In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl dives into the concept of finding "Your Thing"—the unique pursuit that you’re meant to do. He emphasizes that this process is deeply personal and often tied to rediscovering who you truly are. While it sounds simple, Carl explains that uncovering your thing is challenging, requiring self-awareness and perseverance. He encourages listeners to be patient with themselves in this process. What’s "Your Thing,” and how can you start uncovering it?

Today, Carl shares a powerful quote from Lao Tzu: "If you're not always trying to be someone, you can be who you really are and go the whole way." He reflects on what it means to stop striving to be someone else and instead embrace who we truly are. Carl shares his own journey toward being fully himself in his work and life, and he invites listeners to consider what going “the whole way” means for them. How would your life or work change if you fully embraced who you are?

Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

What does it mean to truly be yourself? In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl Richards shares a quote from Bruce Lee: “Always be yourself. Express yourself. Have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” Carl discusses the temptation to imitate others in the early stages of our careers and how real growth happens when we step into our own identity. He encourages listeners to follow the example of others but not to become trapped by imitation. 

Carl shares a famous quote from Picasso: “If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the pope. Instead, I was a painter, and I became Picasso.” In this episode, Carl reflects on the influence of those closest to us, especially in shaping our desires and career paths. Carl touches on mimetic desire—the tendency to copy others' desires—and how challenging it can be to uncover our true selves beneath layers of societal expectations. How much of your life has been shaped by others’ expectations, and what would it look like to truly follow your own path?

Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

Today, Carl introduces a series on finding "Your Thing," a concept he believes applies to everyone. He explains that "Your Thing” doesn’t have to be heroic or career-related, but it is deeply personal and a reflection of who you are. What’s "Your Thing," and are you ready to start uncovering it?

Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl dives into one of his favorite topics: being less wrong. Real Financial Planning isn't about being precisely correct today—because that's impossible—but about being a little less wrong tomorrow. Why do we often chase perfection in our plans, thinking that more data or better tools will lead to exact outcomes? What if the goal was simply to improve, not to be perfect? Remember, the aim is progress, not perfection!