EP 204: Nic Marks - A New and Refreshing View on Happiness at Work and at Play

<div>Statistician Nic Marks, a fellow of the New Economics Foundation in London, asks why we measure success by productivity instead of by happiness & well-being. He developed The Happy Planet Index, a statistical method to measure, analyse and interpret happiness and then apply evidence to business, education, sustainability, healthcare and economics. He believes that our quality of life is measurable, and that true contentment comes not from the accumulation of material wealth but from our connection to others.</div> <ul> <li>How do we know what we are measuring in happiness is actually true?</li> <li>What is the best question to ask someone to get beyond the barriers to really know if they are happy?</li> <li>Is happiness the right metric?</li> <li>Is happiness the right measure or is there an argument that fulfilment is a better gauge? </li> <li>Some of your research I heard has a 22% improvement in happiness why 22% not 23% or 21%?</li> <li>What is the association between productivity and happiness at work?</li> <li>Is the measure of productivity getting in the way of our genuine happiness at work?</li> <li>Where do happiness and wellness intersect?</li> <li>In Nic's first marriage he was very unhappy at home but happy at work. In hindsight what would he do differently?</li> <li>Nic overlooked red signals. What were the red signals and what should he have done in hindsight?</li> <li>Is Nic now happy? How does he know?</li> <li>Statistics keep Nic grounded. What personal statistics does he keep that allows him to stay grounded?</li> <li>As a kid Nic had a fascination with the power of two. Was that something that his Dad influenced?</li> <li>Nic was a self described very serious young man. How does he see himself today?</li> <li>As a statistician what has Nic discovered about being a man?</li> <li>How Manfred Max-Neef thrilled Nic with the idea that most people don't ask big enough questions.</li> <li>Does Nic see people setting rituals and routines to enable them to stay the course of this feeling of happine