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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
Achieve success in every area of your life
After losing his wife to pancreatic cancer in 2017, author Brian Muller forced himself to reevaluate his entire life. He came to realize that there was but one question that every person should be asking themselves every day: “What are you going to do right now to make the time you have left count?”
In Momentous Decisions: 7 Steps to Better Health, More Wealth and a Richer Life, Certified Health and Life Coach and veteran financial planner Brian Muller delivers a deeply insightful and practical exploration of how to use your present circumstances to become stronger and better. You'll learn how to lead a richer and more fulfilling life through the author's seven essential steps that help you make better wealth management and healthcare decisions. Through the M.A.D.E. Life framework, you'll discover how to create more meaning, accomplish your most important goals without sacrificing your relationships, make a difference in the lives of others, and create more joyful and memorable experiences.
From smart investing decisions to disciplined lifestyle choices, Momentous Decisions is a book about how to make those few big decisions that really matter for you and your family.
Inside the book:
- Learn the ten most crucial wealth decisions to help you achieve financial independence and freedom
- Find out how to build a holistic Life, Wealth, and Health plan that guides you every 90 days to develop your version of a richer life.
- Revamp your lifestyle and adopt a healthy living mindset
- Identify the things getting in your way of achieving permanent change in your health and wealth habits
- Find out how to create a Compelling Vision of your future that creates a pull and strong internal motivation to help you create permanent change in your life
- Learn how focusing on ONE MOMENTOUS THING in each area of your life every 90 days will help create new standards that contribute to the new vision you have for your life
Perfect for anyone interested in changing the way they approach the truly critical parts of their life, Momentous Decisions is an inspirational and transformative new take on what it means to pursue a life of meaning, purpose, and abundance.
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Seitenzahl: 404
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENDORSEMENTS FOR
MOMENTOUS DECISIONS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
MY STORY
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: TRANSFORMING YOUR SELF-IMAGE: THE KEY TO LASTING HEALTH AND WEALTH HABITS
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #1
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #2
CHAPTER TWO: IDENTIFYING YOUR MONEY AND HEALTH BLOCKS
MONEY BLOCKS
HEALTH BLOCKS: OBSTACLES TO BECOMING HEALTHIER
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #3
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #4
CHAPTER THREE: DESIGNING YOUR RICH LIFE
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #5
CHAPTER FOUR: LIFE DECISIONS FOR A RICHER LIFE
LIFE DECISION #1: EXPERIENCE MORE THINGS
LIFE DECISION #2: BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS CENTERED AROUND THE THREE As
LIFE DECISION #3: PRACTICE GRATITUDE
LIFE DECISION #4: BE POSITIVE, THINK POSITIVE
LIFE DECISION #5: LIVE WITH INTENTION
LIFE DECISION #6: GIVING BACK
LIFE DECISION #7: DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #6
LIFE DECISION #8: BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS
LIFE DECISION #9: COMMIT TO PERSONAL GROWTH
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #7
LIFE DECISION #10: DON’T STRESS OUT ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL
CHAPTER FIVE: WEALTH DECISIONS FOR A RICHER LIFE
WEALTH DECISION #1: LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS
WEALTH DECISION #2: PAY YOURSELF FIRST
WEALTH DECISION #3: INVEST IN HIGH-QUALITY STOCKS
WEALTH DECISION #4: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ROTH IRAS AND ROTH 401K OPTIONS
WEALTH DECISION #5: INVEST SYSTEMATICALLY BY DOLLAR COST AVERAGING
WEALTH DECISION #6: DON’T JUST INVEST IN YOUR 401K
WEALTH DECISION #7: BE FRUGAL WITH WINDFALLS
WEALTH DECISION #8: NEVER TRY TO TIME THE MARKET
WEALTH DECISION #9: USE PASSIVE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
WEALTH DECISION #10: CREATE A FINANCIAL PLAN
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #8
CHAPTER SIX: THE WEALTH DECISIONS PLAN TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL FREEDOM
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE RETIREMENT DECISIONS PLAN TO RETIRE AND STAY COMFORTABLY RETIRED
