Live and Earn

“There's no such thing as being bad with money. You just have bad habits.”  -- Helen Ngo  When I turned 18 and went off to college, I thought I was going to be a dentist. Despite growing up in a family of female entrepreneurs, and later realizing a career in medicine wasn't for me, I never dreamed of starting my own company.  The “aha” moment didn't come until a few years after college, early in my career in the finance industry. When I asked my boss for a raise, he told me I'd be better off marrying rich.  That was the last time I would ever be shamed for being an ambitious woman.  My fire was lit. So, I fired that 9-5 corporate life for good. Never will I let someone control how much money I make. On this episode of Live and Earn, I take a turn as the guest with my friend and client Ashley Williams, host of the Birds Mean Business podcast. Ashley and I discuss how my identity and upbringing influenced the drive I bring to my business every day. I also share the one thing I wish I had done before becoming an entrepreneur, and some of the top tips I share with my clients.  What we tackle in this episode:  Why I decided to become an entrepreneur — and help other women specifically  How becoming a business owner myself transformed my relationship with my mother and my respect for her own journey as an entrepreneur before me  Why there's no such thing as ‘being bad with money' How people who earn $6,000 and people who earn $60,000 can actually be making the same amount of money  The importance of spending with intention  Where your personal life should be before you start a business The types of people entrepreneurs should surround themselves with Why not everyone should be an entrepreneur  Resources and links mentioned in episode:  Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MeetHelenNgo Instagram:  https://instagram.com/meethelenngo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenmngo/ Email: Hello@helenngo.com Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Corporate does a really good job of making you feel like what you're doing isn't important.” -- Taylor Epley For years, Taylor Epley helped friends, family, and pretty much anyone who asked with résumés and cover letters, until a peer challenged her to find her first client, charge for those same services she'd previously done for free, and get serious about starting her own business: The Career Curator.  Now, as a career coach, Taylor specializes in helping people figure out where they want to be, and how to get there. In her words, she helps people see themselves the way she sees them. In this episode, Taylor explains what career coaching is and gives some insights into the reasons why so many people stay in jobs that don't satisfy them. Taylor also shares a creative strategy to overcome imposter syndrome around salary negotiations.  Here's Taylor. What we tackle in this episode:  What it's like to work with a career coach and when to hire one for yourself How to find the value in the work you do, even if it may not feel important  What to expect when you first meet with a career coach  How to become confident in your career development The variables to assess when identifying a job that will work best for you  The mindset shifts needed to confidently negotiate your salary What else to negotiate for besides your salary  How to quantify your accomplishments  Why people who are in an “OK” situation at work tend to be less happy Signs you need to pay attention to when it's time to come up with an exit strategy  Why the current economy might present the best opportunity to leave your 9-5 and go after your dream job  SHOW NOTES: https://helenngo.com/ep-51-why-people-stay-in-jobs-they-hate --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“You don't always have to wait for the whole dream. You can break it down into parts that can happen now.” -- Johanna White  Whether you track your goals with a spreadsheet, write your intentions in a journal, or keep your dreams close to the chest, charting out a path to your future achievements shouldn't be that complicated. And it certainly shouldn't be scary, but for so many of us, it can be.  If you don't set goals or speak your dreams into existence, then you'll never fall short of them, right? Wrong.  As entrepreneur and former goal-phobic Johanna White explains on this episode of Live and Earn, striving for a target you set for yourself is the only way you'll get closer to what you really want and deserve.  She once believed goals were pointless -- maybe even something that simply set her up for failure -- but over the years, she's figured out that achieving becomes a lot more manageable when you establish a series of smaller goals that get you that much closer to big success.  Johanna also shares her “stretch” goal of the moment and why she only opens up about her goals to the people in her life who genuinely support her.  What we tackle in this episode:  Different styles for setting goals and achieving  The pressure to choose what you want to be when you grow up  How accomplishing goals without passion can lead to boredom and dissatisfaction  Goal setting for self-described dreamers  Mental exercises for identifying goals How achieving financial goals create opportunity for achieving personal goals Why you should think big and have big goals  SHOW NOTES: https://helenngo.com/ep-50-how-to-set-goals-to-achieve-success --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Today might not be the best day, but there's something really, really great on the other end of this, and it just hasn't revealed itself yet. But it's totally there —  it's there for my taking and when I get to it, I'll get to it.” -- Jamie Shank  If anyone could survive the pandemic job market, you'd think it would be a public health expert.  And you'd be right — but you might be surprised by the survival guide Jamie Shank created for her own career. Jamie uprooted her life in Kansas to put down new roots in Atlanta, Georgia — without full-time employment or health insurance during the Covid-19 pandemic. When she moved to Atlanta in 2020, she had several interviews lined up. Then came the Covid-19 hiring freezes.  Instead of crawling back to what she knew —her old job, Kansas City, public health departments — Jamie chose to embrace the blank canvas in front of her and founded her own company, Organizational Empowerment (OE for short). As the President and CEO of her company, Jamie draws on her years of experience in public health and program management to empower clients working in social services and public health — two fields on the frontlines of Covid-19. On this episode of Live and Earn, Jamie explains why the first thing she did was invest her savings in marketing and branding. She also discusses how she established connections in the local entrepreneur community and shares how challenges in her personal life helped her cultivate the resilience any first-time business owner needs. What we tackle in this episode:  The challenges of establishing a new business and finding clients in a new state  Combining households and finances with a partner during a period of financial uncertainty Why it's critical to your first year of success to be intentional about who you connect with The greatest challenge entrepreneurs face in the first year of business  Balancing personal and professional growth with meeting obligations to clients Identifying and establishing boundaries between work and life as a business owner  How building resilience enables you to take risks as a business owner  SHOW NOTES: https://helenngo.com/ep-49-your-backup-plan-might-be-better --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Once you grow your business, it is a high like no other.” -- Joy Ugi Joy Ugi always had big dreams for herself. After so many years in marketing, she'd worked her way up the corporate ladder. Someday, she'd be CMO. Starting her own business never even crossed her mind, hesitating to start her own business as a single woman.  Finally, as so many of us have, Joy reached a point where she simply couldn't abide the corporate world or the culture that came with it any longer. Because that was the only work environment she'd ever known, she couldn't help but send some applications out to established companies, but Joy did something else, too.  She started reconnecting with old contacts, picked up some freelance work, and something just clicked. Her corporate days officially behind her, in 2017 Joy launched her own digital marketing agency: Hella Good Marketing.  On this episode of Live and Earn, Joy explains the circumstances that led to her leap of faith into the world of startups and freelancers. She also shares the different aspects of running a business that surprised and challenged her most, as well as what makes her company's marketing services hella good.  What we tackle in this episode:  Transitioning from the employee mindset to the CEO mindset Why quitting without a safety net can drive more success than if you had a plan in place Fighting through discomfort to develop hidden or unexplored strengths in yourself Why it's hard to return to the corporate world after running an independent business  How an entrepreneur's communication style translates to her business's bottom line Why working your ass off and taking on every client might make money, but won't make your business successful long-term  What marketing is and isn't, and why every new business needs a marketing expert SHOW NOTES: https://helenngo.com/ep-48-you-cant-be-ceo-with-an-employee-mindset/ --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/  

