The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work

Selling happiness seems to have hit a chord with American consumers, with Coca-Cola urging customers to “Open Happiness” and Zappos.com promising to continue “Delivering Happiness.” Recent data from The Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index workplace survey reveals that workplace satisfaction in the U.S. has continued to decline over the past three years. This data suggests there may be a correlation between Americans looking to buy happiness while searching for it in their own lives and careers.   

In his new book, The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work (Wiley; Hardcover; May 2011; $22.95; 978-0-470-88856-8) Jon Gordon, the international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Energy Bus, takes readers on an enlightening and life-changing quest to finding passion, purpose, and happiness in one’s life and work. 

Millions of new graduates will be entering the workforce in the next few months and, like the generations before them, they are eager to find a career that will both support them financially and fulfill their desire to find happiness and purpose. In The Seed, Gordon explains that no matter the job, the energy and mindset that people bring to their jobs is what truly matters and will ultimately be what brings them true happiness in their careers. He also explains how to start the process right now. 

The Seed introduces readers to Josh, an up and comer in his company who has lost his passion at work. His boss, who has noticed Josh’s apathy and poor performance, challenges Josh to take two weeks to decide if he really wants to work there. Josh then heads to the country, where he meets a farmer who hands Josh a seed and tells him that when he discovers the right place to plant the seed his purpose will be revealed to him. 

Through the characters and lessons of The Seed, readers will ultimately discover new ways to find true happiness in their work, by learning how to: 

• Focus on Get to instead of Have to--While commuting to work focus on what you “get to” do instead of what you “have to” do.  With gratitude realize that you don’t have to do anything. You get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. Gratitude floods your body and brain with emotions that uplift you and energize you rather than stress hormones that drain you.
• Don’t Expect your Boss, Co-workers and Customers to Make you Happy--Realize that happiness is an inside job. Our happiness has less to do with forces outside of us and more to do with what’s inside of us. The way we think about work, feel about work and approach our work influences our happiness at work.  You’ll also be happier when you focus on what you are giving instead of what you are getting.
• Don’t Seek happiness--Ironically if you want to be happier don’t seek happiness. Instead share your strengths and decide to work with passion and purpose and happiness will find you. The research shows that people are most energized when they are using their strengths for a bigger purpose beyond themselves. Whatever your job, decide to bring passion to it and find purpose in it. Every job will get mundane and “old” if you let it but purpose and passion keep it fresh and make you happier.  
• Focus on Excellence instead of Success-When you focus on success you can easily fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, looking over your shoulder, feeling envious, playing office politics, and competing against coworkers instead of collaborating.  However, when you focus on excellence you measure yourself against your own growth and potential.  You strive to be the best you can be. You simply focus on getting better every day and this makes work more meaningful and rewarding.
• Celebrate Together-While we shouldn’t depend on others to make us happy, by building a positive team or support group at work we will be happier. So instead of expecting others to make you happy you proactively create the positive relationships that enhance your engagement, productivity and happiness. One great way to do this to huddle with your team/group at the end of the week and have each person share their accomplishments, victories, and great moments of the week. 

The Seed brings to light a key lesson that many people who are struggling with happiness in their careers can learn - the fact that a person has a desire to search for their purpose means there is a purpose to be found. For anyone searching to find the path to their true passion – whether a recent graduate, a young professional or a business veteran – The Seed brings an insightful look at the purpose behind work.