Dustin's Book: Chapter Five (#129) — Transcript
Updated: Oct 26
THE PICTURE OF WEALTH · EPISODE 129
Dustin Serviss reads chapter five of his book, “Discovering Mental Treasure.” At Permission Peak Lodge, Theo encounters a different perspective on wealth, competition and tranquility.
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This transcript was generated from the episode audio and lightly edited for readability. It may contain transcription or speaker-attribution errors. Refer to the recording for exact wording.
Chapters
[00:00:00] Chapter five: Discovering Mental Treasure
[00:01:43] Silence at Permission Peak Lodge
[00:02:54] Orson questions what wealth looks like
[00:04:08] Competition, approval and the cost of winning
[00:05:15] Climbing for a wider view
[00:06:31] Seeing the lake and its fish from above
[00:07:45] Remembering the fish that took a risk
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Transcript
[00:00:00] Dustin Serviss: Welcome to the picture of wealth or TPAW as we call it. I am your host, Dustin Service. Listener, this is your trusted host, Dustin Service. I'm gonna be reading a book that I wrote for the next few weeks, each chapter, each episode. Enjoy. Chapter five, discovering mental treasure. June eleventh two thousand nineteen. One PM. Permission peak lodge. Theo stepped out onto the deck and inhaled deeply. The mountain air was so clean he felt like it was curing him as he breathed it in. He looked into the woods and at the lake and could actually feel his shoulders relax. Oh man, he thought to himself, this is heaven.
[00:01:05] Dustin Serviss: He settled into an anarondack chair and closed his eyes. For the first time in a long while he truly felt present. No kids or wife needing his attention and the lack of wifi at the cabin meant he couldn't check-in on work even if he wanted to. With some effort he entrusted the shop so to speak to his top employee a young woman named Claire. He hired her straight out of college and she'd been proving herself to have management potential. Ashley had been pressuring from some time to give Claire more responsibility. Maybe it was time to just do that. There was a generator somewhere that had been thrumming quietly in the background.
[00:01:43] Dustin Serviss: Theo hadn't noticed it until suddenly it cycled off and he found himself in almost deafening silence. Even the birds seemed to be holding their breath. For the next five minutes he heard not a single sound. Save for the occasional splash of the fish jumping in the lake, Theo couldn't remember a single time in his life when he'd heard such a silence. It was broken by footsteps below him and a friendly voice. I see you've found the best seat in the house. Theo turned and saw a guy walking up from the side of the cabin. He was about six feet tall, around Theo's age, wearing a retro mashed t
[00:02:16] Dustin Serviss: shirt and tapered khakis tucked into tan military grade boots. I'm Orson, your cook, waiter, guide, and first aid attendant. He walked up the stairs to the deck and reached out his hand. His handshake could crush beer cans. Theo noticed a pair of six inch scars on Orson's forearm and a three incher above his eyebrow, indicating that Orson had found himself in some situations in the past I love it here Theo blurted before he could stop himself what is it with the oversharing I know it's incredible right Orson said then noticed Theo's high end camera that he brought out to snap some pictures of the lake. You're the photographer?
[00:02:54] Dustin Serviss: That would be me, here to capture the ultimate picture of wealth. Theo made air quotes with his hands. For the contest. Right? Orson shook his head and whistled. Man, how do you do that? Capture wealth. I've seen a ton of wealthy people up here and to be honest they all seem pretty regular just with nicer clothes. He glanced around and leaned in conspiringly, lowering his voice to a dramatic whisper. And heightened senses of importance. He laughed a big easy laugh. Well, you're the photographer. Maybe you have a better idea of what wealth would look like, but I can tell you after a bunch of years up here, I sure don't.
[00:03:31] Dustin Serviss: Well, I'm sure you know more than me Oh really? Why do you say that? Well, I don't know Theo stammered Orson just looked at him expectantly so he took a breath and kept talking I mean I've always been driven to make money I was taught to save, save, save, right? Money kept me out of trouble and provided focus when I lost my way. Then when I got a little older in a family, well, lately I've started to feel like my focus on money has become more of a distraction than anything or just out of habit. Sometimes it's like I'm living in the future and it's feeling more like a hypothetical future is looking a lot more fun than the actual present.
