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:

• The evolving definition of success beyond money and milestones
• Emotional intelligence and why schools must nurture curiosity, not just grades
• Why shame, comparison, and old money stories hold us back
• The idea of “Happy Money” and how our stories around money shape our lives
• Midlife transitions, the “second mountain,” and asking Who am I becoming?
• How to create your own blueprint for life and stop living by outdated societal narratives

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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