“It's always better to have data backing up what your intuition is saying, and not just making decisions on intuition.” -- Jordan Gill   What's your zone of genius and how do you use it to your advantage? Operations consultant Jordan Gill has a system to help entrepreneurs figure that out. In fact, she has a system for everything, really. As founder of Systems Saved Me, Jordan identified her own zone of genius early on in her career. In just five years, she's turned her company into a million-dollar business that has the systems in place to survive almost anything, including every small business owner's nightmare: turnover.  On this episode of Live & Earn, Jordan shares how she scaled up from making $110,000 in her first year to her first million only five years later. She also emphasizes the importance of balancing instinct with data and shares her best advice for fellow entrepreneurs who are new to building systems for their business.   What we tackle in this episode:  Launching a business and lining up $12,000 in recurring revenue right out of the gate   Becoming a million-dollar business in five years How to avoid micromanaging people in your business Why systems are essential to scaling a business, maintaining stability amid team turnover, and more  The first system to implement as a new business owner Knocking down perfectionism to get ahead What it means to cultivate a culture of ownership in your business Why being a solopreneur is unsustainable  Why it's critical to incorporate both data and intuition into business decisions How offering a smaller range of services can yield a larger client base SHOW NOTES:  https://helenngo.com/ep-47-systematize-your-way-to-success Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“I think overnight success takes like 10 years for everybody. And we don't get to see the 10 years; we only see the lead-up … because we just found out about them.”   -- Porsha Thomas   In her words, brand strategist Porsha Thomas has been dancing in and out of the corporate world for years. She knew from a young age that she wanted to create and lead but didn't know how to make that her full-time job — so she went to work for other people and began freelancing on the side. Porsha has since founded her own creative agency, GOWRKGRLS, a dream 10 years in the making.    On this episode of Live & Earn, Porsha walks us through the pivots she made along the way to becoming an entrepreneur, building her business and brand into something bigger each time. Porsha also tells us the best advice she's received and shares her own wisdom on everything from branding to meditating.    What we tackle in this episode:  Perfecting the pivot and transforming side hustles into full-time jobs  Translating a bright idea into a sound business model  The unexpected aspects of rebranding What it looks like to be a solopreneur  The temptation of trying to be ‘affordable' to everyone — and why raising your rates shouldn't be scary How to start meditating to ground yourself as a business owner How to spend money and not feel guilty about it SHOW NOTES https://helenngo.com/ep-46-what-it-takes-to-be-an-overnight-success --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Money gives you the opportunity to be who you really are … so it boils down to: Who am I choosing to be? And whether I'm rich, whether I'm poor … whoever I am is my choice every day. And does the money let me be more of that? Who I wish to be and how I want to operate in the world? Or does it get in the way?” -- Liz O'Brien Everyone loves a rags-to-riches story.  Whether we're watching ‘Cinderella' or ‘Pretty Woman' on the big screen or singing along when the radio throws it back to ‘Jenny from the Block,' cheering on the underdog just feels right.  Right?  But when you're the one who grew up pinching pennies, finally earning your way into a higher income bracket can come with baggage — and I'm not just talking about that Louis Vuitton purse or luxury vacation you can afford at last.  Our relationship with money doesn't automatically change simply because we have more of it.  Like it or not, the money lessons we grow up with become the foundation for the beliefs that guide us as adults. The caution and frugality our parents taught us can protect us, but those same values can hold us back.  As Liz O'Brien explains on this episode of Live & Earn, it is possible to be responsible and reward yourself. And actually do GOOD with money.  As a belief architect and mindset mentor, Liz dives into the etiology of the thoughts that limit us. She also shares stories of clients who, through consistent reflection and effort, were able to do one of the most difficult things out there — change their own minds.  What we tackle in this episode:  How to identify subconscious limiting beliefs and discover how they hold you back The nuanced relationship between one's wealth and one's moral character How early in life our attitudes toward money begin to develop The constant reflection and effort it takes to change our beliefs What it means to be genuinely true to yourself  Signs it's time to make a career change The prerequisites for a meaningful life: self care and self love Finding the middle ground between following your passion and making sure your basic needs are met How to overcome the fear of failing The case for being an amateur: why our hobbies and passions don't need to become our professions SHOW NOTES https://helenngo.com/ep-45-how-money-amplifies-who-you-really-are --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/  

“Life is to be lived, and if you're … spending all your days doing something that you aren't enjoying and is making you not very well, then you should do something about it.”  -- Dr. Juliet McGrattan   After 22 years practicing medicine, Dr. Juliet McGrattan hung up her white coat to pursue two of her passions full-time. Striking out on her own, Juliet faced a steep learning curve. When she became a running coach, she had to go out and find her own clients — unlike having patients come to her.  Newly self-employed, Juliet had to learn how to manage inconsistent income rather than being able to rely upon her regular paycheck from the United Kingdom's National Health Service.  Since starting her entrepreneurial journey, Juliet has published two books — Sorted: The Active Woman's Guide to Health (2017) and Run Well: Essential Health Questions and Answers for Runners (2021).  In this episode of Live & Earn, Juliet explains what she loved about being a doctor and why, after more than two decades in the profession, she took the leap from medicine to a more creative career.  Juliet also shares how she applies the skills she learned as a physician in her work today as a full-time writer and coach.  What we tackle in this episode:  How to make the leap from your 9-5 job to full-time business owner.  How to turn a hobby and side hustle into a full-time business  What it really means to ‘follow your passion' How to overcome fear of failure and and reap the rewards of taking risks Why pursue a non-linear career path The importance of building a financial safety net before a major career or life change Why you don't need to stick with just one career in your life --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“We're not bothering anybody by asking for more money. We're not bothering anybody by asking, ‘where's my late payment?' We need to be assertive and direct.” -- Lola Méndez Six years ago, Uruguayan-American journalist Lola Méndez packed up her New York apartment to travel around the world full-time. From Hong Kong and Chiang Mai to Mexico and Morocco, Lola has written about sustainability, social justice, identity and more for publications including CNN, ELLE, and Architectural Digest.  Unable to travel from her homebase of Montevideo, Uruguay, during the pandemic, Lola diversified her portfolio as a writer and even had her best earnings yet, making $10,000 in one month. Rather than keep the wisdom she's acquired about negotiating and pitching to herself, Lola advocates for financial transparency in the journalism industry and for freelancers as a whole.  On this episode of Live & Earn, Lola takes us behind the scenes of what it's like to travel for a living. She also shares some of the secrets to her success as freelance journalist.    What we tackle in this episode:  How to make a living as a traveling journalist Why there should be more advocacy for pay transparency How it's possible to make $10,000 in one month as a freelance writer Why having pitches rejected by editors can be a blessing  How to negotiate with confidence and ask for what you want Common negotiating and career mistakes first-time freelancers make  Advice for solo travelers   Resources and links mentioned in episode:  https://lolaannmendez.com/ https://lolaannmendez.com/consultation/ https://www.missfilatelista.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lolaannamendez/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaannmendez https://twitter.com/lolaannamendez https://www.facebook.com/missfilatelista   --- Ready to crush your income goals?    Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year.   Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/  

