Redefining Wealth with Patrice Washington

2 Year Anniversary- You Don’t Need to Be a Ten

Growing up as an African American woman, I often heard that I had two strikes against me: being Black and being born female. Neither of which I had any control over. In addition to that, I didn’t feel like the prettiest girl in the clique either - another plight beyond my control.
But the things I did have control over? How I dressed, what grades I got, how many achievements I could stack under my name in the Senior yearbook. . . Oh, I ran with that. And I also became addicted to achievement and accomplishments because that was the only way I knew I could be seen, heard, validated and ultimately, in my mind, supported.
The problem with that, however, is that it can create an insatiable need for perfection. And that can sometimes paralyze you from taking the next step until you believe you’re a ten (when in reality, you’ve already been on twenty all along.)
This episode is brought to you by my first ever LIVE Podcast Taping taking place Sunday, October 13, 2019 in Atlanta, GA. Join us as we meet, greet, connect and record two powerful episodes of Redefining Wealth! Limiting tickets remain. Get yours at www.RedefiningWealthLive.com. 
 
Two Year Podcast Anniversary
As I reflect on how much has happened in the last two years since launching the Redefining Wealth Podcast, I can tell you that this journey has been far from perfect and yet one of the absolute most rewarding endeavors of my life. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt this supported.
Two years ago, I imperfectly “threw together” what would become the platform that has attracted some of the most incredible human beings into my life (guests and listeners alike.) I have grown as a leader, a friend, a mentor, a coach, a speaker, an interviewer, a wife, a mother and most importantly as a bold woman of faith.
“Time flies when you’re walking in purpose.” – Patrice Washington 
 A Message From The Heart
This heartfelt episode has no fancy structure or clever theme. There’s not 3 solid tips for everyone to chase purpose or start a podcast. This is one of those, “I’m in my feelings today and I had to tell you from the heart that it’s real” type of episodes.
What I pour my heart into each week for you is real.
How much I genuinely care for people I may never meet is real.
When I say I’m humbled and grateful for y’all, it’s real.
To say that I’m honored, is an understatement because it’s just that real.
I am connected to my audience in a way that I don’t think many people understand. So when there’s something heavy on my heart, I’ve learned to abandon on the rules and just get to what’s real.
“If there’s something on your heart you feel called to do, please do not wait until you feel perfect.” – Patrice Washington  
Flaw-filled -NOT Flawless
What’s real for me right now is reflecting on the last 24 months and celebrating the good, as well as the bad and recognizing in all of that, amazing work could still be accomplished.
Someone recently commented that I was flawless, to which I replied, “I’m flaw FILLED and the incredible part about that is God can still use me to create significant impact.” The audio hasn’t always been tight, the social media schedule can get wonky and I’ve had to switch podcast editing teams abruptly multiple times and yet, people were served.
He has no desire for our perfection and there’s no need for us to be a perfect ten. He just wants our heart, our gifts and our commitment to surrender.
“You’re not required to be flawless. You can be flaw FILLED and still create significant impact.” – Patrice Washington 
Let this quicker than usual episode serve as your reminder to push past the excuses, doubt and perfection that threatens to stifle your wildest dreams. Choose to trust that if you’re being called to something, you’re also being equipped daily to handle it and that any other conversation is a distraction from your destiny. 
Thank you for two years, ONE MILLION downloads and the biggest blessing of my professional career. I’m excited about what the next 12 months have in store for all of us.
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Vipul Bhesania: The Art of Intentional Networking

Vipul Bhesania: The Art of Intentional Networking
 
How committed are you to building meaningful relationships when it comes to networking? For many entrepreneurs, it comes down to the number of business cards they can put in people’s hands at a networking event. While others may get the courage to send that follow-up email or otherwise “shoot their shot,” but then give up at the first sign of rejection.
 
But shoving business cards in people’s hands or giving up after rejection is not how Vipul Bhesania approaches networking. In fact, he’s completely intentional when it comes to networking. And I, for one, am thrilled to sit down with the host of the Know Your Legacy podcast to unpack how he has been able to cultivate such meaningful relationships with some of the top names in business.
 
In this episode, Vipul shares his own networking struggles and how he shifted his approach to overcome them. He also reveals how he has been able to connect with the hearts of influencers – all without having a huge platform.
 
This episode is brought to you by the Redefining Wealth LIVE podcast taping in Atlanta on Sunday, October 13th! Pick up some gems of wisdom and meet Purpose Chasers from all over. Limited Tickets available at RedefiningWealthLive.com!
  
About Vipul Bhesania
 
At just 26, Vipul is living proof that wisdom is not determined by age. In a day where social media has all but snatched away the human element in business connections, Vipul’s concise, yet intentional approach to networking and relationship building is the reason I agreed to be a guest on his podcast.
 
As the host of a 5-star-rated podcast, Know Your Legacy, Vipul is known for capturing fascinating conversations with legends all over the world to help people find their passion and purpose in life.
 
Be So Purposeful They Can’t Ignore You
 
“People are attracted to the mission, not the ‘man’.” – Vipul Bhesania  
 
Have you ever sent an email to an influencer or a thought leader only to get zero response? And then you send a follow-up email or direct message and that, too, goes into a black hole of silence?!
 
To top it off, you see them connecting with your peers and colleagues – making you wonder, “What’s wrong with me?”
 
Vipul says that your ability to get people to answer your messages and respond positively to your requests is directly linked to your energy and intentions. And from there, you must use the appropriate tactics at the right time which involves tapping into what’s most important to the person you’re reaching out to.
 
He goes on to talk about how, over the past year, he has discovered that the real secret sauce to cultivating real relationships is not centered around tactics or spamming people with emails, it’s about having a deep understanding of why we do what we do and allowing that to drive how we interact with others.
 
So, by getting clear on his mission and purpose, he’s been able to attract the right guests to his podcast and connect with thought leaders and influencers in a more meaningful way.
 
Serve First
 
“If you can’t share contacts, if you can’t give your wealth of experience (because you don’t have any) or if you can’t give your money, the two things you can give are time and attention.” – Vipul Bhesania 
 
We have an abundance of time – 24 hour every day – that we can choose how to spend, says Vipul. He goes on to say, when it comes to attention, people are just not present enough to show they’ve done “their homework” and have taken the time to get to know the thought leader before reaching out to ask for something.
 
