First comes that split second of physical attraction. Next, that thrilling feeling of chemistry. But when the veil of romance starts to lift, what’s life really like off the dance floor? 

Too often, love is blind
When Jenny and Michael met, they were instantly attracted to each other. Those electrifying sparks started flying. In an exciting whirlwind of parties and romantic dates, they swept each other off their feet. They decided to get married and live happily ever after. Years later the hormones had calmed down (and so had the fireworks). When the smoke cleared, the mismatches started to emerge. Her passion to shop and his questionable money decisions created constant financial stress. He liked to hang with the guys and play sports. She loved to go to the theater with friends. They disagreed on children and family values, especially religion. Communication broke down. Eventually, they grew apart. 

Sound familiar? A physical match is essential at the start, but the excitement of a budding new romance eventually wears off. Making thoughtful dating decisions can mean the difference between revolving relationships and finding lasting love.

Dating experts outline seven match areas to consider: 

1. Physical appearance
While physical appearance and attraction draw two people together at first, these aspects will affect the rest of their lives. If working out and staying fit is important to you, will it bum you out if your mate doesn’t share your quest for rock-hard abs? 

2. Emotional maturity
Is this person emotionally mature and centered or still lugging around some trunk-sized baggage? How does your sweetheart relate to family and friends? Is he or she emotionally supportive or have control issues? Is your mate aware of his or her own issues and interested in addressing them? 

3. Lifestyle choices
This includes career and social lives, common interests, leisure time activities and energy levels. Would she rather join the bowling league or the metropolitan symphony? Does he have lots of energy for activities with friends while she’d rather rest and chill out at home?

4. Financial compatibility
This is a hot bed for most couples. It includes income levels, savings goals and views on handling money. How do you each want to spend, save and invest? Is one person a spender while the other saves? Is one person financially responsible while the other plays catch-up with child support and bills? 

5. Value structure
This area is often overlooked but has a tremendous impact on your life. It includes the big values: honesty, integrity, loyalty, views on family and children, religion and spirituality, life goals and the treatment and care for others. Does your mate follow through on promises made? Would you say this person is trustworthy? Will you always be there for each other in a pinch? 

6. Marriage and intimacy
Everyone does not share the same idea of marriage. The big questions to address are: What do you and your mate expect from marriage? Is he or she looking for a soul mate? Do you both want close intimacy beyond the physical aspect, including with your friendships and in private communications with each other? 

7. Intelligence
Having similar education levels increases your chances of sharing matching school and social experiences, intellectual interests and career goals. What topics do you and your honey like to talk about? Conversation limited to sports or shopping may get boring to someone who likes to ponder philosophy and bluster about business. 

While you don’t have to match exactly in each area, look at the big picture and make sure you match closely enough in the important areas of your life to up your chances of finding a love that will go the distance. 

Dee Anne Merriman is a freelance writer who often covers relationship issues. 

World’s Most Expensive Hotel Rooms

For some travelers, any hotel stay is a luxury: After all, someone else makes the bed, cleans the bathroom, sets out a continental breakfast and maybe even brings the morning paper. For travelers with more extravagant tastes, only the most lavish accommodations and services will do. But luxury comes at a price — a very steep one. So what exactly do you get for that four- or five-figure credit card charge? You might not believe it:

By Emily H. Bratcher

10. Ambassador’s Bure at Wakaya Club & Spa - Fiji

Cost: $4,900 a night. If your idea of luxury is a secluded island hideaway, Fiji’s Wakaya Club & Spa is at your service. And interestingly enough, this secluded getaway is much more affordable than the other suites named in this article. This private island resort is composed of only 10 waterfront bures (or cottages), and the Ambassador’s is its largest at 4,500 square feet. The bure’s own spa, a private pool, several decks and a hammock are accompanied by private access to the Pacific Ocean.

Ambassador’s Bure at Wakaya Club & Spa, Fiji

 9. Imperial Suite at Park Hyatt Vendôme - Paris

Cost: $19,000 a night. You’ll be content as a cat, soaking in the Parisian sunlight from the second-floor rooms of the Park Hyatt Vendôme. $19,000 will get you about 820 square feet of high ceilings, a spa bathroom (with a massage table, should you get the yen for an á la carte rub-down), a large living room, dining room and a work room (if you’re on the clock). You’ll also receive round-the-clock room service, along with an in-room safe for all your valuables.