“We'll go as fast as we can, but as slow as we have to.” -- AJ Vaden Personal life and work don't always mix — but that was the first rule AJ and Rory Vaden broke when they set out to create their own recipe for success. Since meeting by chance as business partners in a startup, AJ and Rory have gotten married, started a family, and founded a series of multimillion-dollar companies.  Their latest venture is Brand Builders Group, a personal brand strategy firm for influencers, thought leaders and entrepreneurs.  In this episode of Live & Earn, AJ shares her secrets for ensuring her marriage and her family thrive just like her businesses. We also discuss the challenges entrepreneurs who are women and mothers might encounter as they look for community in the startup world.  What we tackle in this episode:  How to go into business with your spouse Applying certain business principles to managing a family Treating business meetings and date nights with equal importance The key to a happy family The value of time versus money  Narrowing one's client base and accelerating business growth as a result  How to scale a business quickly Finding community in unexpected places Living beneath your means short term to have guarantee comfort throughout your life Building a business that will grow with future generations  Resources and links mentioned in episode:  https://www.freebrandcall.com/ https://brandbuildersgroup.com/ --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“The sky's the limit when you have your own company.” Alessandra Pollina   Three months into her first job out of college, Alessandra Pollina had an epiphany: She didn't need to spend her 20s paying her dues in a traditional 9-5. Living in Boston on just $20,000 a year, Alessandra didn't have much to lose — but had everything to gain — when she walked away from her desk job to make a name for herself in PR. At just 23 years old, Alessandra launched her own company, Pollina PR and Marketing.  Since then, Alessandra's business has grown into Quotable Media Company, she's started a family, and she's diversified her income through investment properties, giving herself the flexibility to enjoy quality time with her son and husband.  In this episode of Live & Earn, Alessandra tells us how she had the discipline to become a successful, young entrepreneur and the courage to become a mom at the same time. We also learn about how she found community with other women and millennial founders.  What we tackle in this episode:  Starting a business right out of college Building a client base from nothing  Becoming an entrepreneur and a parent in the same timeframe Feeling lonely as a young, female entrepreneur  Hustling in your 20s and 30s to achieve financial freedom in your 40s and 50s The role of patience in sustaining an entrepreneurial endeavor  The importance of periodically reflecting on your priorities as a business owner and preferences as an individual  Resources and links mentioned in episode:  https://quotablemediaco.com/ https://www.instagram.com/quotablemediaco/ https://quotablemediaco.com/podcast/ https://quotablemediaco.com/quotable-magazine/

“The sweet spot is … just finding goals that are actually meaningful to you, or just finding joy in things that you do and not looking for these magical quick fixes, because there'll always be a new magical, quick fix.” – Linsey Levy   Linsey Levy is a Certified Health Coach with a no-nonsense approach. Linsey believes in the power of small changes to create healthy habits that last a lifetime. Her science-backed philosophy is a stark contrast with the fad diets magazines and celebrities have pushed on us for decades, and more recently, Instagram influencers who promote obscure supplements to their vast audiences of impressionable women and girls. Linsey herself spent years searching for the “perfect” diet, until she realized it simply doesn't exist. In this episode of Live & Earn, Linsey explains how she teaches clients to think about health holistically. She also describes the challenges of starting a business and becoming a mom during the Covid-19 pandemic.  What we tackle in this episode:  Becoming a mom and changing careers at the same time Common misconceptions about health coaching How to find accurate information about health and wellness  The financial pitfalls of falling into a multi-level marketing scheme (MLM) Starting a business during the Covid-19 pandemic  Finding a unique voice in the online health space  How to develop healthy habits — and stick to them  Resources and links mentioned in episode:  http://www.linseylevy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/linseylevy/ --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Winning a divorce is not about what you financially gain from it. It's about how each of you become financially independent and thrive mentally, and being a healthier human being.” -- Renee Bauer  Divorce attorney, Renée Bauer, isn't ashamed to admit she's been divorced twice, but that hasn't always been the case.  Renée's second marriage came to an end while she was counseling clients through the very same thing — yet, she felt too embarrassed to tell anyone how well she could relate to the shame and sadness they felt about getting divorced. When Renée finally opened up about her second divorce, her law firm and digital platform became busier than ever before. Renée realized that discussing her personal story in a professional setting wasn't inappropriate; instead, it has helped her make even more authentic connections with her clients at a time when they need it most.  On this episode of Live & Earn, Renée challenges the myth that divorce is something to be ashamed of. She also stresses the importance of financial independence and the one conversation you can't afford not to have before getting married.  What we tackle in this episode:  Why you must talk about money with your partner before marriage  The #1 source of conflict in marriages  Why you should discuss a prenup – but don't necessarily have to have one  How bad finances prolong bad marriages The importance of financial freedom  Overcoming the shame and embarrassment of divorce Resources and links mentioned in episode:  https://www.instagram.com/msreneebauer/ https://renee4c30b8.clickfunnels.com/auto-webinar-registrationtmosnv7p https://course.thedcourse.com/optinmdu2lxlm https://msreneebauer.com/  --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year.   Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“What you believe matters, but what you do about what you believe matters even more.” Johanna White For most of her life, Johanna White was be paralyzed by fear. Fear of being late. Fear of change. Fear of uncertainty.  Then, when she was 25, Johanna faced a battle most anyone would fear: a brain tumor, and along with it, actual paralysis. She couldn't move the left side of her body. She couldn't talk. She couldn't swallow. The anxiety Johanna had always struggled to suppress only made her symptoms worse, so at that point, she made a decision to be done with fear. In this episode, we hear about how healing her mindset helped resolve Johanna's symptoms. Johanna also explains how she founded three companies while battling her brain tumor and has continued to scale up her design business, Design by Jo.  What we tackle in this episode:  What it means to live a “full” life  Overcoming extreme anxiety and decision paralysis  Getting a new lease on life at age 25, when doctors discovered a brain tumor Growing from a commodity graphic designer to specializing in brand identity design and custom websites  Misconceptions about graphic design services  Helping clients build a brand that grows their business  Knowing your value, showing your value, and setting your rate to reflect the value you bring your clients --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“You can say you want more freedom. You can say you want more… adventure. You could want a loving relationship. But it's not what you say you want — it's what you actually believe.” Andrea Parker From her first day at the police academy, Andrea Parker knew a career in law enforcement wasn't the right fit for her. Despite that, she went on to achieve great success, graduating at the top of her class, rising quickly to the rank of detective, making a salary over six figures. Still, even with the pride she took in serving the public, Andrea couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. That's where her personal development journey began. Within 12 months of becoming a human potential coach, Andrea not only grew exponentially more grateful and grounded, but doubled her personal finances. In this episode, we learn what can happen when we learn to let go of limiting beliefs and learn to live from the heart.  What we tackle in this episode:  How to lovingly transition from one career to the next  The true timeline for setting up a successful business  Identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs  The difference between the conscious and the unconscious minds The stages of personal development  The meaning of heart-centered living  Creating a life that you're in love with  --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“Being an immigrant made me resourceful, made me a motivated individual. It changed my career track and the way that I view life, and the way that I'm going to teach my daughter to persevere.” -- Juanita Velez Moving from Medellín, Colombia to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of six — and on the first day of the ‘96 Olympics, to boot — Juanita Velez grew up bridging communities. As an adult, she's made a career of it. Driven by her innate empathy for others, Juanita earned a degree in psychology followed by a master's in international business, going onto run international communications campaigns for Delta and UPS, companies that are simultaneously homegrown and global — just like Juanita. Early on in the corporate world, Juanita noticed a gap. At networking events, she rarely met anyone like her: young, Latinx, immigrants. Yet she knew these people existed; they were her friends, her classmates, her mentees. To connect that talent with opportunity, Juanita founded HYPE: Hispanic Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs. As HYPE has evolved over the years — its fifth anniversary is coming up this June — so has Juanita. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is no longer her extracurricular, but her 9-5, as she recently hung up her social media hat to become a DE&I manager at Delta. In this episode, we discuss the importance of representation, the unique resourcefulness of immigrants, and the lessons in perseverance Juanita plans to teach her daughter.   What we tackle in this episode:  Growing up between Colombia and the United States Navigating school and career as an immigrant in the U.S. The relationship between sacrifice and success  Founding HYPE: Hispanic Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs Switching career tracks, from psychology to marketing to diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI&) Managing global brands, sponsorships, and social media for international brands like UPS and Delta Air Lines   Becoming a mom and raising a Latina daughter in a multicultural family Bridging communities to find common ground  Creating economic opportunities through a global entrepreneur mindset  Succession planning and cultivating a sustainable business model  Using her platform to drive change in her community  --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“We want money because of what it gives us. It's not the dollar bill or the number in our bank account… it's the freedom.” --Ashley Williams  Ashley Williams had it all: the high-power finance career at Barclays, New York City apartment, black car service, and a promotion waiting for her in either London or Hong Kong. Then, she landed a $4 billion IPO — and felt no excitement. That's when Ashley realized the dream job she had hustled for was no longer her dream.  Following some soul searching, Ashley decided she wanted to become an entrepreneur.  After reconnecting with her now-husband Terry, who was crushing it in the fitness industry, Ashley moved back to Houston. Together, Ashley and Terry founded The League: Elite Training Facility. Today, Ashley is running three businesses, including her own firm Bird Williams Consulting, LLC.  On this episode of Live & Earn, Ashley explains what initially motivated her to chase after a challenge on Wall Street, and why she walked away from it when she did. Ashley also reflects on the financial habits she learned from her parents, and how having her own children taught her that paying herself is just as important as investing in her businesses.  What we tackle in this episode:  Why we really want money How to figure out what fulfills you  The importance of paying yourself as an entrepreneur  How working with your partner can change your marriage  Why you should focus on your core competencies and delegate the rest  How to overcome your fear of debt  When and how to start teaching your children about money  --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“A misconception ... is that self-care is always a feel-good thing. It’s also doing the hard things sometimes.” Dr. Lauren Collins  Lauren Williams is a perinatal chiropractor, mama, devoted wife, doula, and holistic health advocate. On this episode of Live & Earn, Lauren redefines self-care and debunks misconceptions about chiropractic medicine. She also explains how she stopped asking for permission and learned to put herself first, both as a mother and a business owner. What we tackle in this episode:  The different definitions of self-care  How to balance the demands of motherhood and entrepreneurship The truth about alternative medicine How children and infants can benefit from chiropractic medicine  The importance of preventive health care  --- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“When someone tells you that it's not possible, or it's not going to work, that should motivate you even more to go out there and prove that it can be done.” Anne Gill is the founder of Haist Designs, her own brand of luxury handbags designed in Nashville and made in Italy. Haist is inspired by  Anne’s family — her husband, former professional ice hockey defenseman Hal Gill, and their three children Isabel, Sophie, and Talon — as much as her lifestyle as a globetrotting NHL wife and busy mom squeezing yoga classes and grocery runs in between the kids’ three different carpool schedules.  On this episode of Live & Earn, Anne explains her mission to redefine luxury — and why she was so determined to make Haist happen when fashion industry veterans told her, even with an MBA, she didn’t stand a chance. Three years into her startup journey, Anne pauses to reflect on what she wishes she had known about creating her own business, including how to ask for help.  What we tackle in this episode: How to become comfortable delegating as an entrepreneur Building a direct-to-consumer business and cutting out the middleman  The meaning of modern luxury  Managing international business operations and three kids’ schedules Turning doubt into motivation  The myth of work-life balance  Designing with a business background Links mentioned in this episode: https://haistdesigns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/haistdesigns https://www.instagram.com/tribeofanne ---- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

