When Is Enough Money Enough?

I was listening to an episode of The Diary of a CEO recently, and one segment really struck a chord with me. Around the 2-hour, 11-minute mark, the discussion centered on the endless pursuit of “more.” More money. More success. More status. It’s something so many of us chase—often without stopping to ask the simplest, yet hardest question: When is enough, enough?

As I listened, I couldn’t help but think about many of the people I’ve come across. They’ve accomplished incredible things—built fulfilling careers, achieved financial stability, and created lives they once dreamed about. Yet many still describe a quiet restlessness, a sense that the next goal or milestone will finally bring lasting satisfaction. It’s a very human feeling—one I’ve experienced myself at times—this belief that happiness sits just beyond the next achievement.

The part of the episode that stood out most was when Vinh Giang shared how his parents eventually found inner peace not through more wealth, but through helping others. By shifting their focus outward—toward contribution rather than accumulation—they discovered something far more sustainable: contentment. That message resonated deeply with me, not only as a professional who supports others on their financial journeys, but as someone constantly working to balance ambition with fulfillment.

Over time, I’ve learned that the key to feeling “enough” lies in living by your values, accumulating positive emotions over the long term, and setting life worth living goals. These principles help ground us in what truly matters.

Living by your values means defining what’s important beyond the paycheck. When your choices align with those values, life feels purposeful and less like a race.

Accumulating positive emotions isn’t about constant happiness—it’s about nurturing gratitude, empathy, and fulfillment that build over time.

Life worth living goals remind us that work is only one part of a meaningful life. Integrating relationships, growth, and well-being keeps success balanced and human.

That podcast was a good reminder that self-development is never complete. None of us are perfect, but if we show up each day striving to be a slightly better version of ourselves—more grounded, more aware, and more connected to what truly matters—that’s all anyone can ask for.

 Watch the episode here (2:11:00 mark)