Can You Be Reasonably Happy

In this episode of Richer Soul, I had the privilege of speaking with Paul Ollinger, a stand-up comedian, podcast host, and author who left a lucrative career at Facebook to chase his dream of comedy. Through his podcast, Reasonably Happy, Paul explores the interplay between money, happiness, work, and purpose. His life journey, marked by bold choices and valuable lessons, offers incredible insights into navigating life’s financial and emotional complexities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Childhood Money Scripts Matter: Paul grew up in a large Catholic family where money was stable but never abundant. This upbringing shaped his initial belief that wealth equates to freedom from stress—a script he reevaluated later in life.
2. Chasing Dreams Is Risky but Rewarding: Paul’s decision to leave Facebook to pursue stand-up comedy was financially unprofitable, but it brought him immense personal growth and fulfillment.
3. Money and Happiness Are Interlinked but Complex: Paul’s podcast and essays examine how financial success can coexist with personal happiness, emphasizing balance over blind ambition.
4. The Power of Giving Back: From supporting his family as a child to providing thoughtful insights through his podcast, Paul embodies the spirit of contribution, proving that fulfillment often lies in lifting others.

Money Learning:

Paul’s journey reveals that our financial habits often stem from childhood experiences. His early lessons about saving and frugality played a pivotal role in his career choices. However, he emphasizes the importance of not letting outdated beliefs limit your growth. For Paul, real financial wisdom lies in balancing practical discipline with pursuing meaningful experiences.

About Paul Ollinger:

Paul Ollinger is a stand-up comedian and the host of Reasonably Happy, a podcast where he discusses money, happiness, and work with renowned guests like Judd Apatow and LL COOL J. His latest book, Reasonably Happy, compiles over 200 interviews into humorous and insightful essays. Based in New York City, Paul lives with his wife, two teenagers, and their French bulldogs, Theo and Colonel Tom Parker​​.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Early Money Lessons: Paul shared how his upbringing in a frugal, Catholic family shaped his financial mindset. His parents’ values emphasized stability over luxury, which initially instilled in him the belief that wealth equated to stress-free living​.
2. The Psychological Impact of Wealth: Paul discussed the emotional challenges of growing up with financial stress. He later learned to untangle these experiences to adopt a healthier relationship with money​.
3. Balancing Career Risks and Fulfillment: Leaving a well-paying job at Facebook for comedy was a gamble. Paul explained how this decision was fueled by the desire for purpose and authenticity over monetary gain​.
4. Cultural Narratives Around Money: Paul touched on societal attitudes towards wealth, noting how Catholicism often associates financial success with moral compromise—a narrative he actively worked to rewrite​.
5. Teaching Financial Lessons to the Next Generation: As a parent, Paul is mindful of the lessons his children absorb from him, ensuring they learn the value of money without developing unhealthy attachments or anxieties.

Conclusion:

Paul Ollinger’s story is a testament to the fact that money, while essential, is just one piece of the happiness puzzle. His journey from corporate success to personal fulfillment through comedy and podcasting showcases the courage it takes to align your financial habits with your values and passions. Tune in to this episode to gain deeper insights into how money, happiness, and meaning intersect.

Links:

Book on Amazon: Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off- https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Happy-Essays-Money-Things/dp/0997270659/ref=sr_1_1?crid=326TDOT9XWWGI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dLZOV_Igvsr40nXuxzsMbULjnDLojjeLCAnUkSK67wDL2ByRXdMpN6QwaDis5Ewq.RqJ-nLbHhL2CsP6768q3Ko-D9W2Wo1HMtxKDr_cs7Es&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+ollinger&qid=1733763670&sprefix=paul+ollinger,aps,208&sr=8-1  

Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!

Surges Of Income

In this episode of Richer Soul, we welcome Chris Moore, a property investor, entrepreneur, and business development consultant. Chris’s journey from a hardworking entrepreneurial family to becoming a successful author and digital marketing expert is full of insightful lessons on growth, resilience, and wealth creation. His reflections on family, money, and building a purposeful life provide listeners with actionable wisdom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Money as a Tool and Responsibility: Growing up in a household where money was part of everyday conversations, Chris learned early on how to earn and manage it. This set the stage for his journey into entrepreneurship and his current mission to instill financial responsibility in his children.
2. Family Legacy Shapes Financial Mindset: Chris’s upbringing in an entrepreneurial family taught him about the discipline and sacrifices needed to achieve financial success. He carries these lessons forward while ensuring his children understand the value of their privileged upbringing.
3. The Role of Ambition and Grit: From working for his goals at a young age to building and scaling businesses, Chris emphasizes the importance of hard work and ambition. He also reflects on balancing ambition with contentment, a challenge many high achievers face.
4. Building Purpose Beyond Wealth: While financial success is vital, Chris believes in using wealth to create impact and live a purposeful life. His approach to combining business acumen with personal values highlights the power of aligning goals with a higher purpose.

