Want Greater Business Success? Start with This Unlikely Leadership Trait: Happiness

“Do it before you die.”

Those five words sum up Carl Barney’s advice to business leaders and other wealthy individuals to find a deeper level of success and satisfaction by “pre-questing” meaningful gifts to individuals and institutions — not in their wills — but while they can still witness the impact of their generosity.

Carl, author of the new book The Happiness Experiment: A Revolutionary Way to Increase Happiness, is a philanthropist who grew wealthy as an educational entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Prometheus Foundation, which identifies and supports independent thinkers who have innovative ideas, work smart, follow through, and achieve results. The Foundation is guided by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, with a healthy portion of Aristotle mixed in. 

In his book, Carl makes a key distinction between philanthropy and pre-questing.

While both are praiseworthy, pre-questing is a more personal way to express gratitude to those who’ve enriched your life, such as teachers, mentors, colleagues, and friends.

Carl has found that making others happy will also make the giver happier. That translates to becoming a better leader, businessperson, family member, and friend.

“It’s not enough to feel grateful,” Carl says. “You have to express it — in ways that matter to the people who made a difference in your life.”

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Carl Barney
Posted: July 7, 2025
Monday Morning Run Time: 42:31
Episode: 14.5

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