Issue 28 – The Quiet Cost of Chasing the Wrong Kind of Success

It’s easy to assume wealth is just about money. But Sahil Bloom offers a broader, more meaningful definition. He outlines five distinct forms: financial, social, time, physical, and mental.

True wealth, he explains, comes from building strength across all of them. Not just stacking up dollars.

Each type plays a different role. Financial wealth gives you security. Time wealth gives you freedom. Social wealth builds connection and community. Physical wealth fuels your energy and health. Mental wealth gives you peace, clarity, and resilience.

The power of this framework is how it changes what we optimize for.

It pushes us to stop chasing a single number and instead focus on building a life that feels full and sustainable. Bloom makes the case that the richest people are not the ones who earn the most, but the ones who have invested intentionally across every part of their lives.

“Success without happiness is the ultimate failure.”
— Arthur C. Brooks

What part of your life looks successful on paper but feels empty when you slow down?