What do Aristotle, David Brooks, and The Rock have in common?
They all want us to think about what makes life worth living—just in very different ways.
Aristotle called it eudaimonia.
David Brooks tells us we should strive for joy.
And The Rock? Well… he calls it cheat-day pancakes.
This week, we’re talking about what we humans are wired to do: strive.
Even when everything is going great, we invent problems to solve. It’s why you stress about your fantasy football lineup after finally nailing that big case. Or why Mark Manson, in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***, says the secret isn’t avoiding problems—it’s choosing the right ones.
Because let’s be honest… a life that is truly easy is boring.
We don’t want an easy life—we want a life that’s easy in the right ways and hard in the right ways.
Don’t believe me?
- If you play video games, have you ever cranked up the difficulty?
- If you lift weights, have you ever added more plates?
- If you lawyer, have you ever taken a case because it was new, unfamiliar, and hard?
We all need something to strive for.
Something to anchor us.
Something to keep us from doomscrolling at 2 a.m., wondering why the algorithm thinks we love watching superhero mashup clips that never actually happened…
(Though let’s be real—I do love a good superhero mashup that never happened.)
So let’s dive into five powerful frameworks for striving, what they have in common, and how to use them to design a life—and business—you actually want.
1. Happiness: The Obvious (But Tricky) Answer
What It Is
That fleeting “life is good” feeling—usually when your coffee is hot, your inbox is empty, and your kid actually went to bed on time.
Why We Strive for It
Everyone loves a dopamine hit. Happiness feels like success, progress, and winning at life.
The Downside
Happiness is short-term. It’s like cotton candy—fun while it lasts, then suddenly you’re sticky and annoyed. Constantly chasing happiness can be exhausting because you’re always hunting the next high.
(It’s not like shawarma with your friends after saving NYC.)
Pro Tip
Instead of chasing happiness, build the habits that create it: gratitude, movement, and meaningful work.
Fun fact: the act of striving itself often makes us happier than actually achieving the goal. Thanks, brain chemistry.
2. Eudaimonia: Aristotle’s OG Framework
What It Is
A fancy Greek word meaning human flourishing. Think long-term fulfillment rooted in virtue, contribution, and purpose.
Basically: happiness with a time horizon.
(Like Yoda living on Dagobah for decades just to drop life wisdom and peace out after Luke asked too many questions.)
Why We Strive for It
Eudaimonia delivers a deeper satisfaction—the pride that comes from living well and using your gifts. It’s why mentoring someone or finishing meaningful work feels different than just “feeling good.”
The Downside
It’s work. Flourishing requires hard choices—integrity over shortcuts, service over convenience.
(It’s fighting evil Superman instead of living forever in Wayne Manor with all your whims taken care of.)
Pro Tip
Start small. Choose one virtue—generosity, courage, patience—and practice it intentionally this month. Bonus points if it shows up in how you work with clients or referral partners.
3. Joy: The David Brooks Upgrade
What It Is
Joy is happiness with roots. In The Second Mountain, David Brooks describes joy as connection, commitment, and love—giving yourself to something bigger than yourself.
Think The Avengers, not Secret Invasion (which was… objectively awful).
Why We Strive for It
Joy lasts. You feel it when you help someone, even when it’s inconvenient or hard—mentoring a struggling lawyer, handling a pro bono case, or saving the world (even if you accidentally caused it to need saving).
The Downside
Joy requires vulnerability. You have to show up fully and risk rejection, discomfort, or failure.
Sounds fun, right?
Pro Tip
Invest in relationships. Brooks argues that joy is built with and through other people—family, clients, colleagues, and communities.
4. Ikigai: The Japanese Blueprint for Purpose
What It Is
Your reason for being. Ikigai sits at the intersection of:
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can get paid for
It’s the Venn diagram of purpose, joy, and sustainability.
(Insert hilarious Venn diagram here—robbers and DJs both telling people to put their hands in the air.)
Why We Strive for It
Ikigai feels like flow. Work doesn’t drain you—it energizes you. Lawyers who love their niche and serve ideal clients are living this.
The Downside
It takes time. Ikigai evolves as you grow.
Like Groot.
Pro Tip
Ask yourself: What can I do for hours and still feel energized afterward?
Use the answer to shape how you work and who you serve.
5. Legacy: The “Bigger Than You” Goal
What It Is
Creating something that outlasts you—raising good humans, building a meaningful business, or leaving your corner of the world better than you found it.
(All things I’m striving for.)
Why We Strive for It
Legacy gives life weight. Meaning. And unlike Fast & Furious movies… no one actually comes back to life after dying multiple times.
The Downside
It’s easy to confuse legacy with achievements. Big companies close. Names get forgotten.
I promise you there are plenty of people who ran massive businesses for decades that you’ve never heard of.
Pro Tip
Think small. Legacy lives in presence, mentorship, kindness, and how you treat people—not just in titles or trophies.
What All These Frameworks Have in Common
Purpose
Each one gives life direction and meaning.
Connection
They all emphasize relationships—with family, clients, and community.
(I love Iron Man, but his real legacy? Everyone at his funeral. Especially the ones who loved him 3000.)
Action
Striving isn’t passive. These ideas work only when you work them.
Cue the 80s montage where the hero trains, fails, and levels up.
Reflection
You can’t strive well without asking:
- What do I want?
- What problems are worth solving?
So—what speaks to you right now?
Are you chasing happiness?
Building joy?
Designing legacy?
Or figuring out how your firm can hit that ikigai sweet spot?
Until next week—may your striving bring you joy, fulfillment, and maybe even cheat-day pancakes.