"As a woman, you never want to ever find yourself in a place where you can't support yourself." -- Kristine Fletcher A wedding is one day.  A marriage is a lifetime...supposedly.  But it doesn’t always work out that way. The U.S. divorce rate is 50% and money is one of the top 3 reasons people break up. So why don’t we talk more about money BEFORE we get married?   Kristine Fletcher, an Atlanta divorce attorney, explains what really happens when couples fail to have honest and transparent financial conversations before getting married and during marriage. It can be detrimental. What we tackle in this episode: How to protect your assets before you get married The difference between a divorce mediator versus a divorce attorney When to get a prenuptial agreement The difference between a pre-nup and a post-nup agreement in a marriage What happens to your Will if you don't update it after a divorce What you should do if you remarry to protect yourself financially What is considered as marital property How to disinherit someone What happens to your pets in a divorce ---- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

"I knew the corporate world was never right for me." -- Brooke Condrey Meet Miko Dougherty and Brooke Condrey, founders of an Atlanta based design firm.  They share their bold story of leaving comfortable salaries for a more risky role as entrepreneurs in pursuit of creative independence. Hear how they overcame societal obstacles and their own self-criticisms to build their business and life together as a gay couple. What we tackle in this episode: How to “split” the money as business partners and as romantic partners How your childhood upbringing shapes the way you manage money as adults What personal lifestyle sacrifices are made as new entrepreneurs How to adjust your lifestyle to make your dreams happen ---- Ready to crush your income goals?  Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“I traded in money to have fulfillment in myself.”  Laura Chung Isn’t it fascinating how some people make career decisions, especially when it comes to pursuing a lifestyle that is so radically different than the one they’re currently living? Laura Chung was living what seemed to be the high life in NYC, working her high paying private equity job.  From the outside, she had the wealth, the family, the friends, and all the things you may traditionally tie with success.  On the inside, that “predictable” lifestyle was breaking her down physically and mentally. Realizing that her fear of not doing what she loves most overpowered her fear of losing that stable life. So, she quit her job, sold all her belongings, and bought a one way ticket to Asia -- and she never looked back since. She now lives as a travel blogger, having complete freedom to manifest her creative energy into whatever she wants -- sharing her story of pursuit to inspire others. It may seem financially irresponsible on the surface, but we must ask ourselves: What are we willing to pay to be truly happy? For Laura, it’s not always about the money. Laura shares why it was worth giving up her consistent paycheck to live the life of her dreams. What we tackle in this episode: How to financially and mentally prepare to quit your 9-5 job and pursue a less traditional career that is more fulfilling  How to become a travel blogger and make a living doing it How to discover what you truly want and create a plan to pursue it __ Ready to crush your income goals?    Grab your FREE 1-Page Business Revenue Planner to help you stay on top of your income goals and track your progress throughout the year. Get your copy by visiting  https://helenngo.com/revenueplanner/

