In this fun and engaging session, Larry Port from Rocket Matter explores the science of success and happiness. This two-hour session demonstrates, with both lecture and interactive activities, how lawyers serve clients better, lead more fulfilling lives, while building a more profitable and successful career. Mixing personal anecdotes and his extensive research from from his own quest to build a happy and successful life, Larry will assist attendees to formulate their own plans to translate the lessons of the session into actionable steps. This is part one of two and covers the science of happiness and the story of my journey. Objectives: * Introduce scientific research and findings related to contentedness. * Identify the positive correlation between happiness and professional success. * Teach and practice techniques to cultivate a positive mindset. * Depart the session with a 21-day plan to build on lessons learned in this session.

1. The Secrets to
a Happy,
Successful
Legal Career
Florida Bar Mid-Year Meeting - January 19, 2018

2. Who is Larry
Port?
Husband. Father. Animal-lover.
Coder. Software Exec. Author.
Little League Coach. Fighter of
hate. Seeker of wellness.
Homo Sapien.

3. This is my
wife and
our three
animals.

4. These are
my parents
and my
kids.

5. This is my
team at
Rocket
Matter.

6. This is what we work on.
(FL Bar Member Benefit)

7. This is one of my favorite places on Earth.

8. This is my
location in
the galaxy.

9. This is my galaxy’s
location in the
observable universe.

10. For the past
twelve years I
have tried to
cultivate
happiness, ever
since I heard
this on a
podcast:

11. The best predictor of how happy you'll be
in 20 years' time is simply how happy you
are now, which is a sobering thought
because we all believe that we're going to
have some incredible transformation in the
next couple of years that will change
everything. But, you know, statistically
speaking we won't.
-Dr. Daniel Nettle
Is Happiness All In Your Head, Science Friday, NPR
“

12. Mind. Blown.
Then I heard this:

13. It’s never the right time to get
married. Or have kids. Or start a
business. Or buy a house. So you
might as well just go for it.
-Guy named Neal in Larry’s Office
“

14. Our journey begins at the dawn of humanity.

15. 188,000 of our 200,000 years was
spent foraging.
We worked several hours a day and spent time
with our community. Our diets were diverse,
consisting of what was gathered.

16. The Agricultural Revolution is
considered by some as terrible for
homo sapiens.
“A catastrophe from which we have never
recovered” says Jared Diamond, due to imposition
of government, subjugation, worse nutrition, and
elimination of free time.

17. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
Ikaria, an island of
Greek centenarians,
gets it.

18. The modern world is replete with
amazing things.
Air conditioning. Refrigeration. Modern
medicine. Reduction in infant mortality.
Survival of childbirth. Democracy. More
educated people than ever. Less people in
slavery than ever.

19. Homo Sapiens are not
designed for the modern
world.

20. We are preprogrammed to
seek out calorically dense
foods.

21. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
Restaurants and food
scientists take advantage
of this fact.

22. We evolved to survive by
exploring our environment.

23. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
We are not designed to
sit for extended periods.

24. We do not foster
community like we used to.

25. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
Neighborhoods are not
what they were, families
live apart, and politics
divides communities.

26. Our instincts for self-
preservation and
environmental awareness
are hijacked by screens.

27. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
“Integration of
smartphones into daily
life” appears to cause a
“brain drain” that can
diminish such vital
mental skills as “learning,
logical reasoning,
abstract thought,
problem solving, and
creativity.”

28. We. Are. Screwed.

29. Are we screwed?

30. 37%
increase in sales...
https://hbr.org/2011/06/the-happiness-dividend
Happiness results in a

31. 31%
…increase in productivity…

32. 19%
…increased accuracy on tasks…

33. Increased stress levels
reduce the effectiveness of
the immune system.

34. Proven Ways to Cultivate Happiness
1. Express gratitude.
2. Exercise.
3. Meditate.
4. Consume proper nutrition.
5. Focus on achievements.
6. Understand how your mind works.

35. Express gratitude.
Write down three things
you’re grateful for every day.

36. We spent about
188,000 years
either procuring
food or hanging
out talking with
our community.
“Grateful people are
happier and more
satisfied with their
lives…Gratitude brings
freedom from envy.”

37. Exercise.
Find something you enjoy.
Either use that to exercise or
as a motivation to exercise.

38. Play a sport!
Most important thing is to pick
something you have a passion for
and gets you out there.

39. Running: for those that have
limited time and are injury free.
Nothing is more efficient and goal-
oriented than running. Just make
sure you stretch!

40. Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong: Options
for lower-impact workouts.
These disciplines require the time
for a class. They have a spiritual
component to them. Some “hot”
and “vinyasa” yoga classes are very
intense, so make sure you ask the
right questions.

41. Swimming: Waterproof
Headphones and Total Immersion
Swimming for exercise is a total-
body workout that’s low impact.
You can listen to music and get
swimming lessons to help you build
up endurance and learn proper
technique.

42. Kickboxing, Ultimate Frisbee,
Raquetball
Don’t forget non-traditional sports
as a way to stay motivated and keep
in shape.

43. Meditate.
A couple minutes of quiet
breathing every day.

44. There’s an app for that.
I’ve found, after being trained by
three different disciplines that the
Fitness22 Meditation app is as
effective if not more than anything.

45. Consume proper nutrition.
Eat as many whole foods as
possible, mostly plants.

46. One of the best ways to understand
the nutritional value of your diet is
with food logging.
Even if done for a two-week period,
will give you idea of the holes in
your eating.

47. Focus on your acheivements,
not the goal.
Goals consistently move.
Don’t get stuck on the
hedonic treadmill.

48. I am never going to look like this.

49. Logging your achievements from the
previous day is a big deal.

50. Understand how your mind
works.
Your mind is governed by neurons,
synapses, and neurotransmitters.

51. Thank You!
larry@rocketmatter.com