Finding Calm in Your Financial Life

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Welcome to the Create Harmony Podcast.
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This is a place where we slow down, we really notice and pay attention to good things in our everyday routines and make a little bit more room for peace and joy in everyday life.
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So around here, we believe that peace is not something we simply hope to stumble upon, it's something we practice.
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And one of our favorite ways to explore that idea is through conversations.
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So each week we invite a thoughtful and interesting guest to pull up a chair and share what they've learned, what they're practicing and noticing along the path to peace.
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We'll hear from creators, storytellers, everyday experts, all kinds of people with something meaningful to share, and those voices will inspire us to see our own lives a little differently.
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Some of those conversations are deep, and others will remind us to be more full of play and wonder and just get curious about the world around us, but they all point us back to the same question.
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What helps us create more peace, joy, and connection in ordinary life?
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So I'm Sally Burlington.
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I'm the founder of Create Harmony, and I am so glad you're here.
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I know you're gonna love today's conversation.
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Welcome back to the Create Harmony Podcast.
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And I am so happy today we've been doing all summer we did our hobby series and we talked about all the different fun ways to play and just do hobbies in the summertime.
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And then now we're kind of back in the school rhythm, uh, for lack of a better way to say it, and thinking more about order and getting our affairs in order and our lives a little bit more orderly because order helps us find peace.
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So today we have Linda McDonnell, and she runs a company called Peak Prosperity, and she does all sorts of financial coaching and consulting and that kind of thing.
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So I'm gonna let Linda, I will introduce her.
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Welcome, Linda.
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Thank you.
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And I'm gonna let her tell you a little bit about what Peak Prosperity is all about.
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Absolutely.
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I'd love to share.
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So I am an accountant by trade.
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Okay.
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And I I felt that when I created my company, I noticed that there was an a part of money that needed to be brought to the surface.
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And that is the behavioral side of money.
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That's really where I started my business is I I was noticing how much anxiety we hold when it comes to money.
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I mean, a lot of people they argue what's one of the biggest things they argue about is money.
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But like when there's stress in our lives or or anxiousness, a lot of it has to do with with financials.
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And so I, although I have the technical um expertise of of how to help people with financials, and I do, um, what I what I added in and what I love talking about is is that other side is that when we can like find that organization with our finances and confidence with finances that it really can um ease our nervous system.
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Yes.
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You know, give us that sense of like knowing that everything is in its place, that everything's going to be okay.
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Yes.
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Um, because it's very common for us to get into that when with financials, right?
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Like is, you know, I don't know how I'm I'm feeling.
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Like I focus a lot with uh women business owners, but it doesn't matter whether it's your business or your personal life when the finances either feel like either like you're in the dark, like you might not know what's going on, or you don't fully understand what's going on and it feels scary, or the T word tax shows up, and that's a very intimidating.
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I I mean I think probably like 98 of the pop percent of the population gets like anxious when they hear that word, and the only two that don't are the two percent that don't is the ones who prepare it.
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So um, you know, there's a lot of things that that are that are in the financial realm that is just very intimidating.
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And when we can get our arms wrapped around it, it it really helps in in opening up the space for us to calm that nervous system and uh yeah, just live in a in a more peaceful environment.
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I love that.
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So give us a little bit of the nuts and bolts of what it is like to work with you.
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So if if if I were gonna be a client, what would what would happen?
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Yeah.
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So usually, like I said, um my my particular clients own, generally own serviced, service-based type businesses.
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So um it could be anything from, you know, coaches to law firms to daycarers to trades to anything like that.
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Um, but usually what happens is they're a lot of times they've had a tax professional or someone in their life and they just don't feel like they have someone to just really help them out.
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Like getting things might be getting done, but they really don't understand what's going on.
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And there's this fear that, you know, every April they're gonna get a nice bill, a big bill.
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Actually, nice, it's scary, and they're, you know, tired of feeling that way.
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Or they're building their business and they just don't know kind of what they should be doing and when.
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Uh, or they have they've never had anybody do their their books, so they or they do have someone, but they don't really talk to them and they don't know if they're doing things right or what they should be doing or how their business is doing, or how to use the financials of their business to make decisions.
