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Can’t Be Disciplined? Try Being Devoted.

In exploring paths to prosperity, I’ve been diving deeper into the habits and practices that can contribute to sustainable riches and a delicious life. With the advent of AI and other automation tools and technology, there are more paths to wealth than ever before!

Of course, in the path to wealth, there are as many hinderances as there are opportunities. Knowledge gaps, lack of time, inadequate resources, and a number of other stumbling blocks present significant challenges to people attempting to reach their financial goals. But, even in the absence of barriers, some people still struggle with reaching their financial goals. What gives?

I suspect that the main issue that some people have is that they struggle with being “disciplined”. They aren’t able to commit to hard (or easy) actions on a regular, consistent basis. This is similar to the aversion some people have to the term “budget” (which I’ve discussed in a previous post). They find themselves easily discouraged when they are inconvenienced or misdirected from their path. Also, “discipline” as a concept may feel uncomfortable. It may trigger emotions like inferiority, shame, frustration, or inadequacy, especially in cases where the figures from their childhoods that embodied “discipline” were harsh, critical or not particularly nurturing (insert caregiver trauma here).

In the spirit of redefining personal finance, perhaps a new term is the best solution. Perhaps, instead of “discipline”, we can try framing this dedication as devotion. Much like religious adherents that love the sacrifice that comes with their service, we can view our consistent actions as an act of devotion to our future selves and the future reality that awaits us if we just stay the course.

When discussing wealth generation strategies, most of the conversations tend to glamorize quick wins over the long game. The myth of “Sudden Wealth” is a pervasive one, and, by focusing on fast money, anything that occurs in the inverse (such as quiet, incremental growth) is seen as boring, difficult and unsatisfying. Including the topic of “discipline” in these conversations just further highlights the disdain many people have towards consistent work. However, when reframed as devotion, the conversation takes on a very different energy. The quiet power that comes from incremental devotion isn’t boring, it’s mysterious; it isn’t difficult, it’s an exhilarating experiment. Incremental devotion isn’t unsatisfying: it’s a fire that grows from a flicker to an inferno. Like compound interest that grows over time, incremental steps rooted in devotion to our future selves are small at the beginning but become monumental over time. The route of incremental devotion eliminates the need for intensity, since consistency and time do most of the heavy lifting.

Speaking of the “boring” and unappealing nature of discipline . . . Discipline tends to be associated with rigidity, and most people are averse to anything too rigid. On the other hand, devotion can be fluid and even sensual: it’s easy to take a necessary task and add elements of beautiful rituals to it. One of my favorite ways to make my devotion feel more like a ritual is to set up my desk before working on anything related to business. I usually light a gorgeous scented candle, put on a piece of jewelry or an article of clothing that symbolizes what I’m working on (as I type this, I’m wearing a soft red top that always makes me feel divine and polished), and put on some music that matches the mood I want to invoke (rainforest sounds, gentle chimes, success subliminals, and classical music are great places to start). The most important part of connecting rituals to devotion is to treat the task as something sacred and nonnegotiable, which are terms that can also be used to describe (you guessed it) discipline.

At the heart of devotion is a positive feeling of self worth. Even the most perfect plans and the most disciplined person will abandon their work if their don’t believe they are truly worthy of the goal they desire. Staying devoted is easier to do when you feel worthy of the wealth, ease and abundance you’re creating. Daily affirmations, mirror work, journaling, and other self concept practices can help with identity shifting. From that newly shifted space, it is much easier to stay devoted and cultivate consistent practices that will create the life you desire.

When I began this conversation, I stated how there are more opportunities to build wealth than ever before. However, along with opportunity comes another issue. The same internet that provides wealth-building access also floods us with distractions, comparison traps, and “shiny object syndrome.” And, unfortunately, discipline “punishes” us for falling into distraction, instead of gently refocusing us and encouraging us. Devotion requires discernment — staying loyal to your path and not being seduced by every new tactic, course, or platform. While discernment may take some time and experience to develop, devotion doesn’t have the harshness of a stern disciplinarian: it warmly invites us to return to our goals sooner rather than later.

Following the path of devotion has been a sweeter experience than the road of discipline. I invite you all to try devotion instead of discipline, and let me know how it works for you. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The Ritual of Enough: Finding Peace With What You Have While Building More

There’s a fine line between peace and complacency. When it comes to money, complacency is unacceptable. Let’s talk about how to find the peace you desire while you build your income to the levels you deserve and require.

