Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what I learned from the book Inspire Integrity: Chase an Authentic Life by Corey Ciocchetti. The book came to my attention when he presented at the recent Toastmasters International convention.

For those not familiar with Toastmasters, it’s the premier organization for helping people improve their communication and leadership skills. Learn more about the organization and the many benefits of membership at www.toastmasters.org.

 

Ciocchetti’s Basic Premise

Ciocchetti’s mission is to inspire people to live an ethical life with high moral standards. In his book he systematically debunks the common perceptions that having money, good looks, popularity, and renown lead to happiness.

Instead, he argues, “there are three things that a person needs to be happy:

  1. A strong sense of peace and contentment with your life
  2. Serious relationships with a few real friends
  3. Solid character (the desire to live the life of a moral person)”

 

Who is He?

After graduating from law school, Ciocchetti was determined to make a lot of money by working for a prestigious law firm. After one miserable year, he realized that his values were not in alignment with his life as a high-powered attorney. So, he quit and started a business teaching tennis.

When the person who taught ethics in the law school at the University of Denver passed away, DU recruited Ciocchetti into a position he never would have sought on his own. As a result, for the last 15 years, he’s been an Associate Professor of Business Ethics and Legal Studies in the DU law school, where he is very happy.

What I Learned From the Book Inspire Integrity: Chase an Authentic Life

  • After a certain income level, having more money doesn’t contribute to having a higher level of happiness. So, whatever money I bring in from my business is more about me feeling validated for the services I offer.
  • Good looks can fade as you age, so it’s best not to rely on them to increase my level of happiness. Here’s a powerful quote attributed to Olubayo Adebiyi. “A pretty face gets old. A nice body will change. But a good person will always be a good person.”
  • Popularity, especially with the prominence of social media, can seem very important. Yet, studies show the so-called popular kids aren’t all that happy.
  • People whose intent is to make an impact in the world are happier than those whose intent is to become renowned. For example, it’s more important for a social media post I create to make an impact on even one person than for a lot of people to see it.

 

How About You?

Have you ever found yourself unhappy even though, objectively, you had plenty of money, good luck, and popularity/renown? How would you define being a person of solid character?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. She provides social media tutoring and training to business owners, business development professionals, authors, speakers, coaches, business consultants, job seekers, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com