetic.  That is the ultimate source of a person's professional happiness...the feeling of accomplishment you get when you take out the big thing!

 The look on your face alone will motivate others to follow you."

I might add, it will also give you a tremendous amount of energy to take on the rest of the day, and at the end of the day you will be happy with what you got done. Put the Rocks in the bowl first, the pebbles will all fit in.
 

All the best,

Rick Wallace