“I was actually more uncomfortable being comfortable. Sure, the pay is good. The coworkers are nice, but I can’t do this anymore.” - Lorrie Thomas Ross Wild Web Woman and CEO of Web Marketing Therapy®, Lorrie Thomas Ross, talks about leadership as an entrepreneur and growing a team. What does “leaving the confines of corporate hell” look like? For many of us who have made the leap into full-time entrepreneurship, leadership skills is the last thing on our minds in mastering - especially if you just work for yourself at the beginning. But stepping up to be a leader for yourself is top of mind when Lorrie gives advice to new entrepreneurs. Because of the leadership she demonstrates, she has grown her business into a successful, stable employer over the last 15 years.  Lorrie shares a behind-the-curtain peek at her journey into becoming her own boss. What we tackle in this episode: Becoming an “accidental” entrepreneur The upside of being uncomfortable with being comfortable What an ‘insultant’ is and why you need to watch out for them How the victim mentality can hold you back in your business How to develop flexibility and leadership skills as an entrepreneur The values we should all keep in mind as we grow our businesses ---- Business Workshop Discount! Are you ready to grow your business and increase your income and impact?  I am hosting a business workshop called "Turn on Your Automatic Income Machine" tomorrow, April 29th. I’m teaching you everything you need to know about how to build a self-driving business model that pays you consistently and predictably month after month. And the best part is that you can earn a discount to this workshop!  All you have to do is rate and review this podcast- that's it!  Take a screenshot of your review and email it to me at helen@helenngo.com or send me a DM on Instagram @meethelenngo.  I'll send you a promo code so you can join the workshop and learn to grow your business with confidence without wasting any more of your valuable time. Can't wait to see you there!

“If you’re doing something and it’s not really what you should be doing, you just don’t excel at it. You can be good at it, you could even be great at it. But if it’s killing you inside, I just don’t understand the point of it.”  -- Darin Wright Color expert and Elea Blake Cosmetics owner Darin Wright shares what it can really look like to follow your passion. Few of us realize just how much color affects our surroundings: from the color on the walls of our homes to the colors we put on our hair, skin, and nails. Finding the right colors for your unique chemistry can have a profound effect on everything from home decor to the clothes we buy, but how do you know if a color is right for you? Darin has dedicated years of her life and countless hours to developing a scientifically accurate color matching system called ebhues™. Starting in a rented 2x4 space in a local spa, Darin has grown her company to a custom cosmetics studio and color analysis brand that works with clients worldwide. Join Helen and this 22-year business veteran as they explore what it looks like to fill an industry gap by creating your own business. What we tackle in this episode: The financial reality of building a business and being the boss (hint: sometimes you don’t get to pay yourself for years) The questions Darin asks other aspiring business owners to think about before getting started How to handle burnout when you still have a business to run The surprising costs of not putting your talents to work Important questions to ask yourself when considering a trade with another business owner Business Workshop Discount! Are you ready to grow your business and increase your income and impact?  I am hosting a business workshop called "Turn on Your Automatic Income Machine" on April 29th. I’m teaching you everything you need to know about how to build a self-driving business model that pays you consistently and predictably month after month. And the best part is that you can earn a discount to this workshop!  All you have to do is rate and review this podcast- that's it!  Take a screenshot of your review and email it to me at helen@helenngo.com or send me a DM on Instagram @meethelenngo.  I'll send you a promo code so you can join the workshop and learn to grow your business with confidence without wasting any more of your valuable time. Can't wait to see you there!

“I find the more clear we are, with what we want in our life, what we want in our business, and why, we start stepping into our confidence more easily.” - Ashley Paré Own Your Worth™ founder and CEO Ashley Paré talks about the difference between worth and value, and how the way we define them can shape our career path. The thought of negotiating a 5-figure pay raise is enough to make most people’s palms sweat. But it’s what Ashley helps her clients do every day. Women especially tend to struggle with attaching self-worth to the amount of their paycheck without realizing how inherently worthy they already are. Helen and Ashley talk about untangling our attachment to money and letting go of any guilt we might feel over being focused on money. What we tackle in this episode: Sometimes getting a ‘no’ feels better than not asking at all The fear surrounding entrepreneurship and how it never really goes away but changes over time Why taking care of ourselves first needs to stay a top priority The misconception that focusing on money means you aren’t doing good Business Workshop Discount! Are you ready to grow your business and increase your income and impact? I am hosting a business workshop called "Turn on Your Automatic Income Machine" on April 29th. I’m teaching you everything you need to know about how to build a self-driving business model that pays you consistently and predictably month after month. And the best part is that you can earn a discount to this workshop! All you have to do is rate and review this podcast- that's it! Take a screenshot of your review and email it to me at helen@helenngo.com or send me a DM on Instagram @meethelenngo. I'll send you a promo code so you can join the workshop and learn to grow your business with confidence without wasting any more of your valuable time. Can't wait to see you there!

“I want to make sure that my external dialogue isn’t just to please somebody else.” -- Kati Tatnall We can easily get caught up in meeting others’ expectations that we tend to forget our own.  And if you let it happen often enough and long enough, you end up forgetting about your goals. Your dreams. And what you make of yourself.  We are trying so hard to serve others that we don’t take care ourselves – emotionally and physically. I invited my college roommate, Kati Tatnall, to address the challenges of meeting internal and external expectations – reflecting on what we expected ourselves to turn out as teenagers versus what we expect ourselves today as adults.  She’s challenged with meeting the demands of being a mom of 3, a wife, and a full-time career woman.  It’s easy to ignore playing that fourth role in our lives well: being ourselves. What we tackle in this episode: How our outward dialogue with others influences the quiet dialogue we have internally  Carving out time to do what’s meaningful to you How introverts find support vs extroverts  Struggling with anxiety and not being able to address what’s waiting for you How not making enough money creates burnout, even if you’re doing what you’re passionate about Dealing with the guilt of being a mom vs choosing a career Business Workshop Discount! Are you ready to grow your business and increase your income and impact?  I am hosting a business workshop called "Turn on Your Automatic Income Machine" on April 29th. I’m teaching you everything you need to know about how to build a self-driving business model that pays you consistently and predictably month after month. And the best part is that you can earn a discount to this workshop!  All you have to do is rate and review this podcast- that's it!  Take a screenshot of your review and email it to me at helen@helenngo.com or send me a DM on Instagram @meethelenngo.  I'll send you a promo code so you can join the workshop and learn to grow your business with confidence without wasting any more of your valuable time. Can't wait to see you there!

