In today’s culture, ambition is often worn like a badge of honor. We’re told to hustle harder, climb faster, and never stop grinding. But what happens when that same ambition starts to pull us away from who we truly are?

In this episode of Quest for Success, Dr. Jerry Cunningham explores the delicate balance between chasing success and staying grounded in your values. It’s a real talk about what happens when ambition becomes your identity and how to recognize the signs before it costs you more than it's worth.

This isn’t about giving up on goals. It’s about making sure the pursuit of success doesn’t sabotage your integrity, relationships, or peace of mind. You’ll walk away with clarity, encouragement, and practical ways to keep your drive aligned with your deeper purpose.

Follow now and share this with someone who’s chasing big dreams but needs a reminder to stay rooted. For more, visit www.Quest-Success.com.

📚Additional Sources to Enrich the Episode:

Books:

• Give and Take by Adam Grant — explores how givers, takers, and matchers succeed differently in business and life.
• The Road to Character by David Brooks — great insight into how we can build moral depth alongside achievement.
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink — foundational research on internal vs. external motivation.

Academic Research:

• Judge, T. A., & Kammeyer-Mueller, J. D. (2007). “Personality and career success: A review and research agenda.” Journal of Management.
• Baumeister, R. F., et al. (1998). "Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource?" Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Articles & Websites:

• Harvard Business Review: “The Problem with Being Too Driven”
• Greater Good Science Center: www.greatergood.berkeley.edu (search “ambition and morality”)

In this powerful Legacy Behind the Legend episode of the Quest for Success Podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham—psychologist and author of the Quest for Success series—takes you on a journey into the extraordinary life of a woman who was born into bondage but refused to let chains define her.

Known here only as “the Preacher” her story is one of grit, moral courage, and an unshakable conviction that truth must be spoken, even when it costs everything. From escaping slavery with nothing but faith, to winning a landmark court case as the first Black woman to successfully challenge a white man in court, to standing before Abraham Lincoln himself, her life is a blueprint for speaking up when silence is easier.

You’ll walk away inspired to live with conviction, stand for what’s right, and understand that you don’t need a title to make a difference—you need courage.

Listen now, and discover the legacy behind the legend.

Visit www.Quest-Success.com to learn more. Dr. Cunningham’s books are available on Amazon—just search Dr. Jerry Cunningham.

That voice in your head telling you you’re not ready… not qualified… not enough? It’s not the truth—it’s a trap. In this episode of Quest for Success, Dr. Jerry Cunningham—psychologist, leadership coach, and best-selling author—unpacks how that inner critic forms, why it’s so convincing, and what you can start doing today to stop it from running your life.

You’ll hear a powerful story about a young Army officer who went from self-doubt in jump school to leading at the highest levels of the 82nd Airborne. You’ll also get practical, psychology-backed tools to help you lead with clarity—in your work, your family, and your future.

This episode isn’t just motivational. It’s tactical. And it might be the breakthrough moment your confidence has been waiting for.

🎧 Hit play.
🌐 Learn more at www.Quest-Success.com.
📚 Books available on Amazon—just search for Dr. Jerry Cunningham.

Additional Sources to Reference

• Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy – Dr. David D. Burns
• The Confidence Gap – Dr. Russ Harris
• Harvard Business Review: “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome”
• PsychologyTools.com – CBT Worksheets and Tools
• Dr. Kristin Neff – Research on Self-Compassion
• fMRI Study: “Self-Criticism and the Brain” (Longe et al., 2010)

Is money stress your unwanted roommate? In this episode of Quest for Success, Dr. Jerry Cunningham—psychologist and best-selling author—gets real about growing up with money anxiety, being raised by a single mom with no safety net, and how those generational money fears still whisper in the back of his mind. Backed by research from the NIH and psychology experts, this episode unpacks how trauma and finances are deeply connected—and how YOU can break the curse. Learn how to shift the narrative for your family, lead with confidence, and finally breathe when looking at your bank account.

Hit subscribe and share with someone who needs a fresh financial perspective.

Hosted by: Dr. Jerry Cunningham, clinical psychologist and author of the Quest for Success series.
Books available on Amazon—just search Dr. Jerry Cunningham.

Visit www.Quest-Success.com for more resources.

Sources for Further Info

1. NIH 2022 Study on Money Anxiety:
   “Financial Strain and Mental Health” – PubMed: PMID 35137002
2. APA – Psychology of Financial Behavior:
   https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/money-finances
3. Brad Klontz, Psy.D – Money Scripts Research:
   https://www.yourmentalwealthadvisors.com/
4. Rachel Cruze (Dave Ramsey Team) on Generational Money Beliefs
   https://www.rachelcruze.com/
5. "Scarcity: The New Science of Having Less and How It Defines Our Lives" by Mullainathan & Shafir

In the 1960s, thousands of babies were dying each year from a devastating condition with no cure and no prevention. Then, doctors discovered one man’s blood carried something rare—something that could stop the disease before it even began. Over the next five decades, he quietly gave a part of himself more than 1,100 times, saving millions of lives in the process. In this episode, you’ll hear the true story of how an ordinary person with an extraordinary gift chose to show up again and again… and how you can use what you’ve been given to change the world. You will find out the Legacy Behind the Legend.

What do baseball and leadership have in common? More than you think. In this episode of Quest for Success, Dr. Jerry Cunningham steps up to the plate with a message that’s part locker room talk, part life lesson.

From dugout memories in small-town Missouri to the psychology of mental toughness, this episode breaks down how resilience is built—one swing at a time. You’ll hear a story about Danny (not his real name, but a real impact), get a peek into Jerry’s own battles for the pitcher’s mound, and learn why self-efficacy and emotional grit matter more than raw talent.

Whether you’re in the boardroom, the breakroom, or just trying to keep your sanity at home, this episode will help you breathe deep, grip the bat, and stay in the game.

This one’s got baseball, Bandura, and a love story at Busch Stadium. What more could you want?

Hit play. You might just find your next win.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

1. Angela Duckworth – Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
   https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-book/
2. Center for Creative Leadership: "Why Leaders Fail" Study
   https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/why-leaders-fail/
3. U.S. Army’s Master Resilience Training (MRT)
   https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/programs/resilience-programs
4. Carol Dweck – Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
   Focus on growth mindset application in leadership.
5. James Loehr – The New Toughness Training for Sports
   Sports psychology classic on mental toughness.

Think you can hustle your way to the top on four hours of sleep? Think again.

In this episode of Quest for Success, psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Jerry Cunningham dives into the science, psychology, and real-life consequences of sleep, how it fuels (or fails) your success in leadership, relationships, decision-making, and personal growth. You’ll hear relatable stories (including how Jerry falls asleep faster than a toddler in a car seat, yet wakes up five times a night), and discover what your brain is really doing while you sleep and what happens when you don’t give it the rest it needs.

Packed with practical sleep hacks, historical insights, and a few laughs along the way, this episode will help you start treating sleep not as a luxury, but as one of your greatest success tools.

Want to lead better, think sharper, and feel more like yourself again? Start by pressing play.

Learn more at www.Quest-Success.com.
Books available on Amazon—just search for Dr. Jerry Cunningham.

Additional Resources You Can Reference

• Matthew Walker, PhD – Why We Sleep
• Huberman Lab Podcast – Episodes on circadian rhythms and sleep tools
• National Sleep Foundation – sleepfoundation.org
• Dr. Andrew Huberman – Sleep-focused neuroscience tools
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Sleep statistics and public health guidelines

Welcome to The Legacy Behind the Legend—where we uncover the untold story of a world-changer whose name or situation you might know… but whose journey just might just surprise you. Today's person is McFeely.