Understanding the ebbs & flow of money

In the Bible Genesis 41 — The Joseph Forecast

Scripture gives a blueprint for this.

Genesis 41 isn’t only a story about God giving Joseph the meaning of a dream—it’s a blueprint for how to live wisely through life’s seasons. Joseph teaches that abundance isn’t meant to be consumed all at once; it’s meant to be managed so you can survive—and bless others—when the famine comes.

1) God reveals seasons, not just surprises.Pharaoh has two dreams: healthy cows swallowed by sick cows, and full grain swallowed by thin grain. Joseph says it’s one message repeated: God is confirming what will happen. Seven years of abundance are coming, and then seven years of famine so severe people will forget the good years.Principle: Some hardships are predictable seasons. The real question is: Will we prepare during the years of plenty?

2) Faith responds with a plan.Joseph doesn’t just interpret the dream—he gives strategy: appoint wise leadership, gather during the abundant years, and store one-fifth as a reserve. He builds a system for the future.Principle: Faith isn’t passive. When God gives warning or wisdom, we respond with practical steps.

3) Discipline in abundance creates stability in famine.Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge, and they store grain “beyond measure.” When famine hits Egypt and the surrounding nations, Egypt has provision and people have somewhere to turn.Principle: Saving isn’t just self-protection—it’s preservation. You don’t collapse, and you can help others.

Application: money flowing vs. money drying up.When money is flowing—extra hours, refunds, help from family—Joseph would say: Don’t assume this season lasts forever. Store some on purpose. Build margin: savings, debt reduction, a simple system. The “20%” shows a mindset: save a meaningful portion while you can.When money is dry—hours cut, emergencies, unexpected bills—don’t panic. Use what was stored, tighten spending, ask for help early, and seek wise counsel without shame.

Let that sit with you.

