052 Professor Scott Galloway on the Algebra of Happiness

A powerful, researched-based look at happiness with Professor Scott Galloway from NYU. Professor Galloway is one of the most respected voices on the Internet today. He shares how the happiness curve dips in our 20s and 30s, the many "algorithms to achieving a happy life" and why “follow your passion” is the worst advice ever.
The Arc of Happiness
According to Professor Galloway, the arc of happiness starts off at a peak from the age of 0 to 22, when there’s not a lot of responsibility to deal with. Around 25, shit finally gets real. Everything we have been told is simply not going to happen and handed to us on a silver platter.

By the time we’re in our late 20s and 30s, we come to grips with the fact that as a species, we are competitive. We vie for the title of most successful, and when we fail at that, disappointments come in one after the other. At 35-45 years old, we reach the bottom of the smile, where we slowly work our way up once again to a more rewarding life.
“The happiest people in the world are probably the people who shouldn't be, and that is, [the] seniors.” - Professor Scott Galloway
Algorithms and Equations to Happiness
Through his research, Professor Galloway found about 10 or 12 algorithms and equations directly correlated to someone’s happiness. A lot of factors contribute to happiness—financial, geographical and even demographic.

For instance, the difference between being poor and being financially secure is enormous in terms of contribution to one’s happiness. After all, money can buy you happiness up to a certain point. Where you choose to settle can also affect your chances at success and opportunities for growth, especially as a young person.
“You wanna get to where the snow and the waves are great such that you have the greatest opportunity to be good at what you do.” - Professor Scott Galloway
Why “Follow Your Passion” is Bad Advice
We have heard it time and again. Any speaker would typically sign off with doing what you love when they themselves achieved financial success through, say, iron ore smelting. And the notion that they are actually passionate about such a thing is utter bullshit.

Professor Galloway says that we are most passionate about finding what we are good at and becoming great at it. Only then can we become one step closer to happiness.
“The financial and psychological and emotional accouterments that come with being great at something will make you passionate around whatever it is.” - Professor Scott Galloway
To hear from Professor Galloway about the state of young men in America today and why love is ultimately the key to being happy, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is the author of the Digital IQ Index ®, a global ranking of prestige brands' digital competence.

In 2012, Professor Galloway was named "One of the World's 50 Best Business School Professors" (Poets & Quants).

Professor Galloway is also the founder of several firms including:

L2, a subscription business intelligence firm serving prestige brands;
Red Envelope, an e-commerce firm (2007, $100mm revs.); and
Prophet, a global brand strategy consultancy with 250+ professionals

Professor Galloway was elected to the World Economic Forum's "Global Leaders of Tomorrow," which recognizes 100 individuals under the age of 40 "whose accomplishments have had impact on a global level." Professor Galloway has served on the board of directors of Eddie Bauer (Nasdaq: EBHI), The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), Gateway Computer, and Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

He received a BA from UCLA and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
Links:
ProfGalloway.com

NYU Faculty Bio

Twitter

Medium

TED Speaker Bio

Vox Interview

Penguin Random House Author Bio

We hope you enjoyed Professor Scott Galloway on this episode of Follow Your Different™!