EP 89: Mood Follows Action

2025-05-19

Happiness isn’t a finish line; it’s the system you build every day to actually enjoy being alive. Brian Dubow had the career, the money, the validation, and none of it made him feel fulfilled. So he stepped off the path, studied the science of happiness, and rebuilt his life from the inside out. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what he learned along the way and how entrepreneurs can stop chasing success and start creating lives that feel good to live. Brian breaks down the “MAGIC” framework (mindfulness, activity,...

Happiness isn’t a finish line; it’s the system you build every day to actually enjoy being alive.

Brian Dubow had the career, the money, the validation, and none of it made him feel fulfilled. So he stepped off the path, studied the science of happiness, and rebuilt his life from the inside out. In this episode, he joins Alex Raymond to share what he learned along the way and how entrepreneurs can stop chasing success and start creating lives that feel good to live.

Brian breaks down the “MAGIC” framework (mindfulness, activity, gratitude, inspiration, and connection), and explains how simple daily habits can have a bigger impact than any external win. Could feeling better have less to do with getting more, and more to do with doing less of what drains you? Is your energy, not your output, the real measure of progress?

Alex and Brian’s conversation also touches on the role of discipline in happiness, why mood follows action, and how small systems can keep you aligned when the pressure ramps up. For anyone who’s ever looked successful on paper but felt off inside, this episode offers a reset and a practical way forward.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Brian’s Journey from Corporate to Happiness Coaching

08:23 The Science Behind Happiness

10:17 Happiness as a Choice and the Power of Discipline

13:32 Redefining Happiness: Enjoying the Passage of Time

18:00 Mood Follows Action and the Role of Systems

19:35 The MAGIC Framework Explained

21:00 Mindfulness and Managing Distractions

24:10 Movement and Physical Energy

29:03 Rewiring Your Mind with Gratitude

37:09 Finding Daily Inspiration

42:41 The Power of Meaningful Connection