5 unrelated mini-posts

Happiness is contagious in social networks:

New research shows that in a social network, happiness spreads among people up to three degrees removed from one another. That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.

I thought this was a fascinating validation of the idea that if you hang around happy people, you’ll be happier yourself - but it extends much further than that. The study indicates that obesity, smoking and other habits can also spread through a network – either positively (if your friends quit smoking, you become more likely to quit) or negatively (if your friend gets fatter, you are more likely to as well).  I mentioned this concept when I discussed 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds.  Saying that drew a couple of angry responses, but it seems that this study validates that.  It also reminded me that I need to continue to hang around with people whose ideas about wealthbuilding match my own.

Typing Without a Clue:  Having just written about getting published, I thought this article made a lot of sense, even if it had a bit of a “sour grapes” feel to it.

The unlicensed pipe fitter known as Joe the Plumber is out with a book this month, just as the last seconds on his 15 minutes are slipping away. I have a question for Joe: Do you want me to fix your leaky toilet?

Ouch. But I do understand that it must be frustrating to writers to see someone like JTP get a book contract.  America’s funny about that.  We celebrate hard work and determination to reach a goal, but we also play the lottery.  We like rock bands who pay their dues, touring for years before selling out stadiums, but we also celebrate pop stars who came from nowhere on American Idol.

But the simple fact is that book publishers, like record companies or sports teams or corporations or any other business, need to make money – so they’ll reward notoriety as quickly as they’ll reward talent or craft or discipline.  Note that I didn’t mention financial services institutions or car companies – apparently they get rewarded for failing.

Unexpected deep pleasure possible during joblessness:  I am getting there.  I don’t think a week is enough to feel like it’s more than a brief vacation, so I’m not really in “jobless” mode yet.  I’m still getting the hang of organizing my time and working from home with the kids.  And although I’ve heard it before, this passage was inspirational:

How sad that some of our best dreams are rarely at the top of our priority list as we fly through the self-inflicted routine of our lives. And as one of my favorite authors says, “Everyone is an expert at something.” What are you an expert at? What would you do if you had all the time you needed (which, uh, you do right now) and you knew you couldn’t fail? Go for it!

Successful Freelancer Spotlight: Jen Miller
Miller talks about how her blogs were started as “on the side” projects but soon became intertwined with her writing career and now can’t be separated from it. I found this interesting since I’m approaching it the other way – I started with blogging and look to move my writing into other venues.  I also like her book-a-week idea; she’s just set a simple-to-track goal of reading a book a week.  I need to discipline myself to read on a deadline and not just as the mood strikes me (because then I’m always more likely to spend free time on the Web).

MoneySmartLife small business stimulus package (http://smb.moneysmartlife.com)

Over at my Money Writers partner website, MoneySmartLife, check out the small business stimulus package.  What is it?  It’s a cool idea – here’s a brief description, but check out the website for more:

Entrepreneurs can now apply for a grassroots small business stimulus package offered by finance website, MoneySmartLife.com. The stimulus package offers a cash reward to one small business along with a business strategy plan to help them through the current economic downturn.

The Small Business Stimulus package also offers businesses a chance to promote their services. Any business interested in being featured as a Package Partner can do so simply by offering their services as one of the prizes for the giveaway.  Each Package Partner will receive a dedicated page which details their services.

Tags: career, happiness, health, life, media, money, wealth