The Quest University #2: The Hedonic Treadmill | Justin Kan's Storytime
Chasing unhappiness
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (cdn.simplecast.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
I started The Quest to share the stories and lessons that I wish I had heard 15 years ago. Building and selling Twitch was an inflection point for me in the past decade. I worked my ass off, made money, took vacations and felt like I was on top of the world. I blew past the goals I had set for myself in the beginning.
But what was fascinating was that while I felt more accomplished, I wasn’t any happier. I was just holding on to more things. The desire to go bigger and make more nagged constantly at me. After a year and a half at Y Combinator, I left and set out to build another company in the most mercenary way I can think of, then lost millions when it fell apart.
On this episode, I reflect on the trap of the hedonic treadmill. It led me down a dangerous path chasing material possessions and peer approval - things I thought would fulfil me, but only made me feel perpetually dissatisfied.
🎥 Watch The Quest with video: https://www.youtube.com/TheQuestwithJustinKan
🍎 iTunes: https://apple.co/3lU3fZs
🎵 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3srzJwq
✍️ Newsletter: https://thequestpod.substack.com
🎧 Transcripts (soon): https://justin.quest
🌎 Everything Quest: https://listen.justin.quest