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Uh because once you do that, once you get your business financials set up, then that extends to your personal life.
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So a lot of my clients aren't really paying themselves consistent consistently.
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They're not paying themselves well.
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And so, you know, when you're not feeling that that sense of security, um, that's when you usually come to someone like me who's gonna like, I'll wrap my arms around it and my teen will like we can do the bookkeeping, but I also meet with my clients.
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Uh, so I really help them understand what's happening in their business.
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So to me, like when I look at the finances of someone's business, it tells me a story.
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Like I can about it a mile away.
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Say more about that.
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What does that mean?
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Well, it's it says a lot about how they're managing their money, how they think about money.
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Like, I can usually see what's going through their brains.
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So I'll tell you, you know, one thing that's a real giveaway for me is if they have only one bank account.
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Okay.
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And I know that sounds really like, what are you talking about?
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But like if you just have everything coming in and going out, you really don't like into one place, you really don't have a good feeling as to how you're doing.
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Because the second something comes in, there's something kind of pulling on it.
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A bill or a payroll or whatever it might be, a tax bill, who knows, electric bill.
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It could be a bunch of things.
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And so you don't really ever feel a the receiving the money, which I think is a big thing we a lot of business owners miss is to just feel the money coming in because when it goes out as fast as it comes in, you're just sort of your nervous system goes kind of off.
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Um, so there's there's little tells that I can see, and then I explain to them what I see, and then we create a plan as to how to change it.
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So A, they understand it, and B, they know how to move forward.
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And I can tell them, like, hey, this these are some of the steps that you need to do to wrap your arms around it, know what you're gonna do, make a good decision, whether you can hire somebody, whether you, you know, should be if you're ready to invest in the next level, whatever hap happens to be going on in your business or what your goal is for your business.
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Um, because some people just want a lifestyle business, which is hey, I just want a business to support my life and pay myself a decent wage, and that's good.
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But some people want to grow their business and create like a legacy.
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Some people want to grow a business that they eventually sell.
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So there's a lot of different things.
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And so I look at where they are, the story of where they are.
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We look at the story of where they want to go, and then we build like the roadmap in between.
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And when they have that sense of clarity, it just really helps that that feeling of okay, feeling much more confident.
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I'm feeling much more secure.
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Cause I know that like it's not all going to collapse tomorrow, which I know there's many, I've had many conversations about that feeling that entrepreneurs often have is like, is it all gonna just evaporate tomorrow?
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And so we build strategies around all of that.
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Yeah, I love that.
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So it's it's I mean, this is in the information about your business, but it is coaching.
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It is not just financial planning, it is coaching them through this process.
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That's what I'm hearing you say say, you know, is it's coming alongside, cheering for them, helping them strategize and plan and all the things.
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Yes.
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Yes, because the numbers in and of itself, like I you know, I would venture to say, you know, if anyone's had their tax return prepared before, that's usually a first place, you know, people start, is like how many people look at their tax return and have no idea what it means?
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Yeah.
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Like most people don't.
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So I I feel like it as a as an industry, like we're letting people our clients down if we don't explain what's really happening.
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So yeah, I don't really I don't have any clients that they just we just go and scurry in the corner and do our work and then just send it out to them.
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Like I have to make sure I meet with each of my clients at least, depending on what we're doing, the type of engagement, but at least on a quarterly basis so that uh they have a good understanding of of where things are at.
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And if I see any like yellow flags or red flags or green flags, you know, I'll let them know or what those are.
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Because part of it is we gotta celebrate what we're doing right.
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Yeah.
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That's really important to get confidence and then see where we can, you know, tweak and improve things.
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Well, and you have such an affirming presence, like when I'm in your presence, you're just very affirming and kind and non-judgmental, because I mean, as you said at the beginning, people have a lot of feelings about their money and about the the way that they are are organizing or maybe not organizing their money.
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Yes.
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And so I think it's nice to be able to welcome someone into your life that is calm and just ready to help, but not judgmental about the state, the state of things.
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Like even though you said this is telling me a story, you're gonna report that back to the client in a way that is like, and the story is I can help.
