Time, Fuel, & Money

Currency Beyond Cash: Rethinking Value, Ambition & Power

Deborah "Deb", Vassili, Karim Season 1 Episode 10

Why money isn’t the only currency that moves founders forward

Episode 10 challenges traditional definitions of success by examining the non-monetary currencies that drive ambition: connection, humility, fear, joy, inner peace, and identity. Through stories spanning startup life, personal growth, and the Oklahoma Standard, Deb, Karim, and Vassili explore how isolation and humiliation influence decision-making more than spreadsheets ever will.

This episode reframes wealth—and shows why founders who understand emotional currency outperform those who chase only financial returns.

Topics:

  • Redefining value beyond money
  • Identity, fear & ambition
  • Isolation, humility & connection
  • Emotional currency in leadership
  • Meaning-driven decision-making

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