Imperial Suite at Park Hyatt Vendôme, Paris

8. The Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab - Dubai

Cost: $22,900 a night. This 25th-floor, two-bedroom suite is the very definition of indulgence in über-luxurious Dubai. After being chauffeured around the city in your choice of a Rolls Royce or a BMW and then stepping off your own private elevator, you’ll be enveloped by the suite’s marble, gold, mahogany and leopard-print décor. Explore each room and find full-size Hermes’ 24, Faubourg fragrances and body products in several marble bathrooms, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom and even a private cinema and library. And just in case you need a helicopter ride, well, the hotel offers those too — but at additional cost.

The Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab, Dubai

7. Bridge Suites, Royal Towers at Atlantis - Paradise Island, Bahamas

Cost: $25,000 a night. The Bridge Suites span the space between Atlantis, Paradise Island’s two Royal Towers, hence the name “Bridge Suites.” Along with an awesome 16-story-high view on an 800-square-foot balcony, guests will enjoy the undivided attention of a staff of seven. Luxurious embellishments like a 22-karat gold chandelier in the dining room and a grand piano in the living room make this suite the ultimate in Bahamian extravagance.

Bridge Suites, Royal Towers at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas

6. Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton - Tokyo

Cost: $25,000 a night. Staying in Tokyo’s tallest building will cost you many, many yen, which shouldn’t be surprising since, according to BusinessWeek, Tokyo is the world’s most expensive city. For 2,100,000 JPY, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji and the surrounding Roppongi Hills. Beyond the usual luxuries — marble bathrooms, 40-inch flat-screen, terrycloth towels — this Ritz offers club use and concierge services.

Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

5. Royal Plaza Suite at the Plaza Hotel - New York City

Cost: $30,000 a night. The Plaza Hotel’s Royal Plaza Suite was inspired by Louis XV’s royal court. Sumptuous décor complements square footage — 4,400 to be exact — which is at a premium in the city that never sleeps. But along with all of that, guests will enjoy a state-of-the-art kitchen (for their personal chefs, of course!), a dining room that seats 12, a library lined with a thoughtful selection of books and magnificent views of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue. To top it all off, there are even 24-carat gold faucets in the bathrooms — yes bathrooms; there are three.

Royal Plaza Suite at the Plaza Hotel, New York City

4. Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons - New York City

Cost: $40,000 a night. The Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons gives guests a wide-angle view of Manhattan, on display from the nine-room suite’s glass balconies and floor-to-ceiling bay windows. Inside, guests will enjoy the creativity of Ty Warner, Peter Marino and I.M. Pei, who planned every detail from the 25-foot cathedral ceilings to the cut-glass chandeliers. If all this isn’t luxurious enough, penthouse guests are also promised the use of a personal butler, personal trainer/therapist and personal chauffeur.

Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons, New York City

3. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms Casino & Resort - Las Vegas

Cost: $30,000 a night. Yes, you can drop some serious dough in Vegas, and at the Palms Casino & Resort, you can drop five figures without even approaching a blackjack table. But then again, you’ll get to live large in the same suite as Kanye West (back in ‘07). A full bar, a cantilevered Playboy pool (sorry, bunnies aren’t part of the package), a sunbathing deck, pop-up plasma TVs, a rotating king-size bed and a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip are just some of this suite’s accoutrements.

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms Casino & Resort, Las Vegas

2. Royal Villa at the Grand Resort Lagonissi - Athens

Cost: $45,000 a night. Nearly 4,500 square feet in size and overlooking the Aegean Sea, the Royal Villa drips with decadence. Several fireplaces, marble bathrooms and BVLGARI bath products, an indoor heated pool — and outdoor one — are just some of the amenities. Also at a guest’s disposal is a staff of four — one for personal training, another for spa treatments, a butler and a limo driver. And guests might even enjoy the exclusive service of flying to Athens by private jet, though certain conditions apply.

Royal Villa at the Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens
 

1. Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel - Geneva

Cost: $65,000 a night. For a lofty price, guests can enjoy 18,083 square feet of luxurious accommodations overlooking sparkling Lake Geneva. Enter the marble bathroom and guests will find their own personal hot tub. By the way, you’ll be scrubbing up with Acqua di Parma bath products. Room service is 24 hours, and rumor has it, this suite is très secure — with the ability to lockdown and watch suspicious hotel guests on closed-circuit TV. Of course there’s also satellite TV and a nearly limitless selection of movies and music. The suite also features a safe because if you can afford this room, you’ll be traveling with lots of treasures.

Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel, Geneva

You got the interview, now what?

Congratulations — you’ve landed a job interview! In today’s market, where every job listing generates unprecedented floods of applicants, being granted an interview is a coup in and of itself. And given the scarcity of interviews, it’s crucial that you give each and every one your very best effort.

With the help of five career experts, MainStreet compiled the necessary tools to help you give your best interview, plus some helpful hints on how to land an interview in the first place.

Schedule Immediately

Chad Mihalick, founder of action sports and outdoor job site, Malakye.com recommends that “when you do have an opportunity to schedule an appointment, do not hesitate to respond. You should always be on call - like a doctor! Also use the opportunity to ask any pre-game questions you may have - such as who will be present at the interview and what support materials the interviewers might be interested in. Develop these questions when you begin your job search.”

Confirm Your Appointment

The experts at the Dale Carnegie Institute, which offers professional training services, advise that “recruiters like correspondence that is short and sweet. When the interview is one day away, send an email confirming the appointment. If it is on the phone, make sure you have the right number. If it is in an office, make sure you know the floor and if you need any type of security credentials like a photo ID.”

How to Prepare

In addition to putting together an outfit in which you feel confident and successful, make sure you do your homework on the company you are interviewing with. Research it online, follow it on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook if those options are available. Being informed will help you prepare interesting questions beforehand.

[See the 25 Weirdest Interview Questions of 2010]

“One way to stand out in an interview is to ask questions. In addition to the most important basics — when they plan to hire for the position and if they contact all applicants or only those who are hired — my favorite questions to ask the interviewer are: What is a typical week like in this position? What are the opportunities for growth and advancement? Be sure to ask for their business card so you have correct contact information for the follow up thank you card,” suggests career coach Stephanie Florman.

What to Bring

Frances Cole-Jones, media coach and author of The Wow Factor, suggests, “Bring two copies of your resume. That way when your interviewer doesn’t have it in front of him/her, you can hand it to him. Yes, it’s likely he or she will have misplaced it.”

Other than your A-game, Dale Carnegie Training suggests bringing a notepad that is large enough to write on but small enough to be handled gracefully. Optional items include a list of references from past employment and/or a condensed portfolio of work if these pieces are easily portable.

When to Arrive

Media coach Cole-Jones notes that “you are interviewing from three blocks away: You don’t know who is in the nearby Starbucks, the elevator, etc. You need to be on-site five minutes before. How you greet the receptionist will be noticed. Do not talk on the phone or send texts while you are waiting. Simply sit and observe.”

Florman, the career coach, agrees and suggests “arriving to the interview location a half hour early. This gives you time to find parking, use the restroom, make sure your cell phone is turned on silent and to organize your thoughts. Once you are there, you can relax. Never be late.”

Questions to Prepare For

Cole-Jones provided these common interview questions with suggestions on how to prepare for them:

Q: Why do you want to work for us?

Have a specific reason based on the company’s history, products or reputation. Find ways that it intersects with your history and experience.

Q: What’s your greatest strength/weakness?

Tell a story that demonstrates your strength or weakness. Don’t fall back on useless modifiers like: “People say I’m an amazing leader.” As your weakness, identify a strength you take to an extreme: “Sometimes I get so caught up in my subject that I give people too much information,” for example.

[See the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes]

Q: What salary are you looking for?

Have a number in mind based on research you can do at the Bureau of Labor Statistics on salaries for similar positions in your area. Don’t ask: “What are you offering?”

Dale Carnegie Training offers a number of other questions to expect during an interview.

Body Language

How should you sit, act or just be in your interview? Although you’ll likely be nervous, try to be yourself, as much as possible. Your face-to-face interview is your one opportunity to show the real you to your prospective employer, and may be the key to set you apart from other applicants. Also, keep in mind that sometimes the person who is interviewing you might also be nervous. Do what you can to feel as comfortable as possible, so you, in turn, can make them feel more comfortable.

In addition, “your body language should exude confidence. A strong, confident handshake goes a very long way. So do smiling, nodding and maintaining eye contact. Keep your voice clear and strong,” suggests career coach Florman.

