Pastor and bestselling author Mark Batterson joins Bob to unpack one of the most misunderstood principles of growth: the way breakthroughs actually happen—gradually, then suddenly.

From Warren Buffett's compounding to Jim Carrey's famed $10M check, to the long arc of ministry, writing, generosity, and family life, this conversation is a hopeful reset for anyone who feels "behind."

In This Episode

Why most "overnight success" stories take decades
What 95-year-olds say they would do differently (and how it should change our lives today)
The "25-year time machine" mindset that makes ordinary moments priceless
Why young adults often underestimate what God can do in 10–20 years
How Mark pastors a church with seven properties and zero debt — and the long-term mindset behind it
Turning your church "inside out": how NCC generates $2M/year through marketplace engagement
The hidden power of giving goals (and the difference between getting vs. giving goals)
The surprising truth about Buffett's wealth: it's not returns… it's time
Mark's take on grand gestures, faith steps, and why God honors long obedience
Bob's story of writing a 5-year giving goal that seemed impossible—and what God did
What to do when your dream is taking way longer than you thought

Key Quotes

"You'll overestimate what you can do in two years and underestimate what God can do in ten." —Mark Batterson
"Faith is taking the first step before God reveals the second." —Mark Batterson
"The greatest risk is taking no risks." —Mark Batterson
"We decided to do a ten-year book launch. Let's give it a decade and see if it's any good." —Bob Lotich

Timestamps

00:00 — Why get-rich-quick thinking never works

01:00 — Introducing Mark Batterson & the story behind Gradually, Then Suddenly

02:00 — What 95-year-olds regret most

04:00 — The "25-year time machine" for parenting and life

05:00 — Why we plan vacations better than our futures

07:00 — The power of long-range thinking (and why it's so rare)

08:00 — Why most people quit right before the breakthrough

10:00 — Bob's 10-year book launch strategy

12:00 — Early results vs. long obedience

14:00 — The myth of the fast start: Circle Maker sales + slow beginnings

16:00 — Teaching a generation to love "gradually"

19:00 — Mark's 29-year pastoral journey and miraculous property story

21:00 — Why NCC's venue generates $2M/year

24:00 — What church leaders can learn from marketplace strategy

28:00 — Jim Carrey's $10M check and the power of a grand gesture

29:00 — Bob's five-year giving goal that changed everything

32:00 — How giving goals open doors for God to move

34:00 — What to do with dreams that are taking too long

35:00 — Closing encouragement + where to get the book

Resources & Links

Mark Batterson's new book: Gradually, Then Suddenly
The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday

If You Enjoyed This Episode

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BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime).

If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books."

You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

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