CHAPTER EIGHT: HEALTH DECISIONS FOR A RICHER LIFE
HEALTH DECISION #1: ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE MINDSET
HEALTH DECISION #2: INCORPORATE HIIT AND STRENGTH TRAINING INTO YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
HEALTH DECISION #3: EAT A WHOLE FOODS DIET WITH PLENTY OF PROTEIN
HEALTH DECISION #4: CLEAN OUT YOUR PANTRY
HEALTH DECISION #5: DRINK MORE THAN ENOUGH WATER
HEALTH DECISION #6: DO YOGA, STRETCHING, AND MEDITATION
HEALTH DECISION #7: EAT FOUR TO FIVE SMALL MEALS PER DAY
HEALTH DECISION #8: TAKE SOME SUPPLEMENTS
HEALTH DECISION #9: COLD PLUNGE
HEALTH DECISION #10: IMPLEMENT INTERMITTENT FASTING
CHAPTER NINE: THE 7 STEPS TO BETTER HEALTH, MORE WEALTH, AND A RICHER LIFE
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #9
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #10
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #11
CREATING A 10-YEAR MOMENTOUS VISION OF YOUR RICHER LIFE
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #12
EXAMPLE OF YOUR LONG-TERM VISION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE
SUMMARY
APPENDIX 1: MOMENTOUS DECLARATIONS
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #1
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #2
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #3
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #4
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #5
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #6
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #7
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #8
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #9
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #10
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #11
MOMENTOUS DECLARATION #12
APPENDIX 2: RICHER LIFE MAINTENANCE
APPENDIX 3: BOOKS THAT INSPIRED THIS BOOK
APPENDIX 4: BRIAN DAVID SONGS 2009–2022
APPENDIX 5: FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
Guide
COVER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENDORSEMENTS FOR MOMENTOUS DECISIONS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
MY STORY
INTRODUCTION
BEGIN READING
APPENDIX 1: MOMENTOUS DECLARATIONS
APPENDIX 2: RICHER LIFE MAINTENANCE
APPENDIX 3: BOOKS THAT INSPIRED THIS BOOK
APPENDIX 4: BRIAN DAVID SONGS 2009–2022
APPENDIX 5: FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
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ENDORSEMENTS FOR MOMENTOUS DECISIONS
Momentous Decisions is a rare kind of finance book—one forged in the fire of personal loss, yet brimming with hope. With unflinching honesty and hard-earned wisdom, it dares to ask what money is really for. This is not just a book about wealth, but about meaning. In a world obsessed with optimization and accumulation, Momentous Decisions points the way to a more human, more soulful approach to money—one grounded in values, relationships, and the things that endure. It’s a timely guide for anyone seeking clarity, healing, and purpose at the intersection of life and finance.
Dr. Daniel Crosby, NYT Bestselling Author of The Soul of Wealth
As a career and life coach, I’ve read countless personal development books—but Momentous Decisions truly stands out. From the very first chapter, I could not put it down. Author Brian Muller has crafted something incredibly special: a book that is not only deeply personal and vulnerable but also packed with practical wisdom and real-life application.
Brian’s M.A.D.E. Life Framework is a game changer. It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most. His insights into wealth, health, and purpose are presented in a way that’s both inspiring and achievable, no matter where you are in life. What struck me most was how Brian transforms profound loss into a powerful message of hope and intentionality. This book isn’t just about success—it’s about living fully and meaningfully.
If you’re ready to take bold, momentous steps toward a richer life, this is the guidebook you’ve been waiting for.
Paula Melo Doroff, Career & Life Coach, Speaker, and Author of One Decision Away
“What are you doing to bring joy into your life?” This is a sincere and challenging question Brian Muller asks his readers. My initial response was a big smile and the words, “Reading this amazing book!” It is a captivating, easy-to-read, brilliant LIFE PLAN based on both the personal experiences of Brian and the wisdom of great leaders who preceded him. It will enrich anyone who reads and applies its teachings. You’ll learn invaluable life lessons about what successful people do in the most important areas of life. And it will, indeed, bring joy into your life—and the lives of others.