Transcript

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Now, my name is Vendero Jenkins, and my greatest accomplishment in life was my financial comeback, where I went from a negative net worth to a million dollar net worth. Now I'm an author, public speaker, real estate investor, business owner, and life coach. But I never will forget the faces of people that are just trying to make ends meet. I know that 60% of middle class people cannot cover an emergency expense of$1,000 without going to a credit card. Only 8% of people in the US that look like me make over$100,000. Most middle class people at retirement age have less than$100,000 in their retirement accounts. These stats are alarming, and I want to build a community so that we can talk about it, educate each other about it, and make real change. Now that's economic empowerment. Let's learn to make money while we sleep. I see you, I have been you, and I want to empower you. Episode 16 The Ebbs and Flow of Money. Why understanding life helps you master your money? That's what I want to talk about today. Why understanding life helps you master your money? Let's learn to make money while we sleep. I see you, I have been you, and now I want to empower you. Let's talk about something that doesn't get talked about enough. Life isn't just a straight line, and neither is your money. There are seasons of abundance and seasons of strain. Moments when everything is flowing, opportunities are everywhere, income is up, and then there are times when it feels like nothing is working, nothing is moving, and everything is tight. But hear me clearly, that's not failure, that's the rhythm, that's the ebbs and flow. And if you don't understand that rhythm, you'll misinterpret your entire financial journey. Because finances are a microcosm of life itself. You know, growing up I heard these sayings. Life is full of ups and downs, but don't stay down, dust yourself off, and get up. You can't have the highs without the lows. They give each other meaning. You can't really appreciate the highs if you don't know the lows. Every setback is a setup for a strong comeback. Hard times will bend you, but they don't have to break you. Just like the season life changes from hot to cold. Nothing stays hot forever. A fool gets comfortable when it's sunny because he never prepares for the rain. Understand that there are ebbs and flows and peaks and valleys that you have to navigate, but they're going to be there. Let's dive into the hills and valleys of money. Let's talk about the mountains first when it's flowing, like when everything is good. The good times A sudden income jump, promotions, new jobs, overtime, commissions are hidden, or a strong bonus cycle. You feel it in small ways. You stop checking your balance before you make routine purchases. You know you got money, so you just purchase it. You're finally ahead on your bills. You know a new lifestyle can creep up on you. You start saying, we can afford it now. Hey, we're making a little money now. You start locking in higher fixed expenses into your monthly baseline. I remember when I was in college, I used to go in my pocket and count my money before I ordered. But hey, once I start making a little money, I order what I want. I know I got it. And that that happens naturally in life. Life is good. You got business, side hustles. Clients are saying yes faster than you can deliver. Referrals show up. A product is selling without you begging for attention. Cash deposits are frequent, and optimism rises with every notification. Now the risk of this is uh assuming the pipeline is permanent, like this money is gonna flow forever, everything is gonna be good forever. Start hiring too early, taking on new subscriptions, tools, and expanding overhead because demand feels guaranteed. You could also get tricked by a low expense season. I mean no major emergencies, no big repairs, travel is minimal, maybe interest rates are favorable, or you've just finished paying off a loan. Things seems good, everything's smooth. It feels like we finally have breathing room. People start to treat this thing like it's the norm and not the calm before the storm. Like it's gonna last forever. You should be recognizing it as a window to build reserves and reduce future downtimes. Let's talk a little about the valley that we have all seen. The valley. Bills don't slow down just because income did. Fixed costs become a weight. I purchased a laundromat and I purchased it in the fall and through the winter. Everything was going well. People coming in with these big blankets, coats, and heavy clothes, washing it, and wow, the money was coming in, it was coming in. And all of a sudden, summer came, and all of a sudden things changed. Well, people were wearing short pants. All of a sudden, kids didn't have to wear uniforms, and they people were not having blankets washed, and everything slowed down, and it seemed like it happened overnight. I just didn't see that coming, but I should have. When the money slowed down, things started to get heavier. The bills, the medical expenses, cars, home repairs, insurance, taxes, uh, the water bill, the electric bill, all those things kept coming. You start making trade-offs you didn't have to make before. Which bill to delay, what to cut, what to ignore? There's opportunity drought, emotional fatigue. You're trying, you're trying, you're applying, you're pitching, you're posting, you're networking, but nothing converts to leads. Leads go quiet, interview stall, customers circle back. Hey, we'll circle back with you, we'll circle back with you. We've all been through that. If you're a business person, if you're out here hustling, you've seen these things happen. The hidden cost is mental, decision fatigue, stress spending, avoidance, and the sense that you're pushing a boulder uphill. You stop trusting your own timing, and depression can lead to bad financial decisions, high interest debt, panic selling, risky bets. But hear me, but hear me good. That isn't failure. That's the rhythm, that's the ebbs and flow. And if you don't understand the rhythm, you'll misread your entire financial journey. You'll call a normal valley a personal collapse. Because money doesn't just reflect your budget. Finances are a microcosm of life itself. Let's do a comparison. Think about your life. There's highs, there's wins, there's promotion, breakthroughs, times of clarity, the lows, setbacks, grief, confusion, rebuilding. Now think about your money, peaks, earnings, investing, building, stacking assets, the valley, adjusting, cutting back, learning hard lessons, and stabilizing. Most people make one big mistake. They think the goal is to eliminate the valleys. That's not the goal. The goal is to learn how to navigate the valleys. Because valleys aren't designed to destroy you, they're really designed to develop you. Let's learn to make money while we sleep. I see you, I have been you, and now I want to empower you. This is the Zero to One Million Podcast. I am your host, Vendero Jenkins, and I want you to become more comfortable being uncomfortable with the ebbs and flow of money. If you understand the ups and downs of life, you can understand how money flows, the ebbs and flow. How many of us remember in Bible class they talked about Genesis 41, the Joseph forecast? Scripture gives us a blueprint for this what we're talking about today. In Genesis 41, it isn't only a story about God giving Joseph the meaning of a dream, it's a blueprint for how to live wisely through life seasons. Joseph teaches that an abundance isn't meant to be consumed all at once. It's meant to be managed so you can survive and bless others when the famine comes. God reveals seasons, not just surprises. Pharaoh has two dreams healthy cows swallowed by sick cows and full grains swallowed by thin grains. Joseph says it's one message repeated. God is confirming what will happen. Seven years of abundance are coming and then seven years of famine, so severe people will forget the good years. A the real question is will we prepare during the years of plenty? Will we prepare during the years of plenty? Now Joseph doesn't just interpret the dream. They gather during the abundant years and store one fifth as a reserve, 20% if all your math geniuses. He builds a system for the future. Faith isn't passive. When God gives warning or wisdom, we respond with practical steps. You see, discipline when there is abundance creates stability when there's famine. Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge and they store grain beyond measure. When famine hits Egypt and the surrounding nation, Egypt has provision, and people have somewhere to turn, using that Bible story for application. When money is flowing, we're getting extra hours, we're getting that tax refund. It's that season, tax refunds, people getting their tax, they already didn't spend it, but they get those tax refunds. Maybe some help from family, something happens. Joseph would say, don't assume this season lasts forever. Store some on purpose. Build margins, savings, uh, debt reduction. The 20% shows a mindset. Save a meaningful portion while you can. When money is dry, hours cut, there's emergencies, unexpected bills pop up. Don't panic. Use what you have stored. Tighten spending, ask for help early, and seek wise counsel without shame. Those are the things that you should do. Now put that in a pipe and smoke it. Let that sit with you for a while. The abundance wasn't just for enjoyment, it was for preparation. The overflow had an assignment. The overflow had an assignment. And this is where a lot of people miss it. When money is flowing, they upgrade lifestyle instead of upgrading a strategy. They celebrate the harvest and ignore the forecast. Storms are coming. There is rain coming. There's 60% rain on Saturday and Sunday. You have to be ready for that. But if you understand life, you know drought seasons aren't a maybe, they are a guarantee. Hey, let's take a commercial break. Let's take a commercial break. This commercial is by www.ogoldconsulting.com. My ultimate goal was to get people from middle class communities and marginalized communities to start talking about financial stability. I did that with my podcast and now my books. I wanted to write a book that was a Teach the Teacher manual. And this book right here, Coaching Keith the Amasi. It's like an economic empowerment GPS with guardrails. You see, guardrails don't slow you down. Guardrails make sure you don't run off the road. You can keep going. And if you stay on the road, this book here, I'm gonna get you there. I have about 50 copies. I just got in, and I'll be able to sign them and send them out. If you message me on uh my messenger on Facebook, I'll get them to you. And if you know my information, you can text me. Or you can just get the book yourself, uh wwgoldconsulting.com. You can purchase my other book, 0 to 1 million, on that as well. I just wanted to let you know I got about 50 copies that I'm I'm willing to send out. If you would just send me your address, let me know you want it. I will send you a um a way to pay pay for it, and it's just$15. All right. All right, we're back. We're back. So let's talk about some strategies that sh we should use when money is flowing. What should we do when money is flowing? You see, the way I look at it, how you manage the peak of the mountain, it determines how you survive the valley. Don't get comfortable. Good seasons can seduce you like a sultry voice into believing they're permanent. That sultry voice that says, hello, I'll be with you for always. Nah. They aren't. This is not always. You need to build your reserves, emergency funds. That's the pfft, man. We talk about emergency funds in every episode. Emergency funds aren't just math, they're breathing room. They keep a surprise expense from turning into a crisis. And we've seen that. Any kind of little something that pops up is a crisis for most people. Invest intentionally, not emotionally, not impulsively, not because you saw a post intentionally based on goals, time, horizons, and the risk. Stay disciplined as your income rises. Just because you can spend more doesn't mean you should. Remember the rhythm. Tell yourself this is a season, not a permanent state. That mindset will keep you sharp for the valley. You need to see what type of valley you're in. Here's the truth. Not all financial valleys are the same. If you misdiagnose the valley, you'll prescribe the wrong solution. The discipline valley. Money is tight because of the past decisions, overspending, no plan, no structure. This valley teaches self-control and systems and systems. The unexpected valley. Life happens. Job loss, medical bills, emergency. This valley teaches preparedness, reserves, insurance protections. The growth valley, it feels tight because you're investing in something bigger, a business, a vision. Returns are slow and maybe delayed. Pressure's real. This valley teaches patience and endurance. And it's where most people quit too early. They quit too early. Hey, then there is the transition valley. Your shifting levels, new career, new income, new structure, new responsibilities. The old way doesn't work anymore. But the new way isn't stable yet. This valley teaches adaptability and humility. Ask yourself, what kind of valley am I in? Because each one requires a different response. You see, actually I look at it in the opposite way that most people do. The valley builds the person who can handle the peak, the mountain. The valley is doing something to you. When money is tight, you learn discipline. When mistakes cost you, you gain wisdom. When growth is slow, you develop patience. Those aren't just money traits, those are life traits. And when the upswing comes, and it will, you're not just earning more, you're handling more. That's why some people lose money and bounce back stronger, and others lose money and they stay stuck. It's not just what they lost, it's what they learn. But when you expect downturns, you stop reacting emotionally and start moving strategically because you know the downturn is going to come. Well, let me start to bring this thing to a close. If I was a preacher, I'd tell the organists, hey, let's get going here. I'd be saying, May the Lord bless you real good. Life isn't a straight line, and neither is your money. There are peaks where you are building and valleys where you're becoming. And if you can understand life, its rhythms, its patterns, its unpredictability, you can understand money, the ebbs and flow. Because money moves like life. It flows, it shifts, it changes. And people who win aren't the ones who avoid the downs. They're the ones who learn how to. To navigate it. So the question isn't will I face a valley? The question is will I be ready when it comes? See, that's one of the things when I was a federal agent. We used to call ourselves sheepdogs. The sheep's hope bad times don't come. The sheepdogs say, I hope it does come 'cause I'm ready. I'm ready. And we always said we were sheepdogs. I wind this up with the Langston Hughes porn Mother the Son. Well, son, I'll tell you, life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, it's had splinters and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor, just bare. But all the time I've been climbing on and reaching landings and turning corners, and sometimes going in the dark where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you sit down on the steps 'cause you find it kinda hard. Don't you fall now, for I still going, honey, I still climb it, and life for me ain't been no crystal stair. Langston Hughes, mother to son. Let's make money while we sleep. I see you, I have been you. And now I want to empower you. I'm Vendero Jenkins, and I'm out.