As the co-author of Instant Turnaround! Getting People Excited About Coming to Work and Working Hard (William Morrow), Dr. Ross Reck knows a lot about balancing life and work. This is the advice he has to offer this week:

“USA Today recently reported on a number of new research studies that focused on the relationship between money and happiness.  What these studies found is that money is very important when it comes to meeting basic needs (food, clothing, shelter and paying the bills).  Once these needs are met, happiness is no longer about money.  Instead, happiness comes from social interactions with others rather than accumulating material goods. According to Ed Diener, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, money “…almost doesn’t matter at all for enjoying life.”  In fact, the people who were the most concerned about money and material possessions were the least happy.  I always feel more energized and happy the morning after I’ve spent the evening with friends. Spending or accumulating money has never made me feel that way.”

Reck is also co-author of Revved! and the best-selling The Win-Win Negotiator. In addition, he is the author of Turning Your Customers into Your Sales Force and The X-Factor. For more helpful hints check out www.rossreck.com