I hope you enjoyed our five-part series, “R-E-M-E-W.”
Speaking of acronyms.
And yes, I know no one actually hits the dab anymore. But I’m a dad, so I can get away with the reference.
Besides, the picture was too good to pass up. Also, this column has been sitting in my drafts since last November.
Because there’s a message in D.A.B. that I’ve been thinking about for a while.
D.A.B. isn’t just an outdated dance move from a decade ago.
To me, it’s a way of life.
Discipline. Attitude. Behavior.
Those three words describe much more than how I invest my money. They describe how I’m trying to live.
I’ve learned that a well-rounded life isn’t built from one big decision. It’s built from all the little things we do repeatedly.
Going to the gym even when you don’t feel like it. Eating better even when it’s not easy. Reading even when you want to doomscroll. Cooking instead of dining out. Spending time with family instead of binge-watching sports.
Basically, taking care of the things that matter.
None of these things requires a revolutionary idea. Most require something much less exciting: commitment.
That’s where D.A.B. comes in.
Discipline is doing what needs to be done even when I don’t feel like doing it. Motivation comes and goes. But discipline is what gets me moving when motivation doesn’t show up.
Attitude is how I approach those choices. I can look at exercise as another obligation or as an opportunity to take care of myself. I can look at saving money as deprivation or as a way to give myself more options later.
Behavior is putting it all into action.
Because knowing what I should do doesn’t count for much if I don’t actually do it.
I can read every investing book ever written and still be a terrible investor if my behavior is driven by fear, greed or panic.
I can know exactly how important exercise is and still sit on the couch.
I can make a perfect budget and still spend money recklessly.
Knowledge matters. But behavior is where knowledge becomes real life.
And none of this happens overnight.
That might be the most important part.
A well-rounded life is the accumulation of small choices made over and over again. One workout. One healthy meal. One book. One dollar saved. One investment.
Then another.
And another.
Eventually, those little things add up.
The same principle applies across the board.
So remember D.A.B.
It may be an outdated dance move.
But this dad has finally figured out that it’s also a pretty good way to live.
