317. The Power of Going First: Unlocking Potential Through Bold Actions

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In this episode, Ryan Nelson explores the transformative power of being the first to take bold actions and break perceived limitations. Drawing from personal experiences, including quitting smoking and paying off $160,000 in debt over 8 years, Ryan illustrates how leading by example can inspire others. He shares stories, such as Roger Bannister's historic 4-minute mile, to show how going first can unlock potential for positive change in various aspects of life. Tune in to discover how your actions can create a ripple effect, inspiring those around you to pursue their own goals. Subscribe to the 'Simplify My Money' newsletter for actionable tips on managing personal finances. 

Transcript

Ryan Nelson: 0:00

So today we're diving into a powerful concept, and that concept is the power of going first. So that's about being the one who dares to do something that others think is impossible. Because when you prove something can be done, you are not only changing your own life, but you unlock the potential for transformation in those around you. My name is Ryan Nelson, and my wife and I paid off $160,000 over eight years while we were raising three kids. If you know anything about running, then you know about Roger Bannister, and for years the four-minute mile was considered an unbreakable barrier. Doctors, experts, everybody said that it couldn't be done. And then, in 1954, roger Bannister shattered that perceived limitation. He went first, and what happened? Just weeks later, someone else broke the four-minute mile. Then more athletes followed. Bannister's achievement wasn't just about him. It was about proving what was possible, inspiring others to push their own limits. And this principle isn't just for sports. It applies to every aspect of your life.

Ryan Nelson: 1:14

I remember years ago, when I decided to quit smoking, my family members around me smoked. I remember my mom, dad smoked their whole lives growing up, my brothers smoked, my wife's family on her side of the family a ton of them smoked. It was just ingrained in our family culture and I tried quitting quite a few times, to the point where I remember when I would tell my wife I'm going to quit she would just roll her eyes like sure. But I tried and I failed and I felt like it was hopeless. But then something clicked. It was probably around the time we had our first son and I finally kicked the habit. It was tough but I did it and a lot of my family seen it was possible and, one by one, a lot of my family followed suit. Did I do anything special when I quit smoking? No, I didn't make a big thing about it, I just did it. But seeing me go first showed that it could be done and it helped others see success where they just couldn't see it.

Ryan Nelson: 2:14

And this ripple effect can have a huge impact when it comes to your personal finances. Around 15 years ago, I remember my brother coming over for Thanksgiving and telling me how he was gonna get out of debt. My first thought, out loud loud and yes, out loud was that's dumb. Like everybody has debt. That's just the way you live. I remember hearing my mom say that when we were kids you'll always have a credit card. Just living with debt is a pretty normal way to live in this world. I just didn't get at all what he was doing and I wasn't very supportive, because just the normal way to live is live paycheck to paycheck and be broke. But then, as I started seeing him change and he started to work on his finances and eventually get himself out of debt, he was less stressed, he was more secure, he had more freedom. He was able to take opportunities that others couldn't. He went first and he proved that financial responsibility wasn't impossible. It wasn't this thing that just you can't do. So, inspired by his example, my wife and I started to take our own finances seriously. It wasn't easy. As you can see at the beginning of this podcast here. It took us eight years to do it. It wasn't easy, but seeing him do it gave us the belief that we could do that too. And so fast forward to today and we were able to take those lessons and get out of debt and now we can teach our kids about money and we continue to be able to pay it forward. Others around us that didn't know my brother but knew us and knew that we did it. They saw what we were doing and then also got better with their finances. So the power of going first isn't about bragging or showing off. It's about demonstrating what's possible. It's about giving hope and inspiration to those around you. When you dare to step outside the norm, when you push past perceived limitations, you create a pathway for others to follow. You show to everybody that change is possible. So let me ask you today what's something that you could go first? What's something out there that you maybe have just been hesitant on, but you really want to do it and you're just too afraid to take that first step? Maybe it's finally starting that business you've been dreaming about. Maybe it's committing to a healthier lifestyle or getting out of debt, which is what we're all about here at Debt Free Dad. Maybe it's simply being more vulnerable and authentic with the people in your life. Whatever it is, remember that your actions have the power to inspire others. Your willingness to go first can create a ripple effect that transforms the lives around you. I'm living proof of that. I've seen that in my own life with everything that we've done when it relates to our personal finances. Whatever it is, remember that your actions have the power to inspire others. Your willingness to go first can create a ripple effect that transforms the lives around you, and I'm living proof of that. I've seen that in my own life. I've seen it with how we've been able to affect the lives of people around us with the decisions we've made and the willingness to kind of put ourselves out there. Decisions we've made and the willingness to kind of put ourselves out there.

Ryan Nelson: 5:15

One of my favorite quotes is be brave enough to suck at something new and it's okay to not be good at whatever it is. This first step might be, and if it's getting out of debt, I'll be honest with you. We were terrible at it at first, but with consistency and you continue to push yourself, you're going to get really good at it and people are going to see that it's possible. And the people that are going to say, like what I told my brother, that you're dumb and you can't do this and it's impossible those people will see not everybody, but a lot of those people will see it's possible and you'll be amazed at what. They'll be coming to you, asking you questions like how did you do it? Can you help me do it? You have the potential to be a catalyst for the positive change for those around you, simply by daring to go first and proving that it can be done.

Ryan Nelson: 5:58

I want to say thanks for joining us today. If you are looking for practical tips to help guide you from financial stress to peace of mind, subscribe to our newsletter Simplify my Money. Every Sunday afternoon you'll get actionable tips, stories and helpful information to help take control of your personal finances and start winning with your money. The link to describe is in the show notes. We will see you next week.