The world will tell you that you shouldn’t be at peace until you are extremely wealthy. And that’s a problem, because the space between where you are and where you’re told you should be is massive. However, instead of chasing wealth, there is another path that is more restorative, impactful, and full of ease. In a world that imposes feelings of inadequacy, try the act of pausing to appreciate what you already have. It’s not only radical, but it’s also the first step to sustainable wealth and happy expansion. The Ritual of Enough is not about settling—it’s about stabilizing your energy and your finances, so you can embrace growth easily.

You may think that enjoying “enough” is a direct path to stagnancy, scarcity and lack. In actuality, embracing the fact that you have “enough” does the opposite: it opens the doors for more abundance to come in. One of the most powerful emotions you can leverage is gratitude, and by ritualizing gratitude and sufficiency, you can increase your capacity for wealth. It’s similar to this phrase that you may have heard before, “If you want something done, ask the busiest person you know to do it”. At the heart of it, gratitude shows that you can handle and appreciate you already have, and you have capacity for more. You cannot add to your abundance if you struggle with – and do not appreciate – your current possessions and financial status. You must feel true peace with where you are before you can allow more into your life.

An anecdotal example that came to mind is a podcast episode I heard several years ago, and the host (a law of attraction coach) discussed how she had a client that wanted more abundance and who struggled with maintaining positive emotions. The coach encouraged the client to count whatever she had in abundance: if I recall correctly, the client ended up counting her socks. The coach instructed her to appreciate those socks and to reflect on her abundance any time her faith wavered. Of course, the client ended up manifesting some amazing opportunities and financial windfalls. However, aside from that, I can discuss my own anecdotal but relevant experience. I recently went deep into my appreciation practices: I expressed genuine satisfaction with my current circumstances and embraced the beauty of my life as it is. It was a matter of days before I received $750 unexpectedly from two different sources, neither of which had generated significant income in several years.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But it certainly didn’t hurt to be appreciative, and it allowed me to enjoy the unexpected cash without feeling frustrated because it “wasn’t enough” for all of my future plans. Because I already felt things were “enough”, I could simply spend the funds on what mattered to me at the time, without feeling guilt or frustration.

One of the crucial things about embracing gratitude and making peace with your finances is how it anchors your nervous system. Instead of being edgy or tense when it comes to money, gratitude helps you to calm down and, from that space, you can create better solutions and more aligned long- and short- term plans. By anchoring your nervous system, you become primed for aligned abundance. You open yourself up to receive the money that comes with ease instead of stress, joy instead of frustration.

You can practice embracing “enough” by keeping a gratitude journal, listening to “enough” meditations, or affirming your peace and contentment. You can do this whenever you’re feeling anxious about money or dissatisfied with your finances. While practicing your appreciation, you don’t have to completely disregard your dissatisfaction: let those emotions inform you but not control you. Once you have expressed genuine appreciation for your current state and feel yourself anchored and stable, you can hold space for and entertain the reality you prefer. And that is where the real magic happens: the reality you envision from this healthy and calm mindset is going to be drastically different from what you’d imagine from your stressed and unappreciative state. It’s going to feel better, more aligned, and more possible than anything that you may have visioned when you were in the throes of frustration.

I have more instances of gratitude being the fuel for massive expansion, and I encourage anyone that’s interested to check out books on the topic (like Thank & Grow Rich, The Neuroscience of Gratitude, and The Power of Appreciation) for more guidance.

Thanks for stopping by, and let me know if you’ve used gratitude and embracing “enough” to find peace with your finances as you build the future of your dreams!

From Chaos to Calm: Creating a Budget That Feels Like a Sanctuary

For this discussion about money, I figure we can just rip the bandage off and start with the most triggering term of them all.

BUDGET.

Whenever I mention the word “budget” to someone, I can usually see them tense up and look a bit uncomfortable. I can understand why they have that reaction: after all, a budget establishes boundaries and restrictions, and most people recoil at anything that looks like constriction. What I’ve found, upon further discussion, is that people aren’t actually afraid of budgeting, nor are they afraid of money: they’re afraid of what a budget (and money) means in their lives. This area of their lives is often where fears of failure and shame crop up, and THAT’s why they flinch when budgets are discussed. No one wants to fail at budgeting or feel embarrassed when discussing financial missteps.

But . . . what if we could view budgeting from a different perspective? How about if we viewed budgeting as something other than a harsh framework for spending and saving money? What if . . . we could build budgets centered around care instead of control? It’s not only possible to have a budget you are comfortable with, it is possible to have a budget you (believe it or not) enjoy.

