Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the

The soft murmur of the café surrounded Jack and Jeeny as they sat across from one another, the faint sound of rain against the window mixing with the quiet hum of conversation around them. Jack sat, his fingers wrapped loosely around his coffee cup, gazing out at the wet streets, while Jeeny, sitting across from him, seemed to be lost in thought, her expression thoughtful.

Host: After a moment of quiet, Jeeny broke the stillness, her voice light but with a touch of humor.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote by Robert Orben today that made me chuckle. He said, ‘Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work.’ It made me think—how much do you think we really rely on external success metrics, like wealth, to determine our sense of accomplishment?”

Jack: He looked up at her, a small smile on his lips. “I think Orben’s quote is both humorous and a little telling. It’s kind of a joke, but it’s also true for a lot of people—success, especially financial success, is often seen as the ultimate marker of achievement. But the irony is, it’s not always the best indicator of happiness or fulfillment. It’s easy to get caught up in those numbers, thinking they’re the measure of our worth.”

Jeeny: Her expression softened as she nodded, her voice calm. “Exactly. It’s funny how we’re often taught to measure our success by things like money, status, or fame. But those things don’t necessarily bring meaning or satisfaction. Orben’s quote captures that—he’s saying, ‘If I’m not on the list, I need to keep working to get there,’ but the real question is, why does being on that list matter in the first place?”

Host: The rain outside had softened, but inside, the conversation between them grew deeper. Jack’s fingers rested on his cup, and he leaned forward slightly, as if considering the weight of her words.

Jack: “I think it comes down to the idea that we often measure our value by external validation. If we can be on the Forbes list, if we can be recognized for our success, we think we’ve made it, that we’ve reached the top. But there’s something missing in that—meaningful fulfillment doesn’t always come from external sources. It comes from within.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And the pressure to constantly chase after that external validation can often leave us feeling empty, no matter how many achievements we accumulate. What happens when we reach a goal and realize that it doesn’t feel like we thought it would? We’re still searching for something deeper.”

Host: The stillness of the café seemed to deepen as they sat in that quiet understanding. Jack’s gaze softened, and he gave a slight nod, as though coming to terms with the deeper truth behind the conversation.

Jack: “It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of those external markers, but maybe the real success is in finding fulfillment in what we do, in the work itself—not just the recognition. It’s about creating value, for yourself and others, regardless of whether you’re on a list or not.”

Jeeny: Her smile was small but filled with quiet reassurance. “Exactly. Success isn’t defined by where we are on someone else’s list—it’s about how we feel about the path we’re walking, the impact we’re making, and the satisfaction we get from our own efforts.”

Host: The rain had faded to a gentle mist, the world outside now a quiet blur, but inside, Jack and Jeeny sat in a shared realization that true success lies not in external validation but in inner fulfillment. The pursuit of goals, while important, should be driven by personal meaning and passion, not just by the numbers we measure ourselves against. Success is about the journey, not the list.