Success or Happiness: Which Would You Choose First? | Episode 30

If you could only choose one in life — success or happiness — which would you choose?

Take a moment and really think about it.

Now imagine asking the same question about your child: would you rather they grow up successful, or would you rather they grow up happy?

Every time I ask this, people give the same answer: happiness. Parents say they’d choose happiness for their children, even if it meant less “success” by society’s standards.

But here’s the strange part: even though we say happiness matters more, many of us live as if success is the real prize. We sacrifice health, peace of mind, time with loved ones — all in the name of achieving more. Without even noticing, we start living as though success is the ultimate goal, and happiness is something to be earned later.

And if you’ve been chasing success yet still feel like something’s missing, this perspective might change the way you see your goals — and maybe even your life.

Because here’s the truth we often overlook: happiness is what we’re ultimately searching for. Success is meant to serve it, not replace it.

For a big part of my life, I was running full speed toward success — convinced that the next milestone, title, or income bracket would finally give me the happiness I craved.

I told myself, “Once I achieve that, then I’ll rest. Then I’ll be happy.”

But it never worked. Achievements gave me a quick rush, but it faded fast. Before I knew it, I was back on the treadmill, already chasing the next thing.

And in the process, I pushed my body to exhaustion. I ignored my health, postponed rest, and sidelined relationships. I thought I was building success… but what I was really building was burnout.

That’s when I realized something important: I had made success the condition for my happiness. And no matter how much I achieved, it was never enough.

If you dig beneath the surface, many of us carry a hidden belief:

“I’ll be happy when I’m more successful.”

And underneath that belief is often a fear:

“If I’m happy now, I’ll lose my drive.”

This mindset often starts in childhood. We learn early that we get more praise, attention, and love when we achieve something — good grades, trophies, certificates. Achievement gets tangled up with worth.

So we grow up becoming what I call The Proving Machine — always working, always chasing, always trying to prove ourselves… but never fully satisfied.

It’s like climbing a ladder with all your strength, only to realize it’s been leaning against the wrong wall the whole time.

Here’s what I’ve discovered after climbing so many ladders: happiness isn’t something you earn at the finish line. It’s something you choose at the starting line.

What if happiness wasn’t the reward for your success, but the foundation for it?

Imagine giving your health, your relationships, and your inner peace the same weight as your goals — not waiting until “someday” to enjoy them.

When you live this way, something shifts. You stop living only for outcomes and start finding meaning in the process. Your energy returns. Your relationships strengthen. And strangely enough, success often flows more easily, because you’re no longer running on empty.

That’s what I call becoming The Joy-Driven Achiever — someone who creates from a place of gratitude and wholeness.

It’s like tending a garden: when you water it daily and give it sunshine, the plants flourish naturally. Happiness is the water and sunlight. Success is the fruit.

If you’ve been caught in the cycle of chasing success first, here’s a gentle way to begin shifting:

These small reflections can help you start realigning your daily life with what matters most.

At the end of your life, looking back — which would matter more: success or happiness?

And if your answer is happiness, but you’ve been living as though success is the priority, maybe it’s time for a reset.

Book your FREE Coaching Consultation today, and let’s create a version of success that feels fulfilling, peaceful, and truly yours.

00:00 - Introduction
02:49 - Success as the Condition for Happiness
04:32 - What I Learned
05:26 - The Mistake: Treating Success as a Prerequisite for Happiness
07:13 - The Hidden Fear
08:44 - The Proving Machine
09:38 - Happiness Is Something You Choose at the Starting Line
11:10 - The Joy-Driven Achiever
12:21 - Quick Action Steps You Can Try