The Science of Peaceful Success
How to Achieve More Without Losing Your Sanity
Unlock the mindset shift to balance productivity and peace for creators and entrepreneurs.
Ever feel like success comes with a catch?
You hit that milestone, but suddenly, you’re too stressed or burnt out to enjoy it. Been there—done that—more times than I’d like to admit.
I used to believe success was all about grinding 24/7.
In his classic book The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles talks about achieving success with a sense of peace. (As an aside, I’ve created an entire program around The Science of Getting Rich which I’ll be making exclusively available to subscribing founders).
That concept turned my “work hard or die trying” mindset on its head. It’s not about doing less—it’s about doing right.
Here’s how to stop chasing stress and start thriving, peacefully.
1. Rethink Your Definition of Success
When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, success looked like working till midnight and bragging about it. But here’s the truth: Being “busy” isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a trap.
The mindset shift: Success isn’t about how much you do. It’s about aligning your actions with your goals. Wattles calls it “thinking in a certain way,” and he’s right. If your efforts aren’t intentional, you’re just spinning your wheels.
Try this: Write down your top three goals. Each morning, ask yourself, “What’s the ONE thing I can do today to move closer to these goals?” Then, let the rest go.
2. Prioritize Peace Over Pressure
There’s this weird myth that stress equals productivity. Spoiler: it doesn’t. When I started prioritizing calm over chaos, my focus—and my results—skyrocketed.
The mindset shift: Stress clouds judgment and kills creativity. Peace, on the other hand, opens doors to clarity. Success doesn’t have to feel like running a marathon; it can feel like a well-paced hike with a clear destination.
Quick action step: Start your day with 5 minutes of intentional stillness. Call it meditation, deep breathing, or simply sipping your coffee without a screen in sight. Just be. This small practice primes your brain for focused, peaceful productivity.
3. Focus on Efficient Action, Not Endless Hustle
This is Wattles’ golden rule: Efficient action beats frantic action every time. The idea isn’t to work harder; it’s to work smarter.
The mindset shift: Stop multitasking. Seriously—close the 27 browser tabs. Focus fully on one task at a time, and do it well. Quality trumps quantity every day of the week.
Here’s what works for me:
Use time-blocking to plan your day.
Tackle the most important task when your energy peaks.
Take guilt-free breaks to recharge.
The result? You’re doing more meaningful work without running yourself ragged.