Dare to Be Wealthy dream life podcast financial freedom money habits

#470 - Dare to Be Wealthy, with Melissa Browne

I’m so excited to share today’s conversation with the wonderful Melissa Browne, author of Dare to Be Wealthy.

This episode is all about money, but perhaps not in the way you might expect.

We talk about money as freedom. Money as choice. Money as a tool that can help you design a life you love, rather than something that feels overwhelming, complicated or out of reach.

I loved this conversation - Melissa makes money feel so approachable. She has such a beautiful way of cutting through the noise and helping us see that building wealth doesn’t have to be about being perfect, knowing everything or having lots of money to begin with. It can start with small, simple steps.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

  1. Why being wealthy is really about having choices in your everyday life.
  2. How your past money mistakes do not need to define your financial future.
  3. Simple money habits you can start this week to create more confidence and freedom.

We’ll be going deeper with Melissa inside Dream Life Coaching in July, and we’ll be reading Dare to Be Wealthy in GROW. 

I hope this conversation inspires you to think differently about money, freedom and what’s possible for your life.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonated most with you - so please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful weekend …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

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TRANSCRIPT:

Kristina: Hi there, and welcome back to another episode.

I want to ask you, what if money felt less overwhelming and more like freedom?

What if being wealthy was simply about having choices? Choices to live where you want, work how you want, and support what matters most to you.

That is what we’re going to talk about today with my super inspiring guest, Melissa Browne.

She has written a new book called Dare to Be Wealthy, and I love Melissa’s approach. I love her as a person, I love the way she teaches, and I love how she talks openly and freely about money.

I love her so much that I actually asked her to come in and do a workshop for us in the Dream Life community, inside the Dream Life Coaching program.

So if you’re in that program, or would like to join, you’re going to go deeper than today. But today is a great start.

Melissa is so inspiring, and we’re also going to read her book, Dare to Be Wealthy, in my book club, Grow. We’re going to talk a lot about freedom, money, time and choices in July, and I’m super excited because I think that’s the foundation of living your dream life, according to what is important to you.

So let’s get into this incredibly inspiring conversation.

Hello Melissa. I’m so excited that we’re finally having this conversation on the podcast. Welcome. I’m really, really grateful and excited.

Melissa: Thank you so much for having me. I’m looking forward to it too.

Kristina: I was looking back at how we met and how we see each other for coffees every now and then, and I just love meeting like-minded people like you.

I just read your new book, Dare to Be Wealthy, which we’re obviously going to talk about today, and there is so much alignment in how we think.

Before we pressed record, we were talking about how we want to keep our businesses simple, but still have freedom and choices.

Melissa: Yes, absolutely.

Kristina: We have an audience from all over the world, so could you share a little bit about your journey? It’s a fascinating and inspiring one, and I have no doubt that you will inspire people to start focusing on freedom and wealth creation, which, at the end of the day, is all about choices.

Melissa: I’m a Western Sydney chick, so I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney in a very traditional Christian fundamental household. It was really strict, and I grew up with a lot of black and white thinking. This is just how it is.

If I could go back and whisper to my 18-year-old self what I’m doing now, I think I would blow her mind. She didn’t even think what I’m doing was a thing or a possibility.

My financial story is that I married very young because that’s what you did in my community. At age 33, when I finally had the courage to separate from my first husband, he turned to me during that process and said, “You are never going to make it on your own.”

He’s not a bad bloke, but we say things in the heat of the moment when we’re emotional. I’m petty and competitive, so I thought, “Screw you. I’ll show you.”

I took every cent of my divorce proceeds, every cent in my business and personal bank accounts, and donated it to charity so that he could never say anything from that moment was a result of him.

People have said to me, “That’s such a boss move,” but it was so dumb in hindsight. The next day I wanted to ring the charity and ask for it back.

I had no money for wages, cash flow, super, my employees or a bond. I had to move in, almost in my mid-30s, with four mates into a tiny, mouldy basement bedroom in a frat house. It was fun, but definitely not where I saw myself.

I was really ashamed because I was someone who was supposed to be good at money. I was an accountant at the time, yet I had made such an emotional, bad decision that it really hurt me financially.