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And this is how we we fix what or or or shift or you know, whatever it happens to be.
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And I mean, it and it's simply because there's really very few things I haven't seen.
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Right?
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Like when you go to the doctor, you're like, oh my gosh, I have this thing.
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Am I the only person in the world who hasn't?
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The doctor's like, no, I've seen this a million times.
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And and and you know, that's that's similar to how to how I operate, but like I just know how much intimidation and fear there are around finances.
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Um, you know, because here's the reality is that most people they're well didn't go to school for this, but yet money touches every aspect of our life for sure.
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So it's really ironic that like, you know, we've learned things in school that we will never use again.
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The periodic table we can reach now.
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Right.
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I mean when we some people are using it, I'm not, you know.
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Right.
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And but yet like money and and you know financial literacy to start, but then like financial confidence and and things like that, it was never taught.
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And so, you know, I I like to say to my clients, it's like when you start a business, it's because you have a zone of genius in whatever that thing is, right?
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Whether you're you know how to um, you know, take care of children, whether you know how to practice law, whether you know how to, you know, to be a marketer, whatever it happens to be, that's what they're good at.
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But you know, around every business, or the reason why most people start their business is not to become a charity, or else they would become a charity.
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It's their business, is they're there to make um a profit and to make money.
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And so, but yet that getting from A to B and connecting the dots, that they don't know what to do.
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Um, so that's that's where I come in.
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That's and so you the but the majority of your meetings, as as I understand it, are a virtual.
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It's not something where they have to be, you're available to people all over the world.
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Um you don't have to be local to to take advantage of your services because it's an online conversation typically.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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Very much so.
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And and you said a little bit about this, but what is your normally you're meeting with them at what frequency?
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Uh well, it depends on the size of the business.
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So if they're small, um, starting out, like usually in their first, you know, up to their first few six figures, if you will, they're I'm meeting with them quarterly.
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It's just to check in, you know, give them a few like bits and then you know, off they go.
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Um, but if there's clients that are much bigger and are grow in a growth mode that really need someone helping them along the way and who to call about you know, something they received, or you know, they're thinking of doing this, or I I literally just got off the phone with a client five minutes before we you we got on this meeting because they were, you know, thinking of making a move, but they wanted to make sure they fully understood the financial implication of that move.
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And so I was able to talk to them about that.
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So it really depends on the size of the business.
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Uh so it does change, but yeah, it it it's it's really helpful to feel like you get a you know, a bit of a rubber stamp from me if if they've talked to someone, okay, I'm thinking I'm doing this.
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Is this the right way to do it?
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And I'll say yes, or maybe how about yes, just do these couple of things and then do it.
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Um, so that they just can it helps people sleep better at night.
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Okay.
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Well, and if they need you in between that, you are you're I mean, they can access you in between the meetings.
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Absolutely, yes, yes, and sometimes they do, things will come up, but um at minimum, I I like to have a cadence because it's very easy to get busy doing something else.
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And you don't even remember when you had that last meeting?
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Yeah, right.
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So then I'm like, okay, come on back.
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Let's just and sometimes there's very little to talk about because maybe a lot hasn't changed, but it's just that that touch point to know that you've got someone else's eyes looking at it.
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Yeah.
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So what are the kinds of things that people would need to have gathered in order to be ready to meet with you?
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Not too much, actually.
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Their one bank account.
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Their one bank account.
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Or we we have our ways of like accessing these things with their permission, of course, but like we can grab pretty much the way the world has come, most things are like in the cloud, if you will.
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We can we can grab things and use them to put their finances together.
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So yeah, we we we handle that.
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Um, so no, when when I meet with my clients the first time, they don't need to bring anything.
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Just talk.
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And then I, you know, usually can ask some questions to figure out, you know, what it really is.
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Because what I find is when because when you're not really confident in something, you might think you know what you need.
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But then I'll start asking some questions and it's like, well, you actually don't need this, you really need that.
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You know, so that that's that's a big thing is like when you do something every day, it's it's easy to spot what someone needs.
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And sometimes they need something before the thing that they think they need.
