Episode notes
What this conversation opens up.
Mike and Mark discuss Daniel Susskind’s Growth and challenge one of the biggest assumptions in modern life: that more is automatically better. More money, a bigger house, a faster-growing business, a better job — we’re constantly encouraged to keep moving forward. But Susskind asks a more important question: what kind of growth do we actually want?
In this episode, Mike and Mark explore why growth always comes with trade-offs and unintended consequences. They look at how chasing more can create extra stress, complexity and pressure, and why the goal shouldn’t simply be economic prosperity, but prosperity with purpose. Growth isn’t just about getting bigger or richer. It’s about being intentional about the direction you’re heading and understanding what you may be giving up along the way.
They bring these ideas into everyday life, from buying a bigger house or upgrading the car to taking on another client or chasing the next promotion. Sometimes these choices look like progress on the surface, but they can also mean more debt, less freedom, longer hours or less time with the people who matter. The challenge is to distinguish between more growth and better growth.
Mike and Mark also explore what Susskind’s ideas mean for careers in an age of AI and rapid technological change. The future is becoming less predictable, which means preparing for one fixed career or discovering one perfect “calling” may no longer make sense. Instead, the opportunity is to remain adaptable, keep learning and be open to multiple possible futures.
