Roadmap to Happiness
I was flipping through the latest issue of Monocle (rad magazine, btw) when a story about the Moomin brand caught my eye. They described their whole vibe as providing a "roadmap to happiness" for customers.
Will Guidara (inspiration for The Bear) talks about this kind of next-level service mindset in his book Unreasonable Hospitality. Going above and beyond expectations to create meaningful experiences.
This approach isn't just for restaurants and hotels and cute trolls from Finland. It's for creative peeps hustling through the trenches of client work. So, let's gank some guidance from the icons of TED and inject some Moomin magic into our grind.
Shift from Service to Experience
Simon Sinek is all about starting with why - the deeper purpose behind what we do. So, instead of just cranking out deliverables, think about the emotional impact. What do you want your audience or clients to feel when interacting with your work? Whether it's a script, a game, or a consult, make it an experience they won't forget.
Action Item: Brainstorm three ways to level up your creation from transaction to experience. Get personal, drop unexpected knowledge bombs, craft a memorable moment that resonates.
Anticipate Needs Before They're Expressed
Will Guidara is about being proactive vs. reactive. The best experiences happen when you grok what people need before they realize it. For creatives, that means really listening, spotting patterns, and tailoring our work to hit ‘em in the feels.
Action Item: Next time you're jamming with a client or audience, ask yourself: What unspoken need can I tap into? Make a small but meaningful tweak to show you're thinking ahead.
Make People Feel Seen and Valued
Real hospitality is about making others feel important. In the creative hustle, where work can feel like just another gig, taking a beat to acknowledge and validate collaborators can set you apart. Shout out a client's vision, celebrate a partner’s hustle, or run the extra cycles to engage with your audience.
Action Item: Fire off a thoughtful message to a client, collaborator, or fan who's had your back. Express some gratitude and shout out their specific impact.
Surprise and Delight
Unexpected jolts of joy create lasting feels. Guidara talks about transforming a restaurant experience with small, thoughtful surprises. What if we took that same energy to our storytelling, design, or business relationships?
Action Item: Noodle on one way to sneak some compelling surprise into your work. Layer in extra creativity, whip up a unique deliverable, or drop a bonus bit of value no one sees coming.
Find Your Own Happiness First
To create meaningful experiences for others — first, you gotta find joy in your own work. If you're not stoked about what you're doing, your audience will feel that lack of love. In scribbling, if you don't love what you're putting on that page, good luck getting readers or viewers hyped.
Action Item: Take a beat to reflect on what got you fired up about this work in the first place. If you feel the creative blahs, mix it up with a fresh approach or passion project. Prioritize work that aligns with your interests and enthusiasm.
Relationships, Not Just Transactions
People will remember how you made them feel more than what you did. Every project or client interaction is a chance to forge a connection, not just check a box. Investing in relationships builds trust, leads to repeat collaborations, and sets you up for long-term victory.
Action Item: Pick a current or past client and brainstorm how to reconnect in a real way - no sales pitch. Make it an authentic and legit reach out with a genuine check-in, a helpful resource, or a friendly chat.
Your Roadmap to Happiness
Whether spinning yarns, building worlds, or dropping knowledge on a pal’s pet project, the key is to make it personal, make it meaningful, and always look for ways to exceed expectations. Make your own happiness the engine driving everything you create. If you love what you do, chances are others will love it too.