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So we'll talk through that and we'll figure out a game plan, and that's and that's how it it works.
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But you know, that's the one thing is like it's just that sense of panic that and and uncertainty that's really my goal in kind of minimizing with with clients is making sure that they just aren't feeling that way because it's very lonely and very scary.
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And you know, we especially when you start a business, you're taking a you know, a lot of risk with with your time, with your money, you're taking, you know, whatever it might be, and you're employing other people and you're taking it very seriously.
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So there's there's a lot of a lot of pieces in the puzzle that we want to fit together just to create create that harmony.
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Absolutely.
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That we're all really striving for, right, right.
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I think one of the themes that came out of the hobby discussion that we had in the summer, and even a couple of the um episodes we've recorded since then is that there are certain places in life, finances being one of them, that you do need a guide.
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Like you, you know, we spend money on other things and don't think that much about it.
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But that these types of services, like I talked to a professional organizer earlier, and those types of services are a little less common in just your everyday life.
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And but sometimes you do need a guide.
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Like one of the hobby ladies that we talked to runs a business where she helps you form your garden and know how to grow things.
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And so if you, if that is a a situation in which you are in in the wilderness, for lack of a there's a garden metaphor for you.
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Yes, then finding a guide like you can be a real game changer.
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However, having said that, services like yours and and others is a privilege.
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It is not it is it is something that is a privilege to have.
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So do you have tips for people who are not at a season of life that they're ready to pull a guide in, but still need some help with their finances?
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Do you have any tips there?
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Well, there are a lot of I'll call it financial gurus out there that like you know that's the beautiful thing about social media is that you can garner tips pretty easily.
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Um, so you know, definitely just start following some to get just hear, like just be absorbed in that world.
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You don't even have to do anything, but just to hear what other people are talking about and and what other people are doing.
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Um just to get in that that rhythm of thinking.
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Because a lot of times it's like they haven't even thought about it.
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Right.
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Right.
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Well, and I think that's what's special about what you do is that when you think about finance, as as you said in the beginning, typically you think you're gonna hire somebody who's who's just gonna be numbers-oriented, which is helpful, but this had as there are so many more layers there.
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And I I love the fact that you offer services to come alongside all of those layers.
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Yeah, I mean, what I found is that it's not just technical, like there is a there's a feminine side of money, right?
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Not just directed at women, right?
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But there's a feminine side of money in the sense that it's surrounded by a lot of emotion and a lot of thoughts and feelings, right?
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And if we're just constantly like treating it in a robotic way, like you should do this, that, or other things, it's it's might appeal to some.
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Some might understand that.
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Other accountants, maybe.
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Right, exactly.
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Or or the finance pros or or whatever it might be.
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I don't know.
00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:40.799
But I mean, there's just a whole other side, like the and I think the majority of the population that doesn't understand that.
00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:47.680
And I get that because if somebody started to talk to me about like what you were saying earlier about the periodic table, I'm just gonna glass over.
00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.319
Mm-hmm.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.000
I have no idea.
00:21:50.240 --> 00:22:01.440
But if someone talks to me about how those things impact my life and what it what are the important things I need to know about those things and how Really relates to me.
00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:05.359
Like I I genuinely feel there is not a one size fits all about money.
00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:20.720
That's why I say, when I say sort of like listen to some of the social media things, don't necessarily follow everything because there's a lot of it that's very either A, it's a strategy that you're just is a little too advanced, right?
00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:25.839
Sometimes they hear a lot of things, oh, but do this, that, and the other thing, and they're nowhere near ready for it.
00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:34.720
Um like I just think there's there's there's a time and a place for everything, but it's definitely not one size fits all.
00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:37.839
So just listen, start feeling comfortable.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:43.200
Um, you know, and get get your finances in order, whether you even have a business or not.
00:22:43.839 --> 00:23:02.480
You know, one of the things I've I've talked to women about before is that even if you don't have a business um and you're in a you know partnership with someone, if that partner is the one handling all the finances, I would say you you need to know what's going on.
00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:12.160
And it is not about a lack of trust, it's the literal fact that there is a a chance that you might outlive your partner.
