
1467 | What to Do With Obsession?
From Behavior Gap Radio by Carl Richards
May 27, 2026 · 5 min · Episode 1474
About this episode
Carl Richards reflects on the tension between building a life around demand versus aliveness, inspired by a quote from Howard Thurman.
In this episode, Carl reflects on a quote from Howard Thurman that has shaped his thinking for years: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.” He explores the tension between building a life around demand versus building one around aliveness, and the complicated reality that often follows when what makes us come alive doesn’t fit neatly into stability, responsibility, or conventional success. It’s a thoughtful exploration of ambition, freedom, roots, creativity, and the difficult question of what it actually means to “go do it.” Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/
People in this episode
Host: Carl Richards
Topics covered
- obsession
- aliveness
- ambition
- freedom
- creativity
- success
Keywords
- obsession
- Howard Thurman
- aliveness
- ambition
- creativity
- success
- responsibility
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- 1474 | Financial Planning Begins With Feeling · June 5, 2026 · 9 min
- 1473 | A Partner, Not a Path · June 4, 2026 · 3 min
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