Cole-Jones recommends that you sit up and forward in your chair, because no one wants to hire someone who is “too cool for school.” Also, keep your hands where others can see them. It’s hard to trust someone when you can’t see their hands.

How to Leave the Interview

In How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote that two great ways “to make people like you” are to “smile and remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sounds in any language.”

Once your interview is done, address the interviewer by name, smile and offer genuine appreciation for the investment of his or her time in your future with the company. You want to leave the interviewer with a compelling impression of yourself, so remember to exude a blend of confidence, composure and dedication.

Follow Up

Mihalick of Malakye.com thinks what you do after the interview counts a great deal in the employer’s impression of you. “When your interview is over, FOLLOW UP! Send a follow up e-mail as soon as possible, a few hours later or the next day are good rules of thumb, regardless of if you think it went well. Say thanks, reiterate important points and tell them you’re looking forward to finding out more about the next steps.”

“E-mails are efficient,” says Florman, the career coach, “but they are common and do not show great effort. I suggest a hand-written thank you note to follow up from an interview. Recap the interview by including the position you applied for, what you liked about the organization, why you would be a great fit for the position, and conclude by thanking them for their time and consideration.”

If You Haven’t Landed an Interview

Your resume needs a polish if you haven’t landed an interview. As a career coach, Florman has worked with a huge variety of resumes and has found some best practices to follow.

“Include keywords that reflect the job posting and personalize the content for each position you are applying for. Print the resume on high quality laser paper and keep it to one page. Focus on the results you have achieved. Leaders achieve results.”

Resume expert Amanda Collins goes further. “Statistics say a resume gets anywhere from five seconds to a minute or more for executives. You need to make your documents come to life to share your value in an instant.”

She says that hiring is kind of like choosing a movie. You make your decision based on a) star power, b) word of mouth or c) the trailer. In evaluating you as an applicant, you may be well known in your industry (point a) or have a strong network of referrals (point b), but if you don’t, you need a resume (point c) to really differentiate you from the competition.

Your resume should always answer the question, “Why should I hire you?”

Best Companies to Work For, 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

SAS takes the prize again! When it comes to workplaces, few companies offer the kinds of perks the privately held software giant does: Employees at its Cary, N.C., campus can help themselves to everything from a tailor, a manicurist, and a hair salon, to summer camp programs for kids, to car detailing — all of which helped land the company at the top of our list of the 100 best workplaces last year. This year the feedback from employees — the core of our survey — was even stronger than last year, and SAS’s scores increased significantly. “They were head and shoulders above anybody else,” says Milton Moskowitz, the co-author of the list.

Landing the top spot twice in a row is a feat on the Best Companies to Work For list, where on-site gyms and 401(k) matches are de rigueur. (Free cafeterias, tanning beds, and an on-site life coach? Now we have a conversation.) The top five this year reflect some names familiar to readers of our list: Boston Consulting Group at No. 2, Wegmans Food Markets in third place, Google once again in the No. 4 slot, and data-storage company NetApp (No. 1 in 2009) is fifth. This year we welcome 10 newcomers to the list, including Hasbro, Morningstar, Stryker, and Darden Restaurants. We also welcome back many stalwarts: 13 companies have earned a spot on our list each of its 14 years, among them Cisco, Wegmans Food Markets, Microsoft, and — yes — Goldman Sachs.

How do we put the list together? Simply stated, we ask the employees themselves. We partner with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct an extensive survey of hundreds of employees at each company. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on employees’ answers to questions about such factors as job satisfaction, management credibility, and camaraderie. (The other third is based on the companies’ responses to detailed questions about pay, benefit programs, hiring practices, recognition programs, diversity efforts, and more.)

So who are this year’s Best Companies and what’s so great about them? Read on.

—  Leigh Gallagher, Fortune Magazine

Top 15 Best Companies to Work For, 2011

1. SAS

Rank: 1 (Previous rank: 1)

What makes it so great?

A 14-year veteran of this list, the software firm takes the top spot for the second year running.

Its perks are epic: on-site healthcare, high quality childcare at $410 per month, summer camp for kids, car cleaning, a beauty salon, and more — it’s all enough to make a state-of-the-art, 66,000-square-foot gym seem like nothing special by comparison.

This year, strong employee feedback sent its numbers even higher. Says one manager: “People stay at SAS in large part because they are happy, but to dig a little deeper, I would argue that people don’t leave SAS because they feel regarded — seen, attended to and cared for. I have stayed for that reason, and love what I do for that reason.”

