If you’ve ever felt yourself chasing big goals… but feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or stuck in your head along the way—this episode is for you.

Today John Flaherty steps in as guest host and asks me two powerful questions that so many high achievers wrestle with:

1. Why does continual growth matter if you want to feel your best?
2. What’s the real key to achieving big goals while actually enjoying the process?

We talk about what happens when fear, anxiety, and your “money story” start running the show—and how that can quietly sabotage your momentum and your confidence (even when you’re doing all the right things on paper).

You’ll hear us break down:

• Why growth isn’t optional if you want to feel alive, energized, and motivated
• How focusing on the result can create anxious energy that pushes opportunities away
• The mindset shift that changes everything: process over outcome
• Why “there is no there” (and what to do instead)
• How discipline builds confidence—and why progress is what creates happiness
• The role fear plays for high achievers… and how to move anyway

This episode is honest, real, and practical—especially if you’re building something big and you want success without burning yourself out.

Subscribe and share this episode with someone who’s driven to achieve… but tired of feeling stressed while doing it.

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If you’re in the insurance industry and you want to build a huge book of business without waking up stressed, exhausted, or running on adrenaline… this episode is for you.

Today I’m joined by John Flaherty—a respected leader in the Boston insurance market who’s known for something rare: he’s wildly successful and genuinely happy. John brings a level of energy, and humility that you can feel the minute he starts talking.

In this conversation, we get into what actually drives long-term success—and why “grind mode” isn’t enough if you want fulfillment too.

We talk about:

• Why continual growth is the secret to staying sharp (and staying happy)
• How John’s childhood shaped his ability to connect with people and build trust fast
• The culture he creates with his team: high standards, high support, and no fear of making mistakes
• What it takes to build strong relationships—with clients, teammates, and family
• John’s daily practices that keep him calm, focused, and energized
• His “ignition statement” (and why he reads it every morning)
• How he thinks about time, purpose, and not wasting the weeks of your life

This episode is full of real insight for anyone who wants to win through relationships, consistency, and personal growth—without sacrificing peace.

Hit follow and share this with someone in insurance who wants big results and a better life.

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Connect with John Flaherty

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If you’ve ever felt anxious while trying to achieve more in your career, relationships, or life—this episode will help you understand what’s happening inside you and give you tools you can use to feel more peace.

In this conversation, entrepreneur Bryan Wells interviews me about something I’ve struggled with for most of my life: anxiety.

For years, anxiety made me question my abilities, and pull back right when I was gaining momentum. It kept me from being present with the people I love and held me back from pursuing big goals with confidence.

I share how anxiety showed up in my life, the patterns it created, and how it often convinced me to quit too early or play smaller than I wanted to.

More importantly, I talk about how things finally began to change.

In this episode, I walk through the five daily practices that helped me calm my nervous system, and feel more grounded. These simple habits have transformed how I show up in my work, my relationships, and in moments when old self-doubt creeps in.

If you’re a high achiever who wants big results without stress and worry, this episode will give you tools you can start using right away.

Hit follow and share this with someone who’s chasing big goals and deserves to feel more peace along the way.

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In this episode of The Happy Achiever Podcast, I sit down with Bryan Wells, a successful entrepreneur who has spent the last 15 years building businesses, taking risks, and, most importantly, transforming himself from the inside out. Bryan opens up about something so many high achievers quietly battle: the voice that whispers “You’re not good enough.”

Bryan shares openly about:

• Growing up in a family of hardworking entrepreneurs who built their dreams from nothing
• How he inherited an incredible work ethic, and how that “grind” sometimes worked against him
• Betting on himself and launching a recruiting firm out of his basement with a new baby, a new house, and no guarantees
• Building success while quietly wrestling with fear, imposter syndrome, and the belief that he always had to do more

As Bryan grew his business, he found himself at times sacrificing his mental and physical health for the sake of achievement. In his 40s, everything shifted. He began doing the deeper inner work he never learned as a kid. He finally faced the trauma that shaped his drive, and for the first time, he understood why he operated the way he did.

Today, Bryan shares:

• How he learned to talk back to fear instead of letting it run the show
• Why “the negative voice” doesn’t disappear - and what to do when it shows up
• The tools he uses to stay grounded
• Why true balance doesn’t exist, and what to strive for instead
• How he teaches his daughters to name their emotions so they won’t carry the same burdens he did

This conversation is honest, real, and relatable to anyone who has ever pushed themselves to succeed while ignoring their own emotional needs. Bryan’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to change your relationship with success, to heal old wounds, and to build a life that feels meaningful, not just impressive.

If you’re a high achiever who wants financial success and peace, clarity, and strong relationships, this episode will speak to your soul.

Hit follow and share this with someone who needs to hear that change is not only possible, it’s absolutely within reach.

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Connect with Bryan Wells:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-wells/

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This episode is part of a new format for The Happy Achiever Podcast.
On weeks when I bring on a guest, you’ll get two episodes: one where I interview them, and another where they ask me the questions. It’s a more personal conversation—an opportunity for you to hear the insights and stories I usually share behind the scenes with my clients.

And it’s fitting that Joe Moran is the first person to do this. Joe was one of my very first clients seven years ago, and we’ve been on a parallel growth journey ever since. We challenge each other, support each other, and hold each other accountable—so having him guide this conversation feels natural.

