Chapter 12

The Happiness Myth

Josh woke up the next morning to an unfamiliar feeling: peace. He looked over to where Kiera lay sleeping. What a day, he thought.

After Amy's revelation the day before, the afternoon had passed in a blur. Never had Josh known a deal to go through so quickly, but in hindsight, why wouldn't it? He'd found the only property within a few hundred miles that met the buyer's needs. The rest was just paperwork.

Josh slipped out of bed and padded to the kitchen in his pajamas. As he made coffee, he thought about the strange road that had led him to this moment. Standing here in his kitchen, on a perfect day, with everything feeling right with the world.

He looked out the window, and watched a woman push a stroller down the street. His mind flashed back to earlier in the week.

Almost perfect, he thought, his mood shifting. But close enough…right?

Josh poured his coffee, then paused and took an extra cup from the cupboard for Kiera. He'd surprise her with coffee in bed, and then he was looking forward to reading the paper and relaxing for a few hours.

But something had changed. Josh sat in the sunshine, trying to conjure up the feeling of perfection he'd felt when he'd first awoken, but it had slipped away. It's no use, he thought.

He sat for another half hour, staring out the window, not able to believe that he was truly thinking about doing what he was about to do.

Finally, he reached for the phone.

Two hours later, Josh stood in Carl's office, in the place where this had all started a week earlier.

Carl was dressed in old jeans and a sweatshirt. Josh had pulled him away from a morning of yard work. Now he leaned back in his chair and silently appraised Josh for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. “Are you sure about this?”

Josh paused, for just a brief moment. “Yeah. I'm sure.”

“Okay,” Carl sighed. “Then it's done.”

Josh felt a sudden sense of panic, then, just as quickly, a calm surety like he'd never experienced. He smiled.

“Thanks, Carl. I'll clear out my desk this week.”

Carl stared at him yet again, deep in thought.

“Actually, you'll do it tomorrow morning,” he finally said. “First thing.”

Josh was a bit taken aback and fought back his irritation. “That's fine. I'll be here.”

“And,” Carl continued, “You'll move to the empty office next door to me. You're going to need the space.”

It was Josh's turn to stare. “I don't understand.”

Josh drove the quiet Sunday morning streets toward home. A sense of wonder still flowed through him. Everything seemed different: The people walking, the morning sounds of grass being cut, and even something he'd never noticed before: the sounds of Sunday church bells. It seemed to all fit together in sort of chaotic, yet perfect symphony.

What a week it had been. He felt so completely different than he had just days earlier. Even when he had left the sales seminar, high on adrenaline and potential, he hadn't felt like this.

Josh realized that, in that moment, what he was feeling was happiness. He was, for perhaps the first time, truly happy. What a week, indeed. The church bells sounded again, fading now in the distance as he drove.

Church bells.

Josh's mind began to churn, his mental wheels turning against something he couldn't quite see.

What a week.

And then it clicked. He turned the car around.

It was Sunday, but Josh wasn't surprised to find Cor in his shop, tinkering. Then he realized: Cor was packing. Of course. Cor spotted Josh, and waved him over. “I know I have some time, but I figured I might as well get started,” Cor explained.

“How can I help?” Josh said.

“You can start putting those boxes together,” said Cor. “But you can also tell me what brings you here. After yesterday, it seems to me like you don't need any more help.”

Josh grinned. “It was quite a day. And…thank you. For everything.”

Cor shrugged. “You're welcome, Josh. Just remember to pass it on, like Amy did.”

“Oh, don't worry. I will. But first,” Josh set down the box he was assembling, “I have a bone to pick with you.”

Cor didn't look up, but Josh could tell the old man's small smile was dancing around the corners of his mouth again. “Really?” Cor said.

“Yeah. Really. I realized it on the way home this morning. Today is Sunday.”

“And?” Cor said, but Josh could tell he was feigning confusion.

“And that means it's day seven. You told me there were seven myths. I've only learned six of them. So, who do we meet today?”

Cor laughed.

“You're right. But I can tell you two things. First is that you've already learned all seven. Secondly, you've already met the person who taught you the last myth.”

“I don't understand. I met one person each day for six days.”

“I didn't say you had to meet a new person, Josh. The last person is someone you know quite well.”

“Who?” Josh asked, confused. Then it hit him: Amy.

“Let's go find out, shall we?” Cor said, smiling mischievously.

“Another ride on the Cub?” Josh asked. “That's one thing I won't miss.”

“No, Josh. I think this time we'll walk.”

A short while later, Josh and Cor were walking past the rows of grapevines on one of the adjacent fields to Cor's shop, which, Josh now knew, also belonged to Cor. As did the next one, and so on.

Cor's assembled property totaled just over one thousand acres, a vast amount, both in physical space and in value.

“I want to thank you again for making the deal come together for me,” Josh said.

“It was you that made it come together,” Cor replied. “You created the value.”

He was right, Josh supposed. He had done it, but not without help. Not without the myths.

For the next 15 minutes, Josh told Cor the latest news. He recounted the story of that morning. How he'd given a small share of the enormous deal—a career maker, to be sure—to Wendy to help her through a tight spot.

It had felt right, somehow, he explained to Cor. “It was talking to her that really made the idea gel,” he said. “If she hadn't talked about how lonely this job is, none of this would have happened. It was just the right thing to do.”