Vipul’s approach includes not only researching the brand but also to gaining an understanding of what suits the influencer, what he/she is passionate about AND what you can bring to the table to push that person’s efforts forward.
 
From Fan to Friend
 
We’ve talked a lot about making the connection and getting someone to respond positively to your request, but what happens after the coffee date, podcast interview or initial connection? Vipul says to take someone from a fan – tagging on social media, posing for a picture – to a friend you can reach out to for some laughs or just great conversation, you must master the art of:
 
“Handing out a feeling not just a business card.” – Vipul Bhesania 
 
See, Vipul doesn’t simply attend networking events or connect on social media to share his contact info or pass out business cards; instead he focuses on handing out a “feeling” – one that makes him memorable.
 
As the late-great Maya Angelou says:
 
“… People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou 
 
And it’s those “feelings” that can turn fans into friends, positioning you to build meaningful relationships with people whether you met them in person at a networking event or via social media.
 
Networking is NOT a Numbers Game
 
Vipul learned through trial and error how not to approach networking as a numbers game. In fact, he shared how his first attempt at reaching out to prospective guests for his podcast failed miserably because he was playing the numbers game.
 
After launching the podcast in January 2018, he spent 6 months reaching out to anyone and everyone who he deemed as a major player in their respective industries. But he recalls as the days and weeks passed his “success” in landing guests plateaued and the moment at which he had to reevaluate his approach.
 
Vipul says he had an interaction with a thought leader who was humble enough to share pivotal information about networking with him.
 
He recalls the thought leader telling him it doesn’t matter where you’re pitching, you need to be straight and to the point. He also told Vipul to never leave someone trying to figure out what to do next.
 
In short, Vipul says to:
 
“Be short, sweet and direct which means putting yourself in their shoes and … determining how you can make it as easy as possible for them to connect with you.” – Vipul Bhesania
 
Value the Relationship
 
“There’s always someone watching you who has the power to bless you.” – Patrice Washington 
 
I’m so impressed with Vipul’s commitment to following up and making the time to cultivate real relationships and how he has truly practiced what he preaches since he first reached out to ask me to be a guest on his podcast.
 
His authenticity actually influenced me to invite him to appear on my podcast before he even asked me for anything. But because it doesn’t always work out like that, I asked Vipul to share his insight on when it’s okay to “make the ask.”
 
Now, he says it should never be in the first interaction because you should always focus on the needs of the other person and how you can bring value to the connection.
 
In fact, he says every interaction thereafter should be about value. However, the awkwardness and discomfort of the “ask,” is usually gone about 2 to 3 conversations in.
 
Here’s why:
 
“If you’ve played your cards right by being authentic and providing the right type of value to them, they will say to you, ‘how can I help you’ and then you tell them at that time.” – Vipul Bhesania 
 
Wow, Vipul dropped so many gems during our discussion that I know they’ll change how you network for the better. But I want to leave you with one final thought that was so good I have to end the summary with it:
 
“You don’t know who knows who in this world, so value every interaction and leave every interaction better than you found it.” – Vipul Bhesania
 
Visit https://soundcloud.com/knowyourlegacy to check out Vipul’s podcast, Know Your Legacy.
Here’s the link to the downloadable gift he promised during our discussion: https://patricewashington.com/buildingalegendarynetwork
 
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
 
And with that, let’s dig into Vipul’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
 
Define Success:
“Enjoying the process of your life as it unfolds.”
 
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“It starts internally.”
 
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
The Art of Living by Bob Proctor
 
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Vipul Bhesania and the truth about wealth is you have to experience it internally before you see it externally.”
 
LINKS:
 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
 
Find me in Social Media:
 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Vadim & Sergei Revzin: Meet The Mentors

