The Best Investment You Can Make.....

Here is my second blog on the Podcast I recently listed to from Diary of a CEO wtih Alex Hormozi.  I include the link at the bottom if you want to listen to the full podcast

One of the moments that stood out most to me in the podcast was when Alex talked about his wife. He said she was the best financial decision he had ever made. At first, that sounded like an odd statement, but the more he explained it, the more I understood exactly what he meant.

He shared that whenever he reaches a point where he feels comfortable or thinks what they've built is enough, she's the one who pushes him to keep growing. She sees more in him than he sees in himself, and because of that, she has helped him become more successful than he believes he would have been on his own. What struck me wasn't just what she does for him, but that he recognized it. He openly acknowledged the role she has played in helping him become the best version of himself.

As I listened, I couldn't help but ask myself, how often do we stop and recognize the people who have quietly shaped who we've become?

That question led me to think about my own marriage. If someone asked me what the greatest gift my husband has given me, it wouldn't be something tangible. It would be that he taught me it was possible to dream bigger than I ever believed I could.

Growing up, I always thought my greatest purpose would be to become a wife and mother. I still believe those are incredible callings, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. But if I'm honest, I also think they became a place where I felt safe. I wasn't sure women could—or even should—dream much bigger than that.

My husband always dreamed big. He was never afraid to chase an opportunity or pursue something that seemed difficult. I spent years encouraging his dreams, and somewhere along the way, I realized I had started believing I could chase my own. Without either of us realizing it, he had shown me that wanting something and working toward it wasn't something reserved for other people—it was possible for me too.

When people look at 41 Grains today, they see a business. What they don't see are all the years before it existed, when my confidence was quietly growing. The business didn't create that confidence. It was built because that confidence had already begun to grow.

Listening to the podcast also made me think differently about marriage itself. We often talk about marrying someone because they're fun to be around, because we have things in common, or because we simply enjoy spending time together. Those things certainly matter, but I think there's a much deeper question worth asking.

Does this person help me become more like the person God created me to be?

And just as importantly,

Am I helping them become more like the person God created them to be?

I believe that's part of God's design for marriage. He didn't create two identical people to walk through life together. He created two different people with different strengths, different weaknesses, different personalities, and different perspectives. Those differences aren't accidents—they're often the very tools God uses to shape us.

It's funny how often we say, "Opposites attract," almost as if it's something to tolerate. But what if there's a purpose behind it? What if the qualities that frustrate us the most are actually the qualities we need the most?

Maybe the spouse who dreams bigger than we do is teaching us courage.

Maybe the one who slows us down is teaching us wisdom.

Maybe the one who asks hard questions is helping us think more deeply.

Maybe the one who plans every detail is balancing the one who loves to take risks.

Instead of asking, "Why are they so different from me?" maybe we should ask, "How is God using their differences to make me better?"

Whether you're married or still praying for a spouse, I think that's a worthwhile question to consider. If you're married, take a few minutes to think about how your husband or wife has helped shape the person you've become. Not just by what they've done for you, but by how they've challenged you, encouraged you, believed in you, or stretched you. Then tell them. We often notice each other's faults much faster than we notice the ways we've helped each other grow.

If you're single, I hope you'll think beyond finding someone who's simply fun to be around. Look for someone who will encourage you to become the best version of yourself, someone whose strengths complement your weaknesses and whose faith, character, and purpose inspire you to keep growing. And strive to be that kind of person in return.

The more I thought about Alex's words, the more I realized he wasn't really talking about money at all. He was talking about influence. The greatest investment we make isn't just in a business, a house, or a career. It's in the people we choose to walk through life with. When two people are committed to helping each other become more of who God created them to be, that investment pays dividends far beyond anything money can buy.

 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nbxuZ7DpiO62RSvsL40jL?si=7JUvT10aSQmvXJlM5xGW6Q