The Wheel of Life
Using Money as a Tool to Build a Life Aligned with Your Values
Last week, I shared the story of the day everything changed - the day our boys were born and my definition of success flipped overnight.
That moment was the spark.
But the rebuild came when I realized something simple: my wheel of life was off balance.
I was pushing hard, but the wheel I’d built could never roll smoothly. It was designed for performance, not purpose. Long on achievement, short on the things that actually bring joy and peace.
Money, work, and success were the spokes of my wheel. They edged out everything else. Family, health, growth, and giving? Out of balance, or barely there.
No wonder the ride felt bumpy, no matter how hard I worked.
The Flintstones Test
When I was a kid, I loved The Flintstones. Fred’s “car” was basically a stone box on wheels powered by his bare feet.
Now imagine those stone wheels weren’t round. They were jagged and uneven.
No matter how hard Fred pumped his legs, he wasn’t going very far.
That’s what life feels like when your wheel is out of balance. You can grind harder, stay later, wake up earlier, but you’re still bumping down the road, exhausted and wondering why the ride doesn’t feel smooth.
The Spokes That Drive Your Life
Over the years, I’ve come to see life as a wheel. Each spoke represents something that truly matters:
Intimate Relationships
Family
Social / Friends
Health / Fitness
Fun / Adventure / Recreation
Business / Career
Finance
Personal Growth
Spiritual
Contribution / Helping Others
When the spokes are in balance, the wheel rolls smoothly. But when one is off balance, your health, your marriage, your finances, the whole thing wobbles.
For a long time, I was building financial wealth but not wholeness. I tracked every dollar, worked every weekend, and measured success by bank balances. The financial spoke was rock solid. Everything else was shaky.
Money is Fuel
Here’s the mistake most people make: they treat money like the entire wheel.
In reality, money directly strengthens only one spoke, finance. People who make every decision based on money often end up living lives that aren’t aligned with their values. And when you live out of alignment, fulfillment fades fast.
But you can’t ignore money either. Money touches nearly every spoke on the wheel:
Health: quality food, fitness, healthcare
Family: where you live, what opportunities your kids have
Fun: whether you take the trip or just dream about it
Contribution: how much you can give to others
Too much focus on money can distort your life. Too little, and you limit your potential to grow. The goal isn’t to idolize money. It’s to understand it so you can use it wisely to fuel the other spokes.
And here’s the irony: the biggest financial decisions in your life often aren’t financial at all. They’re about who you marry, who you spend time with, and the habits you build. Nothing is more expensive than bad habits or bad company.
Life isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the experiences and memories you create with it.
Balancing the Spokes
One of my favorite reminders of balance came a few years ago at the park with my boys. They were shooting basketball, and my phone buzzed with a work email.
For a split second, I almost opened it.
Then I stopped.
I realized these were the moments I used to miss, the very moments I was working for.
That’s why I set my 5:30pm rule.
That’s why I protect weekends.
That’s when I turned off email notifications on my phone.
Because when that aspect of life is off balance the whole wheel wobbles.
The Bigger Picture
The Wheel of Life reminds us that money is important, but it’s not everything. If you master making money, it can become fuel for the other spokes, but it doesn’t replace them.
Build money, yes. But use it to strengthen the entire wheel so you can roll smoother, faster, and further in the direction of the life you actually want.
That’s what BOLD Wealth is about.
Everyone’s wheel looks different.
Maybe health is out of balance right now.
Maybe fun and adventure are missing.
Maybe contribution is the one that needs attention.
The point isn’t to have a perfectly-balanced wheel at all times; it’s about awareness.
Stop pumping harder on a wobbly wheel.
Start strengthening the weaker aspects of your life.
Your Turn + Start Bold
What does your wheel look like right now — balanced or wobbling?
Start Bold (Simple First Steps):
Sketch your own Wheel of Life. Rate each area of your life from 1–10.
Identify one area of your life that feels out of balance.
Take one small action this week.
Do that consistently, and your wheel will roll smoother and your life will move faster in the direction you truly want to go.
Why We Build Wealth
At BOLD Wealth, we believe money is not the goal. It’s a tool. Finances are just one spoke in the Wheel of Life. But when you strengthen that spoke and align it with your values, you make every other spoke stronger: family, health, growth, contribution.
That’s the real payoff. That’s what it means to minor in money and major in life.
Want to learn more about me?
Check out my introduction post here.
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Chris, I just read both posts tonight and commented on the first one without reading this. Then bam, you hit me with the "balance" concept which is exactly what I commented about on your first post. It's like you're in my head. ha. I actually read this post and then each comment below and then reread the post and sat with it. The word that keeps hitting me is intentional. I need to be more intentional with my time and energy. Since I feel unintentional I think I'm a a hamster on a running wheel. It might look balanced and smooth but it's going nowhere. No matter how hard I run. I think my wheel is not whole as it's missing some spokes completely. Thanks for your post. It's really thought provoking.
Do you feel all spokes are equal in the wheel or is it necessary to adjust the size of each depending on your situation at the time in order to maintain balance?