Just because I was an accountant didn’t mean I was good at money. We weren’t taught how to invest when I studied.

So I started to learn how to build a business. My business was barely paying me a commercial wage, so I joined a coaching program. I doubled my business every year for about five years in a row.

I learned how to invest, which I hadn’t done before. I learned about shares, property and business. Over time, I paid down debt, moved into a tiny rental property and made smart, wise decisions.

I increased my income, cut back expenses and invested. By the time I was in my late 40s, I had financial independence. I had sold that business, and I had the choice to work or not.

Now I’m a financial educator. I ended up becoming a financial adviser, and the common thread I kept seeing was that people didn’t have financial literacy. They didn’t have that grounding. It was almost like, “Thank God you’re here, deal with this for me.”

My fear was that because of best interest duty in Australia, which is really necessary, it can cost $3,000 to $4,000 to see a financial adviser. If you don’t have that money, or don’t want to spend it until you feel confident, you might not take that step.

So the reason I write books and work as a financial educator now is to teach people what I used to do for them. I’m now licensed to give general advice only. I’m not a financial adviser. My whole premise is having choice and living a life by design, not by default. That’s what I encourage others to do as well.

Kristina: I absolutely love that. Since I met you, read your books and had you as a speaker in my program, I have loved how aligned it all feels. I’m really excited to dig a little bit deeper.

Let’s talk about why you wrote this book. You’ve written a few books over the years, and this one, Dare to Be Wealthy, when I saw the title, I thought, “Yes.”

The biggest dream killer I see in my coaching program is self-doubt and not having the courage to live a life that you design. Your dream life, whatever that is.

I often need to say that because I think “dream life” can sound like something far away. For me, a dream life is simply a life that you design. It could be selling everything and living in a tent. It doesn’t matter. That’s not for me, but it might be for someone else.

Melissa: Totally. That is someone’s dream life.

Kristina: I love the title. I also love that you had Mel Schilling’s quote on the cover. It was so sad to hear of her passing. I have photos of a couple of people I love who have passed away in front of me because I never want to take for granted just being here.

I sometimes have people say to me, “You failed in your business,” and I think, “Yes, but I’m still here.” That is the most important thing.

Melissa: I had some speaking gigs in March, and there was a lot going on at the time. I remember getting to the very last one, and I was really depleted and stressed with some personal things.

Mel had passed away the day before that last gig. I remember standing there thinking, “Mel would love to be overwhelmed today. Mel would love to be tired and about to walk on that stage.”

Often I tell myself that. It’s not just Mel. I had a brother-in-law who passed away last year, and I say, “Grant would love to be here with these problems.”

Having that point of reference is really important. I love that she’s on the cover. I love that her quote is there.

Kristina: What made you write Dare to Be Wealthy?

Melissa: This is one I’d had in my head for about five years. I wanted to write it, but I wasn’t sure I could.

A lot of my story is in that book, and I kept thinking, “Does the world really need another finance book?” But I think women need a call to action.

If this was a book written for men, it would probably just be called Be Wealthy. But because it’s for women, we have to dare to be wealthy.

Being wealthy is about having choice. For me, it’s the choice not to work on Fridays and to have lunch with my husband every Friday. That’s one of my favourite parts of the week. That’s being wealthy to me.

It’s having choice in the small things.

I wrote this book almost like a call to arms to say, “The world of finance was not created for women by women. So what could it look like if it was?”

Are there reasons why we feel uncomfortable about money? Why fewer women are investing? Why 90% of us are managing household finances, but less than half of us are involved in long-term investing decisions?

In my lifetime, the year before I was born, a woman in Australia couldn’t get a mortgage on her own. In my lifetime, women couldn’t get a credit card in their own name. There wasn’t equal opportunity. There wasn’t paid parental leave.

So if women feel differently about money, there is a reason. It’s important to understand that and to dare to do something differently.

Kristina: I think people overcomplicate money. When I read your book, I thought, “Yes, of course,” because the language and everything around money can sound aggressive and complicated.

For anyone listening who is thinking, “Investing isn’t for me” or “wealth isn’t for me,” obviously there are money stories involved. You talk about that. It’s not something we get rid of overnight. It’s something we work on over time.