2009 revenue ($ millions): 2,310

2. Boston Consulting Group

Rank: 2 (Previous rank: 8)

What makes it so great?

The consulting giant not only avoided layoffs in the downturn, but hired its largest class of recruits ever in 2010.

They’re drawn by the firm’s generous pay and a commitment to social work: Its Social Impact Practice Network (SIPN) offers a chance to work with the U.N. World Food Program and Save the Children, while BCG pulled its consultants off client projects to provide on-the-ground support in Haiti following the earthquake.

The company jumps up from no. 8 last year.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 2,750

3. Wegmans Food Markets

Rank: 3 (Previous rank: 3)

What makes it so great?

This customer-friendly supermarket chain cares about the well-being of its workers, too. This year, 11,000 employees took part in a challenge to eat five cups of fruit and vegetables a day and walk up to 10,000 steps a day for eight weeks.

Another 8,000 took advantage of health screenings that included a flu shot and H1N1 vaccine — all covered by Wegmans.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 5,193

4. Google

Rank: 4 (Previous rank: 4)

What makes it so great?

The search giant is famous for its laundry list of perks including free food at any of its cafeterias, a climbing wall, and, well, free laundry.

Last year, with revenue up more than 20%, Google sweetened this already rich pot of perks by giving every employee a 10% pay hike. Googlers can also award one another $175 peer spot bonuses — last year more than two-thirds of them did so.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 23,651

Courtesy of NetApp

Rank: 5 (Previous rank: 7)

What makes it so great?

It was a rebound year for the data-storage firm (no. 1 in 2009), as revenues jumped 33% and it hired hundreds of new employees.

Hourly executive assistants make $76,450 a year here, supplemented by a bonus of $21,917.

Employees also enjoy perks like free fruit on Tuesdays, free bagels and cream cheese on Fridays, and free espresso all the time.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 3,931

6. Zappos.com

Rank: 6 (Previous rank: 15)

What makes it so great?

The online shoe retailer makes a big leap from no. 15 to no. 6 this year.

Now part of the Amazon.com family, the company’s quirky, happy culture remains: Employees enjoy free lunches, no-charge vending machines, a full-time life coach on hand, and “create fun and a little weirdness” as one of the company’s guiding tenets.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 1,190

7. Camden Property Trust

Rank: 7 (Previous rank: 10)

What makes it so great?

The Houston-based apartment management firm weathered the recession as employees pitched in to trim $6 million in costs, largely by renegotiating contracts and reducing pay.

One team sent a scrapbook to the CEO to show how much they love the company, while another planned and organized a “flash mob” dance routine for leaders’ benefit.

One popular perk: Staffers can rent furnished apartments for $20 a night in locations like Orlando, San Diego, Denver and Austin for use on personal vacations.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 624

8. Nugget Market

Rank: 8 (Previous rank: 5)

What makes it so great?

Rallies are an everyday event at this nine-store Northern California supermarket chain, where management uses a big flat screen computer monitor in each store to deliver important information about products, messages from the leadership team, employee awards, and pump up the troops.

Employees who watch diligently can be rewarded with bonuses that range from $20 to $1,500. Universal perk: everyone receives a 10% discount on store purchases.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 288

9. Recreational Equipment (REI)

Rank: 9 (Previous rank: 14)

What makes it so great?

After 15 years of service, employees at this adventure gear retailer are entitled to a four-week paid sabbatical; after that, they can take one every five years.

Employees also receive 50%-75% discounts on full-price REI branded apparel and equipment, free rental of equipment like skis and kayaks, and an annual gift of REI gear.

A separate Challenge Grant program provides up to $300 worth of gear to employees that participate in a challenging outdoor adventure (one cycled 500 miles across Iowa).

2009 revenue ($ millions): 1,455

10. DreamWorks Animation SKG

Rank: 10 (Previous rank: 6)

What makes it so great?

The creators of “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda” are lavished with free breakfast and lunch, movie screenings, afternoon yoga, on-campus art classes and monthly parties.

CEO Jefferey Katzenberg still takes time to call job candidates to encourage them to join.

Any DreamWorker can pitch a movie idea to company executives — and can take the company-sponsored “Life’s A Pitch” workshop to learn how best to do it.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 725

11. Edward Jones

Rank: 11 (Previous rank: 2)

What makes it so great?

