How Can Companies Truly Make Employees Feel Valued and Happy?

How is happiness created for Employees?
Employees must feel wanted and appreciated by the companies and the managers they work for. Happiness does not arrive overnight and programs can be created, supported at the highest levels of the company that can convey a message of appreciation backed by solid action and flexibility for long-term retention. Some plans and actions are more effective than others. For example, solid career advancement plans and road maps, competitive salaries placed at higher levels than the competition and non-performers, and financial rewards and equities that offer “shock and awe” reaction, are usually better than award pins and certificates. Such effective retention plans can assure maximum retention rate of key employees and long term success for their companies.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

Happiness must come from doing your life's work (be it in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments, etc.), and the money that comes is only a by-product. If we hate what we are doing and rely on the money we earn to make us happy by buying stuff, then I think that we are living a meaningless life.