There was more good news. Carl had offered to create a new job for Josh. His idea for adding value had struck a chord. His new job would be to harness the collective brains of every agent in the region, and create the systems and support so that what had happened with Cor and Amy yesterday could be replicated by agents everywhere. He'd get a huge raise, a challenging new job, and a great bonus structure, too. Everything had worked out perfectly.

In addition, Josh would be the new internal company trainer. He'd help other sales professionals become more productive. That, in turn, would mean Carl wouldn't have to downsize.

“He's taking a risk,” Josh said. “But it means that, for now, we all keep our jobs. And the first person I coach will be Wendy.”

“And can I ask what you plan to teach these people?” Cor said. Josh didn't have to look to know the old man was smiling.

“I've got something in mind,” Josh grinned. “A seven step process, to be precise.”

Josh stopped walking. “Of course, I could use some input on the seventh one. I'm a little vague there.” He looked across the vast tapestry of land before him. And then it hit him. He turned to Cor, grinning.

“It's not Amy who we're meeting, is it. It's me. Right? The last person I had to meet. I'm the person.”

“I knew the moment I met you that you were a bright man, Josh. Yes. The last myth you needed to learn could only be learned by meeting yourself—the true you.”

“The true me?”

“I believe there is only one state when we are our true selves, Josh. And it's the state you reached today. It's one that everyone strives for, but few reach. The state of being your authentic self.”

Josh looked at him, uncertain.

“Remember what Travis told you about how important your state is? That's what this is all about. Changing what's on the inside. Each one of the myths you discovered was about changing your mind. They're all about the Be part of the equation.

“I believe we all have one state in which we are our best selves. It's the most powerful state of all. One in which we make almost perfect decisions, take perfect action, and get perfect results.”

“That sounds pretty good to me,” Josh laughed.

“It is,” Cor acknowledged. “And it's why we need to work so hard to unlearn the Success Myths. They stand in the way of finding that perfect state. Not the state of wealth, or material abundance, but the state you found today. That's what we all long for.”

Josh looked at Cor, puzzled.

“It's the state of being happy, Josh. Isn't that what you are today? Right now?”

Josh smiled. “I am. Truly, I think. But I don't understand how that's a myth.”

“Being happy isn't a myth, Josh. But having happiness is.”

“Now you've completely lost me. Isn't that just…semantics? Wordplay?”

“Perhaps, but it illustrates the point. Everyone's striving for happiness, Josh. They want happiness like it's a thing. It's what happened to Travis. He wanted happiness like something you can buy, or have. But it's not. It's something you choose in any moment. You choose your state of being.

“You found happiness by sharing one of the greatest sales deals in recent memory around here. But you didn't find happiness, the thing. You became happy.”

Josh knew Cor was right. “I am happy. But what is the happiness myth?”

“That you can't have happiness, Josh. You can only be it. Just like you are right now.”

As Josh and Cor reached the front of the shop door, Josh turned to him.

“There's something that's been bothering me,” he said. “About the Success Myths.”

Cor looked at him. Josh could see he'd caught the older man off guard.

“It seems to me that,” Josh said, “the myths themselves…” he struggled for the right words, “…they aren't entirely wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Cor asked.

“Well. Failure really can be bad. It can hurt. It can cause terrible harm and great loss. And goals—they're not bad things in themselves. And there is value in just giving people a baker's dozen. Lots of successful businesses work on that principle. It seems to me,” Josh repeated, “That the myths aren't myths.”

Cor laughed. “Josh, you are absolutely right. The reality is that every myth has a kernel of truth at its core. You're a wise man if you can find that kernel, and hang onto it, and throw away the things that don't resonate.” He looked around at the rusted carcasses of long dead machines in the tall grass. “Henry Ford once said that if he'd asked people what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse. You need to decide what it is that you believe, Josh. It's part of finding your authentic self.” He started to walk into the shop, then turned back to Josh. “They may be my myths, Josh. But your job is to make them your truths. Only you can do that.”

As he stood in the big doorway, watching Cor disappear inside, Josh saw a taxi coming down the laneway. It stopped near the open bay door, and Josh was surprised to see Amy step out.

“Are you okay?” Josh asked. “Where's your car?”

Amy's eyes twinkled. “I'm fine, Josh.”

“Why did you take a cab?”

“Josh.” Cor had emerged from the shop, wiping his hands with a rag. “Amy's taking your car home for you.”

Josh was confused. “What…where am I going?”

“I have something for you.”

Josh followed him into the shop, and Cor led him to the back.

He grabbed an old, grease stained drop cloth and gave it a yank. Underneath, was the gleaming Honda Cub. Josh looked at Cor.

“It's for you, Josh.”

“I—I—can't. This is,” he trailed off. “I can't.”

“I'm getting too old for the damn thing anyway,” Cor said. “It's a wonder I didn't kill both of us.”

“Well. You did severely injure my pride on several occasions.”

Josh looked at the old man, and saw tears welling in his eyes even as he smiled. He handed Josh the leather helmet and goggles he'd worn so many times. “Be happy, Josh,” he said.

Josh embraced Cor and Amy, and said his goodbyes. As he started the bike and it purred steadily, he noticed the license plate: BE JOSH. He looked at Cor with a smile. “Just be, Josh,” the old man said. “It's enough.”

Minutes later, Josh was speeding down the road on the Honda Cub, his face open and smiling in the autumn sun.