The Next Big Idea Daily How to Run Your Life Like a Startup
7 snips
Aug 18, 2025 
Arthur C. Brooks, a Harvard professor and happiness expert, shares groundbreaking ideas on treating life like a startup. He emphasizes that happiness is the ultimate success metric, arguing that self-management is key to balancing professional and personal fulfillment. Brooks challenges conventional views by promoting work-life integration and advocating for fewer meetings to enhance productivity. He highlights the importance of personal awareness and meaningful relationships, urging listeners to redefine success beyond financial gains.
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Happiness As Your Core Metric
- Arthur Brooks reframes happiness as the primary currency for managing your life like a business.
- Treating life as a startup focuses decisions on accumulating love and satisfaction rather than status.
Be Your Best Employee
- Manage yourself because you are the most important employee in the startup of your life.
- Use neuroscience and behavioral science techniques to resolve burnout and improve personal management.
Treat Your Career As Exploration
- Treat your career as an ongoing exploration, not a single linear climb.
- Use a rubric and gut signals to decide when to switch jobs and embrace mini-careers lasting 7–12 years.
