FRLN84: Consistency Over Intensity, Frugal to Rich, The Reward of Work
My Brother’s Tiny Homes & The Lessons They Teach
My younger brother is visiting me here in Santa Cruz.
He lives in Sequim, WA — the small town where we both grew up — and right now, he’s in the middle of building two tiny homes on his property.
And when I say “building” I mean literally doing the work himself.
It’s a fuck ton of labor — every single day.
But when they’re done, these tiny homes will give him the financial freedom he’s been chasing for years.
So today, I’m sharing his tips, tools, and strategies for:
Staying consistent in your fitness (even when motivation dies)
Using money differently as your wealth grows (to live better)
Doing the hard work that makes your success satisfying
Let’s dive in…
FIT — Consistency Beats Intensity
One thing my brother and I agree on:
The people who stay fit for life aren’t the ones who train like maniacs for 6 weeks… They’re the ones who show up consistently for 6 years.
Intensity can get you started.
But consistency keeps you in the game.
It’s better to do three moderate workouts a week for the next decade than to crush 6 workouts a week for a month, burn out, and quit.
The “secret” to fitness longevity is boring:
Find a plan you can stick to
Keep showing up (even when you’re not in the mood)
Let the habit carry you through the low-motivation days
In fitness, consistency compounds — just like investing.
RICH — Frugality Is a Phase, Not a Prison
When you’re just starting to build wealth, being ultra-frugal is a superpower.
Cutting costs lets you save and invest more, faster.
That’s how I built my first real financial cushion.
But here’s the trap:
Some people get stuck in forever frugal mode.
They optimize only for spending less… and never learn to use their money to build their dream life.
Once you’ve hit a solid level of financial security, it’s time to evolve.
Your money should start working for you — buying back your time, creating more freedom, and funding the experiences that light you up.
Like my brother:
He’s investing every spare dollar (and hour) into building these tiny homes now…
Because in a year or two, they’ll be bringing in steady income while giving him more time to do what he loves.
The takeaway:
Be frugal when you need to be. But don’t let frugality keep you small when it’s time to grow.
LIFE — The Work Makes It Worth It
Watching my brother build these homes has been inspiring.
It’s grueling work — long days, heavy lifting, learning new skills on the fly.
But here’s the thing:
It’s his vision. His goal. His future.
And that’s why it’s worth it.
Too many people shy away from the hard work required to reach their goals.
But the truth is…
It’s often the things you work the hardest for that you cherish the most:
The business you grind to build
The relationship you fight to nurture
The personal milestone you push yourself to hit
The effort doesn’t just produce the result — it transforms you along the way.
And that transformation is priceless.
ACTION — Build Your Fit Rich Life (One Brick at a Time)
Here’s your challenge this week:
Pick a small, sustainable fitness habit and commit to it daily or weekly.
If you’re in the wealth-building phase, embrace frugality. If you’re beyond it, ask: “How can my money create more freedom for me now?”
Choose one hard thing you’ve been avoiding… and take a concrete step toward it today.
Whether it’s a workout, an investment, or a life project — lay one more brick.
Over time, those bricks become your Fit Rich Life.
To your health, wealth, and happiness,
— Justin David Carl
P.S. While my younger brother is here, I’m giving him a front-row seat to how rich life can be after you’ve put in the work to build financial freedom. We’ve been playing pickleball for hours, cold plunging in the ocean, dining out, hanging with friends, and we’re heading to Outside Lands (music festival) this weekend.
It’s a reminder that the bricks you lay now — in your fitness, your finances, and your life — eventually become the foundation you get to live, play, and thrive on.