What We Gave Up to Build an Extraordinary Family Life

Are you afraid to give something up—even if you know it’s holding your family back?What if the “sacrifice” you’re resisting is the exact bridge to the life you actually want?

In this powerful conversation, Greg and Rachel answer a listener’s question inspired by James Allen: “He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” They share the real sacrifices they made to build an extraordinary family life—from walking away from comfort and conformity to investing tens of thousands into personal growth, ditching entertainment for education, and choosing experiences and character over stuff. You’ll learn how to overcome the fear of loss, handle others’ opinions, and trade short-term ease for long-term joy, health, and purpose.

Big idea: It’s hard to call it a “sacrifice” when what you get back is better than what you gave up. Bottom line: The most important investment you’ll ever make is in yourself—and then in your spouse and kids.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Comfort is costly—trade it for purpose, health, and momentum.

✅ Invest in yourself first, then your spouse and kids.

✅ Entertainment steals growth; education multiplies it.

✅ Ditch “peacock pageantry”—results beat credentials.

✅ Own your outcomes—no blame, no excuses.

✅ Failure ≠ final—it’s fertilizer for your future.

Chapters

00:00 Daily Sacrifices for a Better Life

23:14 Intentional Living and Personal Responsibility

28:39 The Rewards of Sacrifice

31:27 EFL YouTube Outro Full Updated.mp4

Memorable Quotes

🗣 “It’s hard to call it a sacrifice when the return is better than what you gave up.”

🗣 “Most people are entertaining themselves to death—and taking their families with them.”

🗣 “Results are the only real qualification.”

🗣 “Only little people get upset over little things.”

🗣 “Failure is fertilizer—use it.”

RESOURCES:

Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.

• How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)

• Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠

• Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠

• Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠

• Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!

• Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠

• Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life Planner

• JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE! 

• Join the Formidable Family Man Masterclass and Tribe

• Gather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal