Former Dell CEO Shares Secret to Happiness

Kevin Rollins shared his thoughts
on happiness at the 2008 Marriott
School Honored Alumni Lecture.PROVO, Utah – Nov 20, 2008 – When Kevin Rollins, former CEO of Dell Inc., typed the word "happiness" into Google, he found results like "Happiness for Dummies," "weekend happiness courses" and "happiness through hypnosis." At the 2008 Marriott School Honored Alumni Lecture, Rollins shared with students and faculty his thoughts - not Google's - on how to achieve personal happiness.

"Some people live waiting for a time in the future when they will be happy," Rollins said. "Why wait to have joy?  Why don't we try to figure out how to do more of that now?"

In his speech, Rollins outlined several ways he seeks to achieve happiness in his own life. The first thing he taught was that there is no such thing as multitasking.

"It is impossible to do all things at all times and remain happy," Rollins said. "Multitasking is a myth - a way to do many things concurrently and all of them poorly."

Instead, students were challenged to focus on one task at a time and bring their personal best to each task they do. 

Service is also an important factor in achieving happiness according to Rollins. No matter how small an act may seem, it may be large to those who receive it.  Serving others is a life-long responsibility, and opportunities for service should constantly be sought.

"Give back always; don't wait until you're rich enough to start giving back," Rollins said.

The last way Rollins said to achieve happiness was to work hard at school, work and home. Putting diligent and intense effort into all you do will bring confidence and peace.

He also specifically noted that levels of happiness do not increase along with increases in salary.

"I have had the pleasure of being rich and the pleasure of being poor, and the happiness quotient in my family did not change between those points," Rollins said. "Your goal should not be to make a certain amount of money. Your goal should be to do well, have success, be proud and productive." 

Rollins served as president and chief executive officer of Dell Inc. until 2007. Currently he is a senior adviser to TPG Capital, is co-chair of BYU's President's Leadership Council and is a member of the Marriott School's National Advisory Council. 

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems and entrepreneurship. The school's mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.