What if we've been teaching children the wrong definition of success?
Every child deserves to grow up believing they are enough.
Why it matters
We asked over 100 ten-year-olds what success means.
Money, rich, famous.
Who's successful? Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos. Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nobody taught them that on purpose. They picked it up from the world around them, the same way the rest of us did.
Success is something we learn, from what we see and hear.
And that's the opportunity. To show children another way to think about it.
We start in Year 6, the year before secondary school.
43%
of children aged 10 to 17 worry about getting good grades. It's now their biggest worry for the future.
Source: The Children's Society,
(The Children's Society, 2025).
What we do
Redefining Success
The School Programme
Seven weekly sessions for Year 6 pupils, built on our Five Pillars of Success:
Balance, Authenticity, Presence, Fulfilment and Relationships.
Delivered in person, at school, by our trained facilitators.
Schools are never charged. Sponsors and donations pay.
See the school programme in action
The School Programme — what happens when young people start talking about what success really means.
A definition of success built on grades, status and followers
— at the cost of connection and wellbeing
THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION
OF SUCCESS:
"THE ATTAINMENT OF FAME, WEALTH AND SOCIAL STATUS"
Among young people, identity pressure and emotional dysregulation are at crisis levels — long before anyone reaches a waiting list.
We are not another wellbeing course. We change the conversation about what success actually means — and prevention beats cure.
IN THEIR WORDS
At the end of every programme, we ask the children to write a postcard to their future self.
"Success isn't fame or fortune it's being kind and having strong relationships."
Student
“I want you to remember that you should always be your amazing wonderful true self.”
Student
“I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS YOU ARE STRONG, KIND AND A SUCCESS IN YOUR OWN WEIRD WAY.”
StudentFive Pillars of Success
-
![People taking notes in a workshop with pens and bright yellow notebooks]()
Balance
Giving each part of life its place. School, family, friends, health and rest. Noticing when one thing crowds out the rest, and putting it back.
-
![Person drawing on white paper with a green marker beside a black instruction booklet on a table]()
Authenticity
Living by your own values, rather than by what others expect. Being who you are, flaws and all.
-
![Close-up of a child holding an adult's finger against a light background]()
Presence
Being where you are. Noticing when your attention has drifted to a screen or a worry, and bringing it back.
-
![Bearded man in a black cap and Different Hats sweatshirt speaks to an audience with one hand raised.]()
Fulfilment
The satisfaction of living by your values, helping other people and growing as a person.
-
![Group of smiling young people looking down at the camera outdoors against a blue sky]()
Relationships
The quality of your connections, with yourself, your family, your friends and your community.
TEDx WORTHING
What if we've been teaching children the wrong definition of success?
Sam took that question to the TEDxWorthing stage on 5 October 2026. We'll add the film of the talk when TEDx publishes it.
Until then, here's Sam on the night itself.
Our founder, Sam Thomas, also started You Alright Mate?, a separate organisation for adults, mostly men.
Different Hats Foundation takes the same belief into schools.
Same belief,
two organisations
One idea connects them. Your worth isn't decided by what you achieve.
THE INVITATION
Help us change what success means to the next generation.
Every programme needs someone who decides it matters.
Run a school? Bring it to your pupils.
Don't run one? You can be the one who pays for a class to have it.
Get in touch
Tell us about your setting.
