Happiness is the secret of success

ONE in four people feels unsuccessful, leaving many depressed or unhappy, a study claims.

The survey of 2,100 adults by LinkedIn found that one in three believed they will never achieve success.

The online professional network said its research revealed that a third of people wished society considered success to be less important.

Some 29 per cent of Britons surveyed believed that traditional perceptions of success are outdated. They were more likely to define having time for hobbies (45 per cent) as a symbol of success than achieving professional accomplishments such as promotions (38 per cent) or earning a six-figure salary (15 per cent).

In the survey, 76 per cent admitted that success means different things to different people and that it comes from their personal lives.

Britons overwhelmingly consider “being happy” (83 per cent) as the ultimate definition of success, followed by being healthy (71 per cent) and having good friends (58 per cent). Londoners are most likely to feel unsuccessful, the report said.

Darain Faraz, of LinkedIn, said: “Our research shows that success means different things for different people – whether that’s making it back for bath time or having the time to play in your five-a-side football team, being your own boss or owning your own home.”

About 40 per cent of those quizzed said the prospect of never being successful left them feeling unhappy, a failure or depressed.