The happy secret to getting more sales is, happiness. A vital skill to succeed in sales and life is how to be happy. Happy people sell more, because who wants to buy from unhappy or pessimistic people?

Here’s an entertaining Ted Talk by Shawn Achor on the science of happiness.

Misguided assumptions

There’s an assumption that our external world is a predictor of our happiness. He posits that if he knew everything about our external world, he could only predict 10% of our happiness. 90% of our happiness is determined by how our brain processes the world. If we changed it, we can change the way we affect reality.

It’s not necessarily the reality that shapes us, but the lens through which our brain views the world is what shapes your reality. If we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single education and business outcome at the same time.

Achor reminds us, in the west and capitalist economies the formula for success is, if I work harder I’ll be more successful. And if I’m more successful I’ll be happier.

The problem with this formula is, as soon as we achieve success, the goalposts change, s0 if we close a sale, we have to close another sale.

If happiness is on the opposite side of success, your brain never gets there

His research shows, our brains work in the opposite order, and operates more effectively and efficiently  in a positive state and here are some of the stats:
In a positive state we’re:

• 31% more productive than negative, neutral or stress.
• 37% better at sales
• 19% at coming up with correct diagnosis

If we can be more positive in the present, rather than waiting for some future event to occur, we can work smarter, and perform even better. Being happier releases a neuro-chemical called dopamine and it has 2 functions: it makes you even happier and turns on all the learning centres in the brain.
According to Achor’s research, to be happier it only takes 2 minutes a day for 21 days in a row to rewire our brain for happiness and work more successfully.

How to be happy: daily things we can do to begin that process

• Write 3 things you’re grateful for
• Journaling
• Meditate
• Exercise
• Random conscious acts of kindness

What do you do to be happier or what one thing can you do for 21 days straight to start being happier? Tell me in the comments below.