Episode 85- Shawn Achor on The Happiness Advantage

Most people believe: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. But if you think the key to…

Episode 85- Shawn Achor on The Happiness Advantage

Most people believe: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. But if you think the key to…

Most people believe: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. But if you think the key to happiness is success, you’ve got it backwards. It’s happiness that fuels success. Shawn Achor is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. He’s the bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. More than a decade of research shows that training your brain to be positive first actually leads to greater success at work. On this episode, Shawn shares the four biggest predictors of happiness, how to spark happiness in your own life, and the simple steps you can take to embrace a positive mindset.

Follow Shawn: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

“Happiness is the joy you feel moving towards your potential.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

How Shawn became a “happiness researcher” (2:07)
How small interventions can change your levels of happiness (4:40)
The definition of happiness: the joy we feel moving towards potential (7:53)
Success doesn’t fuel happiness; happiness fuels success (10:08)
The greatest predictors of happiness: optimism, gratitude, meaning and social connection (15:31)
A better way to use social media (19:16)
How to measure your happiness (22:33)
The power in choosing happiness (24:52)
The human capacity to change (27:14)
The 21-day gratitude challenge and other simple ways to increase your happiness (27:37)
The science of happiness (30:47)
The interconnection between happiness and success (33:06)
The one thing to do after you listen to this podcast (37:22)
What to teach your kids about happiness (40:12)

Resources / People Mentioned

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
Before Happiness by Shawn Achor
Big Potential by Shawn Achor
Oprah’s 21-Day Happiness Course with Shawn Achor
Shawn Achor’s TED Talk: The happy secret to better work
Ellen Langer (Harvard)
Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General
Make Stress Work For You by Shawn Achor
Positive Psychology Center at The University of Pennsylvania
Bringing Big Potential to Flint, Michigan
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Tal Ben-Shahar, positive psychology
Photo Lab HD
Pete Carroll, NFL coach

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Get Molly’s Free 5-Minute Morning Routine to Build Better Relationships

LATEST BOOK

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

A #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

In a world fixated on fleeting success, a bold framework for pursuing your goals unapologetically without compromising what matters most. This isn’t just another self-help theory: Dynamic Drive is your practical guide to unlocking your true potential. Through her decades of experience working with top athletes and peak performers across industries, renowned keynote speaker and leadership expert Molly Fletcher has created a proven formula backed by research that outlines the seven keys to sustainable success. The truth is fulfillment doesn’t come from setting and accomplishing goals in isolation. It comes from Dynamic Drive—a holistic approach that connects all parts of you with your purpose and allows you to engage in meaningful growth, both personally and professionally. Unlike traditional approaches that dilute drive into a mere means to an end, which can lead to burnout, Dynamic Drive is a way of life, a mindset. It’s about figuring out the parts of your life where you are playing small or safe or are dissatisfied. Dynamic Drive is the process by which we implement and sustain intentional change. The greatest reward isn’t in what you achieve, but who you become in the process. Your path to sustained high performance in all areas of your life begins here. This is your manual for an aligned, joyful, and relentless pursuit of a better you.

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

Episode 237- Serena Williams’ Coach Patrick Mouratoglou on Why Talent Isn’t Enough

What if the very thing we celebrate most—talent—is actually holding us back? Patrick Mouratoglou is one of the most respected coaches in tennis, best known for guiding Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 Grand Slam titles and now coaching four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. But his insights go...

Episode 236- Dr. Becky Kennedy on Raising Resilient, Confident Kids

What if your hardest parenting moments are actually your greatest opportunities to lead with confidence, connection, and trust? Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the founder of Good Inside—a global parenting movement changing the way we raise our kids. In this episode, Dr. Becky shares practical...

Episode 235- How to Create Buy-In and Build Trust with NBA Coach Will Hardy

Want to know the secret to success? Show up, say yes, and outwork everyone in the room. That mindset helped Will Hardy become one of the youngest head coaches in the NBA. Now in his third season leading the Utah Jazz, Will previously served as an assistant coach with the...

Episode 234- There’s No Such Thing as Overnight Success with Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Rachel Platten

Rachel Platten’s Fight Song became a global anthem of resilience, but her journey to success—and what came after—is an even more powerful story. In this episode, Rachel opens up about the grind before her breakthrough, the emotional rollercoaster of fame, and how stepping away from the industry led her to...

Episode 233- From Model to Mogul: Molly Sims on Career Pivots and Betting Big on Yourself

Success isn’t about following a straight path—it’s about knowing when to pivot. Molly Sims has done just that. From supermodel to Hollywood to building YSE Beauty from the ground up, she’s proof that reinvention is always possible. In this episode, Molly reveals how she’s navigated major career transitions, taken bold...

Episode 232- The 5 Types of Wealth with Sahil Bloom

What if the way we measure success is broken? In this episode I sit down with Sahil Bloom, author of the new book The 5 Types of Wealth, to explore a new definition of true wealth. Sahil shares the wake-up call that forced him to reevaluate his career, relationships, and...

Resources