Climbing the Mountain of Financial Success: Insights from Ray Blum
Financial success is often seen as the ultimate goal—a peak to strive toward, a mountain to climb. Yet, what happens when you reach that summit and realize it’s not enough? Ray Blum, a community leader, mentor, and successful entrepreneur, shared invaluable insights on this very topic during his guest appearance on Intentional Movement.
Ray’s story begins in San Bernardino, California—a city often stigmatized for its challenges. He grew up there, left to find success, and then felt a calling to return. “I tried leaving multiple times,” he said. “But something kept pulling me back.” In 2005, he returned to San Bernardino and eventually moved his businesses to the city in 2020, fully committing to being part of its transformation.
But Ray didn’t come back with blind optimism. He came back with a plan, rooted in years of experience, reflection, and a passion for making a difference. His insights for those climbing the mountain of success are profound and practical:
1. Seek a Mentor Who’s Walked the Path
“Find a mentor who has not only achieved financial success but also has the humility and wisdom to share the valleys as well as the peaks,” Ray advises. True mentors aren’t just about boasting their wins—they’re open about their challenges and failures. They’ve been through the fire, and they’re willing to guide others through it too.
2. Learn the Principle, Then Live It
“Spend time sitting and pondering,” Ray says. “It’s one thing to learn a principle, but living it is entirely different.” This practice requires intentional stillness, something Ray admits he once avoided. “Before 2017, I couldn’t sit with myself. I was running—from God, from deeper purpose, from my own thoughts.” But through reflection and asking himself hard questions, Ray found clarity and purpose.
The Importance of Leadership and Vision
When Ray returned to San Bernardino, he noticed a recurring issue: a lack of clear leadership and vision. He observed how neighboring cities like Fontana and Riverside had turned their situations around, yet San Bernardino seemed stuck. “If you don’t know where you’re starting from, you can’t get to where you want to go,” he explains. For Ray, leadership isn’t just about ideas—it’s about having a clear, actionable vision that aligns with the community’s needs.
Balancing Business, Ministry, and Community Impact
Ray doesn’t see a separation between his for-profit ventures, nonprofit work, and church involvement. “Everything I do is ministry,” he says. His businesses, including a commercial insurance brokerage and a general contracting firm that provides career paths in construction, serve as vehicles for mentorship and community building. His nonprofit, Cityway, focuses on economic development in San Bernardino, aiming to create long-term change.
Despite his busy schedule, Ray emphasizes the importance of passing the torch to the next generation. “The goal is to mentor, disciple, and develop leaders who can take things farther than I ever could,” he says. It’s a mindset that prioritizes legacy over individual achievement.
Success Beyond Money
Ray’s journey has taught him that money, while important, doesn’t solve life’s most significant challenges. He recalls moments like his grandson’s health crisis and his own health struggles in 2017 that reshaped his perspective. “At that moment, I would’ve given everything I had just to make him well,” he reflects. “Money can’t buy joy, peace, or fulfillment.”
For those still striving for financial success—or those who’ve achieved it but feel unfulfilled—Ray offers two pieces of advice: find a mentor who can guide you with humility, and spend time reflecting on your deeper purpose. As he puts it, “Ask yourself tough questions. If money and influence solved everything, why do we see so many broken lives among the wealthy?”
Introducing “Business by the Book”
Ray is now launching a new initiative called Business by the Book, which merges biblical principles with practical business strategies. “God’s principles work whether you know Him or not,” Ray explains. The program is designed to inspire both believers and non-believers to apply timeless principles for success in business and life. “It’s about relationships, not religion,” he says. “Ultimately, it’s people and relationships that drive everything.”
Final Thoughts
Ray Blum’s story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of giving back. For those climbing the mountain of financial success, his advice is clear: seek guidance, live intentionally, and remember that true success is about more than money—it’s about meaning. As Ray puts it, “Success in areas money can’t buy—that’s where the real treasure is.”
Ray’s Business by the Book will be launching soon, offering actionable insights for entrepreneurs and leaders seeking both financial success and a deeper sense of purpose. Until then, keep striving, reflecting, and making intentional movements.
