What Percentage of Adults in The US Live The Exceptional Life?

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Welcome to the missing secret podcast. I'm Kelly Hatfield.

Hey, and I'm John Mitchell. So, we got a good topic today. And I want you to think

about this, everybody. Just think about this. What percentage of adults in the United States

are successful as defined by living the exceptional life, where they're making a good income

over a hundred thousand dollars, where they have a great romantic relationship, and they

are in control of their health. So just think about that. Kelly, what do you, what off

the top of your head would you are probably already know? But what do you think most people

will say? I will, if it's being defined by those three things that you just mentioned,

which would be, you know, a good income, a healthy relationship, and he control over

their health. Right. You know, I would say, I don't know, 50% or less. Yeah, I think that's

a good. I would say 50% or less would say they were, yeah, for sure. I mean, I'm sure

that the number is really low, but I would say definitely less than 50% of people would

say they're living the exceptional life. Well, this is interesting. You know, let's talk about

the income for a second, a hundred thousand dollars. That's not that big a deal. It really,

I mean, it really is. What I, the average income is probably 60,000. So that we're not, you know,

we're not coming up with some extravagant number on the income. And then where you have a really

good, romantic relationship, you know, we're, we're probably rating it a eight and a half or,

or more, and we're, we're you're healthy, we're your fit and, and you're take care of your health

and all that. But I want to, let's ask Chad GPT this question. Let's, let's actually see what we,

we get from, from Chad. So are you out of for this? I am. Let's do it. Okay. Here we go.

Gee, are you there? I'm right here, John. What's on your mind today? Let's stick into whatever you're

working for. I think that's a good idea. Okay. So what percentage of adults in the United States

are successful in living the exceptional life as defined by having a substantial income over

either thousand hours a year, having a great romantic relationship and where they're healthy

and on top of their, their health? So what percentage of the American adult population has those

three things? There isn't a sample statistic combining all three factors, income, relationship,

and health, but we can look at related data. About 87% of adults earning over a hundred thousand

dollars report good health and roughly 64% in relationships say they are very happy. High

income adults also report higher life satisfaction. While these are separate data points, the percentage

of adults who have all three at one is likely quite small, but we don't have an exact figure.

So what would be your guess? You can sort of do the math. All right, let's piece it together

logically. High income say around 15 to 20% of adults. Good health, maybe half to two-thirds of them.

Great romantic relationships, perhaps half of that group. Multiplying those rough odds,

you're maybe landing in the low single digits. All are two to five percent. It's just an estimate,

but it's probably a rare trifecta. Well, my experience has been as is closer to two percent. So

the number you came up to to five percent is I think pretty accurate. So thank you.

So to me, that is amazing that in this, the most successful country in the world,

only two percent of adults are living the exceptional life. I mean, that's ridiculous, I think.

Well, what's your take on it? Yeah, no, absolutely. And as I was, you asked me that question,

kind of off the cuff, and as I was thinking about it too, they were talking about, there was that

study on happiness, and it was directly relating it to income. And the number used to be $77,000

right here. And that has gone up to, I think it's a hundred thousand or close to a hundred thousand

that people's happiness in terms of just general overall satisfaction in life related to career,

is when you're kind of in that sweet spot there, you know, you're happier. I mean,

the same thing too, in that same study, it talked about health. I think it talked about more

about connection versus specifically your romantic relationship, but like connection with other

people and close relationships. But so that information that, you know, you just got from chat,

I mean, it totally makes sense to me, and I can't. And at the same time, like as we're kind of,

you know, vetting this out is so sad, right? You know, it's like, we've only got one shot at

this. And yet, you know, such a large percentage of the population here in the United States,

you know, is not living the exceptional life. As a matter of fact, they're living, you know,

the, the opposite of that, sad. So why do you think that is? Yeah, I think it comes down to

everything that we, you know, teach, you know, it's the, it's the, it comes down to 95% of your

thoughts, being some conscious and people taking actions associated with those subconscious, they're

an autopilot, you know, and I think that, you know, that's part of it. And then, you know, we've

talked about this so many times, but I think to just the state of the world, you know, that we're in

social media, how that's being. And influencing this subconscious mind, you know, from

an external standpoint. And so there are so many factors, but I think it all comes down to,

you know, not having, you know, a, a plan for success. Wait, you know, I, yes, I think that's

right. I, you know, I think it comes down to three simple words. They're winging life. Yeah.

