Hey there, and welcome to another Momentum Markers.
What’s up, my friend. I’m so glad we get to hang out. Momentum Markers is me stepping on the scale, because momentum is a leader’s greatest friend and it builds on itself. One of the ways I track mine is simple: I log my wins daily, weekly, and quarterly. This issue recaps everything that’s happened over the last three months: the personal and family wins, the art, the podcast, and the coaching, and it gives you a look at what’s coming down the pipeline.
Here’s the principle that drives all of it: if you’re not measuring, you’re just managing chaos. When you live a life by design, not by default, you get the radical results and outcomes you’re actually building toward. So this is me reporting in.
Let’s dive in.
In your corner,
NOAH
This Issue of Momentum Markers Highlights
Personal Momentum & Wins
One of my personal discipline mantras: if you aren’t measuring, you’re managing chaos. If you want to increase momentum, it has to be tracked and reported, so here’s what that looked like at home this quarter.
- Marriage & Family. Date nights and vision-casting with Chantel have been paramount. Had we not sat down to write out what we want to achieve in this lifetime, the milestones we just celebrated never would have happened: you can’t wait for things to happen, you have to happen to life. This season we celebrated Easter together (one of the most precious photos in my camera roll), enjoyed Mother’s Day tea at the Ritz-Carlton with Griffin and her boyfriend, and marked Chantel’s 55th birthday up in LA with a special new ring, dinner at Soho House with the kids, and a stop at Double RL. A lost art worth reviving: a beautiful family dinner that doesn’t need a special occasion.
- Parenting. Big praise report: Lil’ Noah landed a job at our private club gym in Newport Beach four days a week, on top of his role at Chick-fil-A. His dream is to work at the Disneyland Resort, and he’s building real momentum toward it. Training with him at the gym is one of my favorite things we do together: hard work, but a deposit on his future self. With Griffin, I took a father-daughter trip to San Diego to officiate a vow renewal for longtime collectors and dear friends. If you don’t date your daughter, someone else will set the standard: I want to model the way she should be treated.
- Travel & Adventure. A full season of multifaceted trips, every one designed to do more than one thing. Vegas to officiate Kyle Mallory’s wedding and see dear friends Aaron and Jocelyn. Mexico and a Catalina cruise with Disney. A trip up to Redding to visit our northern office partners, where, on my first cast at one of the top eight rainbow-trout spots in the nation, I hooked one (my dad guided in northern Montana, so fly fishing is close to my soul). And we just got back from London, where we picked up a hand-built Morgan, a company building cars from ash wood and aluminum in Malvern since 1909, filmed it for an upcoming episode, stayed at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, visited a dear friend, and I hosted a spontaneous men’s meetup where nine guys showed up. I taught on the purpose behind your profit, and it turned into tears, depth, brand-new friendships, and collaborations I can’t talk about yet.
Mentorship & Men’s Fellowship
- Mentor Lunches at the Lodge. We’re in the seventh year of hosting men’s fellowship at the Lodge, and the gatherings keep getting richer as I walk guys through leadership, family, finances, stewardship, and building into their dreams. Most men don’t realize their business is one of the prime places to make an impact for the Gospel.
- Being Poured Into. I’m walking with my mentor Bob this Saturday, having lunches with Dave, breakfast with George, and continuing to learn under Chuck Swindoll. As I post this during Father’s Day week, I can’t overstate it: having mentors and coaches who speak into your life is the game-changing factor in becoming who God’s called you to be. You don’t fall into that by luck. It’s by design.
Noah Fine Art Momentum
- Coast Creative Community. My 35-year friend Dave Monnig and I teamed up with Coast Airbrush to pour into our creative community every two weeks, going live to coach artists through the Profitable Artist framework. It keeps growing, and serving these folks, handing them the solutions and the tips to hit their bullseye, is pure joy.
- Surprising the Crew at Sea. We took a seven-day Disney cruise (plus three more days right after) with friends, family, and partners: life by design, done in portfolio. In the fine-dining restaurant I drew pieces for the chef, the head maître d’, and our server. I love disrupting the people who do all the work with a little love. Catch it on social.
- Working Alongside Griffin. Integrating the kids into the business, backstage at Disney, at signings, and building memories, is one of the most beautiful things I get to do. They’re prepping, serving, and cleaning up alongside us, and the next generation gets to see what it really takes. That’s an integrated life and ministry.
- New Images Coming. I’ve got new images coming down the pipe and I’m the most excited I’ve ever been: these have been in my bloodstream for a while, and I cannot wait to get them out of my heart and into your hands.
Creating a Life by Design
- The UK Episode. We filmed our entire Cotswolds-and-Morgan journey for an upcoming episode: the car, the drives, the towns, and the men’s meetup. It’s a perfect picture of what a life by design looks like: one trip, built to do many meaningful things at once. Keep an eye on YouTube; you’ll get to see it soon.
Coaching, Consulting & Courses
- My One-on-One Clients. I only take five one-on-one clients, and I have to say thank you. The momentum I’m watching in your lives, the fruit, the impact, the marriages getting stronger, working less and making more while becoming who God called you to be, makes me proud. Special shout-outs to Kat and Zach, to Matt, and to Stu: well done. You’re crushing it.
- Building With the Right Materials. I hear a lot of talk about scaling these days, and here’s my warning: scaling the wrong thing is a house built on sand. What I love is helping leaders build with the right materials, in the right economy, for the right purpose, so they don’t miss the mark. That certainty lets you go out and live it with zero concern.
Upcoming Appearances & Events
- Jul 16-19, Scooter at WonderGround. We’re excited to have our Noah Fine Art artist, Scooter, returning to WonderGround. He’ll be on hand signing. Keep watch for dates and times coming soon!
- July, Blue Collar King Summit, Denver. Speaking to a packed room of blue-collar business owners on using their business as a mission and maximizing every square inch of life.
- Aug 20-23, Scooter Returns to WonderGround. Get ready for another amazing weekend at WonderGround as Scooter returns to be on hand to sign and dedicate his newest art pieces!
- Sep 4-6, Disneyana at the Disneyland Resort. Join Noah this Fall as he returns to Disneyana to sign and dedicate his latest additions to his collection. He can’t wait to see you there!
- TBA, D23 Expo, Anaheim. The big one: both Noah and Scooter will be there to meet you, sign, and dedicate, with multiple brand-new pieces debuting for the expo. Signing dates are still under wraps, so get on the VIP list and don’t miss it!
Not on the VIP list yet? Sign up so you’re informed of every upcoming event. Find the VIP newsletter in the menu at noahelias.net or via the link tree on Instagram.
Giving and Stewardship
Chantel and I have given our lives to seeing orphaned children with special needs in South Africa loved, cared for, and given a real home, and our lifetime goal is to see 5 fully funded homes open and thriving through Acres of Love. Every product from The Kid in Me line exists for this purpose: proceeds go directly to Acres of Love and the homes that are already open and being supported by our incredible community of donors.
We are also incredibly excited to announce that a special limited edition print is coming soon, created specifically to support these homes. Details on the release are coming, so stay tuned. None of this happens without you, and we are so grateful for every person who has chosen to partner with us in this mission.
Here’s my encouragement: make every day a deposit. Life is short, and it’s not slowing down. It feels louder, busier, and more distracted than ever. So slow down. Design more than you execute. Excavate before you build. Sharpen the saw before you start cutting.
Those who are prepared do really well when opportunity shows up. My prayer is that you stay awake, undistracted, and ready, so when God brings the opportunities by, you see them clearly and execute. Make the next quarter really matter, and build that momentum. I’ll see you in the next Momentum Markers.
In your corner,
NOAH