Short Summary of Ted Talk by Shawn Achor

1. By Shawn Achor
Submitted by Sonali Gupta

2. What governs our happiness??

3. IS HAPPINESS IN
OUR CONTROL ?
DEPENDS ON
EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT ?

4. External world is responsible for our Happiness

6. Only 10% depends on the happenings in the
External Environment
90% depends on how our BRAIN
processes the external world

7. AROUND US
Everyday, we hear negative news around us

8. Focus on the Lens through which the brain sees the
world and Change that lens

9. According to a Study, JOB SUCCESSES depends on
Intelligence Quotient
(I.Q.)
Optimism Level,
Social Support,
and ability to
handle Stress

10. Traditional Motivation Style
Hard Work Leads to Success
Success Leads to Happiness

12. This motivation style is scientifically

13. Because once you have success, you change your
goalpost to a higher success!

14. PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Work Harder
More Successful
Vicious Circle

15. Hence your brain
NEVER gets to
the
HAPPINESS

16. What
do we do now?

17. Positivity makes the brain
experience “Happiness Advantage”

19. The HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE
• Better Secure Jobs
• Better Keeping Jobs
• Superior Productivity
• More resilient
• Less Burnout
• Less Turnover
• Greater Sales

21. Reverse The Formula For HAPPINESS

22. Creating Lasting Positive Change
• Gratitude
• Journaling
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Random Acts of
Kindness

23. Gratitudes: Write 3 positive things
you are grateful for 21 days in a row. Brain would
retain the pattern

24. Journaling: Write one positive experience
in past 24 hours. Your brain relives it.

25. Exercise teaches brain that behavior matters

26. Meditation
Meditation allows brain to focus on the task at hand

28. Hence creating RIPPLES OF
POSITIVITY and real revolution

29. RECAP
• Traditional Motivation Style says Hard work leads to
success and Success leads to Happiness
• However in reality, success leads to setting higher goals
• Happiness/ Positivity leads to higher success
• Follow steps to be positive
• 1. Gratitude
• 2. Journaling
• 3. Exercise
• 4. Meditation
• 5. Random acts of Kindness

30. References:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0

31. These slides were created by Sonali Gupta,
IIM Lucknow, as part of a MBA Course
“Personal Branding” (www.mbaskills.in) taught
by Prof. Sameer Mathur
Sonali Gupta
Student, IIM Lucknow
Prof. Sameer Mathur
IIM Lucknow