Joy Inc. Book Summary - Joy Inc. Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Joy Inc. summary

Rich Sheridan

How We Built a Workplace People Love

3.7 (19 ratings)
14 mins

Brief summary

Joy, Inc. by Rich Sheridan is a business book that explores the concept of creating a joyful workplace, by putting people over processes and creating meaningful work.

Table of Contents

    Joy Inc.
    Summary of 6 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 6

    Joy motivates employees. It makes them work harder and longer, and work together.

    Unless you’re the grumpy Scrooge of Dickensian fame, joy is an emotion you crave and enjoy.

    Being happy and full of life is better than being miserable and gloomy, isn’t it? So why don’t we incorporate more positive feelings – such as joy – into our workplaces?

    Joy drives people to seek a higher purpose and leave a lasting impact on the world. And joy can be a valuable motivator in the business world, where it manifests as a desire to work on something larger than yourself and belong to a supportive community.

    You’ll find that joyful people work longer and harder than ever before to achieve such goals.

    Consider the difference between the Wright brothers and Samuel Pierpont Langley. While both Langley and the Wrights were striving to create the first-ever airplane, their motivations for doing so diverged. Langley wanted fame and fortune; the Wright brothers wanted to experience the joy of flight.

    And it was the pursuit of joy that inspired the Wright brothers not only to win but to soar!

    Another benefit of bringing joy to the business world is that joy serves as a base for your company’s culture, which helps unite and shape your team of employees.

    When the author invites clients to his software company, Menlo Innovations, he asks: If half of his employees express joy for their work and the other half doesn’t, which employees would the client prefer to work with? Of course, the answer is always, the joyful ones.

    As it turns out, Menlo’s clients implicitly understand that joyful employees are more productive and engaged in their work, which leads to better results.

    So we’ve learned that joy is a way to reach new, higher goals and that joyful employees create a joy-driven culture. But what does a joyful company actually look like? Keep reading to find out.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Joy Inc.?

    Key ideas in Joy Inc.

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Joy Inc. about?

    In Joy Inc., author Rich Sheridan shows you how a culture of joy can be the basis for any successful company. Using examples from his experience as CEO of software company Menlo Innovations, the author shows how fostering open communication, transparency and positivity can transform a workplace.

    Joy Inc. Review

    Joy Inc. (2013) by Rich Sheridan explores the transformation of his software development company into a joyful workplace. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It provides insightful strategies to create a positive work environment, fostering happiness and productivity.
    • Through personal anecdotes and case studies, the book demonstrates the power of joy in driving innovation and success.
    • With its refreshing perspective on work culture and leadership, it challenges conventional norms and inspires change.

    Best quote from Joy Inc.

    Joy is building something that sees the light of day and is used and widely adopted by the people for whom it was created.

    —Rich Sheridan
    example alt text

    Who should read Joy Inc.?

    • Managers and CEOs who want to improve productivity
    • Visionary leaders who want a new perspective on how to run a company
    • Business students looking to broaden their understanding of what makes a successful company

    About the Author

    Rich Sheridan is the CEO of Menlo Innovations in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Categories with Joy Inc.

    Book summaries like Joy Inc.

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    33 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Joy Inc. FAQs 

    What is the main message of Joy Inc.?

    The main message of Joy Inc. is that creating a joyful workplace leads to better business outcomes.

    How long does it take to read Joy Inc.?

    The reading time for Joy Inc. varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Joy Inc. a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Joy Inc. is a valuable read for anyone interested in building a positive work culture. It offers practical insights and examples on how to create joy and improve business performance.

    Who is the author of Joy Inc.?

    The author of Joy Inc. is Rich Sheridan.

    What to read after Joy Inc.?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Joy Inc., here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Crazy Joy by Mary Katherine Backstrom
    • The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway
    • 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
    • Hardcore Self Help by Robert Duff
    • Noise by Daniel Kahneman
    • The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
    • Made You Look by Carmen Simon
    • Originals by Adam Grant
    • Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
    • The Fine Art Of Small Talk by Debra Fine