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The Happiness Experiment

Happiness isn’t some rare treasure you stumble upon in a faraway cave. It’s something you create—with thought, care, and intention. That’s the heart of The Happiness Experiment.

Revolutionizing Happiness—One Plan, One Gift, One Life at a Time

The Happiness Experiment isn’t another collection of studies, empty platitudes, or quick-fix clichés. It’s a hands-on guide to creating a life filled with purpose, connection, and genuine joy. “My journey to this realization started in the most unexpected way—a near-death experience (yes, a literal plane explosion). In that split second, as I braced for the worst, one thought hit me hard: ‘If this is all I get, why didn’t I plan to live better?’ That moment changed everything.”

That question sparked a transformation—one that led me to develop the concepts of pre-quests, deliberate happiness planning, and a framework for living with purpose and joy. And now, I’m sharing it all with you.

Jack Canfield called it “a real page-turner,” while Peter Diamandis praised it as “a paradigm shift urging us to think bigger and act sooner.” But what matters most is this: it works.

“Happiness isn’t something you stumble upon—it’s something you create with purpose, planning, and intention. This book shows you how”

– Carl Barney

A Revolutionary Approach

After that plane ride, I realized that most people live as if happiness is supposed to happen to them. It’s not. Happiness is a plan, and it
requires purposeful action.

The heart of this idea lies in pre-quests—giving meaningful gifts while you’re alive, so you can see the joy created. Why wait for a will to change lives when you can do it now? Imagine the difference you could make—not just for others, but for yourself.

The Three Pillars of Happiness

Pre-Quests (Gratitude Grants)

Here’s the truth: legacy isn’t about waiting for someone to read your will. Pre-quests allow you to see the impact of your generosity and change people’s lives right now.

I love Mike and Kate’s story. They used their pre-quest to reconnect and rebuild their romantic relationship, finding a happiness they thought was long gone. Seeing their transformation brought me as much joy as it brought them.

Happiness Planning

Happiness doesn’t just happen. You plan for it, just like you would for anything that matters. In The Happiness Experiment, I show you how to turn your dreams into a step-by-step blueprint.

Alex and Karen’s transformation is proof of what’s possible. Once they identified their core values and started designing their future, they discovered a sense of purpose that changed everything.

Happiness Coaching

Even the best plans need support. That’s where coaching comes in. Sometimes, a little guidance is all you need to turn good intentions into life-changing results.

Take Duke, for example. Coaching helped him find clarity and fulfillment, proving that happiness isn’t just a goal—it’s a journey worth taking with the right support.

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The Journey:
A Chapter-by-Chapter Blueprint

This book is your roadmap to a life worth living. Each chapter takes you on a journey, blending compelling stories, actionable tools, and razor-sharp insights that will help you feel good and do good. It is designed to get you off the sidelines and into a life of purpose and joy.

Chapter 1: The Explosion That Changed Everything

“KABOOM!”

The sound was deafening, like a bomb exploding. In that instant, everything froze—time, thought, movement. Silence followed. Not the kind of quiet you find in a library, but an eerie, oppressive void. Even the engines stopped, leaving the plane floating, impossibly weightless.

And then, the nose tilted downward. We began to dive.

Looking out the window, I saw the lights of Reno below, coming closer. Too close. My thoughts weren’t about fear but surreal acceptance. “This is it. I’m going to die.”

But then came the questions with unrelenting clarity. “Why hadn’t I planned better? If this is all I get, why didn’t I live with more purpose? More joy?”

The ground rushed toward us. The answers to those questions—and the life they inspired—would change everything. But first, I had to survive.

The journey begins here, in the moment where everything hung in the balance. What happened next would lead to the revolutionary ideas inside The Happiness Experiment.

Ready to dive in? Pre-order your copy today!

Chapter 23: Duke’s Fulfillment Formula

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle

When I first met Duke, he was a lively professor of philosophy—down-to-earth, funny, and endlessly insightful. Over the years, he became my tutor in the great philosophical traditions and a dear friend. But by the time we reconnected for this experiment, something had shifted in him. His sharp wit and passion for life had dulled, and he seemed adrift.