When it comes to understanding how to build a business and what the entrepreneurial journey looks like for many entrepreneurs, The Mentors, Vadim and Sergei Revzin, are here to help.
From their personal story and start to what they’ve seen countless times with other businesses, they’ll share the importance of testing your business idea before quitting your 9-5.
They’ll also share why it’s critical to listen to your market along the way. Join the three of us as we dive deeper into the topic entrepreneurial and all that goes with it.
This episode is brought to you by my free LIVE Master Class training, How to Chase Purpose: 5 Shifts to Help You Acknowledge Your God-Given Gifts, Align with Your Passion and Powerfully Answer the Call on Your Life. To REGISTER, become a  Purpose Chaser at iamaPurposeChaser.com 
About Vadim & Sergei Revzin
Vadim and Sergei Revzin are twin brothers and co-hosts of The Mentors podcast, a weekly show where they share stories about ordinary people who have become extraordinary entrepreneurs. On their podcast, they also break down what it takes to succeed in the critical early days of starting a business. 
Vadim is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Ethos, a national non-profit. He also teaches entrepreneurship at State University of New York. He’s advised hundreds of startups, and has been both a founder and leader across several early and growth stage startups.
Sergei is a venture investor at the NYU Innovation Venture Fund where he leads the university’s technology investments. He has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs all over the country, and has been an early employee and founder at tech companies in NYC and Boston.
Make Entrepreneurship More Accessible
On their podcast, Vadim and Sergei are known for using real stories and experiences to transform the complexities of entrepreneurship into something that’s accessible, enjoyable and fun.
And unlike some of the more popular business coaches, these two say it’s okay to step back, take a full-time job when necessary or take a job to enhance a certain skill level because:
“Though we believe in entrepreneurship, you’re not going to be entrepreneurial 100% of the time.” – Vadim and Sergei Revzin 
They also went on to say how everybody they know, young and old, are supplementing their primary focus or full-time job with a side project or new creative pursuit.
The lesson here: The beauty of entrepreneurship is it can manifest itself in many different ways, as well as, there are many different ways to define it. Of course, this is so anyone can let their entrepreneurial gene shine.
First Entrepreneurial Venture
Wow, do you remember your first entrepreneurial venture? Well, Vadim and Sergei recalled wanting to start a company of some sort back in their college days. BUT, they knew nothing about running or business or even where to start.
But after hearing a story about a man from the United Kingdom who’d ventured into the world of advertising and made a million dollars, they started to think about the importance of leveraging advertising and social platforms for business growth. So, they decided to use that idea as their first steps into entrepreneurship.
Now, with the idea in hand, they found an engineer on campus who had the skills to execute their idea – someone who wanted to be a partner in their business.
And while they turned down the offer of partnership, a decision they now regret,  they did learn a valuable lesson that has followed them throughout their entrepreneurial journey:
“One hundred percent of 0 is 0 and it’s okay to give away equity if it increases the chances of your success significantly, especially if you find someone who will complement the skill.” – Vadim and Sergei Revzin 
Listen to Your Market
Now, Vadim and Sergei were so confident about their brilliant idea that they worked with engineers for months to build a prototype all before ever talking to their audience. And that was a major mistake. 
Products and services are created for the audience. This means, no product or service can be “perfect,” brilliant or deemed a game-changer until AFTER the market validates it as such.
Take me, for example, I now have a program called Purpose to Platform and at one point I shared messaging that was very strong around saving for your kids’ college days and saving for your family, and then I realized after doing a survey with the audience that over 70% of them didn’t have any children.
Here’s what we’ve all learned during our entrepreneurial journey:
“It takes a desire to intimately want to understand and serve the people you’re targeting.” – Patrice Washington 
Choose Productive Over Pretty
The last topic Vadim and Sergei touched on was the idea that people waste so much time doing the pretty things in their business – logos, web design brand colors, photo shoots – because, as humans, we default to the things we’re most comfortable with.
Now, this discussion was so real that you’ll have to tune in to catch all the gems, but I will share this major lesson:
“If at least once a week you’re not doing something that creates revenue, you’re not going to be able to do it full-time.” – Vadim and Sergei Revzin
And with that, I’d love to hear from you. What are your biggest takeaways from my conversation with Vadim and Sergei? What questions do you have? And how do you plan to use the tips they gave in your business?
Visit https://thementors.co/ to find out more about Vadim and Sergei and The Mentors Podcast.
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Vadim and Sergei’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
Define Success:
Vadim: “It’s about having more interesting experiences. I’m fulfilled if I’m continually experiencing new things.”
Sergei: “Personal happiness and satisfaction. If I’m able to have the impact I want in the world and balance that with my family and loved ones, that’s success.”
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
Vadim & Sergei: “One word: Contentment.”
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
Vadim: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 
Sergei: Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Vadim and the truth about wealth is the most rewarding moments are when you see you have made an impact on somebody else, even if it’s just one other person.”
“My name is Sergei and the truth about wealth is if you chase it head-on, it’s elusive. If you focus on value creation instead, more often than not, wealth will come in the form of contentment of financial gains.”
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Amanda LittleJohn: Package Your Genius

Everyday I speak to women and men who sell themselves and their gifts short. We’re often hardworking and talented, but for some reason we still develop a need to over complicate the path to offering and profiting from our gifts. 
We think we have to be exhaustively perfect and over prepare our gifts to justify them, but that’s not true. Instead, all we really need to do is show up and get out of our own way. 
In today’s episode, Amanda Miller Littlejohn and I will dive deeper into the topic of personal branding and visibility. We’ll cover everything from Amanda’s personal story to finding your purpose and packaging your genius.
Join us as Amanda reveals the importance of your message and how your visibility isn’t about you, but about the difference it makes to someone else.
This episode is brought to you by my free LIVE Master Class training, How to Chase Purpose: 5 Shifts to Help You Acknowledge Your God-Given Gifts, Align with Your Passion and Powerfully Answer the Call on Your Life. To REGISTER, become a  Purpose Chaser at iamaPurposeChaser.com 
About Amanda Miller Littlejohn
Amanda Miller Littlejohn is a nationally-recognized top expert in personal branding. The author of her personal branding playbook, Package Your Genius, she is an idea maven, brand problem solver and creative powerhouse working at the intersection of public relations, journalism, marketing and social media.
As a former print journalist, along with her training and passion as a writer,  Amanda uses her unique storytelling lens and reporting skills to help her clients uncover and subsequently share better brand stories.  
A highly sought-after speaker, trainer and writer, Amanda regularly speaks to groups of business owners, students and women on personal branding, public relations and social media. She regularly shares her expertise with media outlets like the Washington Post, Forbes, Huffington Post and Sirius XM.
She can be reached at http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/.
A Pivot from Journalism to Entrepreneurship
Amanda and I found ourselves in a similar place during the Great Recession. We were both unemployed with newborns. I asked her to share about her experience and how it led to her pivoting from a career in journalism to starting her own business.
She’d been thinking about transitioning from the journalism space into something else and at the time and knew writing was her gift and strength, as well as, something people needed and something that they’d pay for.
She started out with writing by approaching small public relations firms and small businesses she thought might need help with writing proposals or with client work, but that didn’t need a full-time, in-house writer.
Essentially, she cold called to the top by contacting everyone she knew to see if they needed a writer or if they knew someone who did. 
And I did the same to jumpstart my speaking career years ago.
“Your purpose found you as you were in action.” 
So many people think there’s a magic formula, but Amanda I agree there’s not. It takes knocking on doors, making phone calls and sending emails that get no response.
Package Your Genius
In Amanda’s book, Package Your Genius, there’s a place where she says her dad was the smartest person she’d ever met and the smartest person you’d never heard of.
That is what planted the seed for Amanda to do this work called personal branding or visibility. She didn’t think it was fair that someone who had so many gifts and talents wasn’t able to flip those gifts and talents when he needed to flip them.
In other words, he had a job and that job got plenty out of him, but when it came time for him to take the next step and leverage all he knew and had learned through decades of work, he didn’t understand how to put himself out there. 
“When you work for years to become good at something, the inability to market yourself shouldn’t be the thing between you and success.” 
Amanda found her gift in helping people like her dad who were really great at what they did, but not great at putting it into words. She’s dedicated her life to giving them the marketing tools and confidence they needed to get out there. 
“Your gift is not about you; it’s about how you will be used to change the lives of other people.” 
Think about it like this: If just one person needs to hear what you have to say and your message could potentially plant a seed that could change their life, who are you to focus on your nerves or anxiety? 
This is much bigger than how you feel. When I think about it like this, it helps me get over myself and my fears very quickly.
The Effortless State of Being is Purpose
In Package Your Genius, Amanda says, “The effortless state of being is purpose and you don’t have to dress it up to sell it. You don’t have to dilute the gift by overcomplicating it. You don’t have to make yourself anxious perfecting and preparing yourself to justify it. You just have to show up, get out of the way and allow yourself to be the channel that you are.”
Amanda believes that problems arise when we mistake our talent and skills with purpose. So just because we’re good at something doesn’t mean that’s what we’re supposed to be doing with our time. 
If you’re naturally gifted and talented, and if you work hard at everything you do, then after a while you’ll probably get pretty good at it, right?
We see a lot of people who have several things they can do well. And we also see other people – parents, family members, bosses – say you have a talent and push you in a certain direction because you’re good at doing something. But it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s what you’re meant to be doing.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s your purpose. You’re the only one who can dial into the purpose piece and you can do that by asking and looking at where you’ve been energized in the past.
What work lights you up? What people light you up? What audiences do you enjoy serving? Who do you want to connect with? Who do you like being around? What do you want to build your life around and be known for? These are all questions you need to ask yourself.
We unpack a LOT in this episode and know you’ll get value whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to build your empire or an executive looking to climb that corporate ladder.
What are your thoughts on personal branding and visibility? Do you agree with all that Amanda has said? What were you biggest takeaways and how will you use these things to shift your brand and business?
Visit http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/ to find out more about Amanda and Package Your Genius.
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Amanda’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
Define Success:
“Success is doing what’s inside of me and impacting the people and audiences I care about the most.”
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“To die, empty.”
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Amanda and the truth about wealth is it’s available to everyone and it’s available to you at any time.”
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Gerald Washington: Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire

What does it mean to be an empire builder? What needs to shift in your mindset for you to go from an employee or entrepreneur to an empire builder? And, how can you best set yourself up for success? 
We’re covering all these questions and more on today’s episode with Gerald Washington, my husband, for the release of his book Don’t Start a Business, Build an Empire.
In this episode, we’re going deep into this idea of empire building, where Gerald shares our personal story, explains concepts from his book and gives practical advice for building your empire.
This episode is brought to you by the Redefining Wealth LIVE podcast taping in Atlanta on Sunday, October 13th! Pick up some gems of wisdom and meet Purpose Chasers from all over. Limited Tickets available at RedefiningWealthLive.com!
About Gerald Washington
When he’s not building his own empire, Gerald Washington is using his leadership, innovation and business acumen to empower others to move beyond being just another entrepreneur to becoming their own empire builder.
His passion for business and entrepreneurship didn’t start when Gerald was the partner and president of Steve Harvey World Group, nor did it start just after college when he launched a boutique real estate company with his then girlfriend and future wife, Patrice, a business venture that would help him build a multi-million dollar real estate empire by his mid-20s.
It actually began when he was in high school and created a 5-figure business as a teenager. Which you’ll hear more about shortly.
Today his genius is turning missed opportunities for others into thriving empires – he is all about sharing his experiences and wisdom to help others find the wealth that he has gained through his own love of the game of wealth. 
You see, his own empire includes multiple multi-unit real estate holdings, a transportation company, brand management agency and now a transformational portfolio with his own speaking, co-coaching programs and a new book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire. 
Our Story from Gerald’s Perspective
I talk about our story a lot on the podcast, but Gerald doesn’t. So one of the things I asked him to cover was telling our story from his perspective.
Here’s what he has to say:
Before the 2008 Recession, Patrice and I had a thriving real estate empire. We were very successful in what we knew, but we’d neglected to have a guide or mentor to give us advice. So, when the real estate market took a turn, we weren’t prepared for it because, one, I wasn’t watching the market and wasn’t aware of what was happening, and two, I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it besides my peers.
And so the market crashed and without a road map or guide, we lost it all. 
At that point we went to New Orleans to try and hold onto the last of our properties, and it became very clear that I needed to get a job by any means necessary. I went to McDonald’s, Burger King and Hardee’s, but they all told me no. I then went to Taco Bell and said, “Listen, whatever job you have, I’ll take it. I’ll clean toilets, I’ll work food prep, I’ll run the register, whatever you need me to do.” And they gave me a job.
“I went from a 7-figure business owner to working at Taco Bell and making about $2,400 a month.”
I was so grateful for that job though, because it gave us some stability. After nine months in New Orleans, I followed Patrice to Atlanta and was able to work at a Taco Bell there. 
Fortunately for us, Patrice was working for the Steve Harvey Show and had built a relationship with the people there. It was through that connection that I was offered an opportunity to watch Steve’s manager’s house every night while they were having construction done. 
I did that for three months, but what I also did was notice things. I’d walk around the house at night and make notes of the construction that’d been done during the day and I’d communicate these things with the homeowner – noting things he might want to look at or ask about. What I didn’t know was by doing this, I was essentially interviewing for a potential job in the future, which I got when the Steve Harvey Show asked me to come work in the office. . . 
Listen in for more of that story, but we also tackle why Gerald decided to write Don’t Start a Business, Build an Empire.
According to him it takes the same energy to develop the concept for a business as it does to create the concept for an empire – the only difference is mindset. And with the right mindset, you can expand what you consider to be your entrepreneurial effort into something that can become a global empire if you’re willing to look at things like expansion, sustainability and allowing others to participate in the conversation.
So I wrote the book to help shift the mindset of entrepreneurs out there who can’t see the empire just yet.
“Unfortunately, many of us don’t look at how to expand our entrepreneurial efforts beyond us running things.” 
We also tackle Gerald’s thoughts behind many entrepreneurs going in circles – over-thinking, over-creating and attempting to over-deliver, but the end result is they spend too much effort and energy and put themselves under too much unnecessary stress.
He says, “We do a great job of over-complicating the simple things, and in-turn lose profitability. Take In-N-Out Burger for example. They have three options with the burger purchase – with French Fries, Coke products or a milkshake, and their lines are out the door. They’re thriving and simple.”
Now, take The Cheesecake Factory. They have so much crammed onto their menu with hundreds of choices. It’s too much for the consumer and for me, every time I go there, I don’t even read the menu; I just order what I’ve ordered before. 
“Here’s the truth, you don’t need to have 10 offers to be successful, and when you do, you make it hard for people to choose how to work with you.” 
In your business, if you want to add certain items to your “menu,” do it when the time is right, when you’ve perfected the selected things you do offer and then do it sporadically so the consumer gets excited about it and there’s a supply and demand to it.
Listen to the full episode for more gems on building your empire and learn more about Gerald Washington by visiting www.GeraldWashington.com or follow on Instagram at @empirebuildergw.
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Gerald’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
Define Success:
“Happiness.” 
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“Freedom from a job.”
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
“The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Gerald Washington and the truth about wealth is that it is not tied to money.” 
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Impossible Means It’s Not Your Priority