Hal Urban, Author of Life’s Greatest Lessons
Brian has truly hit the mark with Momentous Decisions. We all face the reality that one day our journey will come to an end, and we hope to look back with pride rather than regret. Yet confronting our mortality—and choosing the right path forward—is never easy. Drawing from his own experiences, Brian guides readers through a thoughtful process to uncover what they truly want from life and how to pursue it with purpose. Momentous Decisions is both a heartfelt journey and a practical, step-by-step guide to building a life that you—and the people you love—can be proud of.
Alan Moore, CEO of XYPN
Momentous Decisions is an invitation to shift from letting life happen to making life happen. Through his own journey of success and loss, Brian shows that building wealth isn’t about following formulas—it’s about being intentional with the choices we make every day. It’s about understanding what truly matters to us and letting that guide the way.
Brian’s M.A.D.E. Life framework isn’t just about money—it’s about aligning what we do with why we do it. It’s about creating the space to live in a way that feels purposeful, and using our resources to reflect that vision. It’s not about chasing a number, but about crafting a life with intention.
In a world that often feels chaotic and out of our control, Momentous Decisions provides a refreshing perspective—a reminder that we can choose where to put our energy, where to invest, and what kind of future we want to create.
Stacey Morgenstern, Founder, Health Coach Institute (acquired) | Keynote Speaker
This book will tug at your heartstrings, spark your motivation, and leave you inspired—with real, actionable steps to start living a better life today. One of the most powerful ways to grow is by learning from the experiences of others, and Brian does just that. Through relatable and heartfelt stories and hard-won wisdom, he shows us how small, momentous decisions can lead to lasting change—and ultimately, the life we’ve always dreamed of.
Derek N.H. Notman, CFP®, Founder and CEO at Couplr AI, Co-Founder of REBL Dads
Momentous Decisions
7 Steps to Better Health, More Wealth, and a Richer Life
Brian D. Muller
Copyright © 2025 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Applied for:
ISBN: 9781394321520 (cloth)
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Cover Design: Paul Mccarthy
Cover Art: © Getty Images | Massimo Colombo
To my father:
Who taught me so much about being smart with money.
To my mother:
Who gave me the gift of creativity, music, positivity, and passion.
To my kids:
Who showed me the meaning of life.
To my friends:
Who supported me through the good and bad times.
To Amie:
Your life and legacy will live on and be a part of history. I can only hope to make the impact you did. So many veterans across the United States will be thanking you for many years to come.
To my fiancé Sarah:
I hope to create a richer life with you with more meaning, accomplishments, making a difference and creating amazing experiences. I hope to be the best partner I can be, travel the world with you, and raise life-ready kids.
Financial Advisor Disclaimer:
This book is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be construed as providing, personalized investment, legal, or tax advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.
XYPN Invest Disclaimer:
Brian Muller is an Investment Adviser Representative of XYPN Invest, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm doing business as Momentous Wealth Advisors. This book is not published on behalf of XYPN Invest, and the views expressed herein are solely those of the author.
Health Advice Disclaimer:
This book is not intended to provide, and should not be construed as providing, personalized health advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional before making any big changes in their diet or workout routine.
MY STORY
It was April 1988. I was 15 years old and I was three months away from taking my test to get my driver’s license. I could almost taste the sweetness of my soon-to-be independence. It was a long cold winter in Minnesota that year with almost 16 consecutive days below freezing in January and with many days below zero in February. I was sitting in my room listening and playing along to Poison’s new song “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” on the radio of my four-speaker, two-tweeter Emerson boom box. My dad knew how much I loved music and bought a Mitchell acoustic guitar from a good friend of his a couple years prior. I would play it a little bit. Put it down. Play it. Then put it down, until one day in the early 1990s, I ordered a DVD series called “Play Guitar Overnight.” I was always looking for short cuts. I learned best when I just found a song I liked and played along until I got the strumming down. Guitar seemed to come easy for me versus other instruments I tried to master. It wasn’t until later in life that I’d realize how important, pivotal, and life changing this day was.
