So much of our culture defines ‘success’ as how much we have: cars, a home, and especially work. While being financially successful gives us comfort and security, the question is, at the end of the day, at the end of the decade, or at the end of our lives can we look back and smile?

‘What do you do?’ is almost always the first question we’re asked or we ask. What if we we’re asked ‘Are you happy?’ … What if WE asked that … to everyone? Well, to our new business client they might look at us askance and take their business elsewhere, but isn’t that ultimately what we’re providing? Not ‘happiness’ but a successful product that furthers their lives or business?

What if you thought ‘Are you happy?’ to yourself, in relation to your clients, and around your loved ones? Meaning ‘givers gain’ … what can you give to yourself today, and others, that will feel successful, a 5 minute walk in the middle of the afternoon to clear your mind, a thank you call to a business associate, or a simple phone call to someone you care about.

Take a nap? What are you nuts?

The benefits of napping are many and varied, NASA and Harvard studies say a nap can increase productivity by up to 34 percent. Researchers from the University of Haifa did research on napping and long term memory function. They taught two groups a specific task with a series of steps. They then let one group stay awake and the other group had a 90 minute nap time. Not surprisingly, the group who took naps improved when they went back later in the evening to complete the same task. The group that did not nap, showed no improvement.

Balance and success in life can be very simple. What if you left a few minutes extra on that next daytime drive and parked your car three blocks from home or work … and strolled there? What if you called your spouse and ordered take out?

My guess is that like me, bringing the ‘simple things’ into your life are something you could stand more of … because at the end of the day while we live a very abundant life are we able to smile about some of the things we’ve done today? Who will you be nice to today? Put yourself at the top of that list!