Like as you know, my favorite saying lately is, you know, rise to the level of your goals,

you sing to the level of your systems. Well, the vast majority of people, I mean, the easily

99% of people, they don't even have a way of doing life. They're just winging it. They're just

winging. Not that our way of doing life is the only way to do it. I clearly think it's the best.

But, but I respect that other people have ways to do a life like I was, I think I told you this,

a while back and someone that, that I really respect, he was telling, I was asked him how he,

how he does life. And, you know, the way you do life is defined by your morning routine.

That to me, that's what we're talking about is how you do, quote unquote, do life is a function

of what is your morning routine. And his morning routine was he, he meditated, he

journaled and he did affirmations. And, and I'm like, that is good. That's better than 99% of people.

But respectfully is not as good as, is feeding the succinct articulation of your desire,

life to yourself each day is good is what he was doing. Of course, that's my opinion. And,

and it works for him. And if, if it works for him, more power to it. Keep on doing what you're

doing. Yeah. But, but for the other 99% of people, if you don't have the exception of life,

it's your fault. It is your fault. Nobody else's because you've been given this precious life.

And you need to grab all of it and have a way of doing life. And I know when I was 50 years old,

and I had that kind of same conversation with myself, well, why don't I have the exceptional

life? I came to that conclusion. Oh, it's your fault. You're not creating that, that exceptional

life. And, and of course, I did have somebody that would give me a way of doing life. I had to

figure it out. But I just see that life is so precious. And so many people, like you said,

a hundred times, which is so true, they're just gliding through life. They're not really even

aware of, you know, how to be successful. They're just, you know, they want to be more successful,

but they're also awful too busy to really do anything about it. Yeah. I think most people

are just trying to make it through the day. Yeah. Yeah. You know, which is like not, you know,

what I mean? Like, and I get it, there's no judgment as we're sitting here talking. Like, I

understand all of the reasons why, you know, our culture is the way that it is, you know, and

understanding the human mind and how it works. I understand that. And so there's no judgment,

you know, around it. I get that life can be hard, you know, and, but, you know, there's so much

that you can do in terms of training your mindset, you know, to think differently. Because the other

thing, and I'm going to, I'm going to say this and I know this, you know, may piss some people off.

But so many of the people who are just trying to make it through the day, really do to have that

and victim, you know, kind of mentality where life is happening to them. It's always somebody

else is something that's causing the issue, you know, versus going out and making, and I know

I can see your face. There goes half of our audience right there. I mean, half of our audience is

clicked off right there. You know, because it ends, it this goes back to what we've talked about,

though, which is, you know, all of us have gone through stuff. And I know there may be people

listening to that are like, yeah, who are you guys are, you know, who are you to be talking about

this? You know, you haven't maybe experienced hard things or whatever. Well, give me a phrase.

Exactly. I would argue, you know, absolutely that that isn't true. Everybody's got their

story. Everybody's gone through, you know, hard things. And it's a matter of how you frame that.

It's a matter of, again, that whole mentality around is life happening for you,

right? Or is life happening to you? Is it like, oh, God, what's next? Or is it? All right, what's next?

You know, like, yeah, it's a, it's a way in which you are like, okay, this thing just happened.

It's not great. I'm not excited about it. But what am I supposed to learn as a result of going through

it? Yeah. So again, I think that the methodology, I think what it helps with, because even as we're

talking to somebody who isn't familiar with us, or familiar with the concepts that we're talking

about, they're working from an emotional part of their mind most at the time. I know. And that's

what rules kind of their, you know, their existence is their emotions. And it's understanding,

you know, this methodology and what and how is that support isn't the right word that I want to use.

But how it changes your perspective and the way you look at things from more of a logical

standpoint versus an emotional standpoint, because you train your mind to do that through this process.

