Ep. 220 – Paul Fenner – Not All Struggles Are Due to Laziness
What if not all success is earned and not all struggle is deserved?
This week's episode digs into something we don't talk about enough: the role of luck, circumstance, and timing in how our lives turn out. When you're managing money, kids, and everything else, it's easy to believe you earned every good thing and failed at every hard thing. But that's not the whole story.
I share a few stories from my generational Family Office practice, working with families across different starting lines, and reflect on what advantages compound across generations and what that means for how we judge ourselves, others, and what we teach our kids about success.
This week, identify three things that went right in your life that weren't just about hard work. Not to diminish your effort, but to recognize the full picture of how you got here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES YOU MAY LIKE
1 Big Idea to Think About
While hard work is important, recognizing the powerful role of luck, timing, and circumstances in our journeys can help us be more grateful for our advantages and more compassionate toward ourselves and others when things don’t go as planned.
1 Way You Can Apply This
To foster more gratitude and self-compassion in your financial journey, set aside time this week to write down three advantages or moments of luck that have positively influenced your life—such as the support of a mentor, timing, or family circumstances. By intentionally recognizing that success involves both effort and circumstances, you not only deepen your awareness but also become more patient with yourself and others when plans go awry, making the path to your goals more balanced and emotionally sustainable.
1 Question to Ask
What are three ways in my life where luck, timing, or support from others made a positive difference beyond just my own hard work?
Resources Featured in This Episode:
Reflections of a Layoff While Raising Triplet Girls