Let’s think of some words that are often used to describe budgets. Structured, contained, and orderly come to mind. You know what else shares those same descriptors? The home. Interestingly, we can apply those descriptors to a happy home just as easily as we can apply them to an unhappy one. So let’s take those words, and apply them to a budget. Much like a good home offers us a structured and orderly space that has contains us, our loved ones and our belongings, a budget can offer our finances a structured and orderly space that contains our needs, wants, and great goals. Our budget shouldn’t be a prison for our money: it should be a sanctuary.

You can make your budget a sanctuary by blending practical approaches with soulful rituals. Working with a budget is much more delightful when it has been infused with self-honoring and peaceful practices that soothe the nervous system, create feelings of safety and shifts your mindset from judgment to respectful observance. So, before you sit down with your accounts and start crunching numbers, think of a couple of sensory pleasures that you can indulge before, during, and after reviewing your finances. Perhaps you can make a delicious smoothie that you can sip as you review, or you can light a scented candle that relaxes you or that brings up happy feelings, or you can even make it a practice to work on your budget after you’ve enjoyed some time in your favorite massage chair or after you’ve done a yoga session. Whatever makes you feel relaxed and stable is great for incorporating into your budget practice.

More importantly, speak kindly of yourself and your financial decisions as you review the figures. Remember that you are a respectful observer of your past financial choices: you aren’t judging yourself, you’re simply noting the pattern and perhaps digging a little deeper to figure out the motive behind the decisions. Don’t speak harshly about the past decisions you’ve made: thank those decisions for the lessons they’ve provided, then commit to make future decisions that are aligned with the person you’re becoming. Remember to bless the decisions you made (yes, even the ones that you aren’t happy with!) and, if you struggle with them, come up with at least three positive things about previous money decisions. You can do this for anything, I promise!

As an example, perhaps you enjoy eating takeout (I know I do!) but you don’t enjoy how much money you’ve spent in the past quarter. Bless those decisions and move on, and if you can’t, list those three positive reasons for buying lots of takeout. I’d probably write down how buying takeout made it easier for me to eat a more balanced meal than what I had prepared in my home, how amazing it was to purchase a meal that supports a local business that employees people in your neighborhood, and how much energy I saved by outsourcing meal preparation to someone else. There is ALWAYS a silver lining, and if you struggle with this, you can either comment below or email me at tia@tiadelano.com so I can help you with that.

Embrace self love as you start budgeting, and view every decision as a loving act toward your future self. Treat your budget time as a sacred occasion that allows you to adjust your patterns to reflect the person you’re becoming and the life you want to live. Finally, allow your budget to be an entity with its own personality, something that you can befriend as you step onto the path to the financial reality you desire. With these things in mind, you’ll be able to structure a budget that feels like a sanctuary: it will be a peaceful refuge that you’ll enjoy retreating to.

How do you feel about budgeting? Let me know your thoughts and experiences below!

The Solstice Is Here. Who Are You Becoming?

At the height of the sun’s power—when the world ripens and the light lingers—we arrive at a threshold: the Summer Solstice. I make no bones about it: this is my absolute favorite time of year. I love it so much, I even created an entire event around it (and if you missed the event, please go to my Facebook page and catch the replay while it’s available).

For me, the official arrival of summer isn’t just a seasonal event. It’s an invitation.

This time of year, we are all invited to soak in the sun, appreciate the longer periods of daylight, and revel in the heights of dynamic energy. As we take this time to feel emboldened to show up as our fullest selves, I also encourage you to pause for a moment, reflect, and ask one of the most sacred questions you can ask:

Who am I becoming?

In a world obsessed with doing, the Solstice is about being. Our emboldened selves should be embodied selves: inhabiting and fully expressing our truest form. Our goal should be to align with our naturally radiant nature and boldly seize opportunities in these advantageous times.

The Light Outside Reflects the Light Within

One thing I know to be true is that life moves in sacred rhythm—season to season, breath to breath.
And as nature bursts into full bloom, so too can we. Because this season is full of explosive energy, it’s easy to fall into the traps of chaotic behavior and overcommitment. It serves us well to expand, but with discernment, and to radiate brightly, but with refinement. My summer mantra is, “Radiate and Refine”. I intend to make sure that my inner light matches the outer light that we’ll enjoy this season.

The Light of Clarity: Financial Wellness at the Solstice

The Solstice isn’t only a time to reflect on your inner growth (though I highly encourage it). It’s also an opportunity to illuminate the systems and structures that support your outer stability—especially your relationship with money. This season offers an opportunity to shine a light on everything that underlies your financial wellness.

I sincerely believe that financial clarity is a form of self-respect and sacred structure is an act of sovereignty. The emboldened and embodied person I aspire to be in this season requires examination of the supporting systems that allow me to radiate publicly and refine privately.

