The Happiness Experiment: Why Giving While Living Could Transform Your Life

Discover how ‘pre-quests’ and giving while living could transform your happiness and legacy based on Carl Barney’s revolutionary experiment.

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Pre-Quests Not Bequests: How The Happiness Experiment Is Changing How We Think About Giving

I’m seriously excited to share something that landed in my mailbox recently. It was an advance copy of “The Happiness Experiment” by Carl Barney. Full disclosure: I received this book for free to check out, and while I’m still making my way through it, I’ve already been hit with one of those “wow, why didn’t I think of that?” moments about how we approach giving and happiness.

A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything

We’ve all heard stories about people who survive brushes with death and completely transform their outlook on life. Carl Barney’s story follows this path, but with a fascinating twist. After surviving a near-catastrophic plane crash, this entrepreneur and philanthropist completely reimagined what he knew about happiness, purpose, and legacy.

But here’s where it gets interesting…

Instead of just writing a will and planning to give away his wealth after death, Barney created what he calls “pre-quests” – essentially giving away his inheritance while still alive so he could actually witness and experience the joy of changing lives in real time.

The Experiment That’s Changing Lives

What would happen if someone gave you a substantial amount of money with just one condition: use it to increase your happiness?

That’s exactly what Barney did with 20 friends. But he didn’t just hand over cash and walk away. Each person received:

• A happiness coach
• A financial planner
• A clear directive: spend it all within 3-5 years on things that genuinely make you happy

No paying off debt allowed. Just pure happiness-inducing activities and experiences.

I’m not going to lie, as I read about this experiment, I couldn’t help thinking, “Sign me up!” But beyond the obvious appeal of receiving a large financial gift, what really struck me was the intentionality behind it all.

Why Wait Until You’re Gone?

This is the part that’s really stuck with me, even though I haven’t finished the book yet.

So many of us work hard our entire lives, planning to leave something behind for our loved ones or favorite causes. But when you think about it, isn’t there something a bit sad about not being around to see the impact of your generosity?

What if, instead of waiting until we’re gone, we found ways, big or small, to give now? To watch the ripple effects of our generosity while we can still enjoy the show?

Of course, not everyone has the means to give substantial financial gifts like Barney did. But the principle applies regardless of the size of the gift. Maybe it’s treating a friend to a special experience, helping a family member pursue a dream, or supporting a cause you care about in a meaningful way, while you’re here to see it bloom.

What I’m Learning So Far

While I’m still working my way through the book, here are a few nuggets that have already gotten me thinking:

1. Happiness isn’t accidental — it can be deliberately planned and pursued
2. Giving creates a dual happiness effect — joy for both the giver and receiver
3. Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind — it’s also what you create during your lifetime
4. Money is just a tool — how we use it determines its power to create happiness

The book also apparently includes practical frameworks for what Barney calls “Happiness Planning” — which I’m looking forward to exploring more as I continue reading.

Want to Check It Out?

If you’re intrigued by this concept of “pre-quests” and deliberate happiness creation, “The Happiness Experiment” is available for pre-order now and will be released on July 8, 2025. You can grab your copy here.

The book has already received praise from some pretty impressive folks, including Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Peter Diamandis (XPRIZE Foundation), and Dr. Peter Attia (author of Outlive).

I’ll probably share more thoughts once I’ve finished the book, but I couldn’t wait to pass along this core idea that’s already got me rethinking how I approach giving and happiness in my own life.

What do you think about this “give while living” approach? Is it something you’ve considered or practiced in your own life? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!