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Keys to happiness on the job include friendships

8:26 AM, Sep 3, 2012   |    comments
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ATLANTA -- Making real friendships on the job is one of the keys to happiness at work, according to financial advisor David Geller.

Geller is the author of Wealth & Happiness. He sat down with 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie to outline three principles that he said apply to just about anyone, from CEOs to factory workers.

"If you really want to be happier at work, where you spend most of your time, you want to focus on relationships, be more engaged and make a difference," Geller said. 

Gellar said money is not on his list. He said a higher salary can make you happier on the job, but only to a point.

1) Focus on Friendship at Work

"The first key involves relationships," Geller said. "It's having a close friend at work. I define a close friend as someone you trust. You trust each other to tell the truth. You trust each other to give advice in the recipient's best interest. It's someone you care about, and they care for you. It's someone you can talk to without fear of being judged."

Gellar said this one can be tricky if you're in a competitive situation. Office politics can also make work friendships difficult.

2) Become Engaged in your Work

"It's being involved in a high-challenge, high-skill activity," Geller said. "When you're in the middle of it, you're completely immersed in it. And when you're finished, you get a deep sense of satisfaction."

Geller said it feels like time stops when you're engaged in your work.

"What I mean by that is you're involved in the project, you look up, it feels like 30 minutes have passed, and it's been four hours," he said. 

He said you can achieve this by creating challenges for yourself at work.

3) Make a Difference

Geller said you don't have to work for a non-profit to satisfy this principle.

"Making a difference might mean helping out someone at work," Geller said. "It might mean covering for them the day they're sick. It might mean going the extra mile for one of the company's customers."

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