The Trap of Miserable Success, and How to Avoid It

If you just do this one thing, your whole 2025 will be different.

Living in a City of Extreme Wealth

This really became apparent to me because I live in Dubai, where there is an incredible concentration of exceptionally wealthy people.

Just a few days ago, I met a really nice guy. I had no idea he was super wealthy. Every time I’ve met him since that first time, he shows up in the latest car. Porsche. 

Range Rover. Rolls-Royce. You name it. Always bigger, better, and the most cutting-edge, latest version of whatever it is.

I thought to myself, wow, really successful guy.

But here’s the twist: he was miserable.

He was complaining. Low energy. Upset that he had to work so hard in January. And I thought to myself, what a loss. He’s suffering from something I now call miserable success.

Realizing It’s Happening to Me Too

As I was thinking about and feeling bad for him, I started journaling this morning about the home I want to buy in Clifton.

And then it hit me.

I’ve just bought a place in Dubai. I’ve spent the last three months renovating it. Loving the process. Loving my place.

But I’ve already moved on to the next goal.

I hadn’t really sat with it. I hadn’t drunk it in. I hadn’t let myself just enjoy it.

I realized: I’m also suffering from a level of miserable success.

The Porsche Conversation That Brought It Home

This morning, I went for a walk with a friend of mine. He just got himself a Porsche. While buying it, he was already talking about the faster Porsche and when he would eventually get that one.

We both realized: we’re both miserably successful.

And what a ridiculous notion—that we’ve achieved so much, that this guy has all the fancy cars and the lifestyle, and yet, still uncomfortable, still miserable, still not grateful.

The One Thing That Changes Everything

So, what is the one thing we can do in 2025?

Drink in your success.
Relish it.
Sit with it.
Be grateful for it.

The opposite of gratitude is miserable success.

We’ve created a tone in the world where if you’re not rushing, ambitious, or grinding toward the next quarterly goal, you’re lazy or useless.

But actually? That’s immaturity.

Mature vs. Immature Ambition

Mature ambition gives you space to enjoy your success.

Immature ambition never lets you breathe. It never gives you credit. And it keeps you stuck in a loop of never feeling good enough, no matter how much you achieve.

So in 2025, my number one goal is this:

Sit with my success. Celebrate it.

The Energy That Attracts More

I think the way it works in the universe is that the more grateful and fulfilled you are, the more success you will experience. 

Not because you’re chasing it harder, but because you’re aligned with it emotionally.

And that energy? That grounded, grateful energy?

That’s magnetic.

So let’s leave miserable success behind.

Miserable success is so 2024.

Note: This blog post is an adaptation of the transcript from the video below.