The Happiest Man in America
Speaker, Author, and training consultant
INTRODUCING
James Paul Godsey
James Paul Godsey (J.P. “Gus” Godsey) was selected as “The Happiest Man in America” by USA Weekend magazine in March 2003. USA Weekend was attempting to find the happiest man in America and found that Virginia Beach, VA, was picked as the best place to live in America.
They went there and did countless interviews and surveys. Eventually, tests were administered by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., nationally acclaimed happiness expert and author of Authentic Happiness.
Godsey scored in the top percentile of the 70,000-plus people worldwide who have taken the tests. In fact, “Dr. Marty” was so astounded by Godsey’s scores he made him take the tests three times.
Happy New Year to all, albeit a bit tardy and the best for 2026. It is good to get back on this site and give an update.
After Thanksgiving I flew to Eunice, LA (next to Lafayette, Home of the “Ragin Cajuns”) with a friend Janet who was attending a cousin’s funeral. Young guy too, way too young to leave us this soon. You talk about a spot with personality. The gumbo, crayfish, alligator, sausage and Cajun hospitality was grand. The French/Cajun dialect was, sometimes, a bit trying to understand, “don’t ya’ know.” The airport was very nice but I was very disappointed that there was not a drop of Christmas cheer. I fly a lot and EVERY airport I have ever gone to was DECKED OUT to the nines during the holidays. No trees, no wreaths, no bows, no carols, no Merry Christmas or even Happy Holiday greetings, not a one. It was depressing. I asked the car rental lady what was the deal and she said the new airport manager stopped it when they took over three years ago. They sent a memo they were discontinuing the decorations out of fear of “offending anyone.” I got a suggestion, stay in your house for the month of December if the holiday cheer offends you. How can a Christmas tree offend? You talk about the tail wagging the dog! We are losing our common sense. How can one person ruin the holidays for the other 99?
I helped Janet work on her “homestead” she owns down there… so much for my Christmas vacation in the sunny south. I was worked like a mule. I had to rebuild/replace the front steps on a 100 year old house. Normally this would be a 4-6 hour job with my tools and a memory of how to do this task. It took me two days as the last steps I built were 20 years ago when I was in my 40’s a bit quicker and a lot sharper. But I got them done and last I checked they are still standing.
Lafayette, LA was selected as the “Happiest City in America.” I thought, “I have to meet the happiest Mayor of this happy town.” So I called her office and her wonderful staff set it all up. Attached is a picture of Lafayette Mayor Monique B. Boulet presenting me with an “Honorary Happy Cajun” award. What a surprise. She and her entire staff are beautiful inside and out.
Say a prayer for our country and the terrible conflicts and divisiveness we are having. It is shocking and heart breaking to see us go through this again. Regardless of your position on ICE the violence cannot be allowed. Peaceful protest yes, but there is still too much interference, attacks and throwing bottles/rocks etc. Let’s hope we come to a resolution soon.
My next “How To Be Happy EVERY Day” class is March 24, 2026. It is a fun, fast two hour class that covers proven daily skill tips to live a happier life. Just type in adultlearningcenter.vabeach, piece of cake, badda bing, badda boom.
Cheers and Happy Valentine’s Day. As always, peace on earth good will to men.
Til then’
Gus
rolling happisms
"Happisms taken from “How To Be Happy EVERY DAY”
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BOOKS by j.p. "gus" godsey
HOW TO BE
HAPPY EVERY DAY
This is J. P. Godsey’s first book and offers daily insights as to how to make each day the best it can be. This is sure to be an upbeat, humorous, and enthusiastic offering of “Gus’s” quotes and philosophy on making EVERY DAY count. This book has been RE-RELEASED effective January 1, 2008. Yep, it has new Happyisms, new pictures, and new “stuff” to keep you happy for years to come. On the top of this website’s home page are examples of Happyisms from the book. They are daily affirmations of things we can all do to make our lives more fulfilled, and yes…happier.