I’ve asked myself the following questions, and I invite you to also ask yourself:

  • Does my financial system reflect my values or my overwhelm?
  • Are my taxes a tool for peace—or a source of avoidance?
  • Have I created space for sacred earning, conscious spending, and purposeful preparation?

The midpoint of the year is the perfect moment to review tax strategies, assess income streams, and refine financial systems with intention. Just as the earth balances light and shadow, so too can we balance structure and softness.

Try this Solstice Financial Alignment Ritual:

  1. Review your year-to-date income + expenses. Don’t judge. Just witness. Observing without judgment creates an energy that invites solutions and improvements that are rooted in aligned, expansive behavior (as opposed to fixes rooted in scarcity and fear).
  2. Write down three financial intentions for the remainder of the year. These should bring a smile to your face, even if you have no idea how they will materialize.
  3. Bless your numbers. Literally. Whisper: “These numbers reflect my evolution. I hold them with grace.” This gives you energetic permission to invite even better financial circumstances into your world.
  4. Set one sacred tax action—such as checking your estimated payments, scheduling a bookkeeping day, or exploring deductions that align with your values. Make it special: light a beautiful candle before you do it, wear something that makes you feel incredible as you take the action, or celebrate after taking the action with a lovely meal. Make it a beautiful moment.

Solstice Reflection Prompts

Use the Solstice as a ceremonial pause. It’s a golden checkpoint in your journey, and a perfect time to couple your inner radiance with the outer glow of the season.

Light a candle. Pour a cup of herbal tea. Consider journaling on the following:

  • What part of me is asking to be seen more clearly?
  • What habits, relationships, or rhythms no longer support the version of me I’m becoming? (This can apply to both you as an individual as well as your financial choices)
  • Where in my life am I being called to soften—and where am I being called to rise?

You do not need to reinvent yourself. In fact, reinvention implies that who you are is somehow deficient or broken. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, you do need to return to yourself. Who you are, at your core, is beckoning. It’s time to answer. The Solstice helps you do exactly that.

Solstice Ritual (Aureum Sanctum Style)

If you’re finding it a little difficult to get into the energy of the season, you may just need to employ some props and activities. Here’s a simple, sacred Solstice ritual to try:

1. Dress in Light

Wear something soft, luminous, or white. Adorn your body beautifully.

2. Create a Radiance Bowl

Place warm water in a bowl and add:

  • Fresh herbs (mint, basil, or lemon balm)
  • Citrus slices (orange or lemon)
  • A drizzle of olive oil (for softening)

Only use ingredients that you are not allergic to. Dip your already-clean hands or feet in the bowl and say aloud:

“I am returning to my own light. I am safe to radiate.” Rub the water into the skin and allow it to absorb. Add a little more olive oil afterward, to lock in the moisture.

3. Speak Your Becoming

Finish the sentence:

“This Solstice, I step into the version of me who…”
Write it. Speak it. Feel it.

Let this statement be your energetic blueprint for the rest of this season and for the seasons to follow.

You Are the Light You’ve Been Waiting For

Solstice energy is dynamic, but it isn’t the time to chase goals frantically. This is the time to align your outer experiences with your inner knowing. It’s time to embrace blooming without burnout. This is the time to become who you were always meant to be.

So ask yourself with curiosity, openness, and devotion:
Who am I becoming?
And let your rituals, your rhythms, your refinement lead the way.

I’m with you, I believe in you, and I hold the vision of your success, in every solstice, in every season, and at every step.

Personal Finance Needs a Rebrand

I took a long break from blogging so that I could get clear on the message I needed to share. And that time away crystallized one persistent truth that I couldn’t shake: there were a lot of concepts and theories that were outdated, and the way that personal finance is approached no longer resonates with many people. In short, personal finance is in desperate need of a rebrand. Many of the existing terms and concepts worked well for the world we used to occupy, but things are changing lightning fast , and we need to reconsider whether the old framework – and all of the perspectives that come with it – still works for us.

Humans are returning to traditional ways of self governance. The idea that anyone (everyone!) outside of us knows the best way to do things is antiquated. We are leaving behind the idea that we have to blindly trust someone else’s point of view, and learning to listen to our intuition again. We’re allowing true heart desires, natural cycles and close social connections to guide us in our financial decision making. We aren’t convinced that someone else’s financial approach is best simply because they have more credentials than us: we are finally mastering the art of taking what works and leaving the rest.

