Hey ,

Lately, I’ve been hearing from a lot of people who feel completely burnt out. Somewhere between the saving, investing, and working 8-12 hour days.

Trying to make progress with money can be exhausting and there comes a point where it just feels like too much.

That’s why today I want to share a story that’s always helped me get through the hard times.

The 3 Bricklayers

Imagine you’re traveling and come across 3 bricklayers. You ask each of them what they’re doing.

The first one, looking tired and irritated, says, “I’m laying bricks.”

The second one replies, “I’m building a wall.”

But the third smiles and says, “I’m building a cathedral.”

They’re all doing the same work, but their perspectives make all the difference.

Bricklayer 1 sees an endless grind, just brick after brick, counting the hours until payday.

Bricklayer 2 wants to do a good job, but he’s focused on finishing the task and moving on.

Bricklayer 3 sees meaning in what he’s building. He knows every stone brings the cathedral 1 step closer to completion.

Which one do you think stays motivated, disciplined, and proud of the work long after everyone else burns out? My money’s on Bricklayer 3 because he has a purpose.

This story is about the power of purpose: how the meaning you assign to your work shapes the reality you live. Purpose turns routine effort into something bigger, something worth showing up for.

Research shows that people with a strong sense of purpose grow more, stay consistent, and perform better in both their personal and professional lives.

If you’re feeling drained from trying to make it all work, it might be time to reconnect with your purpose and zoom out to see the bigger picture. That way, you don’t feel like you’re just laying brick after brick or saving cent after cent, but like you’re building something that actually matters.

Here are 3 ways to step out of your own head and see the big picture.

1. Know what you’re building

Before you tweak another budget or move another dollar into your investment fund, get clear on the cathedral you’re building.

It’s hard to stay motivated when your goal is just “save more.” That’s like telling a runner to “win a race” without giving them a finish line.

A good long-term goal has two parts: it needs to be specific and challenging.

Specific goals tell you exactly what you’re working toward. Challenging ones keep you inspired when things get tough. You don’t push yourself to build a stone bridge, you push yourself to build the Golden Gate Bridge.

For example:

“I want to pay off my $20,500 student loan before my 30th birthday so I can redirect that money towards maxing out my 401k and retire early.”

That's a cathedral.

So don’t settle for “save more.” Go bigger. If you had a financial magic wand, what would life look like? No anxiety about bills. Options for your family. Freedom to choose work you enjoy.

Write it down. When the process feels dull, come back to that vision.

That’s the reason you show up.

2. Lay one brick at a time

A cathedral is the dream, but you still have to lay the bricks.

Even the 3rd bricklayer, the one who saw the bigger vision, had to show up every day and lay thousands of bricks. That’s where real progress happens: not in the idea of the cathedral, but in the daily rhythm of building it.

The same goes for money. Big goals only happen when you break them into smaller walls you can actually build.

If your goal is to earn more, your first wall might be landing a better-paying job. Each brick you lay could look like:

• Improving your skills through an online course or mentorship
• Reaching out to your network
• Sending out job applications or going on interviews

Those steps may not feel life-changing in the moment, but together they form the foundation of your financial cathedral.

3. Check your blueprint

Every builder needs a blueprint. In the case with your finances, think of it as a quick gut check. It shows you if what you’re building is leading to a cathedral…. or something that’s about to crumble.

That’s why I created the Money Map Score. A simple number that tells you your financial health so you know where you stand and what you need to do to improve.

PS: If you don’t have my Money Map yet, reply to this email “Money Map Please” and I’ll send it to your for free. It comes with a video tutorial showing you how to use it too.

It takes less than 30 minutes and gives you instant clarity on where you stand.

To making smarter money moves,

Vincent Chan

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