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.599
Right, right.
00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.240
Right.
00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:18.720
Or the partnership could end, you know, unfortunately, like for another reason.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.240
But there is a chance.
00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:32.960
And so if if you're not if you're not aware of what's going on, it can a be scary or be like, you know, we it's not something unfortunately we can bury our head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist.
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:40.720
Because a lot of times even our partners, they don't really know what they're doing and they've just felt they've had to take on that role for whatever reason.
00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:45.440
So I mean, you know, when we raise children, it's usually a partnership.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:49.680
So it should be a similar partnership when it comes to finances.
00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:59.279
So even on the business side, you know, if you're in a part in a partnership in a business, if there's one partner that kind of handles the finances, that doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:23:59.839
Yeah.
00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:03.359
Well, and that's I I mean, I think the word partnership is critical there.
00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.680
Like that's part of what it's fine to divide labor, yeah.
00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:15.839
But just make sure that everybody is clear on what our values are and the way that we're gonna divide things and you know.
00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.160
Are we moving in the right direction?
00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.480
Are we, do I have a general idea?
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:26.799
I mean, that's all we really need to have in a lot of cases, is just knowing where we're headed, but a lot of times that isn't even there.
00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:39.440
We're just like going on trust and faith, and um, you know, and and whoever we've given that the keys to that like car to, they may not know what they're doing.
00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:42.559
And so we're we're you know, they're both kind of flying blind.
00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:51.119
So I think it's really important just to get like really literate on your own finances.
00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.240
Like, how am I doing?
00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.920
How much am I bringing in each month?
00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.279
How much is going out?
00:24:55.440 --> 00:25:09.759
Like, am I, you know, business or not, business or personal, there could be like leaks in the boat where you know, we signed up for something a long time ago and have completely forgotten about it.
00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:16.799
You know, like there's a lot of different things that you can do just to get familiar with it.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:22.720
Like I I've met with clients in the past that like are even afraid to look at their bank account, right?
00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.480
Oh wow, yeah.
00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.559
So that's part of it.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:31.039
It's just knowing and trusting that it's going to be okay.
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.680
Yeah.
00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:37.359
Do you ever work with couples that come to you, or is that not part of your scope?
00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:39.119
I have in the past.
00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:41.440
I have worked with with couples in the past.
00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:52.880
Now I I tend to I've zeroed in on business owners because I found that there is less women, women being me, in that space.
00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:57.599
Like the voices aren't as common and there's I hear you.
00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:02.400
That's why I, you know, kind of narrowed over onto that side.
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.759
But um, yes, but I have in the past.
00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:27.359
And yes, it is very um the conversations can be really interesting and learning about each other is very interesting in our back because the reality is is that the decisions that we make is through, I'll call it a lens, like, you know, think of think of glasses, right?
00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.960
And we all have a prescription.
00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:40.160
Well, that prescription has been developed over our lifetime based on how we saw our parents handling money.
00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:49.839
If there was some sort of of you know, financial like incident that happened during that we witnessed during a lifetime.
00:26:49.920 --> 00:27:05.599
It could be a bankruptcy, it could be like conversations between people saying, I don't know how we're gonna pay the bills, it could be a whole bunch of things, but all of that create this prescription through which we're watching, you know, the fine finances of the world.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:08.400
And my prescription will not be the same as yours.
00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:19.920
Yes, you know, and I was fortunate that, you know, I I grew up in a household with like my father who was in the financial world.
00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:27.839
So I was never intimidated by money, I was never intimidated by business and money, um, because he brought me into it.
00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:31.759
But and then I got the education and and all the things.
00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.319
But, you know, there's most of the the world hasn't had that exposure.
00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:38.000
So it is intimidating.
00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:44.319
And so it's nice to talk to someone who is like, this isn't a judgment thing, this is a comfort thing.
00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.400
And I'm gonna make help make you as comfortable as I am, right?
00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.519
That's okay.
00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.759
So you feel a power to make your decisions.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:59.359
I don't want to make decisions for people, I want them to feel they're making their decisions and not giving them the tools to make the decisions.
