Money Isn't Job Happiness

I spend a good bit of time writing on how to make more money in your next job, Readers. There's just one problem with that: it's not really important.

That hit me right in the face this week when I read this quirky white paper from an equity strategist at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein:

"If it makes you happy: The psychology of happiness"

The author summarizes:

• Don't equate happiness with money. People adapt to income shifts relatively quickly, so the long lasting benefits are essentially zero.
• Exercise regularly. Taking regular exercise generates further energy, and stimulates the mind and the body.
• Have sex (preferably with someone you love). Sex is consistently rated as amongst the highest generators of happiness. So what are you waiting for?
• Devote time and effort to close relationships. Close relationships require work and effort, but pay vast rewards in terms of happiness.
• Pause for reflection, meditate on the good things in life. Simple reflection on the good aspects of life helps prevent hedonic adaptation.
• Seek work that engages your skills, look to enjoy your job. It makes sense to do something you enjoy. This in turn is likely to allow you to flourish at your job, creating a pleasant feedback loop.
• Give your body the sleep it needs.
• Don't pursue happiness for its own sake: enjoy the moment. Faulty perceptions of what makes you happy may lead to the wrong pursuits. Additionally, activities may become a means to an end, rather than something to be enjoyed, defeating the purpose in the first place.
• Take control of your life, set yourself achievable goals.
• Remember to follow all the rules.

In a similar vein, one of our great professors at HBS, Bill Sahlman in Entrepreneurial Finance, warned us that:

"Expenses rise to meet income."

It's not the money that's going to make us happy, because we can always find some new hobby or avocation to pursue (for me it's Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, ancient coins and epigraphy, or the latest toro tuna sashimi creation at any of New York's trendy dining spots).

As a $100K+ professional, as a leader in this country, we should pursue our happiness, our duty, our love of family, God and country first. Those are the sturdy legs upon which to set our tables. The money will follow, and we can't confuse money with happiness or class.

That struck me while I was (uncharacteristically, frankly) reading the New York Times on the plane Sunday, and this series caught my eye, "How Class Influences Destiny in America".

From the mouths of babes, and Nantucket taxi drivers, comes great wisdom:

The old summer people "used to try and fit in," said Arlene Briard, a taxi driver who has lived here 35 years. "They didn't want to differentiate themselves by class or by a look that said how much money I have. When I sold TV Guides to people, I'd walk into a house, sit down and have a lemonade with people or play tennis with them at the yacht club. Now they get in my taxi and find a way to tell me that they belong to the Nantucket Golf Club. "Class has a certain grace," Ms. Briard said. "Just because you can go to Chanel and buy a dress does not mean you have class. A person who just pays their bills on time can have class."

All the Rolexes and Beemers and Primer Crus in the world can't excuse us, dear Readers, of our obligations as the leaders of this country.

Your gardener, your maid, your waiter; your subordinates, your suppliers, your colleagues; they all deserve your respect. They've all earned their dignity in this life.

So please don't let the innumerable blessings our country has piled up in front of our eyes blind you to these simple truths:

• Work with people you respect and admire
• Do something you find important
• Grow in your professional life, grow in your personal life

Well here I am on a Sunday afternoon going on like an old fool preacher. You don't need me speechifying, Readers, so I'll quit now and let you get on to the more than 4,000 great jobs in this week's newsletter!

JOBS ACCEPTED BY SALESLADDER SUBSCRIBERS THIS WEEK

Just as reported, typos and all...

Account Director
Account Executive	150K
Account Executive/Ikon	excellent
Account Manager	$110K
account manager	100,000
Account Manager	>$200,000
Account Manager
Account Manager	220K
account manager medical equipment	$160-180 at plan
Account Mgr.	180K
Ad Director	Under negotiations (6figures)
AVP	base plus commission
AVP	120000
Branch Manager	$100,000
Business Dev Executive	100k
Business Development
Business Development Manager	$100K +
Business Development Manager	125000
CEO	200m+
ceo	6 figures
CEO	200000
CEO
director	125000
Director	NA
Director	132K
Director
Director	163000
Director	$150,000
Director	125000
Director	$130,000
Director	125000
Director - Professional Services
Director Hot Spot Sales	170,000
Director of Business Dev.	$100K
Director of Business development	$100K base + comm
Director of Sales	125K + Comm
Director of Sales	100K +
Director, channel sales	ote $150K
district sales manager
dsm	120k base
EVP	+200K + Equity
Exec VP	150000
Executive Director Sales & Marketing	150
Field Sales Representative	$150K at OTE
General Manager
General Manager
General Manager	105,000
GM director	125,000
GM Knology
investment broker (Oil and Gas drilling)	100% commission / $150 to $200 first year
Major Account Executive	125,000
Major Account Manager
Major Account Manager	$120k+
Manager	$125,000 plus bonus, stock options, etc.
Manager	$120k
Manager	110,000
MANAGER COMMERCIAL/FLEET SALES	120K + PERFORMANCE BONUS
Mangager	105
mgr	110000
National Account Manager
National Accts mgr	$140k
National Sales Manager
Owner	200k+
pres	295K
President	800000
President
President	100K +
President	450000
President	240,000
Radio sales
Realtor	120K to 150K year one
Regiona Sales Manager
Regional Manager
Regional Sales Dir
Regional Sales Manager	100K
Regional VP
registered representative	unlimited
RMGR	150k plus
Sales director	base + commission
sales executive
Sales Executive	$170K +
Sales executive
Sales Manager	175000
Sales Manager	$120,000.00
sales manager
Sales Manager	160000
Sales Manager	225,000
Sales Manager	$100,000
Sales Manager	100,000
Sales Manager	$150K
sales manager
Sales Rep	105K
Sales Rep	100K
Sales Rep	120,000
sales rep	105000
Senior ARea manager
Senior Sales Manager
Solutions Manager	$200k
Sr consultant	100K
Sr Mgr	100000
Sr. Acct Exec	140K +
Sr. Director	165k
Sr. Manager	130000
Sr. VP	$215,000
SVP	120,000
SVP	150,000
SVP	150,000
SVP	$100K
SVP Sales & Marketing
Territory Acount Manager	$185k
territory manager	100k plus
Territory Sales
v p	150+
Vice President	USD200000
Vice President
Vice President	250000
Vice President	100K +
vp	135000
VP	175,000
VP	$100+
vp	200000
VP	150+
VP - SALES
vp business development
VP of Sales	$150,000
VP Sales	150000
VP Sales	290k+
VP Sales	175K
vp sales	300k
VP Sales	300,000
VP Sales & Marketing	unlimited
VP Sales and Marketing	250k+
VP- Trade Development	$150,000
western regional sales manager	120,000