John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, is arguably considered the richest person in modern history.  In the early 1900’s he was a billionaire – the first ever American billionaire.

When a reporter asked him, “How much money is enough?” He infamously responded, “Just a little bit more.”

Ah yes, the age old question, “How much is enough?”

We all know money can’t buy happiness right?  Do we, really?  In a culture intent on acquiring and accumulating I don’t know if we really do.  I saw a great sign on a yacht for sale in Vancouver,

“Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you this boat.  And that’s pretty close.”

I think we believe that we can get closer to happiness with more money.  Or as some say, “If I’m going to be unhappy, I’d rather be unhappy with money.”

If we believe that “a little more” will be enough, we end up living in no man’s land where nothing is ever good enough.  No matter how good things are, they are not quite good enough.  We reside in a place of perpetual dissatisfaction.

It’s like chasing the horizon – you never get any closer.

Here’s a challenge for you.  If you want to grow your satisfaction of the various components of your life, try going without them for a while.  Seriously.  Try going without your car, or your phone, or your home, or food.

I just did a 14 day fast.  I drank a breakfast shake each day, but after that no food.  I lost 12 pounds.

I had lunch appointments with clients and that food looked and smelled sooooo good.  I gradually broke my fast at a friend’s birthday party by eating a few crackers with Brie cheese, salami and sweet chilli jelly on it.  Wow – that was the greatest cheese and crackers snack I have ever tasted!

The next day I went for it and totally finished off my fast by going out for eggs benedict.  I was in heaven!  What an incredible taste sensation.  I never want to take food for granted again.  My gratitude for food has shifted into another level.  I’m having a strange craving for Croque Monsieur now…

Back to our original question:  “How much is enough?”  I recently posed this question to the leaders with whom I have the privilege of working.  However, I encouraged them to answer it not just in monetary terms.

How much time at the office is enough?  How much time at home is enough?  How much time on holiday is enough?  How much time with your significant other is enough?  How much time with your children is enough?  How much time with family and friends is enough?  How much time alone is enough?

There are so many areas of our lives we need to look at and decide how much is enough.  Perhaps just for this year, and we can look at next year later.  Or, we can look at even smaller blocks of time.  How much time at the office is enough for today, tomorrow and the next day?

If you determine how much is enough, you get to live in the satisfaction of reaching “enough”.  And, you can choose to live with an attitude of gratitude, being grateful for what “is” instead of whining and complaining about what “is not”.

Happiness is not a destination, it is a choice in the journey.  Our happiness best grows when it’s transplanted in the soil of other people’s lives.  Happiness is the natural by-product of a life well lived.  When we live and lead for the benefit of others our happiness increases.

The Happiness Project did a simple study that definitively determined this:  sharing gratitude, appreciation and affection for others grows your happiness, and theirs.

Can you see how this applies to leadership?  What an impact you can have on those you lead, and yourself, by expressing gratitude, appreciation and affection to your people.  And, when you couple this with celebrating when you and your team reach your “enough” goals, you have a great workplace.

Money doesn’t buy happiness.  But now you know what does.

How much is enough?  You get to decide – and then be satisfied.