My mom had been in and out of doctors’ offices for the past couple weeks and I could tell something was wrong. It was bedtime when my father had gotten home with my mom and I remember him knocking on my door faintly. When he came in, I saw a defeated look on his face as I got up to turn my radio down, which at the time was playing “Devil Inside” by INXS. He sat down on the edge of my brown and tan checkered quilted bedspread that my mom had made with my initials stitched in and said in a shaky voice that there was something he needed to talk to me about. The words that came out of his mouth still ring to this day and forever changed my view on life. On family. He told me that mom had ovarian cancer and the doctor said that she may not live to see her youngest son graduate from high school. My heart felt like it weighed a thousand pounds and I cried so hard my eyes felt like they were going to explode from my head. The thought of not having a mom, the one who nurtured me, was always there for me, just consumed me. In that moment I was numb. I got up off my bed and walked across the hall to see my mom sitting on the edge of her bed. The mascara was running down her face and she looked as though she had seen a ghost. I sat down beside her and held her stronger than I had ever held someone. I said in a whimpering voice as I sucked the snot up my nose repeatedly, “I need you to tell me you’re going to fight this. I need you here. I don’t know what I will do without you.”
That night I stayed up and I couldn’t stop crying. I wrote one of my first songs. It was called “That Day.” That was the night that changed my view on life and the night I fell in love with songwriting. From that day on I never stopped writing. I’d write whenever I needed it. It got me through breakups, failures, struggles, and helped me understand a little more about life. It was my outlet. My mom also found her outlet to deal with the long road of cancer treatment. She turned to watercolor painting and poetry to keep her mind positive. I remember picking her up from the hospital after her fourth chemotherapy treatment with my first car. It was a Red Ford Maverick with a black vinyl roof my grandma had given me for getting my license. My mom was very sick by this time, was losing her hair and needed a wheelchair to get from her room to the front of the hospital. I still remember the song “Devil Inside” playing when my dad knocked on my room that night and all I can remember is thinking there is a devil inside my mom just slowly killing her from the inside. She was so frail and weak and spent a lot of time in the bathroom when we got home.
Over the coming year my mom fought cancer head-on with a positivity and strength I had only seen in the movies. The one thing I learned from my mom is that if you’re going to beat something like cancer, you’re going to have to beat it with your mind as well as the power of medicine. She prayed, she wrote poems, she painted. She did everything she could to stay positive and stay strong. After a year of fighting cancer, countless treatments of chemotherapy, and losing all of her hair, she proved that doctor wrong and was there to see me graduate from high school in 1992. And college. And despite another fight with cancer 10 years later she has been there to see me buy my first home, get married, and bear witness to four grandchildren between my brother and me.
During my college years I studied finance and economics and was the president of the St. Cloud State Investment Club. I spent a lot of my free time writing songs about life, searching, wanting more, and heartbreak. I remember coming home from beer and bagel night at a bar called D.B. Searls and climbing out onto my roof and playing my guitar to the people in the alley walking by. They weren’t always the best audience, most of them drunk and telling me to shut the f-up. Writing and singing was my passion but thanks to my dad, I also had a passion for the stock market. I loved researching stocks and following the markets. I was fortunate to know what I wanted to do right out of college. I wanted to be a financial advisor, or back then they were mostly referred to as stockbrokers. My roommates would always make fun of me because I’d be watching CNBC after class when they clearly wanted to be playing Sega NHL 95 on the living room TV that was on top of an entertainment center made out of Busch Light bottle boxes.
After graduating from SCSU in 1996, I bought some fancy shoes, some nice silk striped ties, and some skinny leather suspenders, and I got a job at a full-service discount stockbrokerage firm, which seemed like an oxymoron but they hired me so I was grateful for the opportunity. My job was to cold call out of the phone book and when I got a good lead who wanted more information on our special commission free account, I had to give that lead to a senior broker. I think my pay was $1500 per month plus commissions. Just enough for some beer money after all the bills were paid. After about nine months of getting beaten up on the phone and watching my senior broker rake in the dough while I continued to get my near poverty-level paycheck, I started to look for a better option where all my efforts would benefit me.