A few days ago, I was reading through the MBA courses I need to take this semester for my Behavioral Finance degree. Each course listing said it required an average time commitment of 20-25 hours a week, and as soon as I read that, I started thinking about all things I have going on this semester, and I felt the words “This is going to be impossible” about to slip out of my mouth.
Now, if you know me, you know that I believe words are powerful, and what you verbalize, you magnify and magnetize. So, if I allowed myself to believe – before I’d even started – that it would be impossible, I would make it impossible.
In this episode, we’ll look at what it means when we say things are impossible, and learn what’s needed to shift our belief from impossible to possible. 
This episode is brought to you by Redefining Wealth LIVE from Atlanta! Join me, a special guest and Purpose Chasers from across the globe for a LIVE podcast taping of your favorite podcast! Limited tickets on sale NOW!
It IS Possible
Before I go any further into today’s discussion, I want you to know this:
One hundred percent is actually possible 100% of the time. 
I learned this concept many years ago and it’s stuck with me. Whenever I’m feeling like there are too many things that need to get done, I think, “Okay, Patrice, nothing is truly impossible.” In other words, if I’ve said yes to something, I should have a good idea of what it includes.
Take my MBA program, for example. I know when papers are due, when the exams are, what assignments I need to complete and by when; therefore, all I really need to do is plan and prepare my schedule in advance. So, technically it’s not impossible, but rather it’s a question of what am I willing to do.
What am I willing to shift?
What am I willing to sacrifice?
What will be my priority?
A lot of times, we use words like impossible when what we’re really trying to say is, “This is not a priority right now,” or “I don’t care enough about that thing to stop doing these things over here.”
Any time we label something impossible, we allow ourselves to stay stuck in confusion. The truth is, you’re never confused, you’re just not humble enough yet to ask for the support and help you need, because there’s an answer out there – AND there’s always an answer out there.
“It’s not impossible. It’s that your ego is in the way or you’re just not that interested.”
For me, I recognize that in order to increase my probability for success, I’m going to need to adjust my schedule and shift my priorities. But how do I or you do that? How do I or you make something a priority in my or your life? 
Well, here are three things to consider:
1. Make It Meaningful
In order to make something a priority in your life, you have to make sure it’s meaningful. This means you’ll have to understand the purpose behind what you’re doing – the WHY, in other words.
One of the reasons why I wanted to do an MBA program is because back in the day I knew people’s money problems weren’t coming from their lack of budget or bank account balance – they were coming from a learned behavior and I wanted to help people shift that behavior.
So, I decided to get a degree in Financial Psychology and Behavioral Finance to understand this behavior more and to see if what I’d been teaching people for years was real.
It meant a lot to me to understand this and to separate myself from “someone who’d lost all her money and now wanted to help people with her story” to being someone who has more meat in the game and understands how to apply the theory with the practical. Now, of course, this would mean expanding my knowledge in a way that positions me to serve more of the people who need me most.
So, for me, it was worth the additional hours. It was worth the money invested. And it was worth the time away from friends.
“In order to make something a priority, you have to make sure that it’s meaningful to you.” 
2. Don’t Find Time, MAKE Time
I’m in the process of planning my weeks out well in advance. And for me, I start my schedule with the end in mind. So, for instance, if I know that at the end of this 8-week term I have a paper due, then I schedule days and times for me to do research for the paper, and time for me to write the paper.
For me, it’s not about finding time, but about making it.
“You don’t find time because time is not hiding from you.” 
If there’s something you want to do and if it’s meaningful to you, then in order to make it a priority, you have to approach it with a sense of, “I will get this done – by any means necessary.” That might mean some give and take of things, and that’s okay.
My family understands that for a year this is what I’m doing, and at the end of the day, there’s a greater vision for how this will benefit our family. My team, too, understands I will need greater support, so I’ll be delegating more to focus on this priority. 
3. Invest in What You Want
Whether your investment is time, energy, money or all three, you have to be willing to invest in the thing you want.
“Where there is no transaction, there will be no transformation.” 
To me, anything that is worth it and will change your life, is going to take some level of drastic investment. And if it doesn’t or if it comes easily to you, then it probably wasn’t worth it. 
Getting the desired results should motivate you to make whatever it is a priority. In other words, in order to make those impossible things possible, you have to be willing to invest in whatever it’s going to take for you to get mastery over it. 
Be Committed, Not Just Interested
Your dreams, goals and aspirations are all possible. If you allow something to be impossible, it will be for you. The reality is, there are people in the same situation who are crushing it right now. The difference is you’re interested and they’re committed.
You’re interested and they’re committed. Think about that and decide how committed you are. If you say you want it or if you say you’re going to do it, decide now how you’re going to make it your priority and let me know in the comments what you’re committing to.
Need some help figuring out how to commit to what you want? Check out these past episodes:
Commitment Makes the Difference – In this episode, I talk more on the topic of being interested or committed? Interested people rarely achieve their goals. They may start, but they don’t finish. Committed people do it by any means necessary.
I’m Not Above Backing Out – Some of you can’t find time because you have so many things on your calendar that you’ve been doing for years just because. Not because you still love them, not because they bring you joy, but because you do them out of obligation. The truth is, in order to go where you’re going, you’re going to have to give somethings up.
Lisa Bilyeu – How All-in Am I Really? – If you’re saying you’re going to do something, then you have to be all-in. If I’m all in on this degree, then that means some of the other things I’d like to launch I have to delay. I have to be 100 percent all-in; I can’t be all-in on only 50 percent of things. Reality is, I have to choose each quarter what am I going all-in on and stick to it. 
Two Words I’m Adding to Every Goal: Grace and Ease – For many of us, every time we want to go to the next level the thing that stops us is the fact we imagine the stress and struggle before we even get started. Instead of approaching things this way, I add a disclaimer to each goal –I will complete said goal with grace and ease. How would adding this disclaimer change you attitude or approach?
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

