Here’s Why Happiness Should Be Your Business Ethos

Julie Starr • May 6, 2024

Building a business can be full of stress, uncertainty and pretty ugly moments whilst you’re in the trenches. Although you can’t avoid some pressured moments, you can choose to take the happy high road when it comes to all aspects of your business. Cultivating an ethos that is based on happiness will help to keep you grounded during those trying times. It will also help to attract the right employees and customers in your business realm so that you are always crossing paths with people who think in the same way as you. When it comes to employee satisfaction, you should always try to keep them as happy as possible, as they are truly what makes your business go round. Happiness isn’t a linear scale, but it can certainly help to give your business the edge over your competitors as it will be a more appealing and positive establishment overall. If you’re unsure how to weave happiness into the ethos of your business, here are a handful of ideas to help you get started.


You’ll Retain Your Team for Longer


When you make a conscious effort to cultivate a happy and positive working environment for your employees, they are much more likely to stick around. Employee retention is vital if you’re hoping to create a happy and cohesive workplace for your team. Moreover, you will also reduce unnecessary costs by having to retrain new employees on a regular basis. It’s important to hold onto the hard-working staff members you have as they will be an asset to your team for many years to come.


Your Employees Will Be More Passionate


When your employees are working in a truly happy and thriving environment they will be much more passionate about what they do. The last thing you want is a team of people who are lackluster about the tasks at hand, and they need a regular shove in order to boost their motivation. Building a positive and supportive environment means that your workers feel more comfortable talking about their issues and sharing their creative ideas. Nurturing your employees and encouraging them to take action in every job role they undertake will help them to carve out their own place in your company so that they can feel as though they’re making a real impact. This is a mindful way to approach the management of your team as it always keeps their emotions and person goals in mind too.


You’ll Be Committed to Continuous Improvement


When you’re striving towards a happy state of mind throughout your business, your work will never truly be done. To some people this may seem like you’re carrying out a thankless task, but it actually means you’re dedicated to continuous improvement for the future. One of the most effective ways you can do this is look into options such as
enterprise service management. With an integrated system which combines digital services and IT systems your employees will have everything they need in a simplified format. Instead of long and complicated processes, you can have smooth and positive automated processes which reduce employee errors and frustration. Having a simple and smooth system for your employees to use will ultimately make them happier and more content as they carry out their daily roles.


Your Clients Will Sense the Positive Ethos


Clients and customers need to be assured that their hard earned money is never going to waste. Buying from an honest, upbeat and positive business is what many people prioritize so this is why you should consider making it part of your business ethos. You would be surprised at how quickly your clients sense this sort of joyful way of approaching a business.


You’ll Start to Think More About the Environment


When you make a conscious effort to bring more happiness and positivity into your workplace, you will start to think more about other things that matter. Whether you’re focusing on the mental health of your employees, or you’re approaching your business in a more sustainable manner, this sort of business ethos is bound to be a healthier place to work all round.


Your Brand Will Build a Good Reputation


Consumers can spot a positive brand from a mile away, which can work wonders for your profits and sales. Although it’s not always about the numbers, it can give you a sense of comfort that your hard work to promote positivity at work isn’t going unrecognized. Not only will people want to buy from you as you have strong ethics and excellent attitudes, but top talent will also want to work for you too. Nowadays, people can be more picky about where they choose to work, especially if a certain workplace isn’t offering the right type of support or positive ethos. Building a good brand reputation is possible as long as you are being authentic throughout the process.


You Will Feel Less Stressed


When you’re a business owner, it can be very difficult to
manage stress, especially when you have so much on your plate at a time. However, if you regularly instill a happy and positive ethos into your business workplace, this is going to have an impact on your mood too. It’s not only your clients and employees who deserve to feel happy and positive; you deserve to reap some of the rewards you have created yourself. Instilling this happy business ethos means that you are much likely to adopt this way of thinking for yourself too.


Turning your business into a happy, centered and calm place to be won’t happen overnight, but it is possible when you have the future in mind. When your brand chooses happiness over conflict, stress and upset you will have a happier set of customers and employees altogether. It’s clear to see why your business might improve when you adopt the ethos of happiness, from more passionate employees to a better brand reputation. As you start to implement these culture changes in your workplace, hopefully all of your hard work starts to shine through in multiple ways.

By Julie Starr July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.
By Julie Starr July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.