I interviewed with a major brokerage firm with the most intimidating man. He had a fierce stare that gleamed over the glasses near the tip of his nose. He asked me if I would hire myself and why? Tough question I thought. My answer, “I would hire myself in a heartbeat because I have a desire to succeed and a drive to help as many people make sense of investing as I can.”
That started my journey in the investment business. When times got tough, I turned to music. I wrote hundreds of songs relating to the ups and downs of the markets and life in general. Without music, I am not sure I would have made it through the bear market from 2000 to 2002 or the financial crisis of 2008–2009.
Here I am today, after 24+ years as a financial advisor, a dad to three kids, three albums with the Brian David Band, seven singles as a solo artist, and many more songs waiting to be written. I have had my share of ups and downs, disappointments, failures, and successes. The difference is that most of my life is documented through dusty boxes of half-written songs, lyrics, and feelings. After digging through my archive of all my lyrics I have written over the years, I realized there is a message in my music. I don’t necessarily write all uplifting motivational songs, but there is insight and perspective in each one. Lessons I hope people can relate to and maybe learn something from. The last album I recorded with the band was called “There From Here” and became part of the inspiration for this book. You can see the lyrics and get links to many of the songs I have written over the years in Appendix 4 of this book.
Many authors of personal growth books ask the question, “What would you do if you found out you had six months to live?” I got to live that question, except it wasn’t me, it was my wife Amie, and there was nothing I could do about it, except live it with her. That diagnosis for my wife forever changed my life. My only regret is not going into the darkness with her. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t accept that a 36-year-old woman and the mother of my children could not beat cancer, even though it was one of the worst kinds.
I think a better question than what would you do if you had six months to live, is “What are you going to do right now to make the time you have left count?” Are you going to dwell on the past? Focus too much on the future? Or live each day with more purpose. With more meaning.
I never thought in a million years that the song I wrote when I was 15 called “That Day” would repeat itself nearly 30 years later when my wife, Amie, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016.
“That Day” that I had when I was 15 and again when I was 44, can happen to anyone. It could be later today or tomorrow and for many of you reading this book, it has already happened. But you have a choice. You can either let “That Day” define you or that day remind you. If you let it define you, you become trapped in its power to suck you in and keep you stuck. Or you can let it remind you of what is important truly in life. Let it remind you to love deeply. Let it remind you to be open and selfless. Let it remind you that you are stronger than you think. You will be defined or you will defy.
We have all heard the expression, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” That was my mom. That was my wife. You find strength when you need it. No matter how much pain comes into your life, there is always something inside you that is stronger than pain. There is always something greater to hold onto. Or the expression “God gives you only what you can handle.” This one can be hard to believe because everyone in their lifetime is going to be given a situation that seems more than they could ever handle. If we are prepared emotionally, physically, and spiritually then we can handle anything. But if you’re not, the circumstances of life will feel much more than you can handle.
No experience exists in life that does not have the power to lead you to greater knowledge and growth. Trust in your ability to figure things out. You can take “That Day” and have it shape you. Shape you into a stronger you. A stronger you that can take on any challenge. You can walk through any darkness to the light. You can choose to go through something or you can choose to grow through something.