Right. But so, yeah, I, now I know anybody who isn't familiar with this is probably just doesn't

get it. And because too, they don't think about it either. They don't think about their life in

any depth at all. They're just trying to make it through the day. And I get that. I understand

why it happens from a scientific standpoint now and how the brain works. But it's hard when you

know the other way, it's hard when you know the other side to not just want to go, let's not, you

know, right. Well, and of course, we're, we're preaching to the choir. Yeah.

And so they probably get it. But you know, one thing you find interesting. So in teaching my class,

one of the things I teach them is to deep think two times a week. And I grade them on this.

They have to turn in their thinking at their, their sheets. And I look at it. I see what they're

thinking about. Yep. Oh my God. Oh my God. I don't even know where to store it. But I give you

a set. I mean, this, this is funny. You know, they, they call me Professor Mitchell, which isn't

funny in itself. But you know, I mean, you know, so I start calling you out. If you don't mind,

I would like that. But in the, in the world of academia, and this is what's cool at the University

of Texas, we like have, I think three Nobel Prize winners on the faculty. I mean, PhDs, I mean,

brilliant people. And fortunately in the business school, if you're successful enough in business,

you don't have to have an advanced degree. And so that's where I split in there. But it's really

interesting to, to see the 20 to 21 year old mind. And like I have had a student just last week,

she says me an email. She says, dear Professor Mitchell, I will not be able to attend class tomorrow

because my dog is sick. And again, I, and you get my, and I, I get it to dogs import to you. But

and I sort of looking at, at some of the, like I was looking at her, what she was writing in her

thinking tablet, and totally stressed out about all sorts of things. And like, there was a shooting

here in Austin, you see that right after the Iran thing. Yeah, I did. And they had killed one

University of Texas student and injured another. And, and there's a lot of stuff. And it's

funny, this particular student who I like, I really like her. She's a very cheap little girl and,

and bright and, and big personality. And she sort of came into the class. But sort of with that

attitude that, hey, I understand mindset. I'm pretty up on mindset. She didn't have a clue.

Didn't add up clue. She thinks she knows, but she doesn't really know. And it's reflected in

what's going on in her head. But the point of sharing all that is that oftentimes these 21-year-olds

are just a microcosm. Oh, it's going on in the overall world. They don't have a way to do in life.

And it comes back to bite them. And one of the things I have learned in teaching, and this is

like the fourth semester, I'm doing it. But they don't, they don't really learn when I'm up there

with my slides and tell them all the stuff. They learn when in the class, I now make it a point

couple of times in the class to make them re-curgitate it back to me when I'm teaching them. And

oftentimes, how they, they say it back is way off, way off. But that's okay because

that reflects not only the person that's speaking, but it probably reflects others

as well. And it's my job to be quick enough to take what they say and adjust what they say so they

get it. But it's those, those in the moment interactions really is when they learn. But don't you

think that what's going on with the 21-year-olds is just a microcosm of the bigger society probably?

100%. You know, I think just even, you know, you mentioned the stress that she's under, you know,

right now. Right. And, you know, and most of the writing she has her about stress. Like if you are,

if you are on your phone and on social media, you're stressed. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, period. End of

sentence. You are stressed. It is, you know, and especially all you need to do is watch one or two

things and your feed is going to be filled with more and more of that. So if you're paying, you know,

if you're the politics piece and all of the stuff that's happening with, like, you're going to

the lens you're looking through is that everything is screwed right now. And hey, there is a lot

that's not going great. But there are also things that are, there is also a lot of good in the

world too. You know, I think that, but that's not what we're being fed, you know, on social media.

That isn't what they're talking about on the news. That is what they're talking about. And so I think

absolutely a cool, you know, what you see, what you're seeing in a 21-year-old just from a culture

standpoint is absolutely, you know, what's happening culturally across the board.

Well, you know, let's let's do another little quick experiment with Chad Sheep T on the exact

point you made. Let me ask her a question. So G, another question. Of course, John, I'm ready for it.

