Entrepreneurs on Fire · John Lee Dumas of EOFire

The ONE Question You MUST Ask Yourself Today with Jenna Kutcher: An EOFire Classic from 2022

·24 min·2 clips

Jenna Kutcher sets goals based on how she wants to feel, not just quantifiable metrics.

This classic episode of Entrepreneurs on Fire features host John Lee Dumas and guest Jenna Kutcher, a bestselling author and host of the Goal Digger podcast. They explore a central, introspective question about personal and professional fulfillment. Kutcher advocates for setting goals based on desired feelings rather than strictly measurable metrics. She explains that she often avoids the SMART goal framework to focus on how she wants success to feel. Kutcher describes a pivotal moment when an intuitive massage therapist named Thea told her there was something she needed to do but was avoiding, which prompted her to start writing her book. She argues that many people, especially high-achieving entrepreneurs, build lives that look good but do not feel good to live in. Dumas shares his observation from interviewing over 3,600 entrepreneurs, noting many later confessed they were in a dark place during earlier, seemingly positive interviews. Kutcher connects this to a culture of presenting a "highlight reel" online instead of a real legacy. A key insight is her definition of success as moving through life with ease, excitement, and energy. She suggests that people often use gratitude as a tool to stay stuck in unfulfilling situations. The episode revisits the concept of a "soul shavasana," or the need to get quiet and check in with oneself amidst constant busyness. Kutcher emphasizes that peace is found in small, present moments, like taking a conscious breath while washing dishes. She proposes that regularly asking "How am I really?" can become an addictive and transformative practice. The conversation is conversational and motivational, blending personal anecdotes with broader life philosophy. Listeners interested in reflective, feeling-based goal-setting and authentic living will find value in this discussion. Those seeking strictly tactical business advice or data-driven strategies might find the content too abstract.

As heard by us

A feel-first goal reset that treats success as more than a measurable target.

Jenna Kuchar and JLD keep the focus on a simple shift: goals can be chosen around how someone wants to feel, not only around what can be measured. That idea comes back through self-check-ins and a wider definition of success that leaves room for ease, excitement, and energy.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Reframe your goals around how you want to feel, not just how you look on paper.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Entrepreneurs on Fire