Success Matters

Success Matters: Failing Upwards with Felix Riley


Listen Later

Growing up on a council estate, Felix Riley never expected his life to become a masterclass in courage, curiosity and doing work you actually love.

Felix's journey is extraordinary. From council estate kid to BBC comedy writer, City broker who sold his firm in 15 months, running a copper mine in Zambia, best selling author, and now moonshot strategist, he has zigzagged through extremes. Yet his real pivot came from questioning every narrative, sparked by a communist mentor who demanded intellectual rigour.

Felix cuts through hustle culture with brutal clarity. Success is not riches or fame; it is waking up excited to do what lights you up daily, whether as a strategist or a happy dustman. As a result of a divorce, he walked from a dream home to a bare studio flat and felt freer, proving belongings chain us while people and experiences liberate us.

Here are Felix’s top three actions to find purpose:

  • Embrace failure as lessons. View every setback as fuel that forges character, like climbing a ladder of losses to wins, and get back up every time life knocks you down.

  • Refuse fear of consequences. Walk from any unfulfilling situation because life is short, do not waste a day in the wrong place, and trust the worst outcome is survivable.

  • Question everything. Reject imposed stories, start with a blank page on what you truly want, and act boldly in this era where imagination unlocks possibilities.

Listen now, connect with Felix at felixriley.com, and share what resonates in the comments below.


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Success MattersBy Sanjai Mehta