#369: Getting Real About Success vs. Fulfillment: Are You Chasing the Wrong Goal? - podcast episode cover

#369: Getting Real About Success vs. Fulfillment: Are You Chasing the Wrong Goal?

Feb 20, 202511 min
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Episode description

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Have you ever reached a big goal, only to realize you still feel unfulfilled? In today’s episode, we’ll uncover the surprising gap between outward success and inner fulfillment—and how to bridge the gap between the two.

So, if you’re tired of chasing society’s definition of success and still feeling empty inside, this episode is for you. It speaks to anyone craving inspiration and motivation to reach better health, a better you, and a renewed sense of personal growth and development.

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Get ready for an insightful dive into the difference between external success and internal fulfillment! Host Kevin Lowe discusses how we can redefine success to align with our deepest values, ultimately leading to a more joyful, authentic life. It’s not just motivational talk; this episode breaks down how to shift your mindset and live with greater purpose. So, if you’ve ever wondered why your achievements sometimes feel hollow, you’ll find practical steps to fill that void and accelerate your personal growth.

Episode At a Glance:

🌟Conventional Success Isn’t Enough: Discover why trophies, titles, and money alone don’t guarantee long-term fulfillment and can leave you feeling empty inside.

🌟 Redefining Achievement: Learn to set goals that align with your core values, leading to true inspiration, motivation, and a more inspiring life journey.

🌟Bridging the Success-Fulfillment Gat: Find out how to connect success on the outside to fulfillment on the inside to create a well balanced life.

It's Your Choice: Press PLAY or Don't

Hit play now to uncover the proven way to redefine success and discover genuine fulfillment on your path to a better you.

Hey, it's Kevin!


I hope you enjoyed today's episode! If there is ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to reach out. Below, you will find ALL the places and ALL the ways to connect!




Stay Awesome! Live Inspired!

© 2025 Grit, Grace, & Inspiration

Transcript

00:00:00.777 --> 00:00:04.637

Kevin Lowe: Have you ever achieved a milestone, a goal you've been pursuing,

00:00:04.977 --> 00:00:10.217

Kevin Lowe: Something that you'd been wanting for so long, and you finally achieved it?

00:00:10.337 --> 00:00:17.477

Kevin Lowe: You did it. You got the goal. You won the gold medal. And yet, inside, you felt empty,

00:00:17.757 --> 00:00:19.277

Kevin Lowe: Unfulfilled, unsatisfied.

00:00:19.597 --> 00:00:24.297

Kevin Lowe: And maybe you started to ask, what's wrong with me? Why am I not happy?

00:00:24.297 --> 00:00:26.217

Kevin Lowe: I finally achieved this goal.

00:00:26.797 --> 00:00:32.397

Kevin Lowe: Well, did you know that you're not alone? because studies have proven time after

00:00:32.397 --> 00:00:34.777

Kevin Lowe: time that the high achievers in the world,

00:00:34.977 --> 00:00:36.857

Kevin Lowe: Even with all of their success.

00:00:37.077 --> 00:00:42.417

Kevin Lowe: They feel empty. And I've been left to wonder, so what's missing?

00:00:42.657 --> 00:00:45.617

Kevin Lowe: What have we not been putting into the puzzle?

00:00:45.937 --> 00:00:49.057

Kevin Lowe: What piece are we lacking? And that is

00:00:49.057 --> 00:00:51.757

Kevin Lowe: Exactly what we're going to explore inside of today's episode.

00:00:51.997 --> 00:00:57.037

Kevin Lowe: So my friend, if you're intrigued, if you're curious, well, you're exactly where

00:00:57.037 --> 00:00:59.477

Kevin Lowe: you're meant to be. So with that, I welcome you.

00:00:59.657 --> 00:01:06.397

Kevin Lowe: It's episode 369. Hey, I'm your host, Kevin Lowe, and you are listening to Grit.

00:01:06.537 --> 00:01:09.997

Kevin Lowe: Grace, and Inspiration. If I think back

00:01:09.997 --> 00:01:11.997

Kevin Lowe: To some of my earliest memories.

00:01:12.737 --> 00:01:14.377

Kevin Lowe: What were we all led to believe?

