Dustin's Book - Chapter Fourteen + Key Takeaways (#142) — Transcript
Updated: Oct 26
THE PICTURE OF WEALTH · EPISODE 142
Dustin Serviss reads chapter fourteen of his book and shares key takeaways. Theo works on communicating a financial plan clearly and connecting decisions about money with the life he wants to build.
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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
[00:00:25] Chapter fourteen: Graphic Adventures
[00:01:52] Theo maps the risks and financial pieces
[00:03:07] Ashley asks for a simple picture
[00:04:24] Sharing a plan that covers more than money
[00:05:46] A new chapter begins together
[00:07:15] Reviewing lessons from the earlier chapters
[00:08:50] Relationships, priorities and financial automation
[00:10:42] The final takeaways
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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.
[00:00:25] Dustin Serviss (reading): As I mentioned in the last chapter, I don't know what the book name is going to be. It was Man's Picture of Wealth. But actually, it's going to be something different. Something more meaningful. Something more true to the text. So, listener, I appreciate you coming along the journey reading the book with me. So, without further ado, chapter fourteen, graphic adventures. Fourth contest, twenty second of June twenty nineteen. Back at home. Theo picked up his notepad and turned to a blank page. At the top, he wrote, manage the lodge. Great to do item, he thought. Now what? He stared at the pictures on the shelf again, then he clicked to his
[00:01:08] Dustin Serviss (reading): photos on the monitor and found the one he'd been looking for. Man's drawing in the dirt on the side of the path, the glow zone. Things started to click into place. Balance, lifestyle, values, risk, protection, edge. In the center of the row of framed photos above his head was a picture of himself shaking the hand of Omar Ansari just after the man's big meeting in Austin. There was a goofy grin on his own face as he thanked the man who had told him about his wealth edge. He stared at it, thinking, and then in a flash of clarity he saw it all working together. He saw the plan.
[00:01:52] Dustin Serviss (reading): Feeling like a mad scientist, Theo scribbled notes for thirty minutes. A smooth white stone he picked up at the lodge was on his desk. At one point, he paused and rolled it around in the palm of his hand, thinking about the fish that had risked it all and reaped the rewards. He noted all their financial facets, like insurance amounts, investment accounts. What was the worst case? He or Ashley could die suddenly. He could get sick or injured and have a mental breakdown from the stress. They could get divorced. I'm really getting into the weeds, he thought. He noted all this on his list.
[00:02:30] Dustin Serviss (reading): And at the bottom wrote, talk to Ashley about counseling and buy a book on successful relationships. He took a deep breath and brought out his notes and his plan to share with Ashley. He could see she was trying to follow what he said, but she had a pained, confused expression. Eventually, she said, Theo, I'm just not a hundred percent getting it. There are too many moving parts. I understand that we're going to be shifting our lifestyle and spending and savings from the business, but all the financial elements are overwhelming to me right now. I need to see it visually. That's just the way my brain works.
[00:03:07] Dustin Serviss (reading): Can you literally draw me a simple picture? Theo felt a rush of annoyance. Why couldn't she see it like he saw it? But he also remembered that he needed to communicate better with Ashley. She had just communicated what she needed. And that was a chance for him to communicate back. He stood up and said, yes. I'll be right back. Theo went back to his computer and pulled up the photo he snapped of the wealth plan he and Carlos had drawn based on the scuba dive planning. Then he rummaged in his desk and pulled out the limp bar napkin which Chloe Ellis had coached him to include in his plan a focus on relationships, self, and mental health.
[00:03:46] Dustin Serviss (reading): He sipped his now cold coffee and reread his notes, then started drawing. Using Chloe and Carlos' drawing as a template, he sketched out all the important aspects of their lives, including relationships, health, and spending. He needed to step away from his own business and let it run itself. He needed to automate as much as he could. He would not totally disappear, but he needed to start transitioning the business to his key employees and put the brakes on the drive for limitless growth. A succession plan at his age seemed odd, but he had a goal now, a bigger calling than making money. He looked up at the snail shell.
[00:04:24] Dustin Serviss (reading): He wanted to positively change people's lives. He sat back down on the couch and touched Ashley's arm. Okay. Can we take a few minutes to look at this? I can explain it better now. He showed her the diagram. This is something we can check-in on from time to time to clarify our goals and help us communicate better about money, but also about other parts of our life. Like, what each want from ourselves and each other. It's the whole picture. Ashley looked at him and smiled, setting her phone down. In all the years of marriage, she had never heard the words communicate better from Theo or gotten the feeling that he thought about what goals they
[00:05:03] Dustin Serviss (reading): had together. She repositioned herself to face him. It felt wonderful to see Theo making communicating with her a priority. Yes, please. I'm intrigued. Theo began. This is the whole picture. It brings to light all the facets of us getting to where we wanna be. We now have a common goal to put the business in the background and manage the lodge, but I want more. I want to use the lodge to teach people what I have learned about wealth. I feel like I have the whole picture now, don't you? Ashley was nodding along as he spoke. Theo could see her wheels turning. She was getting on board. Yeah. And Manns and Helena played a big part of that. Right?
[00:05:46] Dustin Serviss (reading): I felt so clear up there, like we had the space around us to get perspective. I see what you mean about sharing it. Theo grinned. She was catching on. She got it. A whole new view, a whole new life. Theo felt a huge sense of relief watching her pour over their finances like a weight had been shifted off his shoulders. Now came the fun part, figuring out how to make it work and start their life's new chapter. Theo looked forward to seeing what the universe had in store for him in the coming months. He was ready for anything. Behind them, the clock on the kitchen wall ticked past one,
[00:06:23] Dustin Serviss (reading): passing the deadline for the ultimate picture of wealth contest. Theo pulled his wife close and clicked the TV to life. She left her phone on the table. When we create and share a clear plan, I'm in will be part of your partner's vocabulary. Key takeaways. Dustin's story. You need and in your life. Grandma May's microwave. Don't pass away with the ghosts of your dreams behind the microwave. The question. Ask yourself, is the mission I am on worthy? Chapter one, think fast, she's hot. Start enjoying what you desire for dinner and stop gazing down the right side of the menu. Chloe's takeaway, are you saving too much for too long?
[00:07:15] Dustin Serviss (reading): Chapter two, danger zone thinking. Exciting adventures usually were not born from an endless series of logical thinking. Ted's takeaway, are you living too conservative for the stage of life you are in? Chapter three, high altitude awakening. When was the last time you ventured into uncharted territory? Is it time to accumulate a few new stories in your life? Andre's takeaway, stay creative and interesting to yourself. Chapter four, grab another gear. Your unique ability is a superpower more capable than all investment and career choices. Omar's takeaway, Let amateurs walk behind other people's whim while you run with your talent.
[00:08:05] Dustin Serviss (reading): Chapter five, risk reward. A laser focus on only money is like a cavity. The sweet taste turns to a root canal in an instant if you don't maintain your teeth. Man's takeaway: Learning we have another dimension of achievement is easier to find with classmates who already think like we want to. Chapter six, is enough worth it? What if your enough has arrived quicker than you told yourself it would come when you were younger? Man's takeaway, tame your stress volcano by pruning your life commitments, lowering your expectations, and watch the recurring quality time flow into your life. Chapter seven, magic apology.
[00:08:50] Dustin Serviss (reading): Your trajectory to wealth will change in an instant with a heartfelt sorry, even though you may not think you have to say it. Theo's takeaway. A meeting with your partner is a safe place. No judgment, no one is allowed to get mad, and nothing is set in stone. Chapter eight, diving fearlessly. Life priorities clarified wakes up the daredevil of your identity. Carlos takeaway. Deliberately putting your future in jeopardy may seem Helena's takeaway. Automating your numbers turns one Helena's takeaway. Automating your numbers turns one week in Mexico to one month in Maui. Chapter ten, fantasies born.
[00:09:48] Dustin Serviss (reading): Let possibilities ignite when you start saying, I'll do this as a short term experiment. Man's takeaway. Happiness is not born from the marriage of money and effort. Chapter eleven, decisions grip. Before deciding, ask yourself, can I live with this? Caz's takeaway, fixating on low probability events limits potential. Chapter twelve, luck altering email. Luck is happening all around you every day. Slow down and notice when you are lucky. Theo's takeaway, luck will find you in groups of people who are better than you. Chapter thirteen, cold plunge blindness. Unidentified focus on stale ideas will feel like choking.
[00:10:42] Dustin Serviss (reading): Man's takeaway, as your life evolves are your ideas evolving? Chapter fourteen, graphic adventures. When we create and share a clear plan, I'm in will be part of your partner's vocabulary. Ashley's takeaway. The feeling of certainty doesn't come in as an email saying, you are approved to now take Fridays off. And that concludes the reading of Dustin's book.
[00:11:14] Dustin Serviss: Thank you for tuning into 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. 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 and lifestyle design would be applicable, go to servicewealth dot com and book me
[00:11:41] Dustin Serviss: as a speaker. Design would be applicable, go to service wealth 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.