Entrepreneurship and Eudaimonia: The Pursuit of Lasting Happiness
Guest Article Featured on Entrepreneur Magazine
Entrepreneurs who wish to find real, lasting happiness need to pursue what the Greeks called "eudaimonia."
There comes a moment in everyone's lives when the reality of adulthood sets in. When we're young, we think that milestones equate to maturity. Still, the wise know that is not the case — earning your driver's license, moving out of your parents' house, getting married, or even having a child aren't magical events that signal passage into adulthood.
I believe that real adulthood arrives unannounced and without fanfare. Its arrival is marked not by a social milestone but by the slow realization of what matters in life.
I've spent the last decade of my life as an entrepreneur dedicated to working with small businesses and have written extensively about the entrepreneurial journey. During that time, I've had smashing successes, devastating personal failures and everything in between. Nearly every moment of the roller coaster ride I've been on has been preserved through my writing and television work, and it's fascinating for me to reflect on the changes I've experienced.
Without a doubt, the most popular and impactful piece I've ever written debuted in 2016 and discussed the topic of depression amongst entrepreneurs. Four years on, that article has been read by over four million people, many of whom have reached out to me for personal advice. The experience has been both humbling and eye-opening.
Since writing the article, I've sold a business, had several successful investments and a few scorching failures. Today I spend my time leading a mission-based lender, serving as an advisor to select companies, writing and teaching at Arizona State University. I've also learned many hard lessons, which in turn have changed my perspective on life, happiness and success.
I believe that this relatively recent shift in perspective signaled the moment that I indeed became an adult. That realization, coupled with the ongoing tumult that we're currently experiencing on a societal level, is why I felt it was an appropriate time to expand on the concepts I shared so long ago.
Today, rather than try to "win" the struggle with depression and anxiety, I encourage the entrepreneurs I advise to instead strive for eudaimonia.
For those not familiar with the term, eudaimonia is an ancient philosophical concept that the Stoics defined as "living in agreement with nature." Modern audiences, however, will better recognize the idea as true, sustainable happiness regardless of circumstance.
Understanding the concept of eudaimonia and what it means in practice is the key to overcoming the challenges and anxieties we face now and in the future.
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