00:01:14.637 --> 00:01:16.757

Kevin Lowe: Is that the goal was achieving success.

00:01:17.277 --> 00:01:22.097

Kevin Lowe: Think back to when we were little kids. It was ingrained in us to get good grades.

00:01:22.197 --> 00:01:27.977

Kevin Lowe: We all had to achieve an A on the report card. And as we grow older,

00:01:28.317 --> 00:01:31.897

Kevin Lowe: We understand that society, they view success as money.

00:01:31.897 --> 00:01:32.517

Kevin Lowe: In the bank,

00:01:33.017 --> 00:01:39.617

Kevin Lowe: High status in society. Maybe it's a fancy car in the driveway or it's achievement.

00:01:39.937 --> 00:01:41.557

Kevin Lowe: It's trophies on the wall,

00:01:42.097 --> 00:01:45.557

Kevin Lowe: Things recognizing your level of success in life.

00:01:45.897 --> 00:01:51.817

Kevin Lowe: But here's the problem. Success is great, but without fulfillment, what's any of it worth?

00:01:52.457 --> 00:01:54.217

Kevin Lowe: There are countless stories

00:01:54.217 --> 00:01:55.317

Kevin Lowe: Of people who were.

00:01:55.317 --> 00:01:59.137

Kevin Lowe: At the top of their game. I'm talking about athletes, celebrities,

00:01:59.417 --> 00:02:01.877

Kevin Lowe: executives, people who had it all.

00:02:02.784 --> 00:02:07.464

Kevin Lowe: And even at the peak of their career, when you looking at them,

00:02:07.644 --> 00:02:11.504

Kevin Lowe: you think, man, they got it all. I would love to have their life.

00:02:11.824 --> 00:02:18.004

Kevin Lowe: And yet behind closed doors, they're struggling. They hate their life. They hate who they are.

00:02:18.644 --> 00:02:21.104

Kevin Lowe: And so I guess you'll have to wonder.

00:02:21.324 --> 00:02:26.224

Kevin Lowe: But why? How could somebody who has all the money in the world,

00:02:26.404 --> 00:02:31.304

Kevin Lowe: they have the fame, they have the fortune, how could they not be happy?

00:02:31.424 --> 00:02:32.584

Kevin Lowe: How could they not be fulfilled?

00:02:32.784 --> 00:02:35.484

Kevin Lowe: Well, it's because of a simple truth.

00:02:35.884 --> 00:02:40.104

Kevin Lowe: Success is external, where fulfillment is internal.

00:02:40.644 --> 00:02:42.584

Kevin Lowe: So what I'm saying is.

00:02:42.724 --> 00:02:47.804

Kevin Lowe: Is that you can actually have fulfillment without ever reaching,

00:02:47.944 --> 00:02:52.284

Kevin Lowe: Quote, success. Because, well, if we're going to talk about success,

00:02:52.284 --> 00:03:00.464

Kevin Lowe: I believe success is different for all of us. If we're basing it on what society has told us success is.

00:03:01.004 --> 00:03:05.044

Kevin Lowe: Well, I can't help but believe we're headed down the wrong path in life.

00:03:05.284 --> 00:03:09.624

Kevin Lowe: Because I think success needs to be specific to each one of us individually.

00:03:10.544 --> 00:03:12.224

Kevin Lowe: Now, as we continue,

00:03:12.224 --> 00:03:16.504

Kevin Lowe: I'm going to speak to this as the success fulfillment gap.

00:03:17.204 --> 00:03:23.864

Kevin Lowe: And the important part here is how to fill that gap, to how to balance success

00:03:23.864 --> 00:03:25.924

Kevin Lowe: and fulfillment. What is the

00:03:25.924 --> 00:03:28.624

Kevin Lowe: Bridge that's going to connect the two to one another?

00:03:29.024 --> 00:03:32.724

Kevin Lowe: Because if we go through life continuing to believe that

00:03:32.724 --> 00:03:33.984

Kevin Lowe: Achieving success will.

00:03:33.984 --> 00:03:38.604

Kevin Lowe: Lead to fulfillment, we will continue to come up short each and every time.

