What does success really mean? Is it about income, status, or something deeper?
In this episode, Michael and I sit down for a candid conversation about how our childhood shaped our views on success and how we’re intentionally redefining it for our own children.
We reflect on growing up in a small-town community, the hidden lessons we learned about money and work, and the challenges of raising kids in a world that often equates success with wealth and achievement.
We share three key ways we’re guiding our children in this area:
1. Focusing on Failure First – Helping our kids develop resilience and a healthy relationship with failure before they even define success.
2. Defining Success Holistically – Teaching them that success isn’t just about money or status but about relationships, impact, and purpose.
3. Highlighting Impact Over Income – Emphasizing service, generosity, and solving problems for others rather than chasing financial gain.
Whether you’re a parent or simply reflecting on your own definition of success, I hope this episode challenges you to think differently about what really matters!
Reflection Questions:
- What was your definition of success growing up? How did your parents influence that?
- Have you ever felt pressure to measure success by income or status? How has that shaped your decisions?
- If you’re a parent, what messages about success do you think your children are absorbing from you?
- How do you personally handle failure? Have you created space for yourself (or your kids) to fail without shame?
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