Stefan Sagmeister: 7 rules for making more happiness

The speaker shares their journey of exploring personal happiness through a documentary project, which was halted due to personal loss. They delve into research findings on happiness, revealing that factors like climate and income have minimal impact, while friendships and marriage significantly enhance happiness. The speaker discusses the influence of the unconscious mind on life decisions, using humorous examples. They conclude by reflecting on what brings them happiness as a designer, emphasizing the importance of engaging in meaningful projects and personal development.

What was the speaker's initial project about?

• A documentary on personal happiness

• A documentary on design trends

• A documentary on animal behavior

• A documentary on global warming

According to the speaker, which factor does NOT significantly affect happiness?

• Being married

• Climate

• Income over $50,000

• Having friends

What analogy does Jonathan Haidt use to describe the conscious and unconscious mind?

• A captain and a ship

• A pilot and an airplane

• A teacher and a student

• A rider and an elephant

What surprising pattern did the speaker find in people's life choices?

• People choose jobs based on their childhood dreams

• People tend to live in places that sound like their names

• People prefer to marry individuals with similar hobbies

• People often choose careers based on their parents' professions

What is one of the speaker's strategies for personal happiness as a designer?

• Avoiding collaboration with others

• Engaging in activities they enjoy

• Focusing solely on profitable projects

• Working on projects with tight deadlines

What type of projects does the speaker prefer to work on?

• Projects that are entirely familiar

• Projects that involve new and familiar techniques

• Projects that require minimal effort

• Projects that are solely based on technology

How has keeping a diary influenced the speaker?

• It has influenced their life and work intriguingly

• It has helped them remember important events

• It has had no impact on their life

• It has made them more forgetful