Derek Haswell: Why Founders Feel Lost After Success - Money Stories Ep 15

When Derek Haswell co-founded Ten Percent Happier, he wasn’t chasing profit, he was chasing peace. What he didn’t realize was that the drive powering his every move wasn’t purpose… it was unworthiness.

In this conversation, Derek opens the hood on his journey; from growing up in a home where money was never discussed, to building a mission-driven company that served millions, to quietly unraveling at the height of “success.” What followed was a retreat-induced reckoning, a season of depression, and a reorientation toward enoughness. 

We unpack:

• Why founders often ignore money until it's too late

• The moment Derek realized his entire drive was rooted in shame

• What it really means to lead from a place of worth

• The “crater” moment that birthed Ten Percent Happier

• How clean and dirty fuel show up in entrepreneurship (and why both matter)

• The unseen cost of excluding yourself from your mission

About Derek Haswell:

Derek Haswell is a product builder, meditation advocate, and co-founder of Ten Percent Happier. For over a decade, he helped shape the intersection of mindfulness and tech, building tools that demystify inner work without losing depth. Today, he coaches high-performing founders who want to lead from a place of alignment, not achievement. His work is less about scaling businesses and more about scaling wholeness.

The truth? You can build something beautiful for the world and still burn yourself out doing it. This episode is a map for founders who feel that tension… and are ready to choose differently.

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Connect with Derek:

Website: https://www.derekhaswell.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhaswell/

Twitter: https://x.com/drhaswell

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This episode is brought to you by Unbreakable Wealth — a community for conscious entrepreneurs building true wealth (beyond just money).

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