The Struggle (and Joy) of Building What Last
We live in a culture that doesn’t stick with things.
We bounce from job to job, hobby to hobby, relationship to relationship. We start fast, fade faster, and rarely finish what we begin.
The stats prove it:
• 43% of people abandon their goals within one month.
• The average adult changes jobs every 1.7 years.
• Only 8% of people actually follow through on their long-term goals.
The reality is, anything worth keeping takes time to build.
Whether it’s your body, your character, your relationships, or your finances, it won’t last if you don’t build it with intention.
The 7 Areas of Growth
These are the 7 focus areas I believe make up a healthy, fulfilling, purpose-driven life.
In each one, here’s what lasting health looks like and what it actually takes to build it.
1. Personal Development
Expanding your knowledge, living by your values, and learning continuously.
What lasting health looks like:
• Clear identity and strong values
• Lifelong learning and personal awareness
• Courage to grow beyond your comfort zone
What it takes:
• Reading, studying, and teaching
• Seeking feedback instead of praise
• Living aligned with what you say matters
2. Professional Development
Improving skills, networking, learning new roles, exploring business ideas, and finding ways to earn more.
What lasting health looks like:
• Work that challenges and grows you
• A skillset that compounds over time
• Income tied to value creation, not just time
What it takes:
• Choosing mastery over multitasking
• Investing in learning beyond what’s required
• Taking ownership of your path, not waiting to be picked
3. People Development
Building meaningful relationships by listening, learning from others, and adding value.
What lasting health looks like:
• Deep, consistent, and trust-filled connections
• Healthy conflict, not passive silence
• Relationships that make you better
What it takes:
• Being present and curious
• Asking real questions
• Adding value without keeping score
4. Play/Experiential Learning
Learning through play, experiences, senses, creativity, and innovation.
What lasting health looks like:
• A life full of stories, not just schedules
• Creativity that keeps you alive
• Memories that sharpen your identity
What it takes:
• Saying yes to new things
• Leaving room for adventure and unstructured time
• Letting go of outcomes and trying things just for joy
5. Health & Fitness
Improving life through exercise, nutrition, and healthy choices.
What lasting health looks like:
• A body that can support your dreams and goals
• Energy to show up fully
• Resilience through life’s ups and downs
What it takes:
• Moving daily, not occasionally
• Choosing whole foods over convenience
• Treating your body like an asset, not an afterthought
6. Financial Health
Managing finances to meet needs and goals through income, budgeting, saving, investing, and planning.
What lasting health looks like:
• Margin, not just money
• Freedom to say yes to what matters
• A future that’s not ruled by stress
What it takes:
• Budgeting and tracking honestly
• Saving and investing early
• Living with intention, not comparison
7. Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health
Living a mindful and fulfilling life by enhancing cognitive skills, building emotional intelligence, and discovering life’s purpose and meaning.
What lasting health looks like:
• A grounded sense of identity
• Emotional control under pressure
• Peace that’s not based on circumstances
What it takes:
• Practicing stillness, prayer, and meditation
• Facing your wounds, not avoiding them
• Connecting with something bigger than yourself
There’s Always More to Build
The people who build something that lasts aren’t the loudest. They’re the ones who keep showing up.
Not perfectly. Just consistently.
You don’t need to rush. You need to commit.
Because a life you’re proud of won’t happen by accident, it gets built day by day, brick by brick, decision by decision.
Most people quit.
Builders finish. 💯