One of my good friends Paul Hjort got the jackpot in the lottery in 2012 and quit the job the following day. But is he happier now?
I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
How did you know that you had won a lottery?
– I'm at work (Paul Hjort worked with pest control, red.) On Bornholm, (small island in Denmark) when I receive a text from the Danish Game Service that I should call. I call the number from my car, and a young guy in the pipe asks me to keep in touch. "You've won 3.2 million," he says. It feels unreal. I thought "Is that phone prank?". I'm going back to work and when I get home, I check the number and find out that it's good enough. I'm totally happy. I'm so relieved when I'm in a crazy stressed period of work, and I think: "Now I can do what I want!" And I imagine how happy my two boys will be when I tell them. In the evening I'm out with some of the others from work, and I ask one of them to turn on the clock. Then I give a round to all the people at the pub. I say it's my birthday so I get birthday song. I do not want to tell it yet. On my way home from the city, I dump on trash cans and shout "yes, yes, yes!" Into the night. Some residents come and ask me to calm down. I quit the job the day after.
What have you used the money for?
– After I had finished my job, I took a year out of the calendar where I thought what I wanted. I decided to create the Events4singler agency, and I've spent some money on it. That's what I'm doing today. Even though I have won in Lotto, I would like to earn my own money.
Have you become more happy after you won the Lotto?
– I've probably not been happier, but I've probably had a more exciting life, as money after all, provides some more choices, including In order to travel more.
Did you have a feeling you would win someday? If so, what gave you that feeling? Any way to describe
– Believe it or not, I ALWAYS knew I would win someday, even though i have played in many years.
Do you consider yourself lucky? Are you lucky in any other areas of life besides the lottery?
– I really don’t consider myself lucky. If I go to Vegas or Black Hawk, I lose like everyone else. I do consider myself BLESSED though. I have been blessed in a lot of areas: my wife, my job, my family, and my friends.
Do you think winning the lottery has affected your long term happiness (today at 5+ years later) and quality of life?
– As I said before, life is a lot easier knowing that you don’t have to worry about money.
I agree 100%, money doesnt make you happy but it makes life much easier not chasing money and instead have free time to spend with family and friends which makes life beautiful.
Yes, it makes the life easier.
Money is not everything, but money is important. More importantly health and happiness. @israi
Agree. Many people who don't have much money are more happy than people with money.
He was so positive to win. That is why, in every goals we make, we need to be positive in order to achieve it. Love the spirit!
I love that you interviewed your friend about this. I believe that the statistics show that people end up "less happy" after winning the lottery, but it sounds like your buddy has a good head on his shoulders. He's able to keep it in perspective and still has a good internal drive to use the gifts that he has been given and contribute to society. If everyone was more like your friend, we would probably have fewer people living on "government assistance". I also love that he is thankful for all that he has.
Where about in Denmark are you? I will be movIng to Aarhus this week.