Ep 650 | Einstein’s $1.5 Million Note on Happiness

Thank you for joining me today. It's Brian Gubernick, and welcome to the No Days Off podcast, where we believe that every single day brings a new opportunity to get better. Imagine Albert Einstein, the most famous scientist in the world, freshly announced as a Nobel prize winner. He's sitting in his hotel room in Tokyo in 1922. A bellboy shows up with a message, delivering a message, and Einstein reaches into his pocket. But instead of actually pulling money out to tip the boy, he pulls out hotel stationery. He scribbles down a sentence in German. He hands it to the boy and he says, 'If you're lucky, this will be worth more than a tip someday.' Well, 95 years later, Einstein was right. That little piece of paper sold at an auction for $1.56 million. But here's the, the real question, in my opinion: what did Einstein write on that note, and what what does it mean for all of us here today? So let's go through this story a little bit more. 1922, Einstein's traveling through Japan. He's staying at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. And he's giving lectures all around the city. He had just learned that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in, in physics. This bellboy came to his room to deliver something and instead of tipping him money, Einstein actually grabbed some hotel stationery. And then on one note, one note, he writes, a calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness. I'll say it to you one more time. A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness. Then on another shorter note, he writes, Where there's a will, there's a way. He gave the notes to the boy and he does tell him, hey, maybe these will be worth more than a tip one day. And then fast forward to 2017, that calm and modest life note, it sold at auction in Jerusalem for $1.56 million. That second note sold for $240,000. Now, at first glance, when I first heard this story, I'm like, that, that's not real. It sounds like a fable. But when I researched it, the story is pretty well documented. The notes were actually authenticated and their chain of ownership traced all the way back to Einstein's time in Japan. It actually fits, this whole process or these, this note giving, it fits with Einstein's character because he often gave away ideas and sketches and notes rather freely. He wasn't absent, absent-minded with meaning. He was just generous with perspective. I think there's actually some lessons here. There's a handful of lessons kind of on different ends of the spectrum. First, I think there's value in simplicity. Einstein could have written one of his many equations Instead, he wrote about peace of mind. I think for us, it's, it's a reminder that chasing the next deal or the next number, that oftentimes leads to restlessness and it doesn't lead to, to joy. There's value in simplicity. I think number 2, ideas outlast money in many cases. That boy could have received some sort of coin from Einstein that day and he would have spent it and of course forgotten. Instead, he got an idea that lasted a century and then multiplied in value. And for us, it's about what we give others. I think the lesson here— what we give others— are we handing out tips or are we actually handing out wisdom that we may possess? I think the third lesson here is the irony of, of the author. I think Einstein, who was a man who redefined science. He worked at the, the very frontier of human knowledge. He paused to actually write a note about calmness and modesty. If someone at the height of brilliance saw restlessness as potential danger, I don't know, maybe I should too. Maybe we should too. So I think around this note, these notes, and and these lessons— simplicity and ideas lasting, outlasting money, and just the irony of it all. And I, I came to some conclusions around some action items. I think no days off means we don't just hear stories, we act on these things that we hear, right? Here are some action steps that I think stem from Einstein's happiness note. Number 1, I think we should all consider auditing our restlessness. What do I mean? Write down one area, one area in your personal life or one area in your business where you're constantly chasing more. And then ask the question, is this pursuit making me happier or is it just noisier? I think number 2, maybe write, write your own note, grab a piece of paper and write a sentence or two that you'd want to pass on, that you'd maybe want to not necessarily give us a tip like Einstein did, but you'd want to pass it down like your own principle for happiness or success and just carry it with you. I think it's a kind of a funny exercise just to have that note in your pocket, something that you could always look at and remind yourself on whatever the principle may be. Again, maybe on happiness or success. Maybe you do gift it, which kind of leads to action item number 3: trade tips for teaching. This week, maybe instead of giving someone, um, in your world some money, give them a quick answer. Share a principle or a story or a framework that could actually outlast the moment. I don't expect your note or my note to be worth a million and a half in 100 years, but you never know. Einstein's scribble lasted 100 years, and what wisdom can you write today that might last longer than the money, you know, you spend, or the person you'd give to would spend? I think the boy in Tokyo probably never imagined this hotel note would change his family's fortune. But I think the deeper, deeper fortune is for us here. Einstein reminding us that calm and modest living beats restless chasing. And the guy knows a few things. So ask yourself today, in your pursuit of success, are you restless or are you grounded? That to me is the note worth carrying with you. That's all I have for you today, the No Days Off podcast. Thank you so much for listening. And remember, every single day brings a new opportunity to get better. So let's get after it.