Arthur Brooks

Okay, so you're 27, you're actually 32.

Now, you're happy.

You know what that means.

You don't have to define it scientifically like I do with the macronutrients of enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose.

You know what it means for you to be happy, okay?

Imagine yourself.

Now, take a piece of paper and write down the five main reasons that you're happy in order.

Number one reason that you're happy, number two that you're happy, all the way to number five.

Now, come back to the present.

How aggressively are you managing one and two versus four and five?

I can tell you what four and five are.

It's money and success.

What's number one and two?

Love and friendship are going to be number two.

Probably, look, your results may differ, as we like to say in the social science business.

But everybody I meet, and then you got to ask yourself, why am I not most aggressively managing one and two?

And the answer is, ah, that'll take care of itself.

Newsflash, no, it won't.

Make a strategic plan for managing one and two, and you will get to that happy state when you're 32 or 40.

63 in my case.