In this episode, Joe asks:

Why did you start The Happy Achiever Podcast?

I share what it felt like to reach financial success yet still feel stressed, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled—and why I don’t want any high achiever to stay stuck in that place.

What does “Happy Achiever” actually mean?

To me, it’s the ability to pursue big goals and feel confident, inspired, energized, and grounded while doing it—not stressed, resentful, or filled with self-doubt.

What does it take to reach big goals and feel amazing doing it?

I walk through the six pillars I teach every client:

• Mindset
• Continual growth
• Discipline
• Confidence
• Presence
• Movement

We explore why motivation isn’t enough, how discipline builds confidence, why old patterns can keep high achievers stuck, and why your energy—not your time—is your greatest advantage.

If you want to grow, evolve, and create success that feels meaningful and sustainable, this conversation will give you clarity and direction.

Hit follow and share this with another high achiever who’s ready for the next level—inside and out.

Sign up for Amal's Newsletter: Unlock Your True Potential (amalgrammas.com)

Connect with Joe Moran:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemoran27/

Get Amal's book: I Know You’re in There Somewhere

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If you’ve ever found yourself giving too much, saying yes when you’re exhausted, or carrying stress that no one else sees, this conversation is going to speak directly to your heart.

In this episode of The Happy Achiever Podcast, I sit down with Joe Moran, a respected leader in the insurance industry and one of my longtime clients, someone who has done the deep inner work most high achievers avoid.

Joe gets honest about his relationship with money, the way people-pleasing shaped his early career, and the moment he realized that over-giving was costing him fulfillment, joy, and connection.

Joe shares:

• How growing up influenced his beliefs about security and success
• Why people-pleasing became his default—and how it led to burnout
• The silent retreat that forced him to confront his fears and finally hear himself
• The power of choosing authenticity over approval
• How daily gratitude shifted his mindset and his relationships
• Why setting boundaries is one of the greatest acts of self-love
• How leading by example shapes the next generation

This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about hitting numbers, it’s about who you become along the way. Joe’s journey shows us that personal growth often starts in the quiet moments we avoid, and that real peace comes from honoring your worth, your needs, and your truth.

If you’re ready to feel more confident, and more fulfilled, this conversation will give you the courage to slow down, look inward, and make the changes your future self will thank you for.

Hit follow and share this episode with a high achiever who needs permission to choose themselves for once.

Sign up for Amal's Newsletter: Unlock Your True Potential (amalgrammas.com)

Connect with Joe Moran:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemoran27/

Get Amal's book: I Know You’re in There Somewhere

Click FOLLOW for More Episodes

Welcome to The Happy Achiever Podcast, a space for driven, big-hearted achievers who are ready to reach their biggest goals without losing themselves in the process.

If you want to achieve big goals and you’re willing to put in the work to make them happen, but the process is leaving you feeling more stress, anxiety, fear, or self-doubt than you’d like, then you’re in the right place.

I’m Amal Grammas, a leadership coach who has spent the last seven years helping over 600 leaders and achievers identify and overcome the obstacles that keep them from feeling fulfilled and reaching their true potential. I’m passionate about this work because I speak from experience. After years of chasing goals and battling my own anxiety, I learned that the path to lasting success starts from within.

In this podcast, we’ll use proven tools, science, and mindset shifts to explore how to heal, grow, and thrive—so you can gain the clarity and confidence you need to achieve extraordinary goals.

Expect honest conversations, real stories, and vulnerable moments—from me, my clients, and special guests—all aimed at helping you break old patterns, find peace in your heart, and feel a deep sense of purpose as you achieve more than you ever thought possible.

New episodes drop Mondays and Thursdays.

Check out my book I Know You’re In There Somewhere: Elevate Your Mindset to Release Stress & Unlock Your True Potential on Amazon.

To learn more about my work and how I help my clients, visit www.amalgrammas.com

As a new manager or leader, you may be feeling more self-doubt and stress than you’re used to feeling. New leaders shouldn’t have to struggle alone to become great leaders!

In today's episode, we're diving into the art of setting boundaries with your boss—starting with how to confidently say no without burning bridges. If you've ever found yourself overwhelmed by unrealistic demands, this is the guide you didn't know you needed.

In this video, you'll learn:

1. How to become more comfortable initiating communication even when it feels hard.

2. The 3 steps you can take today to set boundaries with your boss so you can get better results, feel more confident, and less stressed.

3. How to use specific language to skillfully set boundaries when your boss piles on without understanding how much you already have on your plate.

When you set boundaries, you feel less stressed, and more confident. You have more balance in your life and people respect you more.

Get access to The FREE New Leader Starter Kit:

The FREE New Leader Starter Kit will help you focus on what's most important so you can reach your 3–6-month goals with ease.

You'll learn how your dominant behavioral patterns influence your approach to the three most common challenges for new leaders:

1. Prioritizing & Setting Boundaries

2. Setting Clear Expectations & Delegating

3. Holding People Accountable & Achieving Goals

New managers shouldn't have to struggle alone to become great leaders! Go to www.amalgrammas.com for more resources that will help you become the leader everyone loves!