Amie’s Story
My wife, Amie, a two-time Iraq War Veteran, was diagnosed with Stage III pancreatic cancer in April 2016, two weeks after her thirty-sixth birthday. After an eight-month battle, we found out the cancer had spread to her liver. Surgery was off the table and everything went downhill from there. We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas like it was our last. In the beginning of February 2017, what was supposed to be a procedure called a celiac block turned into complication after complication. The two-hour-long car ride to the Mayo Clinic along with being off her blood thinners for 24 hours caused a blood clot in her leg. The focus turned from relieving her pain to getting this blood clot under control. Her liver scores were bad, her skin yellow with jaundice, her pain at an 11 out of 10. We spent three weeks at the Methodist Hospital hoping to get Amie home, but it never happened. The day after Valentine’s Day something awful happened. It was the first night I had spent away from the hospital in five days. Carole, Amie’s mom, texted me to come to the hospital right away. When I got there, Amie was trying to talk, but nothing was coming out right. Every word was mumbled. I will never forget the look on Amie’s face that morning. She knew something had happened and that we couldn’t understand her. It was the worst day of my life. Seeing the fear in the love of your life’s eyes. Wanting to know what she was trying to say and knowing you will never be able to communicate with your wife again. That was the day everything turned and became much more real. I didn’t want to believe before that things were progressing this fast. A week prior the oncologist told us we had maybe three months. Two days prior, we were told weeks and now it appeared like we might have days. The doctor came in later to tell us that Amie most likely had a minor stroke during the night. Three days later, surrounded by close family and friends, Amie took her last breath. It was peaceful but labored and stressful with each breath. Every breath felt like it was going to be her last. I know she didn’t want to go. She fought so hard and with a courage I will always greatly admire. They say that hearing is the last to go and I know she could hear us in those final minutes. When she took her last breath, her bottom lip turned down and made what appeared to be a frown and a single yellow tear showed up in the corner of each eye. She knew she was leaving us. She knew it was her last breath. Those last minutes will forever be cemented in my mind. It will be hard to ever get over the hurt, but my commitment to her is to go on. To go on and make a difference. Make a difference in people’s lives. Make a difference in pancreatic cancer research. Make a difference in the awareness of illnesses resulting from veterans being exposed to the toxic “burn pits” in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Amie’s fight was the hardest thing I have ever been through. We both wanted more for our lives and had big dreams together. Now, I have to find a way to pursue those dreams without her. The only thing that has gotten me through this is my kids, my family and friends, writing songs, personal growth, meditation, and journalling. Most of my life is documented through dusty boxes of half-written songs, lyrics, and feelings, but this was different. I wrote over 50 songs about grief and loss during the first six months after Amie passed away, most of which will never be sung or played again.
Reevaluating Life and What is Important
One thing the horrible experience of losing the mother of my children did was cause me to reevaluate my life. I looked through old notebooks and found a common theme. I knew I wanted more (over half of the songs I have written had that theme) and I knew I had more in me, but always seemed to fall short of my own expectations when it came to reaching my goals and life aspirations. Long before Amie’s cancer fight, I knew I had to find answers rather than just writing about my problems and what I thought I was lacking. I started reading personal growth and self-development books that were recommended by Oprah or someone I respected about 14 years ago and continued to read them on and off during Amie’s fight, to try and remain positive. It started with a book called Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. This book was so simple and such a great story and made me realize through its simple message that the biggest inhibitor to change lies within yourself, and that nothing gets better until you change. It gave me a newfound respect for fear and the fact that it is irrational most of the time and can keep you from action. It also made me realize that change was the only way I was going to find a better life. A better cheese. This was the start of my personal growth and self-development journey. Then came books like The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The 5 People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom, and The Power of Intentions by the late Dr. Wayne Dyer. This was the meaning phase of my journey, which eventually led into books more focused on personal growth, sales, influence, how to deal with people, attitude, positivity, drive, motivation, ambition, habit, productivity, mindfulness, finance, learned optimism, and success. (For a complete list of the 100+ books I have read over the last 10 years go to the end of this book.) So what happened that sparked the obsession?
Frankly I had hit a wall. I was letting my past define me and mediocrity set in. I was successful by most standards, making a good living, had a nice home in a sought-after neighborhood, had a good business and good friends, a growing family, but I wasn’t feeling completely fulfilled. I wasn’t feeling like I was coming anywhere near my potential. I was letting comfort be the enemy of my achievement and I was letting myself be somewhat content with where I was at. So I started digging for answers and started finding them one by one with each book. I committed to reading one book every two weeks by waking up early at 5 a.m. When you have two little ones under the age of five and a teenager who needs to be woken up at 6 a.m. to get ready for school, this is the only time that you can truly have for you.
