Fearless Friday| Leverage these tools to create your financial freedom

Happy Friday!  I wanna share a little story of an interaction that occurred a few weeks back.  It was on a Friday, not unlike this one. I stopped into a business to buy some supplies. While waiting for the credit card receipt to print, the friendly guy at the register asks "got any special plans this weekend?"  I reflected for a moment and responded, "I guess I haven't thought about it."  I hesitated for a moment before I went on to say "I like the idea of having freedom over my time so I don't have to wait until the weekend to do what I want to do."

At that moment, I noticed a small shift in his face.  I'd describe the look as a mix between excitement and disappointment. He proceeded to tell me how he would love to do his own thing and not work for anyone.   I could tell that he wanted to escape his 9-5 so badly but felt hopelessly trapped.  He mentioned having the responsibility of having two children and so on.  I understand where he's coming from.  I mean, leaving the "security" of a regular paycheck can seem like a scary thing.

BUT, at the same time, I could tell he wanted to experience a different reality.  And I know a lot of you want to as well.  My last post on financial abundance struck a chord with many of you.  I received a ton of emails where many of you shared your desire to change your current situation.  But it seemed like the biggest challenge was knowing where & how to start.

Before I broke free, studied dozens of stories of those who left their job to pursue the life they wanted.  Although all the stories are different, there were some commonalities that we can all learn from.  For the purposes of this post, we are discuss both time and financial freedom. Not just making more money at your job (I can write a post on this topic too if you guys are interested).  But first, I'd like you to take a moment and remind yourself that there are millions of people who are living financially successful lives without having to work for a someone. What you are doing now is an option. It's not mandatory.  It doesn't have to be this way.

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, let's move on. Basically,  there seem to be two different paths to freedom.
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PATH [1]:  Person A works full time and starts business on the side that eventually becomes a full time income source.

PATH [2]:  Person B is unexpectedly laid off from their job and, starts a business that eventually creates their financial success.

In both of these scenarios, there are two factors involved:  TIME + MONEY.  Time and money are your keys to creating the life you seek.

In scenario 1, person A has a limited amount of time but has access to money (via her paycheck).

 In scenario 2, person B has limited amount of money but has complete access to use her time to create income streams.
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I fell under the first scenario.  My time was extremely limited and I received a check every two weeks.  Team, I worked 50-70+ a week.  It was not uncommon for me to be on conference calls at 11:00 pm.  Once we were on a call that ran into the next morning.  Not to mention the times when I'd wake up at 2:30 am, work on my side projects before leaving the house at 4:00 am to catch a 5:30 flight.  I pretty much worked through every weekend and operated on very little sleep.  It was insane.  But, I'm grateful for all of that because it helped me get up every day and work with great intensity to change the situation.  If I had a job where I was home every night by 6:00 pm, I may not have felt the burning desire to keep pushing forward.  Your time is VERY valuable. You have to realize it's value and redirect how you spend your time.  I know a few people who tell me they want to create freedom but they don't utilize any of their free time to changing their situation.

Here's how I feel about using my time to create my future.  When I wanted to start my career, I spent hours in classes to get a degree so I could get the job.  Why wouldn't I allocate my time to create my new "career?"  The harder you work now, the harder you get to play later.  Yes, there were years when I couldn't really "enjoy" free time, but yesterday I went for a 90 minute massage at 9:30 am when most people are starting their work day.

Actually, let me clarify, even though I worked like a madwoman, I still did things like go out to brunch, visit the mall, etc. But when I was home, I was always working.  If I'm watching online t.v, I opened a second window to work at the same time.

Because the amount of time I could contribute to my projects was limited, I adjusted my budget to save a good sized portion of every paycheck.  It may seem like I spend all my money on hair products and beauty tools, but believe me, I saved way more than I spent.  Without money in the bank, there's no confidence to finally make that decision to venture out.  I also invested some of the money into building my entrepreneurial skill set (invested in coaches, courses, etc).