Unfortunately, what many of us are finding is that most of the financial advice being offered falls into the category of “the rest to be left behind”. In short, personal finance, as we know it, is based on a model that doesn’t work as well as it used to. The old ways can and do still work, but people (particularly women) want MORE from their personal finance experience. They don’t solely idolize the end goal of financial freedom, security or impact: they also want to enjoy the process of getting to their goals. They finally understand that the journey can, and should, be just as delightful as the destination. And they are not accepting any financial approach that doesn’t allow for joy in the meantime.

That means, advice about eliminating avocado toast and happy hour drinks will fall flat. Any advice that encourages picking up another job, when you’re already exhausted from your main career, is tone deaf and a bit demeaning. Anyone with a little discernment can see that there’s no amount of trimming creature comforts that will completely reverse your financial fortune within 60 or 90 days. Sacrificing your rest for a secondary job that pays little but adds extra stress and expenses isn’t worth it. Advice that centers on removing what delights us and adding more complications will always cause us to recoil and subconsciously reject those recommendations. Trying to follow this advice rarely works when we remove joy and replace it with austerity.

Personal finance is in sore need of a rebrand. There is a better way, and I know, because I’m living it. I’m here to bring something better, something fresh, something . . . divinely aligned. Are you ready for this journey? I hope you’ll join me.

Everything I will be sharing has already been tested by me. So I’ll not only be able to explain these approaches that I’m proposing, but I’ll also be sharing my own outcomes from implementing these practices. If you’d like a sneak peek into some of my practices, then make sure to like my Facebook page (click here) so you’ll be notified when I go live on June 18th, to show you my Seasonal Reset practice.

I’m so excited to share my discoveries with you! Stay tuned: I’ll be back soon to start the discussion. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

2025 Has Been Monumental: Are You Ready to Finish STRONG?

As we step into the second half of this year, we have incredible opportunities ahead of us, if we prepare and take decisive action.

I have been working on a few projects (as usual) and that has taken more of my time than expected. There was a lot of preparation needed before I entered the upcoming year, because I was determined to WIN BIG in 2025. That preparation, and the subsequent execution of relevant tasks, took more time and effort than expected. However, things are now set in motion, and I’m so ready to share what I’ve been working on with you all!

If the changes we’ve experienced during the past few months feel uncomfortable, take heart. There is no need to feel scared or pessimistic about the future because there are ALWAYS winners (no matter what’s happening in the world) and you can position yourself to be one of them. Change is inevitable, but pivoting and innovating as you go can help ensure that you’re insulated from the discomfort that comes with those changes. In this space, I won’t be spreading the gospel of lack, fear or scarcity. If you are unsure what to do next, here’s hoping this post will help you.

First of all, let’s remember that 99% of life is a mental game. Making the decision that this year will be incredible is the first step in actualizing a beautiful, enjoyable experience regardless of what’s happening on the world stage. So many people set themselves up for disappointment by cursing their lives: they utter misery, fear, lack, and pain over themselves, then wonder why things aren’t working out for them. Start blessing your life by speaking good things and sincerely believing that your life WILL be good (because it will!). Affirm goodness and prosperity daily – hourly, even – and only choose to consume information that reflects goodness and prosperity back to you. It’s not naive to focus on silver linings; you can be aware of what’s happening around you and STILL have a personal world that is brimming with joy, peace, prosperity, love and hope. If you’ve been focusing on the worst that the world has to offer, then changing your focus should be a relief. And, if not, remember: focusing on the problems didn’t make the problems disappear. So why not choose to put the bulk of your energy elsewhere? Additionally, you are better poised to create solutions when you put some distance between yourself and the problem. Changing your focus often results in a clearer mind and better problem-solving abilities.

Secondly, make a plan that supports the vision you have for your life. Take some time with a journal, and write down whatever lights you up. Capture ALL of the details and desires of your heart, and leave nothing unwritten. If you don’t enjoy writing, make a voice note and talk through it, or use voice typing within a word processing software to capture your thoughts. Get the vision CLEAR so that the plan you need to implement is obvious to you. (A little tip: if your vision only consists of possessing a certain dollar amount, I encourage you to dig deeper and find a more compelling inspiration for the life you want to lead.)

You’ll know that your vision has been crystallized when it feels compelling. You need a vision that will get you out of bed when everything else makes you want to stay in place and sleep through your life. A vision that compels you will make you take bold actions, and will be a guiding star that navigates you out of whatever circumstances you’re currently experiencing. Your vision will keep you motivated and focused. It will ensure that your steps have more impact, and will prompt you to be a master over your time and energy. I’ve found nothing better for my daily menial task list than a compelling vision that inspires my every move. Whenever I wish to do something less impactful, I remember how my tasks feed into my bigger goals, and I’m energized to finish the task at hand.

