by Lauren Okely

Created on: October 08, 2007   Last Updated: August 24, 2010

One thing I have noticed while glancing over the articles in response to this debate is that many writers who write to disagree state that while you can be happy and productive, one does not equal the other. It is true that children in a sweatshop may produce goods and be very unhappy. I don't think that this is in the exact spirit of the statement.

The statement "Happy people are productive people" is not saying that people who are happy produce goods. I think it means that people who are happy produce quality goods efficiently. The unhappy children in the sweatshop probably aren't producing as good quality jumpers as the loving grandma with her knitting needles.

When a person is happy and enjoying their work, they are interested in what they are doing. Usually when someone takes interest in something, they make it their goal to do it well. They are motivated to produce. And not only produce but to produce well.

In reverse, someone who produces may not be happy. But when someone produces quality work in a good time frame, a sense of accomplishment and happiness often accompanies it.

No, productive and happy are not necessarily synonymous; however, a happier person is a better producer.

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