There was a lot work I needed to do on my mindset.  For instance, I built a successful career that paid well.  I had a company car, expense account, enjoyed wonderful dinners, free trips, stock options, you name it.  I essentially had on a pair of golden handcuffs.   Leaving that type of environment is scary to say the least. So I had to let go of the belief that this job was the only way I could enjoy that type of lifestyle.  The new belief I took on was that I could earn even more through my businesses.  Even if I didn't earn more money, the time freedom would make up for the difference. Working for someone else is optional. I also had the option to create freedom.

When I first ventured on this journey to financial and time freedom, I had no idea what I wanted to do.  I know a lot of you are in a similar situation.  Because I didn't know exactly what I'd be doing, I focused more on the lifestyle I wanted to live.  I fantasized on what I would do with my free time.  And I kept repeating a mantra that I've had for years.  I've always told people that earning money from a business (or online) is superior to working because the growth potential is so much greater.

Towards the end of my work life, I'd laugh silently to myself when my supervisor  informed me of my 3% annual increase.  The revenue I generated online, on the other hand, was growing exponentially.  Although I wasn't making anywhere near what I earned at work, I knew that it could easily over take it based on:
(1) how fast it was growing,
(2) there was no limit on how much I could earn.

It's like being given the option of $100,000.00 now or  one penny doubled every day.  Having a fixed income is like choosing the $100,000.00 up front.  But a penny doubled every day will grow to over $500,000.00 in 30 days.

Again, I go back to my initial advice for your to earn your first $1.00 outside of your job.  That dollar has so much power in it. That measly little dollar can turn into millions if you keep getting better at what you do.  Again, you have time and money at your disposal.  Use them both.  If you don't know what to do next, find someone who is doing what you want and model their path.  If you'd like to connect with me for more insight, drop me a note.

Fearless Friday | Journey to Financial Freedom

Today we're bringing back the topic of financial growth.  As I mentioned in my 2015 intentions post, this is the Year of Abundance!  Lately, in my conversations with others, most share how they are unhappy at their current job. Almost all of them dream of doing something on their own and becoming financially independent. Yet most of them haven't taken any action to achieve that goal.

Back when was in my early twenties, I still worked at my dad's business.  It was a little shop where he sold merchandise and trinkets to tourists.  The work wasn't at all glamorous and I dreamed of the day when I could finally get an office job in corporate America.  At the age of 26, I finally got a "real job." A very entry level position in my field earning less than $10.00.  But I was elated.  Finally, my path to financial future was set.

Once at my new company, I set my sets on learning as much as possible so I can prepare myself for greater responsibilities.  My dad taught me the value of working hard and I was ready to show the decision makers how hard I was willing to work.  Then one day, I read this article which changed everything.  He talked about passive income and making money 24/7 instead of during a few working hours.  He called us morons for thinking that a job equals security.  I worked in the HR Field so I know first hand that job security is all smoke and mirrors.  Once I was awakened to the path called financial freedom, I was hungry to learn more.  Books such as the 4 Hour Work Week inspired me to create a muse that could generate income and free me from the trappings of corporate life.

The entire time I desired freedom, I also strived to increase my income.  In a few short years, I was able to grow my income substantially.  Here's a tip, if you want to earn a high salary, you've got to be willing to move around.  Meaning, if you stay in the same position for years, you are robbing yourself of potential income.  By the time I left my first company, four years after being hired making $9.75 an hour, I received several promotions and was earning just over $50k a year.  Not bad.  But not enough.  So I keep my eyes/ears open for other opportunities.  Soon I was with another organization which provided even more financial opportunities.  Everything seemed to be going great!  Except for the fact that I consistently heard that small voice urging me to create other income streams.

I realized that I didn't have the skill set to magically create a viable outside income stream so I started at the bottom.  At the time, online banks were offering great interest rates on savings accounts so I began saving as much as I could.  I'd read the bank statements and see that I was making money every month just by having money in the bank.  Finally, I was making money while I slept.   The realization that my money was able to generate more money was key.  But I wanted more.

So finally, I decided to set some savings aside and invest it.  Not like mutual funds, I had my 401(k) for that.  No, I needed to invest it into an asset that would generate income for years to come.  I was completely sold on the idea of having financial freedom (and time freedom) in the present, not when I retired.   I didn't know anyone in real life who was on a journey to financial independence so I learned from individuals online.  I flooded my mind with stories of people who left their jobs and found success as a way of building up my belief.  I stopped looking at my paycheck as solely an income source and started to see it as funding for investments.  I saved, but I also invested in my business.  I did this for years.  Some years, I lost money.  Most years, the "business" behaved more like a hobby.  But I stayed consisted no matter what.  Finally, I was able to achieve the dream of freeing up my time to focus on building assets that will generate financial freedom.

