"Planning for a Successful 2025? Here’s Why Most Fail—and the 2 Biblical Secrets Achievers Use"

As we prepare to enter a new year and set our goals in faith, focus (work) and finance, the challenges ahead can feel overwhelming. While strategy and execution are critical, the company you keep on your journey is one of the most underestimated factors that can make or break your mission.

The Bible provides timeless wisdom on this topic. Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV) warns,

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” 

This verse highlights the profound influence of those around us on our success. As we reflect on our goals, we must carefully assess our circle and be vigilant about two kinds of people: Disbelievers and Dead Weight.

Disbelievers: The Power of Negative Voices 🛑

In Numbers 13 and 14, Joshua's journey teaches us a hard lesson about disbelievers. Joshua, Caleb, and ten other spies were sent to scout the Promised Land. Upon their return, Joshua and Caleb were full of faith, urging the Israelites to take the land as God had commanded. However, the other ten spies spread fear, declaring:

"We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!... Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:31-33, NLT)

This negative report led to widespread panic and rebellion, ultimately delaying the Israelites' mission. God's judgment was swift—He struck the ten disbelieving spies with a plague and condemned the Israelites to wander the wilderness for 40 years.

The ten spies who brought a bad report died of a plague. Only Joshua and Caleb survived - the spies who trusted in God to keep His promises and give them the land

🧠 The lesson? 

Disbelievers are not just doubters; they are voices of defeat that can derail your purpose before you even begin.

• Do not entertain their negativity. As God showed, the consequences of aligning with disbelievers can be devastating.

• Leave them behind. Disbelievers belong in the wilderness of your past. Surround yourself with people who encourage faith, not fear. 🙏

  
  

Dead Weight: Hidden Saboteurs in Your Journey ⚠️

Even among believers, there may be individuals who hinder progress. Joshua 7 provides a striking example. After the triumphant fall of Jericho, a man named Achan disobeyed God by taking sacred items for himself. His actions brought God's anger upon the entire nation, resulting in a humiliating defeat against the small town of Ai.

When Joshua sought God, he was instructed to remove the source of sin. Achan and everything he possessed was destroyed, after which Israel regained God's favour and moved forward in victory.

Joshua and the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had. They brought them to the valley of Achor where they stoned them to death

⚡ The lesson? 

Deadweight may not openly oppose your goals but will undermine them through disobedience, selfishness, or hidden agendas. To succeed:

• Identify and remove dead weight. It may be painful, but clinging to such people can cost you dearly.

• Prioritize the mission over relationships. Sometimes, progress requires hard decisions to protect your purpose.

The Influence of Your Circle 🌍

The research underscores what Scripture teaches about the power of influence. A Harvard School of Public Health study found that your closest relationships significantly impact your behaviour. For example:

• If a close friend is obese, your chances of becoming obese increase by 57%.

• If a sibling is obese, the risk rises by 40%, and by 37% if it’s a spouse.

This principle applies beyond physical health. Whether building a business, pursuing education, or improving finances, the people closest to you can either propel you forward or hold you back. 🧗‍♂️

Hard Decisions for the Promised Land 🏆

Reaching your Promised Land—achieving financial freedom, launching a business, or fulfilling a personal mission—requires discernment. Joshua’s story reminds us that we must make hard decisions to succeed:

1. Cut ties with disbelievers. Their negativity will paralyze you. ❌

2. Remove dead weight. Even among allies, there are those whose presence hinders progress. ⚖️

3. Curate your circle. Walk with wise and faithful individuals who align with your mission. 🤝

As you set goals for the new year, take inventory of your relationships. Ask yourself:

• Who speaks faith into my journey? ✨

• Who holds me back through disbelief or disobedience?

  
  

God has placed dreams in your heart for a reason. To fulfil them, you must protect your mission from the influence of disbelief and dead weight. Success often requires strategic planning and the courage to choose your circle wisely.

Make the hard decisions today, and watch how God clears the path for you to enter your Promised Land. 🌟

Our Community Of Believers and Investors (Doers) 👥

💡 Applying this in your journey: To help you silence the voices of disbelief and eliminate dead weight, we’ve created the F3 Army WhatsApp Group, a thriving community of over 1,000 Zambian bond investors. This group is exclusively for individuals who have completed our Investing in Bonds Course and taken their first steps into Zambian government bond investing. In the F3 Army, you’ll find encouragement, practical tips, and shared experiences from like-minded individuals who understand your journey and are committed to building wealth together. It’s the perfect circle to keep you motivated and on track in a country where only 6 out of 1,000 adults invest. Surround yourself with believers and doers who are ready to grow with you!