Kevin came from an underprivileged background, where his parents, with limited education, worked tirelessly just to make ends meet. From a young age, Kevin was determined to rise beyond his circumstances and to create a better life for his family. He was talented and hard-working, becoming the first in his extended family to graduate from university—a monumental achievement.
As he grew older, his ambition grew alongside his awareness. He no longer wanted merely to provide for his family; he yearned to help others live with dignity, prosperity, and joy. But there is one problem. He struggled to build such a life for himself. He moved through jobs that felt stifling, encountered micromanagers, and launched a business that barely sustained him. Despite a bigger dream, he felt trapped in a frustrating pattern, watching his goals recede until a shadow of depression followed him.
Kevin excelled in the formal school system designed to train employees, but lacked the mindset and skills to thrive in the school of life—a common challenge for many of us, especially those without immediate role models. His story reveals a common gap: not understanding the foundational rules of life and the process of turning dreams into reality, which is lack of leadership.
Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs gives us a useful lens. Societal life unfolds in three broad phases: survival, growth, and self-realization. We must secure the basics—food, shelter, safety—before we can fully focus on growth, like building skills or status. Only with these foundations in place do we have the bandwidth to pursue meaning, autonomy, and making a positive difference. It’s human nature: when survival feels threatened, everything else fades into the background.
Kevin’s struggle stemmed from lacking a systematic approach to that all-important survival foundation. This foundation rests on three pillars. The concept is simple, yet mastering it eludes many of us, which is why grand ambitions often falter for lack of sustained energy. These three life pillars are Physical Health, Financial Well-being, and Personal Tribe.
Physical Health
Our body is the vehicle that carries us from birth to death, our most fundamental asset. Imagine life’s value as a number: 1,000,000. Physical health is the “1.” Everything else—relationships, achievements, wealth—are the “0”s that follow. Without that leading “1,” life, in any meaningful sense, ceases to exist. No international fame or trust fund can serve us if our health fails.
Yet, how often do we treat this body as the temple it is? We frequently take it for granted or outright abuse it—consuming junk food, skipping sleep, living under constant stress without adequate rest or movement. Often, we lack even the basic knowledge to maintain it, or the discipline to apply what we know. We cannot build a lasting legacy on a crumbling foundation. Prioritizing our health isn’t self-indulgence; it’s the first and most critical act of responsibility toward every dream we hold.
Financial Well-being
Money is a form of energy, a necessary tool for sustaining life in society. While it can be used to build status, at its core, it is a mechanism for survival and exchange. Our relationship with it is paramount. A distorted view, whether conscious or subconscious, directly hinders our ability to generate it. If we believe money is “dirty” yet still need it, we send conflicting signals into the world and stifle our potential.
Money is neutral. It is how we earn and spend it that carries moral weight. We have a choice: to create genuine value and exchange it with dignity, or to use manipulation to transfer wealth. We can use it to provide comfort for ourselves, our loved ones, and those in need, or we can wield it for control and destructive gratification. Cultivating financial intelligence—learning to earn, manage, and spend wisely—is our personal responsibility. It is about building a healthy, respectful relationship with this energy, so it can grow steadily, like a well-tended tree, supporting our survival and freeing us to focus on growth and self-realization.
Personal Tribe
In our competitive, individualistic society, we can easily forget our innate need for connection. Yet, scientists from Harvard University confirm healthy relationships are the single most significant factor for longevity, surpassing even diet, exercise, or wealth. Connecting with family and ancestors is like a tree rooting into the soil; it provides stability and nourishment.
Not all of us are born into loving, supportive families. But we all have the capacity to build a chosen tribe—a local and global network of those who resonate with our values. Thousands of connections on Linkedin or Facebook aren’t as valuable as a few trusted friends willing to support in time of needs. This tribe includes both mentors and peers. It is our safety net in times of difficulties, a source of encouragement during struggles, and a pool of complementary skills and resources.
Moreover, we do not grow in isolation. Our tribe serves as a mirror, helping us see our blind spots—the talents we take for granted and the shadows we avoid. We find role models, inspiration, and the opportunity to discover our calling through service to others. Our tribe is the human context that makes our journey meaningful.
Kevin’s journey reflects a universal truth: the chasm between aspiration and reality is often bridged not by dreaming bigger, but by building a solid foundation beneath our feet. The Three Pillars—health, financial well-being, and tribe—are not just concepts, but action items that require daily self-leadership. By consciously fortifying them, we transform survival from a source of anxiety into a fountain of stable energy. From this grounded foundation, our capacity for growth and contribution naturally expands, turning struggle into empowered actions, allowing us to build lives capable of supporting not only ourselves, but the dreams we hold for the wider world.