Happiness is Found in Progress with Nick Kellar | Ep. 7
Hannah and Amy sit down with Nick Kellar, a real estate entrepreneur, community leader, and mentor based outside of Baltimore. We knew he'd be a great guest and from the first few minutes it's clear why: he is, as Hannah puts it, a human version of the show's tagline. A person in progress who actively learns from stories and science, applies what he reads, and then passes it forward to the people he mentors.
Nick's journey from happiness as a chase to happiness as a practice started with a commitment to lifelong learning and deepened through one of the hardest moments of his life. Sitting alone with his mother on her last day, a priest he'd never met gave him what he calls one of the most transformational gifts he's ever received: the reminder that the only thing that actually matters is the present moment, where your feet are. From there, his philosophy took shape. Happiness is in progress, not in outcomes. Small wins compound. Your definition of success is yours to decide.
This is a rich, warm, and surprisingly moving conversation that covers grief, fatherhood, relationships, letting go, and what it actually means to play an infinite game. Nick needed tissues. So did we.
In this episode: happiness as progress not perfection, priority management vs. time management, the windows and mirrors metaphor, lead indicators for a winning day, the circles of control and influence, the be-do-have equation, treating life like a scientist, grief as unexpressed love, the infinite game, defining your own success, the wheel of life, and what it feels like to be a girl dad of teenagers.
Nick Kellar is a real estate entrepreneur and mentor based in the Baltimore area, passionate about community impact and helping people in his industry and beyond define their own version of success. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kellar/
Heidi Shoemaker-Burnett is the executive function coach who connected Hannah with Nick. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoemakerburnett/
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt: Nick cites this as a foundation for his belief that happiness is in progress, not arrival.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant compiled by Eric Jorgenson: Naval's philosophy on wealth, peace of mind, and the cost of desire maps closely onto Nick's framework throughout the conversation.
The Four Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling: The source of Nick's lead indicators framework, which he adapted from business execution into a personal philosophy for identifying what actually constitutes a winning day.
Think Again by Adam Grant: Nick recommends this in the context of holding your perspectives loosely and being willing to consider that you might be wrong.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Hannah brings this in alongside Nick's "scientist vs. attorney" reframe, pointing to System 1 thinking (automatic, bias-prone) and System 2 thinking (effortful, reflective).
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: Nick calls Sinek one of his favorite authors and cites this book specifically for the reframe that business and life are not finite win-lose games but ongoing processes of improvement and impact.
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker: Nick returns to this one as he navigates the teenage years with his daughters, taking comfort in the reminder to keep showing up, meet them where they are, and be their hero.
The Breakthrough Years by Ellen Galinsky: Hannah recommends this to Nick during the closing conversation about parenting teenagers. It covers adolescent development through an executive function lens and draws on interviews with over 1,000 teenagers about what they wish adults understood about them.
Reach out to us! Email us at icanbehappier@gmail.com or visit icanbehappier.com. This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health support. Please reach out to a qualified licensed provider if you need help.
As an Amazon affiliate, we get a small percentage of the sale of any books you purchase through our links. It's an easy way to support us! Thank you!
