Why Are We Still Keeping Up With The Joneses?
- Marty Jalove Master Happiness
- 58 minutes ago
- 6 min read
We all know the feeling. You're scrolling through Instagram on a Tuesday night, eating leftovers, and suddenly you see it: an old high school friend posting from a yacht in the Mediterranean. Or maybe it's your neighbor pulling into the driveway with a brand-new luxury SUV while you're praying your sedan starts one more time.
That pit in your stomach? That’s the "Joneses" effect.
With Special Guest:
Derek Hartmann, CFP Certified Financial Planner™
Follow us at: www.MasterHappiness.com/live or “Bacon Bits with Master Happiness” on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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In the latest episode of Bacon Bits with Master Happiness, host Marty Jalove sits down with wealth management expert Derek Hartmann to tackle this age-old problem. But as they discuss, keeping up with the Joneses isn't just about envy anymore, it's about survival in a world designed to make us feel like we aren't enough.
Marty and Derek dive deep into the financial traps, the emotional toll, and the liberating power of stepping out of the race. If you've ever bought something just to impress people you don't even like, this episode is a wake-up call you need to hear.
The Digital Joneses Are Everywhere
One of the standout moments early in the episode is the discussion on how the landscape of comparison has shifted. It used to be that you only had to worry about the neighbors you could physically see. Now, as Marty points out, the Joneses are in our pockets.
"We have Instagram and Facebook... people are creating a whole fantasy life with AI and filters," Derek notes.
The pressure has intensified by a hundred times. We aren't just comparing our behind-the-scenes reality to someone else's highlight reel; we are often comparing ourselves to a completely fabricated digital existence. Whether it's AI-enhanced photos or carefully curated vacation dumps, the bar for "success" has been raised to an impossible height.
Marty emphasizes that this constant bombardment forces us to chase an ideal that doesn't actually exist. We end up running a race we never signed up for, chasing a finish line that keeps moving.
The Financial Quicksand of "Looking the Part"
As a financial advisor, Derek Hartmann brings a sobering perspective to the conversation. He sees the balance sheets behind the shiny facades, and the reality is often scary.
Derek shares stories of clients driving $1,500-a-month cars while living paycheck to paycheck, hoping a future bonus will bail them out. "They don't set their own goals," Marty observes. "They look over the fence... and say that's success. That's what I want."
The discussion highlights a critical distinction: spending money isn't inherently bad. The problem arises when the spending is performative rather than purposeful.
Are you buying the house because it fits your family's needs, or because it's what a "successful" person should own? Are you taking the expensive Disney vacation because you value the memories, or because you feel guilty seeing everyone else go?
Marty challenges listeners to dig deep into the purpose behind their purchases. "If you buy a vehicle or a home for other people to look at and say, 'I'm impressed'... you're in the wrong mindset."
Bringing Home the BACON: A 5-Step Exit Strategy
Of course, it wouldn't be Bacon Bits without some delicious, actionable advice. Marty introduces the BACON method, a memorable acronym designed to help you stop comparing and start living authentically.
Here is the breakdown of the framework discussed in the episode:
B - Define Your Baseline
Before you can stop keeping up, you have to know where you stand. This step is about defining your own values. What does success look like to you? Is it freedom? Is it family time? Is it creative expression? When you know your baseline, you have a filter to screen out the noise.
Action Step: Take 20 minutes this weekend. Write down your top three values. Is it Freedom? Creativity? Family? Security? Once you define your Baseline, you have a filter. When you see the Joneses buying a boat, you can look at your list, see that "Simplicity" is your number one value, and happily say, "Good for them, but not for me."
A - Audit Your Inputs
Garbage in, garbage out. If your social media feed makes you feel terrible about your life, it’s time to clean house. Marty suggests a ruthless audit: unfollow, mute, or delete anyone or anything that triggers feelings of inadequacy.
Action Step: perform a ruthlessly honest audit of your social media feeds. Who makes you feel bad about yourself? Unfollow them. Mute them. Delete the app if you have to. Replace those inputs with things that align with your Baseline, creators who teach, inspire, or simply make you laugh without the side of guilt.
C - Celebrate Others (Genuinely)
This might be the hardest step, but it’s the most transformative. When you see someone succeed, whether it’s a friend buying a house or a colleague getting a promotion—practice feeling genuine joy for them. As Derek points out, "Success is not a finite pie." Someone else winning doesn't mean you are losing.
Action Step: The next time you feel that twinge of jealousy, maybe a friend got engaged, or a colleague got an award, force yourself to send a genuine congratulatory note. Not a passive-aggressive "Must be nice," but a real "I am so happy for you." When you practice celebrating others, you retrain your brain to see success as abundant, not scarce.
O - Own Your Lane
Marty uses the analogy of climbing a mountain. If you spend your whole climb looking up at the people ahead of you, you'll be miserable. Owning your lane means accepting where you are on your journey and focusing on your own stride. "If nobody was watching," Marty asks, "what would you do?"
Action Step: Identify one area where you have been mimicking others, perhaps your workout routine, your writing style, or your home decor. Strip it back. Ask yourself: "If nobody was watching, how would I do this?" Then, do it that way.
N - Nurture Gratitude
The antidote to envy is gratitude. During the episode, Marty puts Derek through a live "happiness test," proving that it’s often easier for us to recall what makes us happy than what makes us sad, if we actively look for it. Nurturing gratitude rewires your brain to scan for the positive, making the Joneses' new yacht seem a lot less important than your own peace of mind.
Action Step: Start a "Three Good Things" practice. Every night before bed, write down three specific things that went well that day. Not big things. Small things. The sun hitting your desk. A good cup of tea. A green light when you were late. This rewires your brain to scan the world for the positive, building a shield against the noise of comparison. Also, feel free to download the Happiness Worksheet HERE!
Why You Should Listen to the Full Episode
This summary only scratches the surface of the conversation. The full episode is packed with personal anecdotes that make the advice stick. You'll hear:
Why Marty drives a small pickup truck despite the weird looks.
The hilarious difference between Marty and his wife's vacation styles (Paris museums vs. local cafes).
Derek's candid take on why his brother's new house makes him happy, not jealous.
A deeper dive into how "imposter syndrome" at work is just another form of keeping up with the Joneses.
Ultimately, the episode is a reminder that the grass isn't greener on the other side; it's greener where you water it.
Ready to sizzle with purpose? Tune in to this episode of Bacon Bits with Master Happiness to hear the full conversation between Marty and Derek. Stop chasing the Joneses and start chasing your own happiness.
Why Are We Still Keeping Up With The Joneses?
To learn more about Why Are We Still Keeping Up With The Joneses? go to: www.MasterHappiness.com/live or “Bacon Bits with Master Happiness” on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Watch us on YouTube
Or catch us LIVE on "BACON BITS with Master Happiness" on 983thelife.com, Monday Night at 7:00 PM and start making your life SIZZLE!
Marty Jalove of Master Happiness is a Company Coach, Business Consultant, and Marketing Strategist that helps small businesses, teams, and individuals find focus, feel fulfilled, and have fun. He helps businesses struggling with communication issues between co-owners, staff, and customers grow a happier and healthier business.
Master Happiness stresses the importance of realistic goal setting, empowerment, and accountability in order to encourage employee engagement and retention. The winning concentration is simple: Happy Employees attract Happy Customers and Happy Customers come back with Friends.
Want to learn more about bringing more happiness into your workplace and life? Contact Master Happiness at www.MasterHappiness.com or www.WhatsYourBacon.com