The Earned Life by Marshall Goldsmith Summary
Overview of The Earned Life
In "The Earned Life," world-renowned coach Marshall Goldsmith reveals how to align daily choices with life's purpose. Inspired by calls with 60 accomplished individuals including Curtis Martin, this 2022 bestseller asks: Why do successful people still feel unfulfilled? The answer might surprise you.
Similar books to The Earned Life
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
When Success Feels Empty and the Illusion of Permanence
Picture a successful business manager named Richard, haunted not by failure but by a single moment decades ago when fear stopped him from approaching someone who caught his eye. Despite his career achievements, this memory lingers-a ghost of what might have been. Here's the uncomfortable truth: even wildly successful people often place themselves closer to regret than fulfillment on life's emotional spectrum. We climb ladders only to discover they're leaning against the wrong walls. We collect accomplishments like trading cards, yet feel strangely hollow. This isn't about minor embarrassments or forgotten appointments-it's about existential regret, the kind that shapes who we become. But here's what makes this even more complex: Buddha said something radical: "Every breath I take is a new me." He wasn't speaking metaphorically. Life isn't a continuous stream but a series of discrete moments where we're constantly reborn. Your emotions don't linger-they transform with each breath. The person who made that mistake yesterday? That wasn't you. That was a previous iteration. This challenges everything Western culture teaches us. We believe we're essentially the same person, only incrementally better, and that our improvements will stick permanently. This breeds what we might call the Great Western Disease: "I'll be happy when..." We become hungry ghosts, always consuming but never satisfied-chasing the next promotion, the next relationship, the next achievement that will finally make us feel complete. Consider Mike, a media executive who struggled with emotional awareness. Years later, when his wife criticized his absence during their children's upbringing, he calmly explained: "That clueless man from ten years ago isn't the same person sitting beside you now." This isn't denial-it's liberation. Accepting impermanence means understanding that everything you've earned must be constantly re-earned. As NBA coach Phil Jackson said after winning championships: "You're only a success in the moment of the successful act. Then you have to do it again." The question isn't whether we've succeeded by conventional measures, but whether we're living a life we've truly earned through conscious choice and alignment with our deepest values. What if you viewed your life not as a fixed narrative but as an ongoing creation? How might that shift your approach to work, relationships, and self-respect?
The Invisible Chains We Wear and the Power of Elimination
The Six-Factor Formula for Fulfillment
Building Bridges Between Action, Ambition, and Aspiration
Your One-Trick Genius and the Discipline to Use It
The Price Worth Paying and Knowing When to Eat the Marshmallow
The Constant Process of Earning Your Life
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to The Earned Life Summary in 9 Minutes
Break down key ideas from The Earned Life into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 7 Insights from The Earned Life in a Nutshell
Distill The Earned Life into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - The Earned Life Lessons Told Through 22-Min Stories
Experience The Earned Life through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to The Earned Life Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the The Earned Life summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.