Over the past year, I had the merit of saying Kaddish for my father. Each morning, I would daven for the amud at my regular vasikin minyan – where the goal is to reach the Amida (Shemona Esrei) at the exact second of sunrise. Not close to sunrise. Not approximately around sunrise. We’re talking precisely on the dot. This practice is considered a big segulah – something spiritually powerful – and is treated with that level of seriousness.

To help with precision, our shul’s Gabai, Sam, a proud Yekke (German Jew), provides a daily Shacharis calendar that breaks down the tefillah into checkpoints, literally down to the second. You knew exactly where you needed to be at different points of davening to align the Amida perfectly with sunrise.

When I first started, I was admittedly nervous. It was overwhelming. I found myself watching the clock more than the siddur. I would either rush through parts of davening, worried about falling behind, or I’d speed up so much that I would awkwardly have to stall, waiting to synch up with the calendar.

Thankfully, after a few weeks, something shifted. I stopped obsessing over every second and started trusting the process. I still watched the timeline, but I used it as a guideline, not a commandment. If I was behind at one marker, I knew I could gently speed up; if I was ahead, I’d comfortably slow down. My stress lessened, and my davening became calmer and far more enjoyable. I realized that when you’re focused and in control, a second is actually a long time. And when you’re anxious and rushed, that same second disappears instantaneously.

That’s not just a davening lesson-it’s a life lesson. And it applies perfectly to money and personal finance. Many people treat their finances like a firm punch clock. They become obsessed with their budgets, projections, and goals. When something is off, they get angry, frustrated, or defeated.

Yes, you should set financial goals. Yes, you should create budgets and track spending. But don’t let the process become so rigid that one setback derails the whole plan. If you spend too much in one month, adjust the next. If your investments take a dip, zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Don’t make any rash changes. It’s not about perfection – it’s about balanced momentum.

Real financial growth – just like my Vasikin davening – isn’t about hitting every benchmark on the dot. It’s about being intentional, keeping a steady pace, and trusting the system you’ve set up. Time doesn’t change speed just because we panic. And money doesn’t grow quicker just because we obsess.

Start with the end in mind – whether that’s buying a home, getting out of debt, saving for college, or planning for retirement – reverse engineer the steps to get there. Financial success requires structure and intention but also flexibility and faith. When you stay calm, keep moving, and trust the process, you’ll get where you need to go – and usually in better shape than you expected.

This past year taught me that the difference between stress and tranquility might just come down to one thing: how we handle a single second. And while we are on the topic, for many of you, a “second” mortgage or home equity loan or line might be the perfect vehicle to help you achieve your financial objectives.

Would you rather have your own plane or your own Island? I’d love to hear your answer! Please let me know if you have a good “Would you rather” question, and we will highlight your submission.

Shmuel Shayowitz (NMLS#19871) is a highly regarded Real Estate & Finance Executive, Writer, Speaker, Coach, and Advisor. He is President and Chief Lending Officer of Approved Funding, a privately held national mortgage banker and direct lender that has facilitated over $3 billion in mortgage funding. Shmuel has over twenty years of industry experience, holding numerous licenses and accreditations, including certified mortgage underwriter, licensed real estate agent, residential review appraiser, and accredited investor, to name a few. Shmuel has successfully navigated through many changing markets and business landscapes, making his market insights and experience well-coveted within the real estate industry. He can be reached via email at Shmuel@approvedfunding.com.