The Algebra of Happiness - Scott Galloway

 Scott Galloway is a self-made millionaire who has founded several successful companies, teaches brand management at Stern College, NY and does a bunch of other things which would figure in his mix of 'the algebra of happiness.' He teaches this subject (algebra of h) as part of his brand management course if I remember right and he has put it all together as a book for readers who are keen to find out more about the algebra of happiness.

Scott splits up the book into four parts - Basic Equations, Success, Love and Health. In his introduction he talks of something that stayed with me - how he blew away his youth in tons of pot, movies, random sex encounters with strange women and so on and then finds a job at an investment bank because his friend wants one. 

In the introduction to the basic equations of success, he says if one wants financial freedom one must burn fuel in the first five years after college. He says one much work 16 hour days to achieve that kind of success - won't come by watching TV. No sweat, no gain. He says one must get a good partner who is tuned to your way of thinking (and also someone better than you he says at some point), get to the right place where the action is (New York, Mumbai whatever), invest early and often (startnow), use the power of compounding to  create your wealth, be in the stock market. 

He says the definition of being rich is having a passive income which is greater than what you can burn,

Scott says happiness is family. He talks of forgiveness.

In Success Scott shares stories from his life - how hunger is the differentiator between talent and success. He also talks about how following your passion may not guarantee success (the intersection of what you are good at, what people will pay you to do and what does not suck - is where you need to be) and how boring is sexy. Much of success is about doing the easy stuff right like 1) show up early 2) have good manners and 3) follow up. He says one must believe one deserves the best (improve your deservability in small ways) and stop feeling like a fraud. He says - find your voice. To succeed be a salesman, sign up for public failure. When you see success don't get trapped in its trappings, keep the cash, stay humble. Measure what matters in your life - it will reveal stuff about how your life is going - money, relationships, career, growth, love, happiness. Learn from rejection - nothing fantastic will happen without taking a risk and subjecting yourself to rejection. Serendipity he says is a function of courage. The key to employing yourself - be a grown up, be civil, be secure with yourself. Be visible he says - and there's the nice story of how his step father gave him 200 dollars and asked him to invest and how a young stock trader was kind to a schoolboy and invested the money and taught him about the stock market. Scott found him and paid it back.

In Love Scott says that Love and Relationships are the ends - and everything is just the means. Its a beautiful statement and should go into quotable quotes. Another one - love received is comforting, love reciprocated is rewarding and love given is eternal. His advice on marriage - don't keep score, don't ever let your wife be hungry or cold, express affection and desire as often as possible. Keep your kids close. Another definition of love (from his therapist) - it is the willingness to take the life you have built for yourself and tear it up for the other person. Tell and show people you love them - say it, call, hug, kiss, hold hands. Enjoy the small moments with people (create them). Being with people you love at the end of their life - care for the caregivers, draw boundaries about how much you can take on and how much you cannot, share media time, relive their life by looking at pics, say what needs to be said including how much you love them, people will surprise and disappoint, don't get hassled by their illness and its affects. Love a kid who is not your own, appreciate what you have, find your own heaven. Love unconditionally.

In Health Scott says - be strong even when things are looking like they will fall, cry, trade closeness for harmony, stay present, be a nice guy, praise others.

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And of such stuff is Scott's book made of. Lots of practical wisdom coming from his own life. His love for him mother, family comes through. His acceptance of his follies, weaknesses, his desire to help others find their way through teaching, writing, speaking. Very nice.