The investment adviser has made diversity a priority with new recruitment programs to bring people of color into a workforce that is 93% white. As the company itself says, it “does not aspire to be a firm of middle-aged white men.”

2009 revenue ($ millions): 3,548

12. Scottrade

Rank: 12 (Previous rank: 27)

What makes it so great?

Discount stockbroker thrives by going against the grain: Its brokers offer no advice to customers and do not work on commission. Its workplace bucks trends too — no one has ever been laid off, and no office has ever been closed.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 863

13. Alston & Bird

Rank: 13 (Previous rank: 30)

What makes it so great?

For a decade the law firm has had its own child-care campus a block away from its offices. The facility was expanded this year and now provides day care to 110 children, with subsidized rates for parents in lower-salaried ranks.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 551

14. Robert W. Baird

Rank: 14 (Previous rank: 11)

What makes it so great?

Employees of the investment adviser praise the integrity that prevails here. “I have worked with a number of firms,” says one manager, “and Baird [has] the most hard-working, honest, ethical people in our business.”

2009 revenue ($ millions): 718

15. Mercedes-Benz USA

Rank: 15 (Previous rank: 49)

What makes it so great?

The sales and marketing arm of the German car maker offers flexible work schedules, compressed workweeks, and a generous telecommuting policy, as well as a gym with two personal trainers and an on-site car wash, of course.

2009 revenue ($ millions): 9,000

Most of the nations atop our list are democratic, business-friendly, and boast strong social safety nets.

Think about it for a minute: What does happiness mean to you?

For most, being happy starts with having enough money to do what you want and buy what you want. A nice home, food, clothes, car, leisure. All within reason.

See the full list of The World’s 10 Happiest Countries

The Top 5 Happiest countries in the World

1. Norway

2. Denmark

3. Finland

4. Australia

5. New Zealand

But happiness is much more than money. It’s being healthy, free from pain, being able to take care of yourself. It’s having good times with friends and family.

Furthermore, happiness means being able to speak what’s on your mind without fear, to worship the God of your choosing, and to feel safe and secure in your own home.

Happiness means having opportunity—to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What’s more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?

With this in mind, five years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because “happy” carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it “prosperity.”

Legatum recently completed its 2010 Prosperity Index, which ranks 110 countries, covering 90% of the world’s population.

To build its index Legatum gathers upward of a dozen international surveys done by the likes of the Gallup polling group, the Heritage Foundation and the World Economic Forum. Each country is ranked on 89 variables sorted into eight subsections: economy, entrepreneurship, governance, education, health, safety, personal freedom and social capital.

The core conceit: Prosperity is complex; achieving it relies on a confluence of factors that build on each other in a virtuous circle.

Ultimately how happy you are depends on how happy you’ve been. If you’re already rich, like Scandinavia, then more freedom, security and health would add the most to happiness. For the likes of China and India (ranked 88th), it’s more a case of “show me the money.” What they want most of all? The opportunity to prove to themselves that money doesn’t buy happiness.

No. 5: New Zealand

With very high levels of social cohesion and a first-place ranking in education, New Zealanders trust and help each other. The country ranks first in civil liberties. Ninety-four percent found the beauty of their physical environment satisfying (the other 6% must be blind).

No. 4: Australia

Excellent education, strong personal freedoms, a tight-knit society. Australia’s economy is strong, led by raw materials exports, but it’s also a good place to start a business, with plentiful Internet connectivity and low startup costs. Aussies trust their government.

No. 3: Finland

Excellent education, universal health care, plentiful personal freedoms, trusted government, peaceful. Lots of R&D and low business startup costs give the Finns economic strength. But as is to be expected in a country with the highest redistribution of wealth, only 75% of Finns believe working hard will help them get ahead.

No. 2: Denmark

The world’s lowest business startup costs, excellent education, unrestricted civil freedoms. Danes have overwhelming faith in their government and in each other, and report the highest standard of living in the world.

No. 1: Norway

The world’s highest per-capita GDP at $53,000 a year. Spending on health care is second-highest after the U.S. An unparalleled 74% of Norwegians say other people can be trusted, 94% are happy with the beauty of their environment, and a very high 93% believe hard work will help them get ahead in life. Having a lot of oil and gas reserves helps.

See the full list of The World’s 10 Happiest Countries