[00:04:08] Dustin Serviss: Orson nodded thoughtfully and crossed his big arms. That makes me think of when I was a marathoner years ago. I was constantly in my head thinking of three races ahead ignoring everyone around me. I lost some friends along the way and definitely a few girlfriends who didn't want to be race widows. One more win, shave one more minute. That's all I cared about. Then post race results online became part of it. I was so hooked on the approval I got from winning. Of course, I got injured. And, you know, I was shocked to find out that no one cared. No one showed up.
[00:04:41] Dustin Serviss: When I stopped competing, the social engagement evaporated, and I'd abandoned my real friends. It took me a while to rebuild a few key relationships. I'll tell you one thing I know about wealth is that it's not about winning races. Just then, Manns came up the deck stairs. You boys getting philosophical already? We haven't even got out the Scotch. Orson laughed and saluted Manns. That's my cue. I'd love to stay and keep solving the world's problems, Theo, but I'm heading in to prep for dinner. He gave a peace sign and went into the lodge Any questions so far? Manns asked Theo shook his head Does everyone who comes up here
[00:05:15] Dustin Serviss: start having deep revelations? Manns chuckled If they're lucky Theo pointed across the lake Does that peak have a name? That, my friend, is permission peak. Do you want to go get a better view? A hundred percent, Theo said The UTV climbed a slope away from the lodge and came out on a bluff where, as promised, they got a wide view of the lake. The water was crystal clear and still. The reflection of the mountain on the opposite side was a mirror image. Mans brought the machine to a halt and turned off the engine. Theo got his camera out of the back and took a few pictures of the classic vista playing with mirror images. Time seemed to stop.
[00:05:54] Dustin Serviss: Then man said, this lake is rumored to have a spring at the bottom that brings up certain minerals that cause the water to have more reflective properties. Many of our guests never come to see the lake from here, even though we encourage them and provide a map. They are here to fish and only fish and they want the best fish, the biggest fish and the most fish. They always want to know what the biggest fish ever caught here was or the most fish caught in one day. They completely missed the bigger picture. Theo put his hands on his hips and looked around at the mountain on all sides. The lake, the sky, the white clouds skidding across it.
[00:06:31] Dustin Serviss: The air was fresh and warm, and far above, a couple eagles circled. This view is better than any fish you could catch. Pointing to a spot in the middle of the lake, man said, do you see where the water is slightly darker? Theo shielded his eyes and squinted down at the lake. Sure enough, there was a dark blob under the surface near the middle. He nodded. That's a tight school of fish, man said. They follow the regular zooplankton and invertebrates as those nutrients move around the lake with the wind. Now look over there. Before Theo could open his mouth and start talking about his days as a
[00:07:05] Dustin Serviss: fishing guide, Manns pointed out an area near the far shore where the bottom of an avalanche chute met an incoming stream creating a pool that was slightly higher than the main part of the lake. A small shadow moved in the water there too. Over there are the biggest, best fed fish in the lake. The two areas don't always connect because of the rock spine from the avalanche debris that separates the pool. The only way for the fish to get there is by finding their way over or around the spine. Sometimes they jump. Because of the stream, the oxygen and nutrients are richer. The avalanche also left a shelf under the water where the fish are safe
[00:07:45] Dustin Serviss: from bears and birds. But, he finished smiling, we never take clients there because it's not visible from the water. The only way you can see it is from up here. Before they got back in the UTV, Theo aimed his camera at the hidden pool and took a picture. He didn't know why, but he wanted to remember those risk taking fish. Thank you for tuning in to this episode. If you enjoyed the show, please like and rate the show. Share with a friend or use your new knowledge in your next conversation. If during the show something gave you a pang of inspiration, motivation or sense of uncertainty, act on it now. Get the clarity you're looking for.
[00:08:22] Dustin Serviss: Find the permission you seek. Go to servicewealth dot com to discover how others are learning how to take Fridays off or buying a recreation property or spending more money. If you're an organizer of an event where you believe my philosophy on finance lifestyle design would be applicable, go to servicewealth dot com and book me as a speaker at your next event. If you want a copy of our new book coming out soon, send me a message on Instagram or Facebook and we will be sure to get you a first copy.