If you're one of those people who aren't happy with your current financial situation, or your current job, you have an asset, a tool, that can help you change the situation.  Stop thinking of your paycheck as just a way to pay bills.  Sure, you've gotta pay the bills, but you should also be paying yourself.  Save until you have a comfortable cushion, then utilize a portion towards acquiring or building assets.  An honorable goal would be to earn your first $1.00 from a means different from your employer.  A dollar may not seem like much, but it represents the potential you have to earn outside of your employer.

I know some really smart people who are miserable at their jobs, yet they do nothing to alter the situation.  I worked 50-70 hour weeks and still believed in my dream enough to wake up early and give up my weekends so I can finally live the life that I wanted.  Looking back, I'm glad I never gave up when all the hours put in produced little results.  I'm glad I didn't get discouraged when I was only earning a few dollars a month from those hours of effort.  I'm glad I didn't stop when someone asked how much I was earning on my side projects and responded "oh" (disappointedly) at my response.

If you are reading this post, and you desire a life different from the one you currently have, fight for it.  And when the results are small, get excited!  To me, the tiny result was a seed. If someone gives me apple seeds, am I frustrated because I didn't get an apple? No! I get excited because the seeds will give me an abundance of apples for years to come.  Your paycheck is like a bag of apples.  It's finite.
The other income streams you create have the infinite nature contained in one tiny seed.

It does you no good to feel trapped in your job and do nothing about it.  I was watching a movie on Netflix about these people who travel through parallel universes.  When you believe there's another version of you....of your life, it allows you to break free of the mentality of working for a check.  I believed in the version of my life where I wake up and have complete freedom to create the day so I did what was necessary to make that reality.

If you need some inspiration to begin your journey to freedom I'll recommend some books that helped me along the way.

+ David Bach ~ The Automatic Millionaire :  This book convinced me to make saving money an automatic ritual.  It allowed me to see my savings account grow which helped my mind get comfortable with seeing thousands in an account and not just hundreds.

+ Tim Ferris ~ The Four Hour Work Week:  After reading The 4HWW, I released the theory of saving until retirement, then enjoying my life.  I then moved towards creating a muse that would bring time freedom now.

+ Grant Cardone ~ The 10X Rule: Building a business requires hard work and greater level of results.  Grant does an amazing job of helping us elevate our efforts to 10X levels!

+ The Secret Full Movie ~ I watched this video a bijillion times.  One phrase that I always repeat silently to myself is "checks in the mail!" I've been doing it for years and I actually still receive checks in the mail.  ;)

+ MJ Demarco ~ The Millionaire Fastlane ~ This is a mindset book that helps us break free of "slow lane thinking."  One of the best books on financial freedom on the market.

Miscellaneous Actions that kept me motivated:

+ Keeping a spread sheet of my assets and debt. Updating it monthly and establishing goals to grow my net worth.

+ Constantly listening to stories of people who created their ideal life.

+ Keeping a record of every dollar earned outside of my employment.  And being grateful for all it (even the losses).

+ Working with a Life Coaches who helped me expand my level of thinking (and my actions).

+ Enjoying small glimpses of the life I wanted to live.  For example, instead of eating lunch in the drab break room with no windows, I'd drive a couple miles to wealthy neighborhood, sit at their cafes and eves drop on their conversations about their businesses.

+ Creative visualization exercises to increase belief and clearly define goals.

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If you'd like to work with me 1on1 to help you reach your lifestyle goals.  Feel free to send me an email and we can connect.