REWIND: Reflecting on the Foundation of Redefining Wealth (Part 2)

Redefining Wealth: The People, Work + Money Pillars
This week, we’re doing another rewind here at Redefining Wealth. If you missed us last week, go back and have a listen because this week’s episode builds on the three pillars we covered last week. 
At Redefining Wealth, we believe becoming wealthy has 100% nothing to do with money – IT has 100% to do with your mindset toward money. What is in your mind, as well as what happens in every aspect of your life plays a part in your financial goals. 
If you’re living in a cluttered space, most likely your finances will reflect that. If you’re not fulfilled in the work you do, your finances will reflect that, too. It’s a vicious cycle, but one you can break if you’re willing to do the mindset work that goes with it. 
So many of us were raised to chase money, but chasing money is not enough. I’m living proof of that. I’ve made a lot of money and then lost it all in the Great Recession. Through that experience though, I’ve learned it’s not about the money. This week we review how and why it’s about tapping into the other areas of your life and making sure those moments are just as fulfilling and in line with your vision.
“The more you become fulfilled in other areas of your life, the easier time you’ll have with money.” 
People Pillar
So often I get asked how I went from sleeping on my brother’s couch to giving expert money advice on the Steve Harvey show. 
The short answer: It was never about chasing the money. It was not by knowing every item on my credit report. It was about understanding the six pillars, especially the people pillar, and knowing that relationships matter. 
“Relationships are a key part to building wealth – you need allies and advocates to connect you to opportunities.” 
Surprisingly many people don’t value relationships. They don’t make wise decisions when it comes to how they interact with people. I’ve been in these relationships before, especially in business. 
For instance, I’ve hired someone who I thought was great to work with. However, that person ended up disregarding timelines, the contract and failing to acknowledge the breakdown. All of these things ultimately damaged our relationship. 
I believe in the golden rule – treat people how you want to be treated. You don’t reach out to someone ONLY when you want something, and when there is breakdown, you don’t run and hide, you talk to them and figure out a way forward together. 
“If we thought more deeply about our relationships, it would change our conversations, attitudes and the way we do business.” 
Work Pillar
This pillar is all about living out your life’s purpose, which I see as the key to wealth.
For me, I’ve always gone well beyond the normal budgeting and couponing conversation. If you look at Real Money Answers for Every Woman, you’ll notice in the book – before I ever talk about a budget or a savings account – I talk about mindset and creating wealthy habits, and the importance of giving yourself permission to earn more money.  
I know when I lost everything, it wasn’t about cutting coupons or using reward cards. It was about using the gifts and talents I’d been born with to produce wealth.
When you’re not excited or fired up by the work you’re doing, then you’re looking for ways to fill the void, and to me, this lack of fulfillment is the number one reason people mismanage money. In other words, they’re unfulfilled and they think buying things or using their money on x, y and z is going to provide the fulfillment they need, but it never does. 
When you’re working in your purpose, you bring a sense of enthusiasm and energy to your work. You want to operate in excellence. You want to be known for greatness. It naturally puts you in a space where you attract more because people want to work with you and they want to bring opportunities your way – that does not happen to someone who is working merely to get by. 
Money Pillar 
You know by now that I’m not a fan of chasing money, that’s true. What I am a fan of is attracting the prosperity you desire, and I think when you bring all of these pillars together, it becomes more of an attraction thing than a running-after-and-chasing thing. 
My sweet spot has been showing people how to make and manage their money masterfully. That’s what I’m good at. I can talk to you about budgets and debt elimination, but if you don’t have some of these pillars mastered, you’ll never do what needs to be done because you won’t have the right mindset. You won’t have the right behaviors yet. 
People often ask me, “What’s the greatest lesson I can know about money?” And I say, “It’s not about savings or your 401k, it’s that what you respect will become what you perfect.”
In other words, we’ve been conditioned to jump into a relationship with money without ever being trained on how to properly acknowledge and respect money. 
Think about it. What you have with money is a relationship, and any relationship that’s rooted in acknowledgment and appreciation, is bound to be healthier. It’s bound to be healthier than a relationship where there’s no communication or a lack of interest. 
“You have to check in and show respect in order to have the best relationship you can with your money.” 
So, how do you do this? Block time on your calendar each week or each month to check in with your money. Look at what’s coming in, what’s going out and find areas where you can do better. 
Reserving the time to have that conversation nurtures the relationship and gets you on better ground with your money.
These last two weeks, we’ve looked at all aspects of the six pillars because I’m convinced this journey is not only about money. The successes we have with money and wealth are based on our well-being and happiness in all the other areas of our life. 
Did you find this rewind helpful? Which pillar are you committed to working on first?
PEOPLE Pillar Faves
Charreah Jackson: Go Hard AND Go Home
Boundaries Are Necessities
Sheri Riley: The Value of Being Present
WORK Pillar Faves:
Finish Strong: Determine What's Important Now
Lyn Talbert: Why Making Time for You Is Mandatory
Mikki Taylor: You Can Keep Your Makeover
MONEY Pillar Faves:
Dr. Dennis Kimbro: Wealth is a Choice
Dr. Daniel Crosby: The Best Thing You Can Do is Nothing
Dr. Brad Klontz: The Truth About Savings
And if you’re specifically struggling with a pillar and need additional support, go
to www.patricewashington.com/watch and choose a pillar in the dropdown.
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

