This is the question my team of business owners and leaders will be exploring today as part of their annual retreat. In a safe confidential environment they will address all aspects of the issue and look at the different ways in which they can each improve their own happiness.

We all know happiness has a big role to play in both our business and personal lives, yet so many of us ignore our own happiness and just plough on in the hope that things will get better. We know the probability of that happening – nil.

So, here are 5 questions to start you off on your own retreat:

• On a scale of 1-10 what’s your personal happiness rating at the start of the year where 1 = extremely unhappy and 10 = extremely happy
• What are the justifications for your score?
• What’s not quite right at this moment in your personal life?
• What are the likely consequences for you and your business if you don’t address the issue/s?
• What would it take to move your score up one level?

There are no right or wrong answers – just how you feel and what you are prepared to do to improve the situation.

In my next blog I will give you an update – with the group’s permission – of the key points to emerge from the discussions.

If you would like to share your experiences of how you improved and sustained your personal happiness, and the impact it has had on you, your family and business, email richard.bosworth@whatifspecialist.com, go to @richardwhatif on Twitter Link, Richard Bosworth on LinkedIn or www.whatifforums.com