What makes you happy?

What makes you happy? Big things or little things?

That is the question Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University professor asked. He found that it is not the big things- like a multi-million dollar lottery win.

Gilbert concluded, “It is the little things – like being able to walk to work every day, or wearing painter pants or a single malt scotch at the end of the day.”

Bottom line – it’s not the big things that make you happy, it is the little things repeated over time. Little things repeated make you happy. That could be hearing a cheery good morning every day, admiring your garden every day or receiving regular positive feedback. If only more managers knew and did that with their staff.

The obverse is true. It is not the big tragedies that destroy you – it is the little things neglected over time. People recover from a terrible accident, death or disaster. Why? Because they receive enough compensating little positive things over time.


Learning Point:

What does that suggest to you as a marketer?

It is not the big things you do that attract your customers – it is the little things repeated over time.

What repels your customers? Not the big things – but the little things you do poorly.

Contact your customers and prospects repeatedly over time.

If you make a mistake – contact your customers and prospects repeatedly over time.

The more positive contacts you make – the more positive is your relationship.

Contrary to the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” – sweat the small stuff.

George Torok
Co-author Secrets of Power Marketing