HOW TO BE
Be Happy In HARD TIMES
This book is packed with helpful advice on how to survive these hard times with a smile. Gus grabs the bull by the horns and rips through a tough environment like a steak knife through hot butter. This book follows his first bestselling book, “How To Be Happy EVERY DAY”. It covers, in plain English, tips on how to get more out of life this minute. Check out the table of contents. Take a spin on the foreword written by Dennis McCafferty, of USA Weekend Magazine, who selected J.P. “Gus” Godsey as “The Happiest Man in America” back in 2003. He knows more than anyone how Gus’s grasp of the simple, turns hard times into happy ones. This 13-chapter book is a quick read, but still offers stories that make your jaw drop from disbelief, your belly ache from laughing, and your mind race as to how you can implement these helpful tips into your life. Read the Preface, Table of Contents, and Foreword.
BOOKS BY AUTHOR
J.P. "Gus" Godsey
Meet Buttercup, a sweetie-pie flying squirrel; Buckshot, a big buck deer; Scooter, a blue-skinned lizard; and Dipper, a timid possum: Four unlikely friends who find themselves on one crazy adventure!
A typical day at the park starts out with a friendly game of dodge ball but quickly turns into something none of them bargained for. With one quick snap of his jaw, Skeeter the fox swipes Scooter’s tail---and
Scooter is determined to get it back! With this gang, it’s all for one and one for all, so the friends enter the forest together, hot on Skeeter’s trail. . . Little do they know the dangers that await them there. One thing’s for sure: A sly fox, a grumpy bear, a no-nonsense porcupine and a very hungry snake turn this ordinary afternoon into a day these four friends will never forget! A bonus is there is a underlining strong anti-bulling message that is so needed today.
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TV Appearances AND VIDEOS
J.P. "Gus" Godsey Has appeared on nationally syndicated shows such as Good Morning America, The Daily Show with John Stewart, and CNBC Power Lunch.
INSPIRING MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER AND COACH
Godsey is a master at providing insightful, humorous, and thought-provoking motivational speaking programs. He offers insights on how to make each day the best it can be and provides his personal philosophy on making every day count.
He also explores navigating and surviving life's trying times with a smile. Godsey's coined term, "happyisms", are daily affirmations of things we can all do to make our lives more fulfilled, and he shares these tips with his captivated audiences. To book a motivational speaking session from Mr. Happy USA himself, get in touch today!
MORE ABOUT J.P. "GUS" GODSEY
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
High School: At Buckhannon Upshur High School, he began a 13-year career in wrestling and played football and baseball. He also developed acting skills, appearing in several class plays.
College: At West Virginia Wesleyan College, he received a bachelor of science in business management and economics. He was class president and president of his fraternity, Theta Chi. He was also involved in several athletic programs, college activities, and clubs, all while working 40 hours a week.
Post-college education: Godsey received extensive securities degrees in management, securities trading, commodities, insurance, and a certified senior advisor designation.
MORE ABOUT J.P. "GUS" GODSEY
OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY
Godsey’s first job was shoveling sidewalks in Lancaster, PA, when he was seven years old. This led to a successful yard-mowing and paper route in New Mexico. Junior High involved a job at a food processing plant in Indianapolis. In Buckhannon, he worked his way through high school and college as a yard boy, maintenance man, maid, night watchman, and bartender/bouncer.
He graduated and accepted his first professional job as the initial manager of the newly opened 2001/VIP nightclub in rapidly expanding Myrtle Beach, SC. This was the “spot to be” and was packed night after night in the disco heyday. He left after two years to go back home and accepted a job as the campaign manager for his former boss and father figure, J.D. Hinkle, who was running for Congress. He left this and worked for two years as a sales/public relations representative for the Washington Federals of the United States Football League.
After getting married, he moved to Norfolk/Virginia Beach and began a 25-year career as a successful stockbroker with three different firms. After hosting several weekly shows for 20 years, he left the brokerage business to begin a career as a radio talk show host for WHKT “Freedom 1650” AM, heard 3-6 p.m. EST and streaming on his website. He left the radio business on December 31, 2010, to accept a job as a training consultant for a technology training firm.