“Something is going to go lacking. You can’t have it all.” — ReShea Balams Does work life balance really exist?  Helen sits down with ReShea Balams to answer this question. She runs her own law practice all while taking care of her two young children as a widow.  Where does taking care of herself come into play? Often, we feel so much pressure to grow our businesses as an entrepreneur, be the best parents to our children, be financially successful, and be the best at whatever else society tends to define for us. But ReShea has written her own manual for how to best manage her family, career, and personal well-being. What we tackle in this episode: Making tradeoffs between making more money vs having more time What it means to “have it all” The difference between financial success versus career success Prioritizing time to take care of yourself, your business, and your family ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I like to get people to think about what is possible for themselves.” - Nicole Amos Career Coach, Nicole Amos, started The Career Oasis when her friends and colleagues told her she should start charging for the amazing career advice and strategy she was already providing.  A born networker, Nicole started climbing the corporate ladder by finding creative ways to “be in the room” with the people making decisions. When co-workers began to take notice, they came to her asking for advice on how to make the same happen for them. Nicole realized she had a gift for helping people identify their strengths and skills and open themselves up to new possibilities when it comes to career development. But for her, it wasn’t enough to stay in corporate with a comfortable six-figure paycheck. She wanted to truly enjoy the work she was doing.  She went for more and is now enjoying the payoff. What we tackle in this episode: The relationship between time and money How figuring out what you don’t want to do and thinking outside your box may be the quickest way to figure out what you do want to do and find a new career How letting your career or title define you can keep you stuck Why we shouldn’t be afraid of sales How you can succeed by surrounding yourself with people who are trying to accomplish similar goals ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“It wasn’t part of my dream. It was part of other people’s dreams. So I was really unhappy with myself.” --Andrea Strauss Have you ever been worried that you’d be judged if you pursue another career or job that’s outside of your college major or original career path? How would you perceive someone who’s a photographer, doula, restaurant owner, William Sonoma employee, and celebrity chef? Well, that’s Andrea Strauss. She’s filled all those shoes, sometimes simultaneously. On the surface, you may judge her for “not knowing who she is and that she’s just bouncing around job-to-job. Quite the contrary. She knows exactly who she is. Exactly what she wants. And is happy with herself. Why? Because she doesn’t listen to anyone’s opinion about what her life should look like. But this attitude did not come easily nor happen overnight. What we tackle in this episode: How to listen more to your inner voice to decide what opportunities to pursue or leave on the table How you know when you’ve made the wrong decision and why you have to pivot fast out of that negative mentality to get refocused on your true purpose and get to what really makes you happiest ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“You have to start big if you’re going to go big.” - Mary Grace Allerdice Mary Grace Allerdice, Founder of Be Well Studio,  explains how she got sick and tired of telling herself she couldn't afford a $2 coffee or even groceries at times! Budgeting and prioritizing is of course important, especially when you're starting up a new business. But sometimes habits die hard - and we come to realize that "affording" things we want or need isn't always as simple as being in the black or red.  Over the next year we're chronicling the ins and outs & ups and downs of her first year in starting a business from scratch.  In part 1, she shares her financial insecurities in starting a business and what it means to make peace with your fears in order to go after what you deserve. What we tackle in this episode: Why the tiny details of running a business really matters The importance of financial management drives business success How to take risks and overcome fears How confidence plays into starting your own business How to not let others project their fears onto you How you define personal financial freedom ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

We are so good with our ‘yes’ scripts. We don’t work hard enough on our ‘no’ scripts because saying ‘no’ to someone feels like we are rejecting them.”   – Helen Ngo Have you become a “Yes Woman” without even realizing it? You’re saying ‘yes’ to clients who you know are going to bulldoze right through your boundaries. ‘Yes’ to projects that aren’t in alignment with your business goals. ‘Yes’ to PR opportunities that will require hours of your time without much return for your bottomline.  I’ve identified two common business scenarios where I’m almost always tempted to say ‘yes’. But the problem with saying ‘yes’ to someone else is that it usually means saying ‘no’ to me. So how do we flex our ‘no’ muscle in a kind way without eliminating all possibilities of collaboration and reciprocity in the future? How do we learn to say ‘no’ to others so we can say ‘yes’ more to ourselves? What we tackle in this episode: Why saying ‘no’ can really be an act of kindness for others and for yourself The importance of practicing saying ‘no’ more often than saying ‘yes’ ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

Success in this day and age includes failure. The people who will succeed are the ones who are fragile enough to hop around and figure out what works until it works. --Mary Grace Allerdice If you ask any business owner, the first two years are the most grueling.  It will break you down to your core. Almost every day feels like a battlefield of self-doubt and uncertainty. Had a bad day? Well, guess what? Those bills still have to be paid. Where’s the next dollar going to come from? You feel like giving up so many times. But when do you know when it’s time to let go and move on? How do you know it’s time to pivot? Mary Grace shares her tough financial journey through the initial stages of starting a business and how she’s learning to embrace the test of her mental endurance and resilience. What we tackle in this episode: Handling rejection and failure Allowing yourself to say “no” and how to take it from others Determining which noise to filter out and who to actually listen to Identifying when you should move on to another career or opportunity when what you’re working on no longer serves you ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“What’s more important to you now? Driving a Benz now to look a certain way or pursue the thing you love most at all costs?” -- Stefanie Jewett Starting your own business is difficult by design; that’s why it’s not meant for everyone.  But this notion that starting your own business is difficult doesn’t deter our guest this week, Stefanie Jewett, Founder of Activvely, a social app that helps individuals find workout partners. She went from collecting a comfortable salary at CNN, driving around town in a fancy Benz - to leaving her job to follow her passion and build her tech startup from the ground up. No Investors. No Partners. All #Grit and #WomanPower. Hear her candid story of bootstrapping her tech startup and what it takes mentally, and socially, to make it. What we tackle in this episode: What you have to sacrifice to start a business How to be exposed and vulnerable when starting a business Why it’s important to be true to yourself and confident in who you are an how it plays into success The importance of community building and leaning into your strengths for success Why owning a business is difficult by design ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I loved investment banking, and I loved New York. But I knew I didn’t want to do it for the rest of my life.” Serial entrepreneur, Ashley Williams, shares her experience leaving a 6-figure job (right out of college!) to tackle marriage, motherhood, and the uncertainties of being an entrepreneur. Juggling all the things that life as a wife, mother, and business owner brings is enough to make most people’s heads spin. And while she’ll tell you she’s far from having mastered it, Ashley does a phenomenal job at navigating it all gracefully. Through her experience operating The League with her husband Terry, she also shares invaluable relationship advice that will help anyone who runs a business with their spouse.  Join Helen as she interviews one of the business owners she considers to be a “superwoman”. What we tackle in this episode: Staying in your lane when working with a partner Leaving a well-paying corporate job for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship The importance of surrounding yourself with a team of advisors How self-care is so much more than pampering Dealing with imposter syndrome ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“You must fall in love with the constant challenges of running a business.” --Merel Kriegsman Merel Kriegsman is the founder and CEO of Merel Kriegsman Media. She provides high-end mentorship to women business owners, plus runs a conversion copywriting agency. While Merel is now on the verge of her first 7-figure year (in less than 5 years in business!), her story starts with: being in debt and underpaid, and scrubbing toilets to make ends meet… while 8 months pregnant. Helen and Merel talk about the unique relationship between power and money and why women shouldn’t be afraid to go after both. What we tackle in this episode: Learning how to sell is a rite of passage How essential it is to understand your ‘why’ when it comes to persevering in business The give and take of juggling your personal life while owning a business The benefits of peer mastermind groups Ways women keep themselves small and how to break out of it ---- Grab your free training! The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