I often think about this in my own life. I grew up in a comfortable environment, not a wealthy environment, but a safe one, which I think is the most important thing.

When I started making lots of money in my first business, I was never driven by money. I loved that. My number one dream was to do what I loved every day, and that brought me enough money for rent.

My first set of dreams was five things, and the last one was to make $500 a week. It was a long time ago, but I just wanted to eat a few good meals, travel somewhere and live well.

Now I need more money because I have children, I want to travel more, and I’ve got used to a certain lifestyle.

For anyone listening who wants to start but doesn’t know where to start, what would you suggest? Obviously, reading your book, but what are a couple of highlights?

Melissa: I think people believe money is more overwhelming than it is. They think you need to be good at maths, or that a creative person can’t be good at money.

Also, 93% of people believe men are better investors than women, when multiple studies show the reverse is true.

I would really encourage people to hear that money is less complex and overwhelming than they think. The system has gaslit us into believing it’s complicated.

You might have sat at a table before with a bunch of men talking about crypto, SpaceX IPOs or different shares, and thought, “This is so overwhelming. I could never do that.”

I want you to hear that just because someone sounds confident doesn’t mean they’re good at money. The research shows that too. If you’re a woman, your lack of self-confidence can be your superpower when it comes to investing.

If I was looking at what to do financially, I would start by getting interested. Listen to podcasts, read books or do courses to build financial literacy, because less than half of us have basic financial literacy.

I would educate myself about debt because too many people are scared of debt, or they embrace debt they should be fleeing from and are scared of debt they should get comfortable with.

By that I mean, if I had my way, most people wouldn’t have credit cards or buy now, pay later. But they would get more comfortable with their mortgage. They wouldn’t only concentrate on paying that down and then invest. They would pay it down and invest.

Then I would want them to start investing, even with small amounts.

My controversial view is one investment, one platform, one regular amount.

By one investment, I mean one broad-based exchange traded fund, or ETF, can be completely appropriate. Examples of popular ones include Vanguard’s ASX 300, Global X funds and BetaShares DHHF, which is a global basket of shares.

You can choose one broad-based ETF, one platform and one regular amount.

If you think small amounts don’t matter, $250 a month invested over 30 years, based on average Australian share market returns, is almost half a million dollars. Small steps matter.

Kristina: I think a lot of people are waiting for someday.

Melissa: Yes. Or waiting for things to calm down. They think, “It’s just a lot at the moment.” But it’s always going to be a lot. There’s always going to be something else.

Kristina: In the coaching program, I always say, “Progress, not perfection.”

If you wait until you know everything, things change so quickly. What do you think waiting costs us? Because you just talked about $250 a month, or even less for people who want to start smaller. The cost of waiting is high.

Melissa: It’s really high. I’m going to be a total nerd and open a calculator.

Let’s look at the same amount invested, but one person starts now and one person waits.

Let’s say someone invests $200 a month. They hear this and think, “I don’t feel super confident, but I understand the idea of one broad-based investment, one platform and one regular amount.”

They invest, and after 30 years they have almost $400,000. That’s about $390,000 from $72,000 invested.

Person two says, “I don’t know about this. It feels like a lot. I’ll wait.”

They wait for 20 years. They wait for the kids to finish school, work to calm down or the mortgage to be paid off.

Because they’ve waited, they may have more money to invest, so they might put in $600 a month, but they only have a 10-year timeframe.

Both people have invested the same amount over the life of their investment, $72,000. But person one has $390,000 and person two has $118,000.

That’s the cost of waiting. You don’t get the snowball effect that compound interest gives you.

If I look back on my life, my big regrets are usually not taking action, rather than taking action.

If you’re nervous, don’t start with $200. Start with $20. Start with an amount you feel comfortable with.

I’m also a fan of starting with money that isn’t yours. By that I mean, I have a freebie on my website called 20 Plus Ways to Find 10K in 12 Months. If I could find $200 a month through pet walking, selling clothes, renting out my driveway or car, then I could invest that money knowing it wasn’t coming from my usual income.

It’s finding a way to start that feels comfortable enough so you can begin sooner.