What had happened? Duke had lost touch with his core values. He was stuck in the day-to-day grind, far removed from the pursuits that once fueled his happiness—writing, learning, and creating. Together, we developed his Happiness Plan, a roadmap to rediscovering the joy he thought he’d lost.

His plan wasn’t grandiose; it was deeply personal. With a focus on carving out time for literary productivity, rekindling his creative spirit, and exploring romance again, Duke’s journey was as inspiring as it was transformative.

“The time I gained wasn’t just for writing—it was for living. Reconnecting with what truly matters has changed everything for me,” he told me.

But the most powerful moment was still to come, one that would redefine how he approached happiness and legacy forever.

Ready to see how Duke’s transformation unfolded? Pre-order The Happiness Experiment today.

Chapter 5: April Sunshine—A Gratitude Story

“Every day felt like a race, and I was losing it—until April walked into my office. In one moment, she gave me something priceless: the gift of time.”

April wasn’t just any hire—she was a force of nature. When she first started as a temporary assistant, I handed her a near-impossible task. She completed it with such precision and speed that I didn’t believe it was possible. From that day forward, she swept through my office like a one-woman liberation army, tackling files, clearing bottlenecks, and giving me the freedom to think and plan.

But April wasn’t just efficient—she was extraordinary. She turned stress into peace and chaos into order. Her generosity and dedication inspired me in ways I didn’t expect.
“She gave me sunshine in the storm,” I thought. And that’s when it hit me—gratitude isn’t just something you feel; it’s something you need to express.

What happened next? Let’s just say, expressing gratitude transformed both our lives in ways neither of us could have imagined.

Find out how one simple act of recognition became the spark for a revolutionary idea.
Pre-order The Happiness Experiment now to read the full story.

Chapter 12:Happiness Planning Techniques That Stick

“Happiness isn’t a gift handed to you—it’s a process you create, one step at a time.”

In this chapter, I take you through the foundation of what I call Happiness Planning. It begins with one simple but often neglected truth: happiness requires thinking and planning. The process starts with asking yourself questions that matter, like, What do I truly value? and What actions will bring those values to life?

The analogy I use? When I walked to Australia—not because it’s easy, but it was taking purposeful steps, every day, toward something extraordinary. Results aren’t instant. With time and persistence, the journey transforms you.

I share the story of how a skiing lesson and a chance encounter with Charles Givens, famous author of Wealth Without Risk, opened my eyes to the power of creating a Dreams List. It was advice that changed the way I approached happiness planning forever. What’s a Dreams List? It’s a way to let your imagination soar, unfiltered by doubts or limitations. The key is to start big and then focus on what truly matters.
But here’s the kicker: happiness planning isn’t about the final destination—it’s about learning to enjoy the process. In this chapter, I’ll show you how to create a plan that works and the simple techniques to keep it alive and evolving.

What would your Dreams List look like?
Find out how to start your own in Chapter 12 of The Happiness Experiment.

Pre-order your copy today and take the first step.

What People Are Saying

“I couldn’t put this book down… the lessons are something everyone can apply to their life.”

“A disruptive idea for our era, challenging us to think bigger and act sooner.”

“Carl Barney has redefined what it means to leave a legacy. His philosophy is both revolutionary and refreshingly practical.”

Your Moment Starts Now

What was the moment that stopped you in your tracks? The experience that made you take a hard look at your life and rethink what happiness truly means? I want to hear about it. Whether you’ve been inspired by something I’ve shared online or you’ve started putting the ideas from The Happiness Experiment into action, your story matters.
Big or small, those shifts—those defining moments—are what create real change. Share how this journey has impacted your life. Together, we can inspire others to take their first steps toward building a life that’s intentional, joyful, and deeply fulfilling.

Happiness isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you plan for. Let’s make it happen—together.

Start Your Happiness Experiment

Stop waiting for happiness to find you. Start creating it.

Pre-order The Happiness Experiment today and get these exclusive bonuses:
– Happiness Planning Guide: Your step-by-step roadmap to joy.
– Gratitude Grants Workbook: Learn how to create your own pre-quests and share your legacy now.