00:03:38.944 --> 00:03:43.604

Kevin Lowe: The space in between what we've achieved and what actually truly matters to

00:03:43.604 --> 00:03:45.664

Kevin Lowe: us is what I'm calling the gap.

00:03:46.284 --> 00:03:48.164

Kevin Lowe: How do we fill the gap

00:03:48.164 --> 00:03:49.804

Kevin Lowe: Is the question I pose to you.

00:03:49.804 --> 00:03:55.784

Kevin Lowe: What do we have to do in your life to make success equal fulfillment?

00:03:56.044 --> 00:03:57.744

Kevin Lowe: How can we tie the two together?

00:03:58.564 --> 00:04:03.004

Kevin Lowe: Some of the questions that I want to ask you, to be sure that we're on the same page.

00:04:03.164 --> 00:04:08.104

Kevin Lowe: Because I don't know, this idea I'm talking to you about, I'm no expert in it.

00:04:08.304 --> 00:04:12.384

Kevin Lowe: I'm just talking it out. It's something that came up through the interviews

00:04:12.384 --> 00:04:17.464

Kevin Lowe: I've done, the topics I've been talking about of happiness and success and fulfillment.

00:04:17.464 --> 00:04:19.564

Kevin Lowe: Is this gap in between.

00:04:20.044 --> 00:04:22.284

Kevin Lowe: And so I guess I ask you.

00:04:22.584 --> 00:04:26.444

Kevin Lowe: If you've been chasing success, why have you?

00:04:26.764 --> 00:04:32.304

Kevin Lowe: Have you been chasing success because you were led to believe that's what you're supposed to do?

00:04:32.524 --> 00:04:36.944

Kevin Lowe: Do you even know what success looks like to you, feels like to you?

00:04:37.204 --> 00:04:42.444

Kevin Lowe: Because if you don't already know what success means for you.

00:04:42.904 --> 00:04:46.604

Kevin Lowe: Well, then you really don't know where you're going. Because if we don't have

00:04:46.604 --> 00:04:51.144

Kevin Lowe: a clear destination How are we ever going to know when we get there?

00:04:52.234 --> 00:04:56.114

Kevin Lowe: We get so wrapped up in chasing what we think success is.

00:04:56.514 --> 00:04:57.614

Kevin Lowe: As I said earlier.

00:04:57.994 --> 00:04:59.314

Kevin Lowe: It's lots of money in the bank.

00:04:59.434 --> 00:05:03.774

Kevin Lowe: It's fancy cars in the driveway. It's expensive clothes, nice jewelry.

00:05:04.094 --> 00:05:10.334

Kevin Lowe: All the things. And yeah, all of those are great to have, but that's not what everybody wants.

00:05:10.934 --> 00:05:12.814

Kevin Lowe: We're not all the same people.

00:05:12.974 --> 00:05:16.714

Kevin Lowe: And so therefore, success should not be the same for all of us.

00:05:17.434 --> 00:05:24.154

Kevin Lowe: So I guess this leads me into a question of if success does not lead to fulfillment.

00:05:24.154 --> 00:05:31.614

Kevin Lowe: Then what does? Well, maybe we can start by redefining success in a way that

00:05:31.614 --> 00:05:32.934

Kevin Lowe: can lead to fulfillment.

00:05:33.414 --> 00:05:38.654

Kevin Lowe: Yeah, again, we got to ditch what we think of when we think of success and we

00:05:38.654 --> 00:05:39.834

Kevin Lowe: have to make it personal.

00:05:40.294 --> 00:05:46.414

Kevin Lowe: Make it mean something to you. I want you to get clear on the definition of success.

00:05:46.714 --> 00:05:52.094

Kevin Lowe: Does it align with your values? Does it match who you are? Does it align with

00:05:52.094 --> 00:05:53.534

Kevin Lowe: the person you want to become?

00:05:53.914 --> 00:05:56.134

Kevin Lowe: When you define what it means,

00:05:56.374 --> 00:06:01.574

Kevin Lowe: Which, as an example, for myself, success is summarized.

00:06:01.574 --> 00:06:06.494

Kevin Lowe: In one word, and that is freedom. Freedom from financial worries.