What's your next question? So with the American public, the with adults, what percentage of people

look at things optimistically versus pessimistically? In recent surveys, about 47% of American

adults felt optimistic about the country's future while around 53% felt pessimistic.

Let me adjust this on you. I'm not talking about optimistic or pessimistic about the country.

I'm talking about as a general frame of reference for how they operate on a daily basis with regards

to everything. What percentage are looking at things pessimistically versus optimistically?

In general, mindset terms about half of Americans lean optimistic and about half lean pessimistic.

Specifically, recent surveys show around 49% to 50% of adults describe themselves as optimistic,

while roughly 50% to 51% describe themselves as pessimistic. So overall, it's about an even split

and how people approach life day today. Well, let me challenge that. I think there's a lot of people

that say they're optimistic. When in fact, they're nowhere close to being optimistic. They just

like to say it. You've got a point. So reporting is often aspirational. Some might label themselves

optimistic because of sounds better, even if they operate with doubt or worry. So in practice,

the true day-to-day ratio might lean more cautious than people admit. It's worth digging deeper

when you're coaching. If you had to make a wild guess, now I'll make a wild guess and you argue

this with me, but I'm betting that 66% of people, two out of three people look at things pessimistically.

You think that's a reasonable guess? Honestly, I think it's reasonable to guess higher than 50%

if we factor in silent worries and everyday anxieties. People often dwell on what could go wrong.

Whether it's exactly two-thirds or not, you're right that optimism can be more fragile than people

admit. So I've looked at this in the past and it has turned out to be about two-thirds one-third.

But just the law of attraction tells you that what you focus on and expect is what you're going to get.

So you got to fix that. If you're by your nature pessimistic, fix it. And you can fix it. You can

fix it. If you influence a subconscious mind, you can move from it that doesn't happen immediately,

but you can retrain yourself to be optimistic. Well, and I think one thing that we haven't talked

about in a little while, John, is the particular activating system, right? Yeah. Whatever you look

for, you will find. So if you are, if you're being clear about what it is, you know, again,

all of the different things that we talk about in the life GPS, you know, where you're going in

life, your goals, your values, it's, you know, if you are clear, and if fed that information into

your brain, you know, with repetition, and you are wanting to be more of a positive person,

let's say, I want to find the good in life and in situations and then your brain will start to

look and find that for you, right? You know, but it goes back to again, just one layer deeper than

the point you just made, which is, you know, energy, he gets energy, what you, you get what you give,

you know, that whole, you know, kind of idea of that. There's a reason scientifically for that,

which is, you know, that particular activating system. And I think, you know, to the point,

again, another point to what we're talking about with people being unhappy is your brain is such

of powerful, I mean, it runs everything, but if you're not giving it clarity, if it doesn't know

what program to run, it's going to be left to its own devices, which is in living in a place of

fear, living in a place of, you know, wanting to protect you, wanting to, you know, so, because you

are that one, you're wired that way, you know, and so you've got to feed it, the right information,

so it knows, you know, what to look for and what to bring into your consciousness. And because all

of it's there, you're just not seeing it because your brain doesn't know to look for it. It's so

plugged into your social media feeds and seeing all this is like, oh, right. It's more of this and

more of this that everything is bad. And then it's like, yeah, when you're saying that, like,

you're going to get more of it coming in, you know, so, and I don't want to diminish the fact that

this stuff is happening in the world, but there's also other stuff happening in the world that, you

know, is positive and good. And in your life, that's positive and good. So, well, you know, I'd say

I look at it and I'm thinking, you know, one of the success stories of the last 50 years just

happened a week ago when you killed the biggest terrorist in the, in the world that has promoted

evil. And you've wiped him off the planet. You've decimated this regime that has promoted

terrorism. I don't know how you shake that out anywhere else, but good. Now, there's a lot to

see how this plays out. I get that. But again, this idea of of you attract what you, you focus on

and you just got to train yourself to focus on on the good because there's a lot of good out there.

So, okay, well, that with those pearls of wisdom, hopefully, see you next week.

Thank you for listening to the Missing Secret podcast. If you'd like to learn more about this

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