When you’re on a wealth building journey, it is tempting to become so transfixed on your end goal that you don’t enjoy the process. We can get so caught up in building, growing, and achieving that we lose our peace. If we’re not careful, we can make the presence of God secondary to our agenda. In those instances, we might as well be working for the world. As Christians, we’re called to do things differently.
Here’s the thing: wealth building can be a means to partner with God and grow your trust. However, it can also be a process that causes us to be controlling and impatient. We have to constantly check our attitude! As Proverbs 16:9 says “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
Over the years, a concept Becky and I like to call Focused Rhythm Momentum has helped us maintain a peaceful and productive pace of life. In this blog post, we will break down the 3 steps: focus, rhythm, and momentum!
1. Focus
In order to have peaceful productivity, you must define where you want to be productive! On the first day of our WealthBuilders Real Estate Workshops, I always tell our attendees the same thing: “The first thing you should do as a real estate investor is define your goals.” Then, I ask them to consider how much money they want to make, how they want to make it, and why.
So, set an intentional focus for your life. Wealth building is just one area where you need focus—in fact, Becky and I set intentions in eight different categories:
- Spiritual and Ethical Life
- Family and Home
- Financial and Career
- Mental and Educational Life
- Physical Life and Health
- Social Life and Relationships
- Psychological and Emotional Health
- Fun and Adventure
2. Rhythm
After you set an intentional focus in the key areas of your life, it’s time to create disciplines that bring those intentions to pass. The goal is to practice a discipline long enough that it becomes a rhythm, or a productive pattern that is seamlessly integrated into your life. When you begin to practice discipline, your efforts might feel like a series of scattered, cacophonous beats. There will be a temptation to get discouraged because your schedule doesn’t feel harmonious yet. Take heart—in due time, those beats will become rhythms. Your days will develop a fulfilling flow, and you’ll go to bed at night motivated for tomorrow.
When you get into a rhythm, one discipline will begin to affect another. In other words, a discipline in one area usually casts ripples into other areas. This is because discipline renews your mind to cultivate consistency as a way of life. Over time, various rhythms will intertwine. At the end of each day, you’ll come to find that the Lord has worked your life into masterful symphony. All it takes is a little faithfulness, and God honors the rest.
3. Momentum
So, you’ve created rhythms around your focused goals. The natural result is momentum! Wealth building takes time, as does building anything of lasting value. Your rhythms need time to season (as does your knowledge and money.) Don’t expect immediate success. However, expect that success will come through diligence and patience!
I’ve lost a lot of money in business and real estate. Luckily, I’ve made just a little more than I’ve lost. The point is that you will make mistakes, and it won’t always be easy. But eventually you will reach the sweet stage of momentum. People will see your prosperity, and they’ll ask you how you became successful. Be prepared to tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly—the process is just as powerful as the end product.
When you get into a flow of Focused Rhythm Momentum, it becomes easier to trust the process. You don’t try to force your next move. Rather, you do your part and trust that God will do his! We are co-laborers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9) who are responsible for good stewardship over what we have. Then, God will bring the increase and promotion when the timing is right.
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalm 75:7, KJV)
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