00:06:06.854 --> 00:06:12.994

Kevin Lowe: Freedom from being held back, not being able to do what I want to do because

00:06:12.994 --> 00:06:17.554

Kevin Lowe: of limitations, whether physically, financially, emotionally even.

00:06:18.574 --> 00:06:20.694

Kevin Lowe: Success for me is freedom.

00:06:21.794 --> 00:06:23.494

Kevin Lowe: So once we can

00:06:23.494 --> 00:06:26.234

Kevin Lowe: Get clear on what success is for us.

00:06:26.434 --> 00:06:27.494

Kevin Lowe: Once you can

00:06:27.494 --> 00:06:29.514

Kevin Lowe: Get clear what success is for you.

00:06:30.014 --> 00:06:35.154

Kevin Lowe: Well, now we have something to aim for. Now, if we know where we're going,

00:06:35.474 --> 00:06:38.154

Kevin Lowe: how are we going to measure it to know when we're there?

00:06:38.594 --> 00:06:45.154

Kevin Lowe: Well, again, society has external factors measuring success?

00:06:45.414 --> 00:06:52.394

Kevin Lowe: You know, the things like income, accolades, promotions, awards on the bookshelf.

00:06:52.854 --> 00:06:55.494

Kevin Lowe: Instead, what if we start to measure

00:06:55.494 --> 00:06:56.994

Kevin Lowe: Success based on.

00:06:56.994 --> 00:07:02.314

Kevin Lowe: How you feel inside? I'm talking about things like joy, fulfillment.

00:07:02.594 --> 00:07:05.314

Kevin Lowe: When you wake up in the morning, you're smiling.

00:07:05.314 --> 00:07:06.854

Kevin Lowe: You're not stressed out.

00:07:07.034 --> 00:07:07.834

Kevin Lowe: You're excited.

00:07:08.154 --> 00:07:09.594

Kevin Lowe: Yeah, excitement.

00:07:09.914 --> 00:07:14.954

Kevin Lowe: That is one of the things that I feel we are all lacking and I feel like we

00:07:14.954 --> 00:07:18.074

Kevin Lowe: should all strive for is to have excitement in our life.

00:07:18.194 --> 00:07:23.154

Kevin Lowe: We should be excited about what we get to do today, each and every day.

00:07:23.634 --> 00:07:29.794

Kevin Lowe: That, my friend, is a clear indication that maybe you're already achieving success.

00:07:30.746 --> 00:07:34.346

Kevin Lowe: Just because you woke up today, excited about the day.

00:07:34.646 --> 00:07:40.086

Kevin Lowe: Again, success doesn't have to look like what we all have been led to believe it is.

00:07:40.446 --> 00:07:44.086

Kevin Lowe: I believe most importantly, it's these internal feelings.

00:07:44.546 --> 00:07:50.726

Kevin Lowe: I also want you to sit back and think, if you have a goal that you're chasing,

00:07:50.726 --> 00:07:57.326

Kevin Lowe: if you are looking to get somewhere in your life and that means that you've been successful,

00:07:57.906 --> 00:08:03.706

Kevin Lowe: well, I want you to be sure real quick that it aligns with who you are,

00:08:04.106 --> 00:08:08.406

Kevin Lowe: that it aligns with your morals, that it goes back to your deeper purpose,

00:08:08.406 --> 00:08:11.886

Kevin Lowe: that it serves you beyond just

00:08:11.886 --> 00:08:13.186

Kevin Lowe: These external factors.

00:08:13.826 --> 00:08:20.946

Kevin Lowe: Money in the bank is awesome. A big trophy is cool. But what is it worth if you feel empty inside?

00:08:21.626 --> 00:08:27.246

Kevin Lowe: I want you to be lit up on the inside even more so than on the outside.

00:08:28.066 --> 00:08:32.126

Kevin Lowe: So my friend, to wrap up today's episode, I want to remind you,

00:08:32.686 --> 00:08:35.266

Kevin Lowe: happiness is about having joy in the moment.

00:08:35.806 --> 00:08:37.806

Kevin Lowe: Fulfillment, it's about deep,

00:08:38.066 --> 00:08:42.586

Kevin Lowe: Long-term satisfaction. And well, this idea of success.