"Don’t tie your self-worth in with how many ‘followers’ and ‘likes’ you have."  --Amber Dee Do you ever get slightly jealous when you look at someone’s social media page and see that they have more followers than you? It’s natural to feel this way. Actually, there’s a term for it in psychology and they call it the Social Comparison Theory . It states that “we determine our own social and personal worth based on how we stack up against others we perceive as somehow faring better or worse.” Social media is great in that it keeps us so closely connected to our friends, family, and offers us many business opportunities — always staying up to date with what everyone is up to.  But the detrimental side of it occurs when we constantly compare ourselves to others on there, even stacking ourselves up to complete strangers. We compare ourselves to others as a way of fostering self-improvement or self-motivation. But it can also promote judgmental, biased and overly competitive or superior attitudes that in the long-term can be detrimental to your mental health, ultimately affecting your performance. I sat down with Amber Dee, an online marketing strategist and therapist, to discuss the side effects — good and bad— of constantly comparing ourselves to others on social media. The bottom-line is to not tie your self-worth into how many followers and likes you get. Just because someone has a lot of followers and “likes” on Instagram doesn’t necessarily mean they’re making any real money.  What we tackle in this episode: What metrics really matter in determining someone’s success on social media How people can buy “followers” and “likes” on social media How to improve your online engagement How we can avoid the comparison paralysis with others online and keep yourself in check ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“When you are able to overcome financial guilt, you will be able to accept yourself and celebrate yourself.” -- J. Have you ever felt guilty about spending money on yourself?  As if, you don’t deserve to buy that “one thing?" What we tell ourselves we deserve financially is shaped by our upbringing and childhood. What we grew up with, has so much influence on who we become, all the way down to how we spend money and what we tell ourselves we deserve. Growing up in poverty, J shares her personal story of how she was constantly told by her mother as a child that the family doesn’t have enough money. That she couldn’t have this. Or that. As a grown woman who’s making well into the 6-figures today, she’s still telling herself that she doesn’t have “enough money” and spins into a cycle of self guilt when she does spend on herself. Whether it’s about spending money on ourselves or trying to earn more money, each of us at some point in time has told ourselves “I don’t deserve this.”  What we tackle in this episode:  How does your upbringing impact your financial future? How do you overcome financial self-shaming? What is it and how can you detect it? Is spending a lot when you have money a bad thing? Can you become financially responsible and not feel guilt? ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“Removing more responsibilities off my plate also meant I had to do the hard job of removing people who no longer serve me in a positive way.”  -- Helen Ngo Who you surround yourself  with either raise or lower your standards. You don’t become great on your own. The people around you who make you even better than who you think you are... they’re the ones who genuinely have you in their best intentions, always wanting to uplift your spirits and see you succeed. But also being the toughest on you when you need a reality check. Take a close look at the people around you.  Are they raising your standards and challenging you to become the best version of yourself, encouraging you to make more money for yourself? If we are who we surround ourselves with, then why keep those who rob us of our potential, lower our standards, and steal our time and energy? Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that removing more responsibilities off my plate also meant I had to do the hard job of removing people -- even the friends whom I’ve known for a long time. They were no longer serving any positive influence on the person I want to be or become. I call them toxic influencers -- those who damper your soul for their own personal gain. When someone continues to fill your mental space with jealousy and status quo mentality, you begin to become the stories you listen to.  What we tackle in this episode:  Who are toxic influencers When to get rid of toxic influencers How you become like those who’s around you Why stressing over people is unhealthy for your mental health How can you tell when a person is toxic How to pull away from toxic influencers ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I realized I needed to define success for myself, not for someone else.” Awilda Rivera You ever thought to yourself: what would happen if I did something else? Something that you weren’t trained to do in school or use your degree. Perhaps we set those ideas and dreams to the back burner because we’re afraid of being judged by others. Perhaps we will even judge ourselves for being financially irresponsible. In this episode, you’ll meet Awilda Rivera. She went into $100k+ of student loan debt to earn her law degree and ended up not even using it. Instead, she became a Yogi and Spiritual Advisor. That’s pretty damn bold considering the level of financial risks involved.  What we tackle in this episode: Why she left her law degree behind to pursue what she’s truly interested in How she started a business from scratch, even with $100k+ of student loan debt How she bridges passion and purpose The 6 essential tools to define your own success ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse Giveaway!!!! Want to earn $200 bucks? This is all you have to do! Rate the show and write a review on Apple Podcasts- that’s it!  You have from today, January 6th, until Sunday, January 10th, to give me some stars and write a review.  Check in on Instagram on Wednesday, January 13th, to see if you won $200. I’ll announce the 3 lucky winners on my Instagram feed and stories- find me https://www.instagram.com/meethelenngo/ Thanks for listening and good luck!

“Women need to believe in themselves and trust themselves. We have internalized so much misogyny. We have internalized so much doubt that’s projected on us that becomes self-doubt.”   – Judith Winfrey 8-figure serial entrepreneur and founder of PeachDish, Judith Winfrey, shares the valuable lessons she’s learned from starting five businesses in under 15 years. Most of us don’t think beyond our own personal health and nutrition when it comes to the type of food we buy and where we buy it. But Judith sees the broader effects that choosing to support local farms can have on the economy and the environment. It’s no wonder she’s been able to achieve such longevity and success in business - a rare feat in the food industry. We talk about the unseen sacrifices that entrepreneurs make and how finding success as a Self-Made CEO® sometimes means letting go of expectations. What we tackle in this episode: How surrounding yourself with the right people impacts your business How the entrepreneurial journey rarely ends up looking like we imagine it Why delegating can be one of the hardest (but most important) lessons to learn as a business owner Why the best leaders are those who put their own ego aside The stresses that come along with being a CEO that most employees and outsiders never see ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I can’t leave this earth without doing something bigger than myself.” -- Jazmin Addy Founder and CEO of Proximity Partners, Jazmin Addy, started her business as a means to creating a better life for her children and leaving something greater for them than just the basics. With a long-term view of building generational wealth at the forefront of her mind, Jazmin made more money in her first year of business than she earned at her corporate job, a rare feat any seasoned entrepreneur would know. For her, starting a business meant more than just having the freedom to do whatever she wanted with her time and making just enough to pay the bills.  She wanted more and earned it. What we tackle in this episode: The necessary leap of faith to start a new business Why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone and why it’s okay to work for someone else How entrepreneurs can leave a legacy for the next generation Why having failure as an option may be more beneficial than trying to avoid it altogether Why you have to be picky about what advice you take from others (not all is good)  ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I’m just going to figure it out and live the life I want.”  --Kim Bennett How do you choose the kind of life you want and then design how you’re going to live it?  Where do we even begin to answer that? Kim Bennett and I address both simultaneously in this episode. Our answer: examining our personal failures. In life, we have to fail in order to know what we want, what we’re good at, and what we need to design our own lives -- and do it with intention.  What we tackle in this episode: How to turn setbacks & failures into opportunities   How to design your career around the life you want to live When to know you have succeeded How to embrace daily setbacks and mistakes ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“When your finances get in the way of you being able to offer your gifts to the world, you’re not really serving anyone.” - Molly Freeman Why is it hard for many of us to talk about how much money we make? Are we afraid to try to put a number on how much we're "worth"? Maybe we're fearful others may judge us. Or maybe we're unsure of what we deserve? My guest, Molly Freeman, and I discuss why suffering financially hinders your creativity and how it can limit what gifts you are able to put out into the world. She shares why she got sick and tired (physically) of being broke and how she derived a pricing model for her business that allows her to be a financially thriving artist today. Molly is a lead example of what being unapologetic about what she deserves really looks like and how it can positively manifest itself financially. What we tackle in this episode: Why you shouldn’t feel ashamed of wanting to make more money for yourself The need for price transparency in every industry, not just art and creative services The impact of taking breaks to stay creative How the “starving artist” mentality can limit your creativity How to price your services How money can buy you the ability to free up your time ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“What keeps me going is that my fear of failure is less than my desire to succeed.” --Deepshikha Sairam Socialique Groupe founder and Instagram lead-gen expert, Deepshikha Sairam, shares how she got started in her business and the valuable lessons she’s learned about investing wisely. There is so much focus on growing your social media following, but few focus on what happens after you gain new followers. You might have over 10,000 followers, but does that number even matter if no one is buying from you?  Deepshikha is helping women business owners put on a different lense to use social media in a whole new way to make real money in their business. We talk about investing in personal development, the desire for more money and why women should stop feeling guilty about it. What we tackle in this episode: The key to gaining raving fans and repeat customers Being honest about why you started your business Why losing time can sting worse than losing money How to increase your chances for success by investing more in personal development Outsourcing to maintain sanity (both in business and in your personal life) ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“There’s that cringing feeling of not wanting to open your bank account on a Monday.” — Mystery Millennial In this final installment with Mystery Millennial, we find out what's new in her financial journey and how she’s navigating towards financial confidence and freedom.  Particularly, we challenge the notion of whether making more money makes us greedy.  What we tackle in this episode: What it means to be fluid vs rigid with money Defining wealth, its value, and how to claim it How our relationship with money runs in our subconscious Facing financial problems head on ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