REWIND: Reflecting on the Foundation of Redefining Wealth (Part 1)

We celebrated our 100th episode a couple of weeks ago, and I thought now would be the perfect time to re-introduce the six pillars of Redefining Wealth. So, we’re doing a rewind to refresh your memory of what I mean when I say “redefining wealth.” Also, if ’you’re new here, Welcome! This episode will help you gain an in-depth understanding of what you can expect from the Redefining Wealth community. 
Before we dive in, I have a question for you:
Did you know the original definition of wealth had nothing to do with money?
Wealth, in its true origins, focused on an individual’s well-being, meaning it was about overall life happiness and fulfillment.
And when I created Redefining Wealth, I did so in the spirit of the original meaning of “wealth”:
“Wealth in our eyes is not about money and material possessions. It’s about well-being.”
In the Redefining Wealth community, we seek to find well-being and fulfillment in many areas of our lives. Now, we recognize that if we don’t get clarity around those areas then sadly, we will always have challenges with money.
In today’s episode, we’re going to cover the pillars that relate to well-being – the fit, space and faith pillars. And then next week, we’ll look at the wealth-building pillars.
This episode is brought to you by Holistic Healing with Amy. If you need to talk to an expert about which foods can help you progress in the FIT Pillar and change your health once and for all, schedule a free call with Amy soon!
Fit Pillar
“Your health is your wealth.” 
I know, I know, when you hear “fit” you might immediately think of the “gym.” But the fit pillar is SO much more than that – it’s working out on a whole new level.
Think about it like this, if you’re an entrepreneur or you work a 9-5, you’re earning money every day. Are you earning money so you can simply spend it on prescriptions that you can’t pronounce? Or, are you earning money so you can spend it on health issues that are threatening your life? NO!
You see, each of us is called into this world to do something special with our lives. And in order to do that, we need a body that is capable of executing our vision and purpose in life. If we don’t protect our body how we should, we weaken our ability to fulfill our vision, at least in its full capacity. 
Are you thinking about your life? Not just in terms of the goals you want to accomplish, but in a way that forces you to reflect on whether you’re physically capable of seeing this thing to the end? And when you hit your goals and see your visions come to fruition, are you able to walk in it, live in it, enjoy it? Or are you going to be in a hospital somewhere?
“We all have a vision. The problem is, we’re not preparing our body – physically or mentally – to see that vision all the way through.” 
Space Pillar
You’ve heard that time is money, right? It’s true and the Space Pillar is all about setting up a life that supports maximizing your time.
Think of it this way, how many people do you know who operate from a space or environment that is cluttered and messy. There’s so many and what they don’t realize is that by living in that clutter, they end up wasting time and therefore lose out on money because of the lack of clarity their space produces.
According to Newsweek, the average American wastes 55 minutes a day looking for things they own but can’t find. “55 minutes a day.” That’s 12 days a year. I bet you could do a lot in those 12 days if you had them back. Take a vacation. Read a few books. Lie on a beach and forget your troubles. Or, pamper yourself till you think you’ve hit heaven.
Forbes, too, says the typical executive wastes 150 hours searching for lost information. That’s almost an entire month lost when they could have spent those hours making money or going to the gym or taking cooking classes.
“Clutter is the physical manifestation of confusion in the mind.” 
For me, every time I swim in confusion, I take a step back and examine the physical area around me. I ask, "where is the clutter?" I do this because I know my wealth correlates with my ability to clear confusion from my life. What this means is, if YOU want the freedom to create, think and manifest what you want out of life, you must first clear away the clutter.
Faith Pillar
I would not be America’s Money Maven. I would not be a bestselling author. I would not be a media personality. I would not be sitting here in my home studio completely restored from where I was in 2009 – if it were not for my faith.
The whole lesson behind the faith pillar is about believing in something greater than the world around you. It’s about realizing there’s something bigger at work and that in general, things don’t happen to you, they happen for you. 
In fact, when I think about my life, all the greatest lessons I’ve learned have come from some type of challenge or failure. It’s like Winston Churchill says, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
And for me, my faith is my enthusiasm. It’s the belief that there is something greater. That there is a bigger purpose at work and that nothing is ever happening to me, but it’s happening for me.  
“Life is only 20% of what happens to us and 80% of how we choose to respond to what happens.”  
My faith is the primary reason I don’t chase money. Instead, I chase purpose. When you’re not in alignment with something greater – with faith – it can be tough to see a life that doesn’t require chasing money. I know because you feel like everything will be better when you have money, and then it’s not. What you need is purpose.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this rewind of the Fit, Space + Faith pillars. Here’s three favorite episodes from each pillar, so that you don’t have to dig and dig to find more:
FIT Pillar Faves
Dr. Thema: Stop Suffering in Silence
The Power of No Comparison
Brandi Harvey: Your Roots Create Your Results
SPACE Pillar Faves:
Egypt Sherrod: Simplicity Drives Success
Are You In a Money Making Space?
The Blessing of Downsizing
FAITH Pillar Faves:
Elijah Frazier: You Can Turn This Around
Greatness Requires You to Expect Resistance
Marshawn Evans Daniels: It's Time to Believe Bigger
And if you’re specifically struggling with a pillar and need additional support, go to www.patricewashington.com/watch and choose a pillar in the dropdown.
LINKS: 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

