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Product Details
| Publisher | Regnery Press |
| ISBN | 1596981148 |
| Creator | John Buckley |
| Author | Ted Leonsis |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Label | Regnery Press |
| Dewey Decimal Number | 650.1 |
| Studio | Regnery Press |
| EAN | 9781596981140 |
| Number Of Pages | 256 |
| Title | The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work |
| Publication Date | 2010-02-09 |
| Manufacturer | Regnery Press |
Customer Reviews
The Business of Happiness - Ted Leonsis (Regnery)Review by BlogOnBooks, 2010-08-31
Ted Leonsis is one happy guy. Perhaps you would be too if you had sold your first company for a cool $60 million before you even turned thirty.
Leonsis, a former internet kingpin (AOL) and a sports team owner in Washington D.C. has good reason to be happy with his success in business, but to hear Leonsis tell it, happiness is no accident. According to his book, "The Business of Happiness," you too can achieve an increased level of happiness just by applying several of the principals outlined in the book. To achieve improved happiness, Leonsis recommends things like keeping a list of life-long goals (a list he made after a life-changing near fatal airplane incident), give back to those more needy and activate the communities that you are a natural constituent for.
The book is divided into two halves; the first is a sort of mini-biography of Ted's years as a tech entrepreneur leading into combining his fledgling company with Steve Case's early AOL, the famed (and some say ill-fated) merger between AOL and TimeWarner, and finally life after the internet with the purchase of a series of sports teams that again emphasize the principals of teamwork, pride and community.
The second half of the book is where Leonsis outlines his six principles of happiness and how each one has pushed him further up the happiness chain. While Leonsis' recantation is filled with an upbeat attitude, it's hard not to imagine some obstacles along the way. But for all his optimism, Leonsis recommendations are concrete examples of just what can be achieved with a change in attitude as well as keeping a steady eye on the goal tiller. "The Business of Happiness" is filled with ideas for improving both one's outlook and results. Leonsis' own story is the prove of the pudding.
Get Happy and Become Successful
Review by Stephen D. Gladis, 2010-07-04
Ted Leonsis is a happy guy, but not because he has a lot of money. Rather, he has a lot of money because he's happy. If you read his biography, The Business of Happiness, you'll get a chance to see how he found happiness through this journey from New York to Massachusetts, and eventually to DC and Virginia. His odyssey, from becoming an English major at Georgetown, to the high-tech business, to a start up, to AOL, to the Capitals, (now the Wizards) and possibly to outer space if he hits all the points on his "life list." Scared by a near fatal plane crash, he compiled his list of 101 things he wanted to do before dying. This book takes the reader on an interesting journey through Leonsis' professional life (including AOL and the AOL-Time Warner M&A mess) and then through what I would call his spiritual life--his journey to happiness. The biography itself was interesting, and the real payoff comes from the secrets he discovered along the way. His six secrets that led him (and presumably could move us) toward happiness and success: 1) Your Life List; 2) Multiple Communities of Interest; 3) Finding Outlets for Self-Expression; 4) Gratitude; 5) Giving Back; 6) A Higher Calling. Kudos, Ted.
Six habits key to success - habits any businessperson needs to adopt
Review by Midwest Book Review, 2010-05-16
The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Work and Life provides a fine review of the author's 'start with success' philosophy, which has helped him achieve success throughout his career. A millionaire at the age of 28, Leonsis faced death and realized he needed to refocus his life. His list of 101 goals that he felt would lead him to happiness led to an identification of six habits key to success - habits any businessperson needs to adopt.
Meaningful memoir from a great contemporary thinker & doer
Review by Mary McMartin, 2010-05-15
I had glimpses of Ted Leonsis as an online pioneer and entrepreneur during the time he was leading and building AOL. It was under his three-year tutelage that AOL and the online industry exploded. He possessed a larger-than-life spirit and energy, brevity and sincerity. This book captured something in him which I feel is very tangible expression of those qualities I observed and which he obviously still possesses. Personally, it seemed like one of the great love letters and tributes to a wife, which I also deeply admired. Ted's "List" was legend around AOL in those days, mid-90's and he really leveraged that experience and the List for creating a greater good - for himself and issues more serious than becoming a wealthily rewarded entrepreneur. Highly recommend this book as a living history of a technology pioneer and visionary who helped create an entirely new industry which moved humanity into the Information Age - combined with a lovely tribute to basic virtures in life of character, philanthropy, empathy and Joie de Vivre.
Excellent, but..
Review by Keiron K, 2010-05-10
An excellent book. However I got the feeling that I was reading an auto-biography.
Even though the author tried to generalize his experience, there was too much focus on himself.
Having said that, this book was a breath of fresh air compared to the other 'ZEN' happiness books floating around.
The book clearly shows one can successfully pursue happiness even in the midst of a busy life & career.
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