Happiness Guru

Today I met my NYC mentor at Cinema Brasserie in Midtown for lunch. I got there early, so I got a table by the window. Just as the server was pouring imported water in my glass, my mentor hurried in the restaurant on her cell phone. She quickly hung up and joined me for a hug. “Wonderful to see you, I’m so sorry I’m late. I was talking to my business coach”.
I just looked at her thinking, business coach? I have no idea what that is, but I want one!
“You have a business coach?” I asked. She stopped and looked at me like my eyes were melting down my face, “Well, yes dear, this is New York. Everyone has a business coach!”
What, how can this be! Here I was thinking I’m doing just fine in NYC, and I don’t even have a business coach. What am I missing out on?!
I made a quick mental note to myself, “Google business coach the second you get back to work.”
“Honey, you are not expected to have a business coach, but when you get to my level it becomes essential,” she adds. “In fact, just yesterday I went to lunch with my business coach, and HER business coach.”
WHAT! Now, business coaches have business coaches? How did I miss this corporate movement?!
“Actually,” she said, “her business coach has someone called a Happiness Guru. She is a professional happy coach.”
This is the moment I knew what kind of city I was living in. SVPs had business coaches, who have happiness coaches.
Forget about the business coach, I want a happy coach! That sounds more fun!
I briefly pictured myself sitting with my new Happy coach in Dylan’s Candy Bar drinking triple chocolate milkshakes laughing about the fabulous day I had.

But you have to wonder. At what point does your life become so complex that you need a business coach? And more disturbing, at what point does your life become so gloomy that you need a happiness coach? Are the two related? Or are we as a society obsessed with the idea of perfection in our profession and private life?