Chasing Purpose Before Money: The Legacy Loop Series w/ Rhiannon Nilson

Episode 048: What if the most important career decision you make has nothing to do with money? In this episode, Rhiannon and I continue our journey from college into the early years of marriage—when we were chasing purpose long before we were chasing wealth. We look back on everything from my surprise marriage proposal at Gonzaga, to the uncertainty of tearing my Achilles before graduation, to moving across the world so I could pursue my dream of playing professional basketball in Germany. Those years were filled with unknowns, setbacks, and plenty of moments where we had no idea what came next. But they also became some of the most meaningful years of our lives. We share what it was like living in Germany with one space heater, a handful of DVDs, and very little money. Rhiannon talks about how teaching at an international school helped her discover a new calling, while I share how falling in love with strength and conditioning eventually became a bigger dream than basketball itself. We also revisit one of the most difficult seasons of our marriage—returning home after my basketball opportunity unexpectedly disappeared, living in my parents' basement, working temporary jobs, and trying to figure out what our future would look like. Looking back, we realize those weren't detours. They were preparing us for everything that came after. In this episode, we discuss: Why pursuing meaningful work was more important than chasing the biggest paycheck. How setbacks often become the turning points that shape our future. What living in Germany taught us about gratitude, simplicity, and marriage. Why shared struggles often strengthen relationships more than shared successes. How the right amount of resistance helped shape our marriage and our future. One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that purpose isn't always found on a straight path. Sometimes it's uncovered through disappointment, uncertainty, and the doors that unexpectedly close. Those early years didn't make us wealthy. They made us stronger. Next Episode: When Money Became the Goal — As our careers began to take off, we found ourselves making smart financial decisions, buying rental properties, and building businesses. But somewhere along the way, I slowly stopped asking what money was for and started measuring success by how much I could accumulate. That shift changed everything—and ultimately became one of the biggest lessons behind the Legacy Loop.