Hey {{ First Name | reader }},

Today's post features a thoughtful write-in submission from one of our members, Rob. Rob is a successful finance professional and entrepreneur based in Toronto, and a dedicated husband and father of two boys. I’m grateful to him for sharing a story he hopes will inspire and benefit others.

I think storytelling is one of the most powerful tools, so if you’d like to share your own story or experience, I’d love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Recently, I attended a dinner with a group of men a few years younger than me. All of them were successful, personable, and well-educated professionals. A few had recently started families, and housing dominated much of the conversation.

It wasn’t surprising to see housing come up as a major topic, but it was a strong reminder of how central the pursuit of this one asset has become; it shapes lives.

Two new fathers at the table discussed their paths: one staying in the city despite financial stress, the other moving to a smaller area, trading affordability for potentially fewer social and career opportunities. What stood out to me was how different my situation is, largely because of timing.

I worked in banking for a long time and entered the housing market almost a decade ago. When we moved to our current home, the appreciation of my first property covered most of the cost. While I made reasonable financial decisions, the truth is that I benefitted enormously from timing. If I were starting today, I’d likely face similar challenges to those at the table.

This conversation made me reflect on how much energy we devote to achieving goals or attaining assets, especially when success often hinges on factors beyond our control.

While housing is undoubtedly important, owning a home hasn’t brought me lasting fulfillment. In fact, I’m relieved I didn’t buy a bigger house, as my material and personal goals increasingly clash.

Having kids has pushed me to re-evaluate how I spend my time. I travel frequently for work, which creates more demands for my wife, who juggles kids, work, activities, and everything in between. I miss too many swimming lessons and skating practices in the name of career growth and earning. Yet stepping back feels daunting.

Job titles, career status, and income have become a much bigger part of my self-worth than I’d care to admit.

For the younger men at the table, I hope they reach this realization sooner than I did: goals like buying a house or achieving a promotion are just signposts—not endpoints.

How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money.

One way I’ve tried to stay aligned with my personal goals is through regular check-ins with others. Eric and I often talk about how, or if, a recent event / choice / opportunity really matters in the grand scheme of things. These conversations are invaluable and keep me grounded.

The way Infinite Momentum is set up could offer the same opportunity—a space to connect, reflect, and hold each other accountable.

At the risk of sounding corny, try asking yourself: “What are three things that you cannot buy (are not for sale), that you want the most?”

If you haven’t asked yourself this question before, maybe it helps take stock if you are pursuing the right things. Maybe you already actually have the things you want the most, and it sparks gratitude. Regardless, I hope it helps to anchor to something more fulfilling than low mortgage rates.

I’m looking forward to learning from others in this community—your insights and experiences will shape the conversations we have. I hope this piece sparks reflection or helps you pause to consider what matters most in your own life.

Editor’s Note: It takes courage and effort to put your reflections out and to put them out there. Like they say, ‘It’s easier to do nothing than something.’

If something in this article inspired you, or you found it insightful. Drop a comment below and let Rob know! I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.

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