What does it really mean to live a successful life? Is success about achievements, wealth, or status or is it something much deeper?
In this powerful episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Dr. Carlos Saba, co-founder of The Happy Startup School. Carlos shares his journey from chasing external markers of success to redefining it as a feeling of alignment, acceptance, and agency.
We dive into:
This conversation is packed with wisdom on presence, purpose, and emotional awareness, reminding us all that success is not about having more, but about being more.
00:00 – Intro What is Happy Money?
06:02 – Redefining success as a feeling of alignment
07:31 – From black belts to diaries: chasing early success goals
12:45 – Why being still is so hard in today’s society
17:56 – Childhood, conditioning & the stories we inherit
21:27 – Is the school system broken? Emotional literacy & curiosity
26:27 – Parents, teachers & environments shaping emotional awareness
29:08 – Rage, shame & teaching children emotional intelligence
32:43 – Can we measure emotional intelligence like grades?
37:48 – The “Second Mountain” of purpose & contribution
42:45 – Finding your values and purpose vs. chasing titles
48:21 – Questioning the life blueprint: marriage, career & curiosity
53:14 – Compassion, forgiveness & letting go of “the one way”
55:41 – Feeling stuck? Where to start with transition
59:10 – The First Mountain vs. the Second Mountain
1:01:43 – Redefining money: Happy Money & financial stories
1:09:51 – Scarcity, shame & abundance
1:13:29 – What is happiness? Acceptance & agency
1:15:35 – Responsibility, awareness & self-compassion
1:18:31 – Life as an adventure, not a scoreboard
1:20:29 – Chaos, stories & infinite games
1:25:24 – Death, joy & making the game better
1:29:13 – Agency, acceptance & connection
1:30:13 – Summer camp, friendship & fulfillment
1:33:30 – The key midlife question: Who am I becoming?
1:36:02 – Closing tradition: Storytelling card reflection
🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:
👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast
🔗 Connect with Dr. Carlos Saba
Website: https://www.happystartupschool.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlossaba
💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.
SPONSORED BY:
Search Seven – www.searchseven.co.uk
Nostos Hove – www.nostos-hove.co.uk
Rivervale – www.rivervale.co.uk
Plus X – https://www.plusxinnovation.com/
PRODUCED BY: H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk/
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