00:27:59.599 --> 00:27:59.839
Yeah.
00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:06.480
What I hear you saying is it's a lot about giving them the agency to know how to make those decisions well.
00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:12.000
And that maybe they're already making some decisions from def by default-ish.
00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:12.640
Yeah.
00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:17.359
But that that might not be the decision that that aligns with their values.
00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:19.839
And they didn't even know they were making a decision.
00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.279
I mean, myself included.
00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:32.319
So I think you know it's helpful to have that uh expertise to give them the agency to make the decisions that do align with their value system.
00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:35.599
So I think that's a really critical part here.
00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.240
It is.
00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:44.559
It's it's amazing the amount of times I have conversations where someone will say, Well, I have to do this or I need to do this.
00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:48.799
And it's it's usually because they're feeling like pushed in some way.
00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.440
Right.
00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.200
Like I whether it could be anything.
00:28:51.279 --> 00:29:04.559
It could be hiring someone, it could be having to take out you know, additional debt, it could be having to buy something additional for the, but just the sense, and that's gen usually an emotional decision when you start using those words.
00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:10.240
It's not an objective, like, does this make sense?
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:20.000
Like, if you make this decision now, what's it gonna, what's the impact it's going to have six months from now, a year from now, two years from now?
00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.079
And is that does that make sense?
00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:33.359
And a lot of times when they reframe it, it's like, oh, yeah, I'm just trying to solve a now problem, but that me trying to solve that now problem is gonna create a problem down the road.
00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:41.359
Whereas if I just tweak things a certain way, it would be have a completely different, like downstream impact or result.
00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.880
So yeah.
00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:47.279
So it's it's just interesting to to watch how we make these decisions.
00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:55.839
So well, and I think it's so interesting because you know, our model here is that we are raising questions to find out how to be more peaceful.
00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.640
And certainly the more peaceful you are with your money, that I mean, that definitely aligns.
00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:32.319
But it isn't it isn't as obvious because I don't think we realize how much that can when we think about if I say to someone, you know, we're trying to be more peaceful, what come the images, images that come into mind are like, okay, we're gonna breathe deeply, we're gonna meditate, we're gonna, you know, sit in silence, whatever you think you, whatever image comes, we're gonna be never have any feelings, we're not gonna get upset, and there's not gonna be any circumstances that are gonna be off, everything's gonna just align and it's gonna flow, and that's great.
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:38.000
And that is not at all how peace works because that's not at all how life works.
00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:54.000
And so I think this is really a good light bulb for for all of us to think about like, okay, I could adjust that part of my life and create a lot more peace for myself that would ripple to a lot more areas.
00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.920
It would have a ripple effect.
00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.359
A hundred percent.
00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.839
I mean, it really goes hand in hand.
00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:07.440
Because if you think of a lot of the things that when you ask someone, well, what is it you want to do?
00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.799
What does peace look like?
00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:13.680
It's usually at a point where they're financially independent, right?
00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:16.319
When they have a lot more disposable income.
00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:16.960
Right.
00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.319
And and they can do something.
00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.839
In a place of privilege, yeah.
00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.240
Right?
00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:28.720
It is a bit of a privilege, but then they've created that, you know, they're fine, like for me, it's like I want to allow, and I have these conversations a lot.
00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.319
It's like, what's important to you?
00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.559
Like, it's not about making money for money's sake.
00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:40.640
It's not about making money to like or or just to avoid a tax bill.
00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:43.839
Like that, that's not no, that's not why we do things.
00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:52.880
Like we make money because either we want to improve our own life or improve the lives of the people around us, right?
00:31:53.039 --> 00:32:14.960
Like be able to to treat our families like to a nice dinner, to able to go on a really nice vacation, you know, to go to a spa, to go just to have be able to take time away from my business so that I can do some some of these things, whether it's spend time in nature, you know, whatever it might be.
00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:21.119
But usually there has to be like this, you know, the the ability to have the freedom.
00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:29.039
So whether it's because usually financial moving along the path to financial freedom, time freedom can be created as well.
00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.559
So we're right.
00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:34.640
Like a lot of business model are saying, I can't take a day off, I can't afford it.