Money Learning:

Chris’s early lessons about money came from observing his entrepreneurial father and through personal experiences. He shared how receiving tools like a lawnmower as gifts helped him earn his own money from a young age, fostering independence and self-reliance. Today, he emphasizes teaching his children to value money by encouraging them to work and contribute to family businesses.

Bio:

Chris Moore is a property and acquisitions investor, full-stack digital marketer, and business development consultant. With two INC 5000 awards under his belt, Chris has scaled multiple businesses and helped entrepreneurs achieve rapid growth. He partners with Carl Allen in the Dealmaker Wealth Society and owns numerous ventures across industries. He is also a best-selling author passionate about sharing his knowledge of wealth creation and business strategies.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Chris’s Upbringing and Early Lessons in Money: The role of family conversations and reflections in shaping his financial habits.
2. Teaching Financial Values to Children: Strategies for helping kids understand the value of money in a privileged setting.
3. Entrepreneurial Lessons: Insights into scaling businesses, including navigating challenges and embracing innovation.
4. Balancing Ambition and Contentment: Chris’s perspective on maintaining ambition without losing sight of personal fulfillment.
5. Building Impact Beyond Wealth: Using financial success to create meaningful change and support others in their journeys.

Conclusion:

Chris Moore’s story is a testament to the power of intentionality, resilience, and ambition. His journey reminds us that wealth is not just about accumulation but also about creating a meaningful impact. By sharing his strategies for managing money, instilling values in the next generation, and building a purposeful life, Chris inspires listeners to take actionable steps toward their financial and personal goals.

Links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Chrismoorespeaks

Instagram:@chrismoorespeaks- https://www.instagram.com/chrismoorespeaks/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!

Embody: Feel, Heal, and Transform Your Life through Movement

In this episode of Richer Soul, Rocky Lalvani welcomes Toni Bergins, M.Ed., an embodiment trailblazer and creator of JourneyDance. Toni shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, healing, and how movement transformed her life. From growing up in a household where money was a source of tension to building a holistic career path that speaks to her heart, Toni inspires us to embrace authenticity, let go of fear, and embody our true selves.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Transformational Power of Movement: Toni explains how movement goes beyond fitness. It’s a practice of emotional and spiritual healing, allowing people to express, release, and find clarity in their lives.
2. Unpacking Money Mindsets: Growing up, Toni observed financial anxiety and arguments around money in her household. She later realized that her beliefs about scarcity and abundance needed to be reprogrammed to achieve personal and financial success​.
3. Following a Non-traditional Path: Despite having professional degrees, Toni chose a career in the expressive arts, defying societal expectations. She highlights the importance of following one’s passion, even if it means walking an unconventional road​.
4. Healing Emotional Trauma through Art: Toni emphasizes how art and movement helped her navigate emotional trauma. Her workshops and her upcoming book, Embody: Feel, Heal, and Transform Your Life through Movement, aim to offer the same healing to others.

Money Learning:

Toni grew up in a family where money was seen as a source of tension. Although her family lived an upper-middle-class life, financial worries persisted. Her father, despite being a Harvard-educated lawyer, struggled with feelings of not being successful enough. Her mother’s decision to pursue a career later in life inspired Toni’s belief in self-empowerment.

Bio:

Toni Bergins, M.Ed., is the founder of JourneyDance, a transformational movement practice. Over the past 27 years, she has been teaching at premier holistic healing centers, including the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Toni’s mission is to help individuals feel and heal through the power of movement. Her new book, Embody, is set to release in October 2024​.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Childhood Financial Dynamics: Financial discussions were rare in Toni’s household but observing her parents’ relationship with money shaped her early perceptions. Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit clashed with societal expectations of success, creating a complex family dynamic around money.
2. Choosing a Heart-Centered Career: Toni reflects on how she rejected the conventional paths of using her professional degrees and instead pursued her passion for dance and expressive arts. She had to overcome societal pressures and personal doubts to embrace her unique calling.
3. Breaking Generational Patterns: Toni’s journey was about breaking free from the financial anxieties she inherited. She shares how working on her money mindset allowed her to achieve financial independence and thrive in her chosen career.
4. Upcoming Book: Embody: Toni’s book offers a guide on using movement as a form of healing. It’s a culmination of her decades of work in the field and her personal story of transformation.

Conclusion:

Toni Bergins’ story is a testament to the power of following your heart and transforming pain into purpose. Her work reminds us that healing isn’t just an internal process—it can be a physical journey too. By listening to her inner voice and embracing her authentic path, Toni has created a life of fulfillment and financial stability, proving that success doesn’t always follow a traditional route.

Links:

Learn more at journeydance.com.

https://www.facebook.com/toni.bergins/

https://www.facebook.com/JourneyDance/

https://www.facebook.com/ToniBerginsJourneyDance

https://www.instagram.com/tonibergins/

https://www.instagram.com/journeydanceofficial/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!