I have so much more to share in the days and weeks to come (I have a couple of series that I think you all will really enjoy). I’ve already scheduled those posts, so look out for some great chats in the next few days. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll talk to you all soon!

It’s Been Seven Months. Here’s What I’ve Been Doing

Hello friends! It’s been a while since my last post, for good reason. I will occasionally withdraw from blogging, so I have time to implement some theories and to get data to share with you all when I return. It’s been my system for a while, mainly because writing a bunch of fluff – just for the appearance of continuity – never appealed to me. I’d rather offer something substantial a few times out of the year, than to share flimsy articles weekly.

So, here’s what I’ve been doing: I created a few more digital products, and I experimented with a few selling platforms. I didn’t want to recommend certain selling strategies without testing them myself. I always do just enough to see what works, and I only go further if I know it’s worth it. Most of them time, it isn’t worth it! But at least I can speak from a point of experience and not just theory. Of course, it takes time to do gather these experiences so that I can report the results back to you all.

Another thing I’ve done is witness the monetization “arc” of several AI websites. Quite a few of the websites I’ve previously recommended are now behind paywalls, and, while I can understand why the developers did that, eliminating limited freebie versions are why many users are turning away. This is always why I think ChatGPT (and other platforms that offer some access at no cost ) will remain dominant: even if the free version isn’t the best, it’s better than no access at all. Besides, with the proliferation of AI capabilities being built into apps and programs we already use regularly, the accessibility of this technology will continue to grow, many times at no direct out-of-pocket cost to the end user.

I joined a business mentorship group, and I found a tribe of entrepreneurs that are regularly structuring and executing 7- and 8- figure projects. It’s been exciting to be in this hub, and I’m thrilled to offer some incredible products, programs and tips to you all in the future, based on the millionaire habits that I’m picking up from my peers.

I’ve taken a LOT of tax training, mainly for the purpose of learning new ways to interact with wealth. It’s fine to learn the basics, but once you’ve mastered those, you have to dive into deeper material. One of the subjects that I’ve spent more time exploring is estate and trust law (and how the tax law applies to these areas). Learning about estates and trusts has been exhilarating, and I’m excited to start practicing some new things with what I’ve learned.

Finally, the past seven months have been focused on synthesizing and integrating what I’ve taken in so far. One of the biggest traps that snare aspiring wealth builders is staying stuck in “learning” mode. Yes, learn as much as you can, but also begin implementing what you’ve learned. The inability to implement what has been learned is often rooted in insecurity: many of us learn what we can then we get afraid of doing something with it. “What will people say about me if they see me doing ABC?” “What happens if I fail at XYZ?” These questions come from feeling uneasy about doing new things and breaking away from the crowd. I’ll explore this idea more in a future post, but please know that, along with learning new stuff, work on your mindset and start integrating what you’re learning, so you can get the results you desire. Affirm your abilities, take a small step every day, and watch your life start changing in no time.

So, that’s what I’ve been doing the past seven months: learning, testing, observing, practicing, and succeeding. But since I’m a woman of my word – I believe in ACTION alongside learning – it’s time for me to share more about what’s happening behind the scenes, as well as what I want to create in my world. I’ll be posting my August – December goals soon, and sharing with you all how I plan to reach them. Please take some time to think about what you can do during the latter part of the year, and what goals you want to achieve. Let’s make this your best year ever, together!

A Simple Way To Get Ideas For Your Business

It’s so good to be back! I will be catching you all up on the events I’ve attended in future posts. For today, I just want to share an easy way to get a little business inspiration.

One thing that I’ve heard from aspiring entrepreneurs is that they feel “stuck” when it comes to their businesses. They either are unclear about what kind of business they should start, or they have a fledgling (or sometimes thriving!) business that they are looking to expand but are unsure which direction they should pursue. If this describes your situation, here’s a little tip for you.

Figure out the industry you want to serve (even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do in that industry). Then, find the think tanks that focus on that industry, and attend as many of their virtual events that you can. One think tank that has lots of seminars in a variety of industries is Brookings Institute, so that’s a good place to start. Most of the big think tanks are based in Washington, DC, so you may want to filter your search down to the online events hosted by those organizations. I attended a think tank event years ago, and within 15 minutes, I had several ideas that could have been easily monetized.

Here’s a way to do this: let’s say you aspire to own a business related to finance (like me!). You can start at Brookings Institute, and sign up for all of their banking & finance events, then sign up for the events being hosted by other think tanks that host finance-related discussions, like Cato Institute and Center for American Progress. If there are no upcoming events to watch, then check out the past recorded discussions. Listen carefully for opportunities: they’re always there, no matter what level of business you feel that you’re on. Make a list of the ideas that come to you as you’re listening, then go back and listen again, this time paying more attention to the flow of the conversation and other details you may have missed while taking notes.

