Here are a few facts from this book by Gregg Easterbrook.

"The percentage of Americans who describe themselves as 'happy' has not budged since the 1950's, though the typical person's real income has more than doubled through that period..."

...Adjusting for population, 'unipolar depression', the condition in which a person always feels blue, is today ten times as prevalent as it was half a century ago."

How can we have more stuff, more medicine, and more progress, and yet be significantly more unhappy than our great-grandparents?

The topic really resonated with me as I tried to decide if I am happy...

• in my marriage?
• at my job?
• as a parent?
• as a LEADER?

There is no doubt that I am truly blessed and happy.  I have a family, a house, a car and a job. 

Everything else beyond that is just gravy.

As a leader, is that the way you feel, or are you always wanting the better car, better job, better boss, better office, or better paycheck?

As we turn the page to 2010, all of as leaders need to make an agreement with ourselves to WANT less and to GIVE more...

Talk about leadership...

See you in 2010!