00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:39.279
And I'm like, well, let's find a way to let's figure this out so you can.
00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:39.920
Yeah.
00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:48.000
Because burnout is not like you can't, you can't meditate your way out of burnout.
00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:56.640
At some point, the circumstance has to change, but it could be the circumstance that you're in just needs to be tweaked.
00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.039
Right.
00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:06.000
It's possible that with it with the help of some expertise, you can reorganize your resources in a way that that would be more possible.
00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:08.000
Um, I love that.
00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:25.039
I think that's a really important takeaway that, you know, maybe you just need to rethink, reframe, use a different lens from what you said earlier to looking at the way that you're organizing these resources and that can lead you more towards freedom and peace.
00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.400
A hundred percent.
00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.279
I love that.
00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.079
I love that.
00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:33.680
Well, I we're at the point in our conversation that I always ask our guests, are there things that we miss?
00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:40.640
Like, are there things that are within the scope of your business or what you do that we haven't touched on yet?
00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.640
Is there anything?
00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:57.680
Um I think for me, uh like I think what a lot of people realize is that or don't realize about what I do is I'm almost like, you know, almost a bit of a bit of a sherpa.
00:33:58.880 --> 00:33:59.440
Right?
00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.720
I love that image.
00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:00.960
Yeah.
00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:05.440
In the sense of, you know, we're doing something hard, climbing the mountain.
00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.599
But I've climbed a lot of them.
00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:11.920
And so I feel like I'm telling them, well, this is gonna, this is up ahead.
00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.760
Five steps up ahead.
00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:17.199
There's gonna be a log that we're gonna have to step over.
00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:23.920
And let's let's this is how you do it, because you can't just jump because you're gonna, you know, maybe hurt your ankle on the way down.
00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:27.280
You have to go maybe around or or something like that.
00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:38.079
And so a lot of it is just me understanding like what they need to do at what point, because like you just don't know what you don't know.
00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.400
Right.
00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.840
What it comes down to.
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:41.599
You just don't know what you don't know.
00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:50.000
And so you just need to know like that there's someone in your corner who understands and has seen it all before.
00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:57.679
And it's like, okay, this is the time where you need to make maybe this tax election because it's gonna save you some money.
00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:59.280
And we save some money.
00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:02.159
Hey, let's make a purpose for that.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:03.599
Right.
00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:14.800
Like, I don't always want people to feel like it's about making more money, it's about making more money so you can create the life that you've started your business for.
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.280
Yeah.
00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:15.679
Right.
00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.079
Absolutely.
00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.719
Sentence is like just not complete for me.
00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.880
Like, I have to make it longer.
00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:23.119
Um, you know, I like that.
00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:23.519
Right.
00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:35.039
Like it's there'll be many times where I have to tell somebody, or it's not have to, sorry, I choose to tell somebody, I want you to take a bonus.
00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:36.159
Like it's time.
00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:42.159
You need to take a bonus because it's amazing when we don't expect something and it comes to us.
00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:47.280
We usually find something more enjoyable to do it.
00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:48.960
Right?
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:58.400
When that regularly comes, it kind goes into our usual life, our utility bills, whatever bills, school supplies, kids' clothes.
00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:08.960
But when there's other little pockets of money that we can create, those become a little more permissive to treat ourselves.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:16.400
So I love encouraging my business owners to do that and then report back.
00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:18.400
I'm glad they did it.
00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:20.400
Because it's really fun, right?
00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:27.440
When things start when you've worked so hard for something, and that's when you feel it's starting to reward you.
00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.159
Yeah.
00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:56.480
I love I I I really I'm I'm thinking more and more about the idea that like hiring a guide in a certain area, this being finance, sometimes it just escalates the process where where maybe I would get there if I researched and watched a lot of YouTube videos and took a course and whatever all I did, but that this can just, you know, quickly escalate the process, and that is a game changer, I think.
00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.719
And it's calming at the same time.
00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:01.440
That's really what the goal is, right?
00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:05.199
Like it's you know, we're here for a long time, all of us.
00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.599
Yeah.