If you’ve come up with business ideas from listening to think tank discussions, I’d love to hear more about it! I’m currently working on one idea that I got while listening in at a think tank event, and I’m so excited to share that with you all once it’s completed!

That’s all for today: take care and I’ll talk to you all soon!

3 Easy Things You Can Do In October To Invite More Money Into Your Life

Happy October! Can you believe we’re in the last quarter of the year? (I’m still in denial: how is summer over already?) This year is moving quickly but, fortunately, we still have time to set ourselves up for success before we welcome 2024.

While I don’t believe in waiting until tomorrow (or in this case, waiting until 2024) to make drastic changes, I do think that it’s wise to build momentum before committing to major uplevels. And this last quarter of 2023 is perfect for building momentum that will help you start 2024 on a strong note!

Here are three little things you can do now, to build momentum for a prosperous 2024. These changes may not turn your whole world upside down, but little steps can absolutely put you on the path to financial security and abundant living. I’m doing each thing mentioned in this post, and I’d love for you to join me on this journey.

Cancel one subscription or membership – Look carefully at your last 3-6 months of banking and credit card statements, and figure out which subscription, membership, or recurring payment is least important or minimally impactful. That’s the one to cancel, and even better if you can cancel a few of them. It’s always easiest to start with the ones that you’ve been meaning to eliminate but just keep forgetting. Even if it’s a small amount (perhaps $2-3 a month spent on an electronic game, or a few dollars for food delivery), try canceling it, then immediately designating that amount to go to a high yield savings account (HYSA) each month. If it’s a small amount, you probably won’t notice the savings as they build up, but believe me, those savings will grow over time, and you’ll be very glad you stopped spending your money on something that you really didn’t want or need.

A couple of months ago, I canceled a Patreon membership to a content creator who hadn’t generated any Patreon-specific content in more than 4 months. I earmarked that $6 to go to my HYSA. This savings will yield a whopping $72 annually, but it’s not about the amount, per se: the important part of this exercise is the ENERGY I embody when I direct my resources exclusively to things that bring value to me. At the beginning of this month, I canceled a subscription that cost me roughly $80 per month. Yes, the items I received from that subscription had value, but it was one of the least impactful investments I make during any given month. I’ll be canceling a bimonthly service by the middle of this month. Between these two cancellations, I estimate I will save about $135 a month. I will have to pay a cancellation fee for the service I’m eliminating mid-month ($161) but the savings I will enjoy over the next two months will more than make up for the upfront elimination costs.

Vow to go one week (or more!) without takeout or nights out – As a person that adores GrubHub, UberEats, and any other service that takes the thought process out of dinner preparation, this isn’t my favorite way to save money. However, I have a freezer full of food that I can prepare, and there’s no good reason for me to order takeout when I have downtime, adequate supplies, and some energy. So, right before I wrote this post, I started doing some prep: outlining some of the frozen, fresh and canned food I had, and using ChatGPT to whip up some recipes (AI is your friend!)

Perhaps you have someone in your home that handles all of the food decisions, or maybe you don’t order takeout. Look at anything you purchase weekly or monthly, and see if you can skip it. Think of beauty products, junk/snack food, alcoholic beverages when you go out, etc.,. I have some travel planned for the end of the month, so avoiding takeout for the entire month isn’t realistic. That’s why I’m doing my prep now, and committing to one week (maybe two weeks, if I can be disciplined) without food delivery.

Read 1 book that will increase your financial knowledge – This is such a simple thing, but learning more about how to handle your money can do wonders for bringing more money into your world. If you’re not used to reading financial books, don’t go for complicated texts. Try a book that isn’t too long, and serves as a good introduction to basic financial concepts. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Saving on a Shoestring by Barbara O’Neill, or Earn What You Deserve by Jerrold Mundis are all great places to start. You get bonus points if you choose to borrow the book from the library instead of purchasing it!

But, perhaps you already read these kinds of books (I know I do!). In that case, an unorthodox self improvement book is a good choice. It will indirectly support your financial mindset, because how you do anything is how you do everything. I’m re-reading “How To Really Be Rich” (a 4-part workshop transcribed into a set of booklets) by Jeannette Maw, as well as reading, for the first time, Filthy Rich Woman by Dr. Portia Fulford (I’ll be reviewing it in an upcoming post). Both of these are basically workbooks that have exercises to improve your money mentality, but since I know I’ll have some additional downtime, I’ll also be reading A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives by Lisa Congdon. I figure those inspirational stories will feed my soul in innumerable ways.