00:08:43.346 --> 00:08:48.386

Kevin Lowe: I believe it needs to be redefined so that it aligns with long-term fulfillment.

00:08:48.726 --> 00:08:51.846

Kevin Lowe: The key here is to not just achieve more.

00:08:51.986 --> 00:08:56.506

Kevin Lowe: But to start achieving what truly matters. Not to the rest of the world,

00:08:56.666 --> 00:08:57.166

Kevin Lowe: But to you.

00:08:57.246 --> 00:08:58.126

Kevin Lowe: You alone.

00:08:58.746 --> 00:09:01.066

Kevin Lowe: So I leave you with this question.

00:09:01.146 --> 00:09:06.426

Kevin Lowe: Are you chasing a life of success or are you chasing a life of fulfillment?

00:09:07.205 --> 00:09:08.945

Kevin Lowe: Which one matters more to you.

00:09:09.405 --> 00:09:14.205

Kevin Lowe: Success on the outside or fulfillment on the inside? Only you know

00:09:14.205 --> 00:09:15.265

Kevin Lowe: The answer to that question.

00:09:15.485 --> 00:09:20.065

Kevin Lowe: I just hope that you take the time to get real, to dig deep,

00:09:20.065 --> 00:09:26.725

Kevin Lowe: and uncover what truly matters to you today and for the rest of your life.

00:09:26.985 --> 00:09:29.065

Kevin Lowe: My friend, we only get one chance

00:09:29.065 --> 00:09:29.725

Kevin Lowe: At this life.

00:09:29.725 --> 00:09:35.125

Kevin Lowe: So why not make it count? and being sure that we're not wasting a single moment

00:09:35.125 --> 00:09:37.225

Kevin Lowe: chasing the wrong goals,

00:09:37.645 --> 00:09:39.645

Kevin Lowe: Chasing after success when.

00:09:39.845 --> 00:09:45.525

Kevin Lowe: In fact, we're not fulfilled. We're lacking relationships with our loved ones.

00:09:45.665 --> 00:09:50.445

Kevin Lowe: We're lacking time spent with them because we've been chasing this other goal,

00:09:50.865 --> 00:09:52.765

Kevin Lowe: trying to achieve success.

00:09:53.265 --> 00:09:54.985

Kevin Lowe: My friends, so many times,

00:09:55.305 --> 00:09:57.265

Kevin Lowe: Fulfillment, it's the basics.

00:09:57.945 --> 00:10:00.125

Kevin Lowe: It's the people we do life with.

00:10:00.125 --> 00:10:04.185

Kevin Lowe: It's having experiences It's just having a life.

00:10:04.185 --> 00:10:06.485

Kevin Lowe: That you love That you're excited about

00:10:06.485 --> 00:10:10.905

Kevin Lowe: That doesn't stress you out That doesn't get you anxious or worried No.

00:10:11.165 --> 00:10:11.685

Kevin Lowe: It

00:10:11.685 --> 00:10:13.005

Kevin Lowe: Leaves you excited.

00:10:13.005 --> 00:10:15.065

Kevin Lowe: And at the end of the

00:10:15.065 --> 00:10:16.505

Kevin Lowe: Day Just as at the beginning.

00:10:16.505 --> 00:10:24.185

Kevin Lowe: I hope that you smile Smile even just on the inside That, hey, you know what? Today was

00:10:24.185 --> 00:10:24.745

Kevin Lowe: A good day.

00:10:24.745 --> 00:10:30.625

Kevin Lowe: Until next time, I'm your host, Kevin Lowe and I hope today's episode maybe

00:10:30.625 --> 00:10:33.725

Kevin Lowe: has you thinking about your own life in a little bit different light.

00:10:34.185 --> 00:10:38.065

Kevin Lowe: Until next time, this is great grace and inspiration. My friend,

00:10:38.305 --> 00:10:39.905

Kevin Lowe: get out there and enjoy this day.

00:10:40.585 --> 00:10:46.265

Kevin Lowe: Start chasing what really matters and that I believe is fulfillment versus just fulfillment.

00:10:46.480 --> 00:11:06.083

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