Here I am today, finally in a position to reach my full potential. I own my own financial planning and wealth management firm called Momentous Wealth Advisors, I have a podcast called “Wealth Decisions by Brian” I do each week to educate people on crucial wealth decisions, and I have big aspirations to launch The Momentous Wealth Academy to teach teens and young adults important wealth and financial habits. I am in the best shape of my life at age 51 and live an active lifestyle of playing pickleball two or three times per week and H.I.I.T. training two or three times per week. I finally feel like I am living my purpose. I feel more alive and excited about the future than I ever have. I owe that to my past but also to the compelling vision I have created of the future and what I want my life to stand for.
I believe we all want to live a richer life. That is what we are all here for: to grow, learn, and live life to the fullest, to become better human beings, and to strive for excellence in all areas of life. Momentous Decisions: 7 Steps to Better Health, More Wealth, and a Richer Life is a book for anyone who wants a permanent change in their health habits, wealth habits, and their most important relationships. It’s a framework for designing a better life for you and your family. New habits form because of the decisions you make each day and eventually become part of who you are. These momentous decisions take hold only if you change how you view yourself, how you view your health, how you view your financial situation, and how you view your relationships. This book is structured in a way to help you change your mindset and beliefs to create lasting change and give you crucial life, wealth, and health decisions to implement to create better health, more wealth, and a richer life. One year from now, three years from now, and 10 years from now, you will be able to look back at this decision you made today to improve your life.
MO▪MEN▪TOUS
(of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, especially in its bearing on the future.
First off, if you have a family that loves you, a roof over your head, and strong friendships you are already living a rich life. But I believe life can be richer for all of us. To live a richer life, many important decisions need to be made about your health, life, and financial habits. A life with wealth but poor health is not a richer life. Excellent health, but no financial security or plan is promising. However, it won’t allow you to do all the things you want in life, whether that is achieving financial freedom, traveling the world, or leaving a legacy. Being healthy and wealthy with no deep-quality relationships is also not a rich life. A richer life is about finding a balance of all the things that bring life meaning. It’s about accomplishing things without sacrificing your most important relationships. It’s about making a difference in the lives of others. It’s about experiencing all that life has to offer.
We have three choices:
We can be proactive with our decisions because we want to live a better life.
We can be reactive with our decisions because we have to, because of a health scare, because our marriage is falling apart, or a reality check of where we are financially.
We can choose to be defined by our circumstances and not make the decisions necessary to change our lives, our health, or our financial situation.
The first choice is what I think is the best option. Let’s be honest though. It is hard to be proactive. Most of us are reactive. My goal is to help you create a proactive plan to build your wealth, become healthier, and have more fulfillment and meaning in your life. It has been said that the circumstances of life reveal you. It is sometimes hard to have faith in yourself, but when you are growing in life and improving each day, the faith you build in yourself will remind you of who you are and who you are becoming.
THE BIG LIFE QUESTION
Do we have a life plan, a predestined path?
Some people believe we have a predestined path. Just know that everything you do at this very instant is what matters. You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction. So, the bigger life question is: How do you want to be remembered? To your loved ones? To others? If you were out of your body in the audience of your life celebration, what would you want to hear? What would you want your life to stand for?
Looking back at your life, what have you made of it? In this book, I explore in depth a framework I developed for life that I call the M.A.D.E. Life Philosophy. I developed this framework after my wife Amie died in 2017, as a guide to live a better life. I don’t have all the answers, and I certainly don’t have a perfect life. There are many things in the accomplishment category I had to dial back on because of being a single dad raising kids on my own. I still have big goals and things I want to accomplish, but they are just different. They are less about success and reaching the next level of income and more about fulfillment and purpose. I remember hearing a quote, “the life you lead is the lesson you teach.” So, what life do you want to live? One that makes you proud? One that is remembered? One that makes an impact in the lives of those you care about?
