Forget Practical Choices. To Live Your Best Life, Make Happy Choices.

Most rags-to-riches stories come along with some pretty
dour, intimidating advice. “Work harder than everyone
else.” “Put in longer hours than everyone else.” “Make
the tough decisions, no matter the consequences.” Not
this one.
“Ever since I was about seven, I have been of the belief
that you make happy choices. Don’t compromise. Don’t
let life happen,” says Kevin Roberts , the global CEO of
the advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi . “The people I
talk to, they make good choices. Or they make
comfortable choices. Or they make rational choices. Or
they make sensible choices…These are all rubbish.”
Related: Good Companies Make You Think. Great
Companies Make You Feel.
Practical decision making may lead to a decent career,
but it won’t catapult you to greatness, he says. It won’t
inspire a movement.
Roberts didn’t make it through high school. Born into a
working-class family in northern England, he was
determined to improve his standing in life and
determined to leverage his most natural talent:
leadership. Even as a young child, he was consistently
put in positions of leadership. Inspiring others came
easily.
Related: The Secret to Keeping Young, Ambitious
Talent? Let Them Go.
Roberts didn’t know then that he would become CEO of
one of the largest ad agencies on the planet. He didn’t
even know he would end up in advertising. But he
wanted to be successful and he knew what his natural
abilities were.
From there, he worked backwards, determined to get
himself in a fast-growing industry where there was a
chance to “win through leadership.”
Watch this video to hear Roberts break down the rules
he followed in his life to achieve personal success.
Related: The Best Entrepreneurs Get Out of Their Heads
and Open Their Ears