Kristina: We’re a global podcast, but I want to focus on Australia for a moment. Most people who drink coffee have a couple of coffees. A small coffee is around $5.50 now. So if someone spends $11 a day, how much is that in a year?

Melissa: Eleven dollars times 365 is about $4,000.

My husband has done this. He’s an extrovert and loves his coffee. I say to him, “Just have one. Have one that you enjoy deeply, and for the second one, use a plunger and invest that.”

It’s about swapping, not being restrictive. I hate telling people not to have any coffee. But maybe don’t have the second one, or have two coffees but skip the croissant.

Don’t have it all. Take that extra money you were already spending and invest it instead.

Kristina: I always think about a man I met last summer when my son was playing cricket. He wanted to start his own business, or had kind of started, and he was asking me lots of questions.

I was thinking about what he was really asking. What was the bottleneck? We all have that in different areas of our lives.

He was sitting there with a drink on a Saturday afternoon watching cricket, which is a typical thing. He was injured at the time, so he wasn’t playing.

I asked him, “Do you go out on the weekends?” He looked at me like, “Yes, stupid lady.” Then I asked him roughly what he spent, because I could tell it was about money.

He said $150, and when I spoke to his friends later, they said that was very conservative.

Melissa: So that’s $10,000 right there if it’s a couple of hundred dollars a week.

Kristina: Exactly. I know you talk about not throwing everything out, but sometimes we have to do hard things now to live an easier life later. Otherwise, we live easy now and have a harder life later.

I remember when I started my coaching program. It wasn’t the program it is now. It was $297 for the course and maybe six live sessions. Someone quit coffee to afford it.

When she said that, I could probably have given her the program, but then I thought, “Actually, if I give it to her, it won’t have the same impact.”

Melissa: She won’t do it. It won’t have the same impact. I agree.

We have scholarships in My Financial Adulting Plan. We used to make them free, and now we charge three payments of $33.

We found that when we gave them away for free, people often wouldn’t show up and do the work. But if it was $100 over three months, they showed up because they were invested.

Kristina: That’s so true.

For anyone listening who has a lot of credit card debt or buy now, pay later debt, I’m assuming they might think, “I should pay that off first.” What’s your opinion?

Melissa: In that situation, absolutely.

If you’re paying 18% on a credit card, you’re not going to get that return from share investing or anywhere else. If I had bad debt, like credit cards or buy now, pay later, I would pay that off first.

Then I would build a cash buffer of up to three months’ worth of expenses, and then I would invest.

The problem is that we don’t want to have to sell investments when life happens.

Even if someone says, “I pay my credit card off every month,” or “Afterpay doesn’t charge me interest,” it still matters.

On Afterpay’s own website, they talk about the fact that people overspend by 54% when they use Afterpay. That isn’t independent research. That’s Afterpay saying this about their own product, and they brag about it because they can charge retailers more.

Credit cards are similar. Dun & Bradstreet research showed overspending of around 18%. So you’re effectively paying an interest rate through overspending.

I’m fascinated by this research. Since writing the book, I’ve delved further because more research has come out.

If you put a debit card on your mobile phone and tap to pay, your brain treats it like a game. It doesn’t register the payment in the same way.

Usually a debit card is better than a credit card, but as soon as it’s on your phone, you may as well have a credit card or Afterpay in terms of the psychology of spending.

Modern life is full of things that seem helpful. “How wonderful, I don’t have to take my wallet with me.” But these things can cause us to overspend.

We can choose to add friction back in. Use a physical debit card. Don’t save cards into online sites. The pain of having to get your card out and fill in the details lights up the insular region in your brain, which causes you to spend less.

It’s important to understand the psychology.

Kristina: I read in your book that you compare a money snapshot to looking back at old holiday photos. Some are flattering, and some you want to delete.

Why is it so important to look back on your money stories, mistakes, or trial and error without judgement?

Melissa: We judge ourselves so harshly, particularly with money. We need to be much kinder to ourselves.

A lot of us didn’t have a class at school called Money. We didn’t grow up knowing this stuff. We’ve tried to figure it out on our own, and modern society is designed to pull money out of our wallets.

That money snapshot, whether flattering or unflattering, is simply where you are right now.

