[Podcast Episode #27] The Beautiful Life Formula - Do You Want a Beautiful Life or a Happy Life?
Episode #27
Happiness is a shaky finish line; it wobbles with every mood swing and market turn. In this episode, we set our sights higher. We challenge the modern obsession with happiness and outline a richer target: a beautiful life shaped by meaning, purpose, sacrifice, and generosity. Through family stories, hard-won lessons, and practical tools, we show how to design a beautiful business and a beautiful day.
Some topics covered are:
- Redefining the goal from happiness to beauty
- Choosing meaning, purpose, and calling daily
- A grandfather’s costly love as a model for devotion
- Delayed gratification as the engine of growth
- Marriage as a long-term path to beauty
- Carrying grief and suffering with dignity
- Building a business that serves life and values
- Defining your ideal workday and structure
- Goals as milestones that require tradeoffs
- Practicing generosity as a core habit
- And more…
Episode Summary
Many parents today say, “I just want my kids to be happy.” But Philip challenges this idea: is happiness really enough? When he named his daughter Zoe—Greek for “life”—he was struck by a deeper question: What kind of life do I want her to have? Happiness alone, especially the fleeting, superficial kind modern culture often promotes, is not a worthy life goal. In fact, it might be contributing to the rising mental health struggles we see in younger generations.
Instead, Philip and Cris call us to pursue something more lasting and rich: a beautiful life. Not a life without suffering or difficulty, but one marked by purpose, meaning, ethics, and significance.
A Legacy of Beauty
Philip tells the moving story of his grandfather, who, after a career of global leadership and influence, became the primary caregiver for his ailing wife. In what many would consider the twilight years of life, he embraced sacrifice with grace and love. He cooked, cared, and served—not out of obligation, but because he recognized her years of support for his dreams. That is not merely a happy life. That is a beautiful life.
The Power of Design
Cris brings the conversation into the realm of intentionality. You don’t accidentally live a beautiful life—you design it. Just as Germans might spend more time planning a vacation than envisioning their future, many people drift through life without a clear picture of what they truly want.
So, what does a beautiful life look like for you? What about a beautiful business? Start with clarity. Cris and Philip challenge listeners to define their ideal day—not one spent lounging on a beach, but a fulfilling day of meaningful work, deep relationships, and intentional choices.
Delayed Gratification and Devotion
Both men emphasize that a beautiful life requires delayed gratification. In relationships, this might mean the long, challenging work of building a lasting marriage. In business, it might mean enduring the grind instead of chasing quick wins. For Cris, marriage is not just about happiness; it’s about choosing one person, again and again, through all seasons. It’s about becoming a better man through commitment.
The Business of Beauty
Entrepreneurs have a unique advantage: they can shape not only their lives but also their companies in the pursuit of beauty. You don’t need to wait for an exit to begin living well. You can infuse your business with values, vision, and purpose now. Define what a beautiful business means to you—and build that.
Generosity as a Mark of Beauty
A beautiful life, they argue, is generous. Not stingy. Not self-serving. Whether it’s tipping a barber extravagantly or blessing people through your foundation, generosity adds joy and meaning. It connects success with significance.
Start Today
Philip and Cris leave us with a powerful call: design your life. Not someday, but now. Identify specific goals that reflect what you truly value. Make sacrifices that matter. And embrace not just the highs, but also the grief, pain, and hard work that form the mosaic of a truly beautiful life.
Because in the end, it’s not about being happy all the time. It’s about being faithful to what truly matters.
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Principles of success based on the life of Cosimo de’ Medici by Cris Auditore Zimmermann