Creating Intentional Life Focus

In this episode of Richer Soul, Dave Lubelczyk, also known for the "The Focus Turbine," joined us to discuss how to align your actions with your deeper motivations to create a life of fulfillment and success. Drawing from his expertise in leveraging the brain’s focus systems, Dave shared invaluable insights on living authentically and intentionally while balancing achievement with personal happiness.

Key Takeaways: 

1. The Power of Focus: Dave emphasizes that what you focus on becomes your reality. He encourages listeners to concentrate on what matters most to craft a life that aligns with their true desires​.
2. Fulfillment vs. Achievement: He highlights the importance of balancing fulfillment with achievement, likening it to a scale that requires constant counterbalancing rather than perfect harmony.
3. The Blend, Not Balance: Dave prefers the term "blend" over "balance," suggesting that fulfillment and achievement coexist dynamically rather than existing as perfectly balanced entities​.
4. Redefining Success: Success, according to Dave, is not just about financial growth but also involves designing a life that aligns with one’s personal values and sense of purpose​​.
5. Money Learning: Dave’s relationship with money was influenced by his father, who prioritized fulfillment over financial gain. This upbringing shaped his understanding of the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal values rather than pursuing wealth for its own sake​.

About Dave Lubelczyk:

Dave Lubelczyk, "The Focus Turbine," is a coach dedicated to helping individuals live with intention and authenticity. By leveraging the natural systems of the brain, he assists clients in achieving clarity and designing their lives around their deepest motivations. Learn more about Dave at TheFocusTurbine.com​.

Key Discussion Points: 

1. Growing Up and Money: Dave shared how his upbringing shaped his financial psychology. His father’s decision to leave a corporate job for a fulfilling career as a craftsman demonstrated that happiness often outweighs financial rewards​.
2. Fulfillment First: Dave admits that placing fulfillment above financial stability in his early years was a challenge. It wasn’t until he worked on counterbalancing the two that he found personal and professional success​.
3. Work-Life Blend: Instead of striving for balance, Dave promotes a blend where different priorities come to the forefront at different times. He believes that true success lies in understanding when to emphasize fulfillment and when to focus on achievement.

Conclusion:

Dave Lubelczyk’s message is a reminder to focus intentionally on what truly matters in life. By aligning actions with core values and maintaining a dynamic blend between fulfillment and achievement, we can design a life that not only meets our needs but also inspires joy and purpose. His insights serve as a guide for anyone looking to harmonize success with personal happiness.

Links:

www.TheFocusTurbine.com

Watch the full episode on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!

The Purpose Code How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy

In this thought-provoking episode of Richer Soul, we reconnect with Jordan Grumet, a hospice doctor, financial expert, and acclaimed author of Taking Stock. Jordan shares his reflections after the release of his book and addresses a common paradox about purpose: its undeniable importance and the anxiety it can cause. This conversation dives deep into how purpose intertwines with health, longevity, and financial well-being.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Purpose Is Multifaceted: Jordan discovered that purpose is not a singular entity but comprises at least two distinct forms. One form leads to happiness and health, while another can trigger anxiety and dissatisfaction​.
2. Purpose Anxiety Is Widespread: Research indicates that 91% of people experience purpose anxiety at some point in life, signifying how common and stressful this quest can be​.
3. Finding Purpose Through Action: Jordan emphasizes that purpose does not necessarily precede actions or achievements. Instead, it often emerges through life’s trials and experiences, dispelling the myth that one must "find" it first​.
4. The Role of Reflection: Conversations, life changes, and challenges can ignite a re-evaluation of one’s priorities, paving the way to understand and refine purpose​.

Money Learning:

Jordan's journey reiterates that financial planning is not just about amassing wealth but ensuring it aligns with a meaningful life. Purpose, as he asserts, must be a precursor to financial strategies, enabling money to serve a life well-lived rather than becoming its sole pursuit​.

Guest Bio:

Jordan Grumet is a doctor and financial independence expert whose unique career bridges the worlds of hospice care and financial education. He is the host of the award-winning Earn & Invest podcast and author of Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life. His forthcoming book, The Purpose Code, further explores the intersection of life’s meaning and financial wellness​.

Key Discussion Points: 

1. Impact of Hospice Care: Jordan shares how working closely with terminally ill patients revealed deep insights into life priorities and regrets.
2. Purpose and Financial Independence: Aligning your money decisions with life’s purpose leads to a richer, more fulfilling life.
3. Purpose vs. Anxiety: How to navigate the stress of seeking purpose while understanding its profound benefits.
4. Lessons from the Book’s Reception: Insights from readers and audiences have expanded Jordan's understanding of purpose and its challenges​.

Conclusion

Purpose is not a destination but an evolving journey shaped by our actions, reflections, and decisions. Jordan Grumet reminds us to start with what matters—our relationships, values, and experiences—and let finances serve as a supportive framework rather than the focal point. Whether you are redefining your path or exploring new directions, this episode will inspire you to find clarity and peace in the journey of purpose.

Links:

Website: jordangrumet.com, earnandinvest.com

Twitter/Instagram: @earnaninvest

Facebook: earnandinvest.com/facebook

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul

Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!