Look at it with kind eyes and say, “I might not choose this. I might not want that debt. I might not want to be 40 without retirement savings. But this is a moment in time. If I face it, I can do something about it.”

It’s no different from starting therapy, going to a retreat or seeing a doctor because something feels off. They take your vitals. You’re doing that here financially.

If I get blood work done and the results are poor because of genetics, I don’t say, “Mel, you idiot.” I say, “Okay, what can I do to improve that?”

It’s putting the same kind lens on your finances. Otherwise, the more critical we are, the more we can behave like children and act out. We think, “Fine, I may as well keep going.” Then it gets worse.

Instead, say, “This is what it is now. I might not love it, but how do I make that photo look better in 12 months?”

Kristina: Absolutely. It’s such a shame when we let our past define us. Of course, we want to learn from it, but we can’t change it. We might as well learn, move on and create a new future.

Your past does not equal your future. You can completely change it, whether it’s money, health or creating the life of your dreams. It’s up to us.

I went to Canberra yesterday and did three workshops. I always finish my workshops by saying, “There is only one person, annoyingly, who can create your dream life, and that is you.”

It’s so annoying because people don’t want to hear that.

Melissa: No. Kristina, can’t you just wave a wand and make my dream life?

Kristina: No. I can help you come up with the ideas and the tools, but you have to do the work. It’s the same with health, money and everything else.

We all know this, but we forget. In today’s world, with credit cards and everything available at the click of a button, we’re not used to being uncomfortable. We’ve become very comfortable. A hundred years ago, most people were much more uncomfortable.

Melissa: Even little things. My husband and I do a big cook-up on Sunday, and then we eat the same thing for lunch for the next four days.

People say, “Isn’t that boring?” But when I was a kid, we were sent to school with the same sandwich every day. That’s just what it was.

We’ve created this level of luxury, comfort and options that we don’t always need. It’s about asking, “Where can we dial down the noise and expectation?”

Kristina: I get so many questions about meal planning, and I think, “Is it that complicated?” But I think it’s because there are so many options.

I love cookbooks, but I don’t cook from them. I love them for creativity.

I do the same. I eat lentil dhal soup. My partner felt sorry for himself for years because he ate the same soup. Back when we only had a couple of staff, he used to secretly give them money to buy him lunch if they were going out, because I was so body-focused and health-focused. I would say, “You only need one soup.”

Melissa: That’s funny because one of the things we keep in our freezer is lentil dhal soup. My husband is the same. He says, “I’m so tired of this soup.” I say, “But it’s healthy, delicious and freezes well. Who cares?” It’s been on the roster for 10 years, and I’m not sick of it.

Kristina: Mine has probably been 25 years. There was a period of time when he didn’t eat it, but now it’s back.

I read in your book that you offer a new way to think about debt, investing and habits. What is one habit that actually works that women could start this week?

Melissa: I like habits where you don’t have to think and can make them unconscious.

One habit I borrowed from James Clear is habit stacking.

The first habit is this: every time I spend a dollar, I have to invest a dollar.

That causes me to pause when I go to spend. When Net-a-Porter sends me an email and I think, “Can I afford twice that much?” I add friction back in.

If I can afford twice as much, then future me is looked after and current me can enjoy herself. But if I can’t afford twice that much, then I can’t afford it.

That’s a really easy habit to get into if you’re spending a little too much, whether on experiences or things.

The second habit I do twice a year is a financial detox.

I’ve been doing this for more than a decade. For 30 days, I put parameters in place around what my detox will be. It’s always clothes, shoes, books, Mecca, eating out and alcohol. I tend to choose the areas where I know money can leak.

It’s not about deprivation. It’s a reset. I want to remind myself that I don’t need to buy something just because I can.

I always learn something during that detox. I become more conscious. It’s amazing what happens when you simply pause before you spend.

Kristina: I love that. I think we all have things we don’t even notice anymore because they’ve become such a habit.

Melissa: Absolutely. And it’s not about saying you can never spend again. I love beautiful things. I love experiences. But I want spending to be intentional.

Kristina: That is such a Dream Life concept too. It’s not about having nothing. It’s about choosing what matters.

