What 47 Events Have Taught Me About Clarity, Wealth, and Freedom
By Dr. David Phelps
We just wrapped our 47th Freedom Founders event in Dallas this past weekend. After 14 years of hosting these gatherings, I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback—but this time was different. Members, guests, speakers—many of whom have been with us for years—told us:
“This was your best event ever.”
Why does that matter? Because after so many events, you start to wonder how you’ll keep it fresh, meaningful, and impactful. But this time, people didn’t just hear something useful—they felt something powerful.
And that’s the word I want to focus on: felt.
The Real Breakthrough Isn’t Tactical—It’s a Lens Shift.
I’ve been to hundreds of seminars and conferences. There’s always a new tactic to learn, a fresh idea to try. Tactics are everywhere. YouTube is full of them. So are newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and “gurus” pitching silver bullets.
But tactics alone don’t change lives.
That’s because the real shift happens at the emotional level—when people finally give themselves permission to stop chasing what they’re “supposed” to want and start focusing on what truly matters.
And that’s what we delivered this weekend: not just information, but clarity.
The Illusion of Clarity
When I ask people what they want, they often rattle off goals:
- Financial independence
- More time with family
- An exit from the practice
- A bigger portfolio.
All great goals—but are they really yours?
Too often, what we call “clarity” is just the default programming of society. We chase what we think we’re supposed to chase: a bigger business, a higher income, the next big investment. We pursue “success” as it’s defined by others.
That’s not clarity. That’s inertia.
True clarity starts when you stop asking, “What’s next?” and start asking, “Why?”
Why am I doing this? Why does this matter? What’s the outcome I really want—not just in my finances, but in my life?
Until you answer those questions, every tactic is just a distraction.
Principles Before Tactics
The best results come from aligning your principles, your strategy, and then finally your tactics—in that order.
But most of us do the opposite.
We get busy doing. We chase tactics because it feels productive. It gives us the illusion of progress.
I’ve been there. I’ve tried the shiny objects. I’ve joined masterminds looking for the “missing piece.” What I discovered-through both wins and failures-is that nothing sticks unless it’s connected to a bigger purpose.
That’s why, in Freedom Founders, we don’t just ask what you want to build—we ask why you want to build it. What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
The Power of Partnership
This isn’t a solo mission. The people who find the greatest success and fulfillment are the ones who build clarity together—as couples, as families, as aligned units.
Related Article: Collaboration, Abdication, or Rugged Individualism?]
I don’t just work with individual business owners. I work with spouses. With partners. With families trying to figure out what this life is really about—and how to shape it on their terms.
Because until you’re aligned as a family, even the best strategy won’t stick.
Wealth Is What You Don’t Need
One of the most powerful shifts I see in people is when they redefine what wealth really means.
We tend to define wealth by accumulation—how much you have. But real wealth is what you don’t need. It’s the ability to stop striving. It’s the freedom to make choices without fear. It’s optionality.
[Related Article: 9 Ways Dentists Can Maintain Financial Stability For Retirement]
That’s what we help people realize. Many of our members already have what they need—they just haven’t given themselves permission to stop chasing the next rung on the ladder.
Vision First. Then Reverse Engineer.
Everything changes when you start with the vision. At our Blueprint Days—small group sessions we run with members—we guide people through this process.
We peel back the layers, not just of their finances or practice, but of their story, their values, their priorities.
And yes, it can get emotional. The Kleenex box comes out. Because for many, it’s the first time they’ve slowed down long enough to ask: “What do I really want?”
From there, we reverse engineer everything. Your investments. Your time. Your lifestyle. It’s not about limiting growth—it’s about making growth serve the life you want to live.
Stop Chasing. Start Choosing.
Too many high achievers are flying the plane, carrying all the weight, and wondering how to land safely—without losing everything they’ve worked for.
If that’s you, let me say this: There is a way out. But it’s not a tactic. It’s a shift.
A shift from comparison to clarity.
From accumulation to purpose.
From hustle to intentionality.
You don’t need more stuff. You need more time—discretionary time. Time to be present. Time to live.
That’s the true return on investment.
Final Thought: Stop Letting “Should” Drive Your Life
Most of the stress we carry comes from trying to live a life we were told we should want.
- You should work more.
- You should scale.
- You should invest this way.
- You should follow the path others are on.
But what if you didn’t?
What if the real success was living a life that aligns with your values—not someone else’s?
That’s what we’re building at Freedom Founders. Not a better tactic. A better lens. A new way to look at life, wealth, time, and purpose.
Because once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
And once you feel it—you’ll never settle for anything less.
