34-year-old engineer chosen as Singapore's happiest person

Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: A 34-year-old engineer, Andy Goh, has been chosen as Singapore's happiest person in a search that saw more than 200 people nominated.

"The idea was actually hatched by my wife and sister-in-law about three weeks ago when they first saw the article. They thought it'd be funny to put my name in, and one thing led to another," said Mr Goh.

The engineer was chosen over 207 nominees in a search by local consulting firm, Global Leadership Academy, which is preparing to organise a well-being conference.

What clinched it for Mr Goh was his attitude about the little things in life.

He said: "Happiness is not just about money and stuff. You've got to count your little blessings – health, family, friends, good support group. These are the things that I have a lot of and that makes me feel like a really happy person."

Nominees were judged based on their smile, ability to bring happiness to others and how he or she remains positive. They also need to have a strong sense of belonging to the community.

Philip Merry, Founder of Global Leadership Academy, said: "He had many, many people who actually voted for him and in terms of the characteristics we looked for, he epitomises all of those."

Along with the title of being the happiest person in Singapore, Mr Goh also won a two-night hotel stay in Phuket, Thailand.- CNA/so

The secret of being happy? It's all in the laugh
Manager's infectious cheer helps him clinch title of S'pore's Happiest Person
Hong Xinyi, Straits Times 18 Apr 08;

A 34-YEAR-OLD manager of an engineering company with a booming laugh and a love of cooking has been named Singapore's Happiest Person.

Mr Andy Goh scored that title yesterday, beating out over 200 other nominees in the first islandwide search for Singapore's jolliest resident.

Described by friends and family as a laugh riot, Mr Goh is certainly not the strong, silent type.

'Talking is underrated,' said Mr Goh, who won a two-night stay in Phuket worth over $2,000. 'I always make the effort to hang out and catch up with friends and family. They are what keep me going.'

A panel of four judges chose Mr Goh ahead of 206 other contenders, most of whom were nominated by friends and family.

The judges were looking for qualities such as a consistently cheerful disposition even in the face of adversity and an ability to bring happiness to others.

The search was run by local management consultancy Global Leadership Academy (GLA).

Mr Goh's friends and colleagues sent in a total of five nominations for him.

'There is no gathering where he is present where you do not hear the sound of his laughter,' wrote a friend in his nomination. 'It's hard to be sad with Andy present.'

Although he gets peeved when he sees 'waste and inefficiency', Mr Goh cannot really recall ever getting boiling mad.

'I usually just think about how to solve the problem instead of getting angry, which sometimes annoys my wife. She says women don't always need problems solved; they just need someone to listen to them,' he said.

Nominees for the Happiest Person title were all smiles yesterday at the Singapore Expo, where the results were announced at a conference on the science of happiness. Organised by the GLA, it saw psychologists and educators talking about issues such as making workplaces and classrooms more positive environments.

Coming in second in the Happiest Person contest was Mr Ng Chai Lee, 61, a polyclinic records searcher. Ms Zaibun Siraj, 61, a polytechnic consultant, and Ms Stella Fernandez, 43, a hospital porter, tied for third.