Bitcoin Guide For Beginners: The Simple And Proven Bitcoin Trading Guide For Making Money With Bitcoins

Bitcoin Guide For Beginners-The Simple And Proven Bitcoin Trading Guide For Making Money With Bitcoins

Bitcoins and Bitcoins trading has achieved tremendous maturity in a record time. When Bitcoins were first introduced, there were many cases of fraud and uncertainty, mainly because most day traders were not sure if Bitcoins would stand the test of time. Today, the Bitcoin trade and mining filed has matured to a point where fraud is almost unheard of and the trade is as steady as the stock market. This maturity brings with it many opportunities for those who are keen to deep their feet in the lucrative trade.
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Fierce Friday | Put your money where your goals are.

It's Friday and many of you might be receiving a paycheck today.  If you're anything like me, the very first thought on payday is how to divvy up the funds towards various bills and expenses.  Then, whatever's left is considered "spending money" to be used on random expenses that occur over the next couple of weeks.  Then, payday happens again and the cycle repeats itself.

Here's the thing.  We really have only two main resources to creating what we desire. We have our time and we have our money.  Both can be easily squandered mindlessly if we aren't careful. In the past, we've discussed how to purposefully allocate time by using a calendar and scheduling in time to work on your goals.  Now we talk about how to use your money in a way that propels you forward.

One fun activity you can do is to take a look back at the electronic records of your spending in January.  When I looked back, some of the transactions were eye opening.  Although I didn't make any major purchases, I had quite a few random small purchases that were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  For instance, one day I had a craving for garlic flavored plantain chips and made an impromptu trip to Walgreens to satisfy my urges.  While there, I picked up a few other small items and incurred an expense of $9. 00. Yesterday, I visited the beauty supply store near my home that carries infinite varieties of NYX lip pencils.  After picking up 4 more shades and a couple other things, I left with $21.00 less than I had when I entered.   Was I wrong to spend that money on those items? Absolutely not.  We work hard, we are rewarded with money and we have a choice with how we spend our money.

But, what if instead of buying more lip pencils (I already have 100 of them) and plantain chips,  I decided to allocate those $30.00 towards something of more value.  If I had taken the same $30.00 and bought a quality candle instead, I would have received more value.  Why? Because when I burn one of my favorite smelling candles while I work, it elevates my mood, boosts my creativity and increased my productivity.  Or, I could have used the $30.00 and treated myself to a mani or pedi. Doing so could have a positive confidence and encouraged me to put a little more time in my daily appearance.  Maybe could have purchased enough organic vegetables to cover a week of juicing.  Or perhaps, I should have applied the $30.00 towards and experience that brings immense joy in my life like visiting my favorite sushi restaurant or having Sunday brunch with my husband. The possibilities are endless. The point is that I could think of 50 "better" things to do with the $30.00 based on the value I received.

Money is a tool exchanged for value.  Your goal should be to allocate your money towards things that bring greater value than what you spent.  When I bought those chips and other stuff at Walgreens, the value I received was short lived. On the other hand, if I bought organic kale + other veggies with those $9.00, the value (or benefits) would be greater than my investment.  Even in the case of the lip pencils.  I really do like the colors I chose, but the value is minimal because I already own so many brownish lip pencils.

 Now, before I spend money, I will ask myself, "Am I getting the value back for my investment?"  Another important question to ask "what else can I be doing with this money that could bring me more overall value?"

One really HIGH value action is using your money to generate more money.  We've talked about this a little in the past.  If, you have invested $0.00 last month towards generating more money, I invite you to rethink how you spend.  It could be something as passive as an interest bearing saving account or 401(k).  Or maybe you're taking even bolder steps like investing in a business. Whatever you decide to do, make it a goal to allocate a little money every month to work for you.

What about your goals? Do you have a dream car or a vacation on your vision board?  How much of the money spent last month could have been saved/allocated to bring those goals closer to reality?

What I plan to do is print out my bank statement and highlight all the charges for 2015 that I consider of "low value".  Then I'll also look for any charges of medium/high value.  Finally, I'll check to see how much of my income spent last month will bring back a return.  One last thing I'll do is look at my written goals for the year and see if any of my spending correlates with the goals I want to achieve.  If it doesn't, I plan on changing my spending strategy ASAP.

The moral of the story, kids, is to be an active participant in the flow of your money.  Let's not spend based on past behaviors, habits, and spur of the moment desires, let's be intentional so that every dollar that comes into our lives brings forth a harvest of great abundance and value.