Melissa: Exactly. If you’re spending on the things that truly matter to you, that’s wonderful. But if you’re spending because you’re bored, stressed, tired or trying to avoid something, that’s worth noticing.

Kristina: What do you think women most need to understand about wealth?

Melissa: That wealth is not selfish.

So many women have been taught, directly or indirectly, that wanting money is greedy or not feminine. But wealth gives you choices. It gives you the ability to leave a relationship if you need to. It gives you the ability to support your children, your community, causes you care about, and yourself.

I think we need to separate wealth from greed. They are not the same thing.

Kristina: I love that. I always say money makes you more of who you already are. If you’re generous, you can be more generous. If you care about impact, you can create more impact.

Melissa: Absolutely. Money is an amplifier.

Kristina: We talk so much about freedom in Dream Life. I think when people hear “wealth”, they might think of cars or houses or handbags. But freedom might be choosing not to work Fridays, or having lunch with your husband, or being able to go to a yoga class, or take care of your health.

Melissa: Yes. Wealth is not a number. It’s what that number enables.

Kristina: What would you say to someone who feels behind?

Melissa: First, you’re not alone.

So many people feel behind. They look at everyone else and assume they’re doing better. But you don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors.

Second, shame doesn’t help. Shame keeps you stuck. Curiosity helps.

Instead of saying, “I’m so bad with money,” ask, “What’s going on here? What could I change? What is one small step I could take this week?”

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start with one step.

Kristina: That’s so important. I think sometimes people feel that if they can’t do everything, they do nothing.

Melissa: Yes, and small steps compound too. Not just financially, but emotionally. Every time you keep a promise to yourself, you build confidence.

Kristina: I love that.

Melissa: Confidence doesn’t come first. Evidence comes first. You take the action, and confidence follows.

Kristina: That applies to dreams as well. People often wait until they feel confident, but confidence comes from doing.

Melissa: Exactly.

Kristina: What about couples and money? Because I know that can be challenging.

Melissa: It can be very challenging because we all come with different money stories.

One person might have grown up with scarcity, and another with abundance. One might see spending as safety, another might see saving as safety.

I think it’s important not to make the other person wrong. Get curious. Ask, “What did money look like in your house growing up? What does money mean to you? What are you afraid of? What do you want money to give us?”

Money conversations shouldn’t only happen when there is conflict. Have regular money dates. Make them calm, simple and practical.

Kristina: I love the idea of a money date.

Melissa: And make it nice. Have a glass of wine or a cup of tea. Light a candle. You don’t need to make it heavy.

Kristina: That’s so aligned with how I think about dream planning. Make it beautiful. Make it something you want to come back to.

Melissa: Exactly.

Kristina: You’ve talked about living a life by design, not by default. What does that mean to you now?

Melissa: It means making conscious choices.

For me, it means I don’t work Fridays. It means I choose the work I do. It means I have boundaries around my time and energy. It means I’m not just doing what everyone else expects.

It doesn’t mean life is perfect. It means I’m intentional.

Kristina: That’s such a powerful word.

Melissa: I think intentionality changes everything.

Kristina: What do you say to people who think, “I’m not a money person”?

Melissa: I would say, “Who told you that?”

Often those beliefs come from somewhere. Maybe someone told you that you weren’t good at maths. Maybe you made a mistake and decided that meant you were bad with money.

But money is a skill. Skills can be learned.

You don’t have to become obsessed with finance. You just need enough literacy to make good decisions and not outsource your power.

Kristina: I think that’s so important. You don’t need to become a financial expert. You just need to understand enough to feel empowered.

Melissa: Yes. And if you do work with professionals, you still want to understand enough to ask good questions.

Kristina: What is something that surprised you in your own financial journey?

Melissa: That earning more doesn’t automatically fix everything.

If your habits don’t change, more money can just mean more spending. I had to learn how to keep more of what I earned and put it to work.

I also learned that money is emotional. We like to think it’s logical, but it’s deeply emotional.

Kristina: Yes. That’s why our stories matter so much.

Melissa: They do. If you don’t look at the story, you keep repeating it.

Kristina: What are some money stories you see often?

Melissa: “I’m not good with money.” “Investing is too risky.” “Money is greedy.” “I’ll start when I earn more.” “I’ve left it too late.” “I should know this already.”

