I've been sitting out on our back balcony a lot recently (after you manage to put up a gazebo single-handedly by balancing a giant pole on your head you tend to want to make the most of your handiwork :) )

We overlook a fishing pond and there are a whole bunch of birds tweeting away as I write this. So it's a great place to relax and read, away from the desk.

Today I've been scrolling through an article from Eric Barker that mentions a group of people who are happier, have more friends and are more successful, accomplished and warm than others.

They're not defined by whether they're rich or poor, and they're not united by race, religion or politics.

What's common to this group is they have what psychologists call “generativity”. They’re concerned about future generations and they work to make the world a better place.

By focusing on others and leaving a legacy – be that big or small – they become happier.

I think this taps into the theme I've been talking about recently: how delivering value for your audience, clients and potential clients is what gets and keeps their attention and builds loyalty and trust over time.

I think for many of us, this is where our legacy comes from.

How we work with clients and the results they get from that work is an important legacy of course.

But our writing, our videos, our podcasts – they live on to help others we couldn't hope to reach personally. Or who couldn't afford to work with us. Or who need help when we're just not around.

Sitting here on our balcony I kind of like that idea. I have a little smile on my face right now just thinking about it.

So perhaps the side effect of delivering value in your marketing is that it makes you happier.

Not a bad side effect at all.