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The Happitalist.

A podcast & community dedicated to understanding the relationship between work, wealth, and well-being… and to living a life informed by this understanding. Thanks for being here!

 
 
 

The Happitalist Podcast - Latest Episodes

Latest Blogs from The Happitalist

Blog
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AT LARGENTINA: How we chose Argentina- and our aspirations for the trip
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INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES: THE TRADE-OFF THAT'S REALLY A TRADE-UP
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"BUT HE PAID EXTRA," SAYS SETH GODIN

We come up with lots of reasons to work with jerks. We take an investment from a jerk investor instead of a kind one. We accept a job from a bully instead of someone who will nurture and challenge us with worthwhile work. And we take on a customer who denigrates our team and our work instead of embracing the good ones… The most common reason is that they pay us more. A better valuation, a better hourly rate.

NOTE FOR ECONOMICS GEEKS: NON-ZERO SUM TRANSACTIONS AND INCOME INEQUALITY
NOTE FOR ECONOMICS GEEKS: NON-ZERO SUM TRANSACTIONS AND INCOME INEQUALITY

A classic (and compelling) argument in favor of privileging economics as an organizing principle for society is that efficient economic transactions are non zero-sum: that is, both parties come out ahead. They don’t necessarily benefit equally- but both gain more value than they feel they've given up. This is a near-magical creation of value out of thin air! Yay economics!

HAPPITALISM: HACKING CAPITALISM TO DELIVER WELL-BEING
HAPPITALISM: HACKING CAPITALISM TO DELIVER WELL-BEING

It’s easy to disagree about all manner of things. Is beer the best drink in the world, or just one of the best? Are tax cuts good or bad for society? Do socks really have to match? But when we argue about complicated or emotional subjects, we often talk past each other- especially when we start the conversation having already reached our own conclusion about the “right” answer.

WELL-BEING: A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY
WELL-BEING: A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

The emerging field of well-being science uses various terms to describe things like positive emotions and moods, the absence of negative emotions, satisfaction with life, fulfillment, and positive functioning.

THE HAPPITALIST AT LARGE: ARGENTINA

We took our kids out of school, we put our jobs on hold, and for the next three months we will be happitalistic nomads in Buenos Aires, Patagonia, and the Quebrada de Humahuaca. The blog posts that follow are the journal of our adventure.

Blog
photo+credit+sander+crombach.jpg
AT LARGENTINA: How we chose Argentina- and our aspirations for the trip
Vlad Kutepov scale.jpg
INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES: THE TRADE-OFF THAT'S REALLY A TRADE-UP
photo%2Bcredit%2Bjosh%2Bappel.jpg
"BUT HE PAID EXTRA," SAYS SETH GODIN

We come up with lots of reasons to work with jerks. We take an investment from a jerk investor instead of a kind one. We accept a job from a bully instead of someone who will nurture and challenge us with worthwhile work. And we take on a customer who denigrates our team and our work instead of embracing the good ones… The most common reason is that they pay us more. A better valuation, a better hourly rate.

NOTE FOR ECONOMICS GEEKS: NON-ZERO SUM TRANSACTIONS AND INCOME INEQUALITY
NOTE FOR ECONOMICS GEEKS: NON-ZERO SUM TRANSACTIONS AND INCOME INEQUALITY

A classic (and compelling) argument in favor of privileging economics as an organizing principle for society is that efficient economic transactions are non zero-sum: that is, both parties come out ahead. They don’t necessarily benefit equally- but both gain more value than they feel they've given up. This is a near-magical creation of value out of thin air! Yay economics!

HAPPITALISM: HACKING CAPITALISM TO DELIVER WELL-BEING
HAPPITALISM: HACKING CAPITALISM TO DELIVER WELL-BEING

It’s easy to disagree about all manner of things. Is beer the best drink in the world, or just one of the best? Are tax cuts good or bad for society? Do socks really have to match? But when we argue about complicated or emotional subjects, we often talk past each other- especially when we start the conversation having already reached our own conclusion about the “right” answer.

WELL-BEING: A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY
WELL-BEING: A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

The emerging field of well-being science uses various terms to describe things like positive emotions and moods, the absence of negative emotions, satisfaction with life, fulfillment, and positive functioning.

 

Happy + Capitalism = Happitalism

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Happitalists recognize the power of capitalism to alleviate human misery and to efficiently allocate resources. But we also recognize that capitalism will only give us what we ask it for. In capitalism 1.0, we're asking for maximum return of wealth to owners. Capitalism 2.0, which we call happitalism, leverages existing systems and structures but posits a new goal: maximizing well-being community-wide.

With reference to established knowledge in economics, and drawing on new insights from the world of positive psychology (and from real life!) we are suggesting a paradigm-shifting new way of working, of viewing money, and of valuing our lives.

Here at The Happitalist we think, write, learn, and talk about this- and we interview people who have something interesting to say about it. Read our blog, listen to our podcast, and drop us a line to get involved.

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Are you a Happitalist?

Are you spending a lot of time on things that don't feel meaningful? Does it seem like something's screwy about the way the world defines success? All other things remaining equal, and forced to choose, would you choose well-being over wealth?* If so, then you're a Happitalist, too.

(* We know it's not an either-or thing: we just think that question helps put things in perspective.)

 
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“Money will make you happy- but only while you’re poor. New stuff will make you happy, too- but only while it’s new”

-PETE KIRKWOOD