What if success isn't about pushing harder but allowing yourself to be pulled toward your purpose?

In this episode, Seth Streeter shares how he helps people navigate major life transitions and discover their inspired life purpose as co-founder of Mission Wealth, a wealth management firm he started 25 years ago that now manages $14 billion in assets for 4,600 families across 34 US locations. Seth has been a financial advisor for 34 years, specializing in guiding clients through major life events while helping them live more fulfilling lives through assessments across 12 dimensions of wealth. After going through divorce and the financial crisis, Seth realized he was achieving traditional success but wasn't fulfilled, leading him to spend an introspective year attending retreats, meditating, and traveling to India. In the last eight years, Seth has led purpose-driven retreats for over 2,000 people, including nine-day retreats in Bhutan where leaders trek in the Himalayas and stay with monks. Seth spoke at Davos with Deepak Chopra on conscious leadership and leads the purpose community for YPO.

Seth reveals the relationship that transformed his life: Joe Bosco, owner of an Italian restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado where Seth worked as a dishwasher through high school. When Seth was looking at colleges and his parents wanted him to attend Colorado State, Joe Bosco said "you should check out Santa Barbara, California" because he went there for horse shows. Seth had never heard of Santa Barbara but applied to UCSB because of Joe Bosco and spent 27 years there, founding Mission Wealth, having his children, serving on 10 nonprofit boards, starting sustainable future.org, and doing a TED Talk, all because Joe Bosco suggested he check out UC Santa Barbara. Seth also credits Chip Conley, founder of MEA, as a mentor who showed him how to move from his head to his heart.

[00:03:40] Led Two Nine-Day Purpose Retreats in Bhutan

In Asia for most of the trip
Had 25 leaders in each group trekking in Himalayas
Stayed overnight at monasteries, lived with monks
Contemplated purpose individually, within companies, within world at large

[00:04:40] Mission Wealth: 25 Years and $14 Billion

Co-founded Mission Wealth 25 years ago
Independent registered investment advisory firm
34 locations across US, manages just under $14 billion in assets
About 4,600 families, team of 200 advisors and professionals

[00:05:20] Started Leading Retreats Eight Years Ago

In last eight years started leading retreats and coaching
For different companies, leaders, different groups of people
Takes paid time off to do it, spends vacations leading retreats
About 2,000 people have gone through in-person programs

[00:06:00] The 13 Inches From Head to Heart

Great quote: "furthest distance many travel in lifetime are 13 inches from head to heart"
As financial guy, had heart in what he did, loved helping people solve problems
This work feels more intimate, more meaningful
Really helping people give themselves permission to be best version of who they want to be

[00:08:00] Started in Financial Services Right Out of College

Right out of college, needed a job
Was in student government at UC Santa Barbara, thought he'd be entrepreneur
Dad was in government, mom was teacher, brother was police officer
Family said "you need a job with benefits, security, and paycheck"

[00:09:00] Went Through His Own Tough Journey

Went through divorce, financial crisis, bumps in life
Realized success script needed to be rewritten
Was working hard but wasn't fulfilled, wasn't content
Achieving success in traditional way materially but didn't feel fulfilled

[00:09:20] The Introspective Year That Changed Everything

Decided to do whole introspective year
Went to retreats, read self-help books, listened to podcasts
Got into meditation, went to India, did all these "woo" things
That year opened up whole new framework for living

[00:10:20] Push Energy vs Pull Energy

As entrepreneur, had lot of push energy: building vision, growing team, charging hill
Used that in Ironman, marathons, running nonprofits
After personal reflection, started to adopt pull energy approach
More of allowance, trusting doors close and open for reason

[00:11:20] Speaking at Davos With Deepak Chopra

Was asked to speak at panel in Malibu with five people
Woman from Finland asked if he'd been to Davos, offered to get him in
Three months before event, confirmed: Thursday with Deepak Chopra on Conscious Leadership in Era of AI
Couldn't have pushed way into that opportunity, was being open and available

[00:14:40] 12 Dimensions of Wealth

Talk about wealth not just in financial sense but across 12 dimensions
Impact families are having, quality of relationships, physical health, intellectual growth
Seeing families grow true wealth feels very rewarding
Lead purpose community for all of YPO

[00:15:00] The Success Script and Grind Mentality

Lot of people followed success script, did what they were taught
Worked hard in school, career, moved through ranks or started company
Rinsed and repeated grind mentality to get ahead
Now 40, 50, or 60 saying "is this all there is?"

[00:17:00] Woman Going Through Divorce

Woman in mid-50s going through divorce
Two daughters just graduated high school, going to East Coast for college
Husband ended 30-year marriage right at same time
From financial standpoint she was fine, but really struggling with identity

[00:18:00] Converting Husband's Office Into Studio

She loved working with single women's nonprofits, domestic shelters
Also loved skincare, always did facials for daughters
Helped her convert former husband's office into studio
Became licensed aesthetician, did facials for women in community including free ones for women through tough times

Beyond the Success Script with Seth Streeter