4,000 Hours Later: How One Hard Truth Changed My 2025 Goals
Would you ever guess you could spend 4,000 hours—that’s 166 days—on something that didn’t truly serve you? I discovered I had done exactly that with a single video game, and this harsh realization spurred me to make sweeping changes in my life for 2025.A few nights ago, I rewatched The Forge with my twin boys. There’s a powerful moment where a young man is asked by God to give up his biggest distraction—video games—so he could grow spiritually. It got me thinking, “What if I checked how many hours I’ve poured into gaming myself?” The number was shocking: 4,000 hours, nearly half a year of my life. Suddenly, all those “quick rounds” added up to a glaring sum of time that could’ve been spent: ✅ Growing my business ✅ Deepening my relationship with my children ✅ Focusing on my health and fitness ✅ Strengthening my faith through daily prayer and scripture study That’s when I realized: These games weren’t just entertainment; they were obstacles. They represented my tendency to escape instead of engage with life’s challenges. So, I made the decision to delete them all—no more running, no more hiding. The Turning Point: ✅ Awareness: The first step is recognizing distractions for what they are. In my case, it was gaming. For you, it might be Netflix, social media, or mindless scrolling. ✅ Intentionality: I’m committed to redirecting the time I used to spend in gaming toward real goals: weaponizing my body with consistent fitness, strengthening my finances by finally mastering the “keep money” and “grow money” phases, and putting deeper roots into my spiritual life. ✅ Long-Term Vision: It’s not just about quitting something; it’s about making room for the people and projects that truly matter. By removing one key obstacle, I can now invest in my life’s purpose—becoming the speaker, coach, and father I’m meant to be. As we dive into this new year, I challenge you: Identify your 4,000-hour obstacle. ✅ Name it. ✅ Decide how you can reduce or eliminate it. ✅ Replace it with something that moves you toward your goals—physical, financial, spiritual, or personal.