Commentary: The Business

Jeff Unger: What Makes You Happy?

Find happiness in your business, and you’ll love what you do.

Published

13 years ago

June 27, 2011

Jeff Unger Instore July 2011 Issue

HAVE YOU EVER thought about what makes you happy?

For me, it’s dinner with the family. It’s seeing my wife, Alisa, in the morning. It’s teeing it up on a Saturday morning with my son.

Did you notice one thing not on that list is money?

We all have different things that make us happy and for most of us, it’s not money. How many lottery winners tell the story that they wish they never won the jackpot? It’s the excitement of buying the ticket more than actually winning that makes them happy.

I recently read Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh, the founder and CEO of Zappos, the online shoe company. Last month, INSTORE publisher Dan Kisch mentioned this book in his column and suggested ways to make your customers happy, but it occurred to me that your own happiness is pretty important too.

So, I set out to ask as many people within the jewelry industry, “What makes you happy?”

I received hundreds of responses. Lori Blagg of Faye’s Diamond Mine in Clinton, AR, told me, “Happiness is where you find it.”

Matt Stuller of Stuller Inc. finds happiness in a candlelit meal with his beautiful wife, overlooking the lake behind his home with a glass of wine. “Now that makes me real happy.”

“It’s about smiles!” says George Wood of Wood’s Jewelers in Mount Pleasant, PA.

“Happiness is harmonious contentment.” Simply said by Jeff Bong, of Bong’s Jewelers in Corning, NY.

Nearly everyone said “family” was what made them truly happy.

But do we find happiness in our business? We all wake up in the morning with a new day ahead. We get into the same old routine. Brush our teeth, kiss the spouse, put on the coffee, read the paper and off to work.

To my surprise, most of you love what you do and find happiness in it.

Sandra Ferland, of Precious Things in Enosburg Falls, VT, says for the past 23 years, she’s loved to open the door every morning. Sharon Lawrence of Lawrence Jewelry in Tylertown, MS, “loves the look in a customer’s eyes when we have made jewelry they love — especially engagement and wedding rings.”

Bill Brundage of Brundage Jewelers in Louisville, KY, enjoys being at work each day and wonders if he’ll ever retire.

Since many of us work with a spouse, Teddie Gause of Gause & Son Jewelers in Ocala, FL, says it best: “I am so happy to work with my handsome husband … not only is he my husband but my best friend.”

No matter what makes you happy, find it, love it, and embrace the feeling. It makes that coffee in the morning taste better than ever!

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”