I’ve been wealthy and miserable. I’ve been financially stressed yet deeply happy. Through these contrasting experiences, I’ve discovered something crucial: happiness is not the ultimate goal we should pursue – fulfillment is.
Let me share a tale of two periods in my life that perfectly illustrates this point. In July 2008, my bank accounts were drained after investing nearly $500,000 in my book launch. My real estate investments had turned toxic, bleeding almost $70,000 monthly in negative cash flow. Partners had gone bankrupt, leaving me holding the bag as the economy crashed. For the first time in a decade, my business revenue had dropped – by seven figures.
Yet despite this financial nightmare, I was genuinely happy. Why? Because I was living with purpose, maintaining a healthy mindset through morning gratitude practices, exercising regularly, and nurturing my social connections. I was creating something meaningful with my book, even as my financial track suffered.
Fast forward to late 2023 – a stark contrast. My finances were robust with substantial cash flow, but blood work showed kidney failure. I battled severe insomnia. I was unwinding a difficult partnership that left me socially withdrawn. My mentality had shifted to victimhood, constantly dwelling on what I’d lost rather than what I had.
I had all this money, but my mind was busy and I was not happy.
The Difference Between Happiness and Fulfillment
This contrast taught me that happiness is often fleeting – a temporary emotional state that comes and goes with circumstances. Fulfillment, however, runs deeper. It’s about purpose, depth, and harmony across what I call the five tracks of wealth:
- Financial well-being
- Purpose and meaningful work
- Healthy mindset
- Physical health
- Social connections
True wealth isn’t just having money – that merely makes you rich. Being wealthy means living with strength across all five tracks. When I was financially struggling but strong in the other areas, I experienced greater overall well-being than when I had money but neglected the rest.
Many people get addicted to dopamine hits – they use money to rent temporary happiness through purchases and experiences that lose their luster over time. They chase outcomes rather than enjoying processes. They think, “When I have this, then I’ll be happy,” postponing their joy until some future achievement.
Vision Greater Than Problems
What pulled me through my darkest periods wasn’t money – it was vision. When my son struggled with auditory processing issues in fifth grade, barely speaking and failing school, my wife and I held a vision of him living his fullest, most expressed life. We didn’t know how to get there, but that vision drove us to find solutions.
We flew to specialists in Dallas and Maine, invested every dollar we could, and refused to let his condition become a limitation. Today, no one would know he ever had those challenges. He’s now 20 years old, kind and loving – coming upstairs just to give me a hug when I arrived home.
My vision is so much greater than any problem I’m facing. This perspective shift is transformative.
Vision differs from goals or objectives. Goals you might accomplish alone – like running a race or saving money. Vision extends beyond your reach, requiring others’ support and creating a movement. It’s about liberating a million entrepreneurs to become financially independent or planting seeds of hope in the hearts of a billion people.
Community: The Missing Ingredient
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that prosperity is not a do-it-yourself game. In our world of technological disruption and uncertainty, human connection remains our greatest asset.
Recently in our Multiplier community, a member named Barbara shared her frustration about only filling half the seats for her retreat. Within days, other community members rallied with ideas and connections, helping her fill all 16 spots. That’s more fulfilling to me than any bank balance.
When my son was struggling, we reached out to a community called Total Solutions. Though we were the only non-doctors there, they embraced us, made connections, and helped us find solutions. The key is never let isolation be the solution.
I’ve seen too many people suffer in silence, ruminating with thoughts of scarcity and victimhood. Without vision and community, challenges feel impossible. But with them, you’re only one idea or relationship away from the next level of prosperity.
What if wealth was simply a byproduct of a life well-lived? What if instead of chasing happiness through money, we pursued fulfillment through purpose, depth, and harmony? That’s the path to your richest life – and it’s available regardless of your bank balance.