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These three simple tips can help you build momentum as you invite more money into your life right now, and in the future! What are some things you’re doing to welcome the wealth? I’d love to hear your comments below!

Harvesting Financial Wisdom: What Autumn Teaches Us

The autumn season is full of wonder and magic. Just think of how our senses are engaged during this time of year: the air gets cooler, the leaves change color, apples and pumpkins are at peak tastiness, and the environment is infused with the cozy energy that complements and prepares us for the chillier months to come.

As a financial consultant and part-time herbalist, I am struck by how much nature reflects her wisdom to us at all times. As I always say, how you do anything is how you do everything, and nature is no exception to this. We are surrounded by clues and hints from the natural world at all times. And in this season, there are many lessons to be learned that can be applied to many areas of our life, including our finances. Some of the autumn-themed financial lessons I’ve observed are:

  • Balance is key to everything. The first day of fall is an equinox, meaning that there is the exactly same amount of daytime and nighttime. It’s this perfect balance between light and dark that I like to keep in mind when looking at financial strategies. Yes, make sure to save, but also make sure to spend. Invest in boring things that grow slowly and steadily (like bonds) but also invest in things that excite you (like plucky startups or fine art, if that’s your thing). Do work that you enjoy, but also remember to make time for restoration and rejuvenation. Duality in all things is required to create a satisfying, balanced lifestyle.
  • Use your energy wisely. There are some plants that thrive in the colder months, and that’s because they don’t waste their energy during unfavorable seasons: you won’t see those plants struggling to adapt and grow in the spring or summer. Likewise, we need to use our energy wisely. Instead of trying to bloom in every season, we should look for the time that is most favorable, and do our best work then. Consider what times of day, month, and year we are most energized (this is particularly relevant to women, who have to consider our monthly cycles and energy levels) and plan around that. When it comes to money, use your energy to develop income sources that won’t constantly deplete your energetic reserves: you want to focus on developing some sources that are passive, and will allow you to use less energy during the times when it’s required. Wisely using your energy is key to living comfortably throughout your years.
  • Slowing down doesn’t mean ceasing to exist. The plants that come back to life every spring appear to be dead during the winter. At first glance, these plants appear to be a hopeless case, going from lush green to dry, brown and brittle in the fall. But then, when the necessary amount of time has passed, you’ll see little green shoots and proof of life on these very plants that looked like they’d expired. Likewise, you may find that you’ve been going hard – too hard – to create the things that you dream of. This is easy to do, especially in your wealth-building stages: it can be exhausting to take in a lot of information, experiment with different strategies, go back to the drawing board to modify your approach, then start all over (psst – You don’t have to do this alone). . . After doing all of that, you may one day feel like you can’t take another step. Or, maybe you feel yourself declining, and, before you collapse from the stress, you realize you have to change the pace to preserve yourself. If you ever get to these points . . . Slow down. You can come back stronger and more resilient if you give yourself a chance to rest and regroup. Opportunities are infinite, and you’re better able to take advantage if you aren’t depleted and at your wits end. SLOW DOWN, and get back to your plan when you’re feeling better.
  • Embrace change. In autumn, the air goes from warm to cool, bringing in the crispness we’ve come to expect from the season. The leaves go from green to red, orange, yellow and finally brown, and the days have less and less sunshine. Nature shows us that the only constant is change, and embracing it is good for us. Instead of arguing against the cooler air, we wear clothing that makes us feel more comfortable. We enjoy the sunshine while we have it, and appreciate the variety of color the leaves offer us. If we’re wise, we embrace the change and adapt accordingly. When you see that your financial plan has gaps or doesn’t meet your needs, you may need to make some changes. There is wisdom in making adjustments with confidence and calm, instead of agonizing over the “could haves/should haves”. Making changes when appropriate and with an accepting spirit can mean the difference between the life of your dreams and lingering in “someday land”.
  • Release anything that isn’t serving you. Speaking of leaves . . . The gorgeous color changes we enjoy in the autumn reminds us that release can be beautiful. Letting go of leaves allows trees to conserve precious energy, with the promise that these leaves will return when the resources and energy are more plentiful. When we release the things that are draining us, or that aren’t serving us, we can use the energy we preserve on things that will support and nurture us. When it comes to money, I checked my investments regularly to make sure that the accounts are growing at a reasonable rate. Anything that is performing poorly over a period of time is released, and I’ll only reconsider when performance improves. Having a healthy level of detachment (which is different from denial or delusion) from our finances allows us to make rational decisions that serve us now and in the future.

Do you have any lessons that you’ve learned from the changing of the seasons? I’d love to hear more about it below!