Those stories keep people stuck.

Kristina: And they’re not facts.

Melissa: Exactly. They’re stories. And stories can be rewritten.

Kristina: What would be a simple first step for someone listening today?

Melissa: Take a money snapshot.

Look at what you earn, what you spend, what you owe, what you own and what you’re investing. Don’t judge it. Just look.

Then choose one thing to improve.

It might be cancelling unused subscriptions, paying extra off a credit card, opening a savings account, learning about ETFs or setting up a tiny regular investment.

One step is enough to begin.

Kristina: I love that.

Melissa: And don’t underestimate education. Read a book. Listen to a podcast. Join a course. Build your financial literacy.

Kristina: We’re going to read your book in Grow, and I’m so excited because I think conversations like this make money feel less scary.

Melissa: That’s my hope.

Kristina: I also love that you’re coming into Dream Life Coaching in July, because we can go deeper and people can ask questions.

Melissa: I’m excited.

Kristina: I ask all my guests about their morning routines. Do you have a morning routine?

Melissa: I do. It’s probably not what people expect.

I wake up early. I have coffee. I will often journal or read. Sometimes I do something very intentional and sometimes I watch a trashy show. That might sound strange, but I know what fills me up.

For me, the point of a morning routine is not to perform wellness. It’s to start the day in a way that feels good and sets me up.

Kristina: I absolutely love hearing that because I don’t think enough of us do that.

I have a couple of hours in the morning, and it doesn’t always work, especially if I have to leave at 5:30 like yesterday. But I still did my journaling and my things because it’s so important to me.

I love how you talk about watching a trashy show because it doesn’t matter what it is. When people hear “morning ritual”, they think it has to be done in a certain way. But no, you should do something you love, whatever that is.

Did you have a book that made a big impact on your life, or perhaps changed your life?

Melissa: Dr Brené Brown’s work absolutely did. Daring Greatly changed something in me fundamentally, and it changed the work I do because I saw so many synergies between her work and money, and how people behave with money.

It put words to what I was seeing. I love that book and her work.

Kristina: She’s amazing.

The last question is connected to how we started. You said you wish you could go back and show your younger self what you’ve been capable of doing. What would you actually tell your younger self? What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when you were young?

Melissa: I went through some really traumatic things as a teenager. I was in absolute survival mode.

If I could go back to my younger self, I would want her to know that it’s all going to be okay.

I would love for her to make different choices, but I don’t think she would have. If I could really breathe into her that everything is going to be okay, that would be the one thing I would want her to hear.

Kristina: I often think about challenges because I hear so many stories in my program and from people I meet.

Sometimes, if we can turn those challenges around, they can become lessons. I had a very safe childhood, but I lost my business, and that was traumatic for me. I’m not going to let that define me.

I’m going to learn from it. Hopefully I’ll never be in that situation again. I also have compassion now for people who lose their businesses. I probably didn’t understand that back in the day.

If we can look at our challenging times, whether from when we were younger or more recent years, and turn them into silver linings or blessings, it can be powerful.

Look at what you’ve done. It’s incredible.

Thank you. This has been so inspiring. I’m really excited to go deeper with you in July, and I’m super excited to read your book in my book club, discuss it, and ask you questions around it.

Thank you so much for coming on. I know you have a very full schedule, and I really appreciate everything you shared. I’m so grateful that we met many years ago.

Melissa: Me too. Thank you so much for having me. Yes, let’s definitely catch up soon.

Kristina: I can’t wait, Melissa. Thank you.

Melissa: No worries.

Kristina: Wow. That was so inspiring.

I just want more of Melissa, and I’m sure you do too. So join us in the Dream Life Coaching program in July, where she’ll be going deeper.

We’ll also be reading her book, Dare to Be Wealthy, in Grow. We’re going to talk about it, and Melissa is coming in to do a Q&A there as well.

I’m very excited about the month ahead. I hope you are too, and I can’t wait to hear what you thought about this.

Please let me know in the Facebook group. I’ll link to everything in the show notes.

As always, I’ll be back on Monday with another Monday Morning Motivation episode. I’ll see you then.

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