We catch up with Mystery Millennial. In Episode 5, she talked about her love-hate relationship with money. In just 3 months since that episode was recorded, she paid off more than $15,000 of debt!  Feeling financially liberated, Mystery shares how her life completely turned around after paying off that much debt. Did she finally treat herself to that $75 yoga mat for meeting such a major milestone?  Have a listen to find out. What we tackle in this episode: Why we tend to want to spend versus save money How being debt free changes your attitude about life  How a positive change in your relationship with money allows you to feel more in control What being in control of your money feels like ---- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“Money. You love it when you have it. You hate it when you don’t.”  - Mystery Millennial Do you love or hate money? Love and hate are strong emotions. But money, on its own, isn't good or bad. At face value, there's nothing too exciting to love or hate about a piece of paper or the number of zeros printed on your bank statement.  Yet, money has the power to control our emotions, decisions, and life… ...if we let it.   This episode kicks off a special 3-part series. A no-frills, sobering financial therapy journey of one of my financial planning clients - who, for privacy reasons, we will call her “Mystery Millennial.” She shares her story about the love, hate, and life lessons that's come about from her relationship with money. What we tackle in this episode: How your upbringing affects your relationship with money When to hire a professional for help The difference between value and price What investing in yourself looks like When to treat yourself --- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money https://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse/

“Don’t take tax advice from your friend. Just because your friend wrote off something doesn’t mean you can too.” – Ronica Brown, CPA Have there been times when you paid for something and wondered: “Can I run this through my business?!” Groceries as “office supplies”? Nails and makeup as “uniform”? Vacations as “business travel”? Worse yet, your CPA – whom you thought knew what he/she was doing! – told you that you can write off your Gucci handbag as a “uniform?” Certainly, it may apply in some industries, but you may want to get a second opinion on the type of tax advice you’re getting. Ronica Brown, CPA and owner of the Ronica Brown Agency, demystifies what you can and cannot do (legally) as a business owner on your taxes. She schools us on tax mistakes we need to avoid and reminds us that not all CPAs are created equal. Some will cause more harm to your financial bottom-line than good. From deducting Guccis to Porsches, tune in now to hear what other tax missteps you need to avoid. What we tackle in this episode: Do you really need to hire a CPA? If so, then when? What red flags should you look for when hiring a CPA? What questions should you ask before hiring one? What business expenses can you write off and how do you avoid red flags for an audit? What happens when you lie to your tax professional? How do you even know your tax professional is doing a good job? When should you review your taxes in the year? What’s the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, tax filer, and tax planner? Should you hire just one person who can do it all? Can a CPA do the same things as a financial planner or vice versa? Should you hire a CPA before you open a business or when your business starts to actually make money? What are legal tax loopholes you can take advantage of? How can you avoid an audit? --- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money http://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

“I’m not willing to go broke and not enjoy my life. If we are more clear on what brings us joy and work really hard for that, you’re then making a very clear intention for why you’re working so hard for that money.” — Sydia Bell, owner of The Everyday Creative Have you stepped back and asked yourself why you’re working so hard? Why is it that you’re wanting to make more money? Is it really for that house, car, or vacation? Or have you been working hard to buy things that only fulfill a temporary void, distracting yourself from reaching your highest potential? Sydia Bell and I tackle the grand question of “Why are we making money?” As the owner of the Everyday Creative, she teaches individuals how to live with more self satisfaction and content by simply bringing order to your everyday surroundings. She’s a minimalist with a grand soul, and we all have something to learn from her. What we tackle in this episode: The first step to work towards what you really want to do with your money Why clarity and intention create satisfaction with your work How self-discontent can be a strong motivator Why you have to be uncomfortable to actualize your dreams --- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money http://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse

Live to work or work to live?  Either way, being financially independent - and not relying on your next paycheck or your “emergency” savings - is a goal well-worth striving for. Having the financial freedom to remove money as a concern, and just go about living your life is a powerful thing. And, thankfully, it isn’t something that’s just reserved for folks in the 60+ club with a successful retirement plan. Meet serial entrepreneur, Kiki Roeder. She breaks down what it means to be financially independent and how anyone, regardless of her age or how much money she makes, can obtain it. Only in her early 30s and having built and sold multiple businesses, one would consider Kiki as successful. But don’t think it didn’t come with a price.  Financial freedom isn’t free. Kiki openly shares how she experienced burnout and the gold star syndrome, and what she did to overcome the hardships to become financially secure.  Tune in to learn more about financial freedom and steps you can take to reach your own definition of FIRE: financial independence - retire early. WHAT WE TACKLE IN THIS EPISODE: What exactly does it mean to be financially independent? How do you even know that you’ve “made” it? Does being financially independent mean that you don’t have to rely on making more money? Is it even possible? Do I have to wait until I’m retired to be financially independent? --- Grab your free video course!  The Money Maker Mindset: 4 Strategies to Focus Your Mind to Make More Money http://HelenNgo.com/FreeCourse