Here is the M.A.D.E. Life framework:
M–
Meaning – What had meaning?
A–
Accomplish – What did you accomplish?
D–
Difference – What difference did you make in the life of your family and others?
E–
Experiences – What experiences do you want to have now and in the future?
The M.A.D.E. Life framework is centered around a philosophy of the following eight principles:
Experiences are more important than things.
Strong relationships should be centered around the three As: attention, affection, and appreciation.
Your health is paramount to being able to enjoy your wealth.
Having a financial plan can contribute to your overall well-being.
Living with intention leads to more fulfillment and joy.
Giving back is a priceless life experience.
Comfort is the enemy of achievement.
Your why behind your why is what will keep you inspired long-term.
This book is laid out in a way that gives you all the tools to help you transform your health, wealth, and life. Before you can change your life for the better, you first need to understand how to transform your habits into lasting change that become new standards, which I discuss in detail in Chapter 1. Next, you need to discover what things have been getting in your way, preventing you from creating better health and wealth habits, which I discuss in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, you will use a framework for designing your ideal life and start envisioning what you want your rich life to look like. In Chapters 4–8, I discuss some of the most important life, wealth, and health decisions to help you start building a life with a new set of principles to guide you in developing your version of a richer life. The M.A.D.E. Life Framework will be used to create a 90-day plan to improve your health, your wealth, and the balance in your life, which you will find in the final 7 Steps chapter of this book.
We don’t have to have all the answers right now. All we can do is live our lives each day with gratitude and intention and without noticing; one day, we will live into the answers. We can make better decisions to shape a better now and build a stronger future.
One of the toughest battles you will ever face is the battle in your head – the battle between your old view and a new you.
Old View vs. New You
If you want things to be the same, keep thinking the same things. If you want things to be different, it’s time to set aside your old views and make room for the new you.
Old View: Life happens to me
New You: I control the direction of my life
Old View: Bad things happen
New You: I control how I respond
Old View: I have past limiting beliefs that are holding me back
New You: Limitations and lack are made up.
Old View: I used to not believe in myself
New You: I can change my belief at any moment
Old View: I cannot find joy
New You: Joy can be found at any time
Old View: My past is baggage keeping me stuck
New You: My story can be rewritten
Old View: I wished I had more
New You: I am grateful every day for what I have
Old View: I have dwelled on my mistakes
New You: I highlight my triumphs and wins
Old View: I used to say “I have to”
New You: Now I stay “I get to”
Old View: I used to dread getting up
New You: I wake up expecting good things
Old View: I used to get down when something bad happened
New You: Bad things can lead to something better
Old View: My health and fitness took the back seat
New You: I am in the process of taking good care of myself
Your old views are done! The new you starts today. We all live two lives: the one we live now and the one we are capable of. Never settle for anything less than you are capable of.
INTRODUCTION
SETTING THE STAGE FOR A RICHER LIFE
So, what does a richer life mean to you? Everyone has a different definition of what a rich life means, and it is not just about wealth, money, or success. A rich life, to me, is about finding purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in all areas of our lives. It is about living with intention, driven by our values and what is most important to us.
As adults, we may have gotten lost in thinking that more success and things will create more happiness. If we get that new boat, it will make us happier. If we buy a bigger house, that will make us happy. We are a work in progress, and I include myself. I was always very driven most of my life, and I am sure I always will be, but what I have found through reflection after my wife, Amie, died in 2017 is that it is okay to set aside some ambition if it is not aligning with your goals of living a more balanced, richer life. If ambition is robbing you of joy, then it is okay to take a step back and reevaluate what is more important. Nobody on their deathbed said they wished they had worked more. If your health is taking a back seat to your aspirations, then pause and make health a priority. If you are grinding every day to make a living, but you are not paying yourself first and investing for the future, then you need to make wealth-building a priority. If you are working 10–12 hours a day at the expense of your most important relationships, then you need to find more balance and focus some time cultivating deeper relationships.