00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:12.960
To have the day-to-day just be a little calmer and feel a little easier and not so scary.
00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:15.920
I mean, that's that's really the goal, isn't it?
00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:17.760
Like, yeah, I like that a lot.
00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:21.440
That's a great, that's a great takeaway from this conversation.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:23.360
So that's so helpful.
00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.000
Thank you.
00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:40.320
I I think this is really gonna be a good, very inspiring to a lot of people just to think about your value system as it relates to your money and seek out resources that can help you be aware and be aligned with your values.
00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.360
I love that.
00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.159
I love that.
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:50.320
I because I do find that a lot of people don't see them as even being remotely connected at all.
00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:54.000
Well, I had not really thought about that until you said it either.
00:37:54.079 --> 00:38:00.800
I I really money for for me always feels like, oh yeah, that's gotta, I gotta deep, I gotta.
00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:04.320
I mean, accounting is not fun, no offense.
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:06.639
No, no, not taken, none taken.
00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:12.719
But that's that's it is I've had the ability to reframe it and how can this be fun?
00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:16.159
How can it be helpful to people?
00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:18.000
How can I change make an impact?
00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.119
Not a chore.
00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:23.119
Like it's keeping up with the money to me always feels like a chore.
00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:34.159
And that's I hear you saying sometimes there might be some things that you do that won't be all of it won't be, you know, roses and rainbows, but it won't it can be not a chore while you're doing it.
00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:36.559
So right, exactly, exactly.
00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:41.920
So yes, it's it's it's a lot of actually I I think it's a lot of fun what I do.
00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:42.800
That's great.
00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:43.840
That's that's perfect.
00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:46.960
I need a cheerleader to say this can be fun.
00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.199
That's awesome.
00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:52.800
Well, thank you so much for joining us and sharing all that wisdom.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:56.800
And I know a lot of people are gonna feel inspired and want to follow your lead.
00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:57.760
Absolutely.
00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:07.599
Well, hopefully, if anything, it just you know creates that awareness for someone to just look at their finances a little differently.
00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:17.039
That it's like a partnership and it's not something, you know, we have to resist, that it is something that walks with us throughout our lives and let's make it more pleasant.
00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.000
I love that.
00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.880
That's awesome.
00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:20.000
Well, thank you again.
00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:21.280
Thanks so much.
00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:32.880
Now, before we go, I want to tell you about something new that we've been creating as a Create Harmony team.
00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:39.920
So this fall, we're launching something that we're calling Peaceful, and it's our first peace-through practice series.
00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:45.840
And what it is is a nine-week season designed around this simple idea.
00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:51.199
What if we collected up a group and practiced peace together?
00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:59.440
So this will be a small group that will gather throughout the fall to slow down, to connect, and more importantly, to try something new.
00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:02.800
This is sort of an expansion of our hobby discussion.
00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:07.519
Instead of just talking about hobbies, we're going to try some of the things.
00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:16.639
So it's not really about the activities, it's about creating room in our lives for the spirit of curiosity, for the spirit of play.
00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:18.559
This can be a form of rest.
00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:24.239
It's going to take a little bit of courage, creativity, and it will create connection.
00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:29.199
And so we're going to notice how those things can become an extension of our peace.
00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:31.920
So you do not have to be good at any of that.
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That's not required.
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None of us are going to be good at it.
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We're all going to be learning together.
00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:39.599
You only need to come curious.
00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:46.880
So Peacefall is an in-person experience and it will take place here in Raleigh with just a small group.
00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:52.239
Peacefall will take place in Raleigh, and it will be our pilot program.
00:40:52.480 --> 00:41:00.400
So if you're craving a deeper connection with others and you are open to trying some new things, this might be exactly what you need.
00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:05.440
You can learn more and you can save your spot at mycreateharmony.com.
00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:07.119
And you just definitely want to check it out.
00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:11.920
Once the slots are filled, they're filled, and you want to be part of this brand new program.
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Don't miss it.
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Now, until next time, I want you to remember, peace is not just something we hope for, it's something that we practice.
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Peace is a practice, and we practice it one ordinary moment at a time.
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And until next time, peace.