
Look up: fulfillment doesn’t come from the finish line, but from the path we carve toward it.
This week I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Emily Anhalt, a psychologist trusted by Silicon Valley's elite. Our conversation illuminated a truth that many high achievers know but rarely discuss: what looks like "success" from the outside can feel devastatingly hollow on the inside.
The Paradox of Achievement
Emily shared a story that stopped me cold. A founder who had just sold his company for tens of millions described it as the most depressed moment of his life.
I woke up and thought: now what? I wasn't suddenly fulfilled, and my pain wasn't suddenly gone.
This captures the cruel paradox of achievement: external wins can actually amplify internal emptiness when our emotional foundations aren't solid. We sprint toward finish lines believing they'll transform how we feel, only to discover that our inner landscape remains unchanged.
The strategic truth here is profound: Fulfillment isn't earned at the finish line—it's cultivated daily through how we relate to ourselves, our people, and the world around us. Success without emotional fitness is a house built on sand.
Your Monthly Relationship Retro
Emily shared a deceptively simple practice she calls an "emotional push-up" that she does monthly:
Text someone you respect with two questions:
"What's one thing I'm doing well?"
"What's one thing I could do 10% better?"
Then—and this is crucial—actually listen to the answer.
Think of it as a personal retrospective for your relationships. It sharpens self-awareness while simultaneously strengthening bonds. The 10% framing is genius: it's small enough to feel achievable, significant enough to create real change.
How to Create Events That Actually Change People
Guest: Daniel Curtis | Former chef turned global events architect for Google & LinkedIn | Episode 34
When was the last corporate event that genuinely shifted how you think or work? If you're struggling to remember, you're not alone. Most events blur into a forgettable haze of bland keynotes, lukewarm coffee, and forced networking.
Daniel Curtis breaks this mold. After trading his chef's whites for the corporate world, he's orchestrated transformative experiences for Google, LinkedIn, and global leaders. His philosophy is refreshingly simple: Purpose beats budget and celebrity speakers every time.
The Core Question That Changes Everything
Daniel starts every event design with one question: "Why are we actually here?" Not the surface answer—the real one. This clarity becomes the North Star for every decision that follows.
Key Takeaways:
🟢 The transformation formula: Great events inform. Transformative events equip people with a roadmap they can actually use Monday morning.
🟢 Crisis-proof your events using Stoic principles—control what you can, release what you can't, and always have three backup plans.
🟢 Content-experience alignment: Every element should serve your core purpose, from the opening moment to the final goodbye.
🟢 The advocate effect: When purpose drives design, attendees don't just participate—they become evangelists for your message.
Most Provocative Insight: During COVID, while others mourned in-person events, Daniel saw opportunity. Virtual forced us to strip away the theatrical and focus on value delivery. The lesson? Sometimes constraints create clarity.
Listen if: You're tired of events that feel like expensive theater, or you want to understand how world-class companies create experiences that actually drive behavior change.

External wins are fragile without inner strength.
Get matched with a coach who helps you build the foundations success can rest on: CoachFinder.ai

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