UPDATE: The Blessing of Downsizing

Last summer, my husband Gerald and I did an episode on the blessing of downsizing, and now, a year later, I want to give you an update. When we started downsizing, there was a lot of struggle, a lot to figure out, but one of the things that kept us going was knowing there was something purposeful about downsizing.
For those of you who are new to Redefining Wealth, Welcome! Redefining Wealth is a community that recognizes wealth is so much more than money and material possessions. In this episode, we’re going to give a quick summary of where we were last year and then dive into where we are now and what lessons we’ve learned along our downsizing journey.
This episode is brought to you by our complimentary Purpose Chasers community. Want to share your aha moments with a group of like-minded purpose chasers from all over the world? Visit iamapurposechaser.com and join NOW.
Summer 2018
This time last year, we were in the middle of downsizing. My husband, daughter and I were living in Southern California in a 6,000 plus square foot house and not occupying half of it. There was so much of the house we weren’t using, yet we were still paying to clean and maintain – it didn’t make sense.
So, as a family, we went through a voluntary downsize.
“Our goal was to cut our expenses by 60% and then reinvest the money into things that mattered to us.”
Logically, we knew downsizing was the best thing we could do, but once we started packing and moving, there were a lot of emotions that affected all of us. 
During this I remember Gerald said, “We’re not decluttering. We’re detoxing.” That was like a lightbulb moment because decluttering is one thing, but detoxing can be very uncomfortable. For us, we had to stick with it even though it was uncomfortable and painful.
I compare our detoxing to a season of pruning. It’s a season where you’re removing the things that no longer serve you. And with pruning, there’s a purpose to doing it – to help you (or a tree) grow stronger.
And so, that’s what we did. We went through this voluntary pruning and while the last 12 months have been painful at times, they have also been purposeful.
Here’s a bit of what’s changed for us personally and professionally:
We were able to purchase two apartment buildings here in Georgia
We started a transportation company and bought our first 18-wheeler
We bought a home in a wonderful neighborhood (also, shout out to Egypt Sherrod [https://www.instagram.com/egyptsherrod/] who was our realtor and helped us find our incredible home)
I was able to bring on new team members for my business
I launched my Mastery + Momentum Mastermind, the Purpose to Platform, and the Purpose Chasers Community
Redefining Wealth has almost reached a million downloads
Gerald finished his book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire
 I believe these things couldn’t have happened if we allowed ourselves to continue to hold onto dead weight. In other words, if we’d continued to wrap our arms around those things that looked good from the outside, but didn’t feel good on the inside, then we would not be in the place we are now.
And regardless of where we are now, I want you to know that every transition and transaction comes with work. There will be painful moments. There will be uncomfortable moments. But the key is in remembering why you’re doing it.
Summer 2019 – 12 Months Later
When we started 2019, our word for the year was “release.” Without even knowing all the releasing that was going to happen to us. We’ve released relationships, conversations and material things.
“It’s been a learning process. I’ve learned more from these unforeseen scenarios than I have from any book.” – Gerald
For Gerald, working through the process of downsizing and releasing has been tough at times. And it’s challenged his faith. We went through a lot moving from a 6,000 plus square foot house to an apartment, then to a hotel room and finally to a house again. 
All the trials and tribulations that happened with each move, from people taking advantage of us to our space being cramped, have pushed our faith and forced us to lean on each other.
“As much as I want to lean on God, I also need somebody physical that I can talk to and communicate with when things get challenging.” – Gerald
One of the biggest challenges we had was with our movers. These movers took advantage and by the time all was said and done, we’d paid 3x the amount they’d initially quoted us. And that increase in cost came up after they already had our stuff.
That’s when I started to do some research and discovered this happens often. Families have lost all of their possessions because in route movers have doubled, tripled, quadrupled the price and people can’t pay so the moving company will claim possession of their stuff. I couldn’t believe this was actually a thing, but it happens every day to people nationwide.
As for us, we have faith, but we also save correctly so when things do happen, we’re prepared and can push through even though it’s a challenge. And we’re so fortunate we chose to downsize and cut our expenses, almost in preparation for what was to come.
What if we hadn’t downsized? Or if we had let other people’s perceptions of our downsize stop us from downsizing? 
Downsizing material possessions is no different than downsizing relationships. What happens is this:
We like to romanticize a relationship or an object based on what it used to be and not whether it is currently serving us – and that’s a problem. 
Releasing people, releasing beliefs and releasing things – we’ve done all of that in the last 12 months and we’ve realized through it all that it has deepened our bond as a family. Gerald and I are working together again, we’ve deepened our connection with our daughter and we know that we’d not be where we are today if we hadn’t downsized.
There’s a lot that’s happened in the last 12 months and we do still wholeheartedly believe this: 
Downsizing is a necessary part of maximizing. 
Now, I’d love to hear from you. Have you thought of downsizing? Have you already done it? If so, how has it gone for you and what lessons have you learned?
 
LINKS: 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

100th Episode: How to Know When Your Season Is Up

I can’t believe this is already our 100th episode. It feels like yesterday that I reluctantly stumbled into the world of podcasting. And now, nearly two years later, here we are.
If you’re new here and looking for hardcore advice on things like budgeting and investing, this is not that type of money podcast. You see, Redefining Wealth is about getting you prepared for those types of podcasts – the money ones I mean. It’s about helping you understand that wealth is so much more than just money and material possessions.
“There’s much more to wealth than chasing money. At Redefining Wealth, we unpack and explore all the different ways money connects to our lives.”
This episode is brought to you by Radical Success Certification Program. If you’re an emerging life coach or experienced coach who feels stuck, check out this proven, A-Z coaching framework by Doreen Rainey.  You don’t want to just become a coach, you want to run a thriving coaching business and she can show you how. Learn more and apply at RadicalSuccessCertification.com. 
Knowing When Your Season Is Up
To celebrate our 100th episode, I want to take you back to just before I launched Redefining Wealth. 
I was in a great place. My career was going great. For the most part I was fulfilled with what I was doing. I was making good money, doing good work, helping and serving people, and yet, the truth is, my season was up. 
“What if your season has long expired and you’re extending it out of fear, complacency or delusion?” 
Now, I’ll be honest, Redefining Wealth was not something I’d planned on doing. The idea of starting a podcast had crossed my mind a couple of times, but it always seemed like too much work.
And there was also a fear that people might not get or want it. After all, I had been known as a personal finance expert for years, and while I still incorporate the term wealth, I rarely talk about those hardcore money topics anymore.
I lacked confidence. I also thought I lacked the credibility to go deeper into the money topic – to look at how money connects to all the other areas of our lives. But here’s what I learned: It doesn’t matter how credible you are on paper, what matters is how you feel.
A Season Doesn’t Have to Be Bad to Mean It’s Time for a Change
Sometimes we think that a situation has to be awful in order for us to move on.  But here’s the thing, purpose evolves and I don’t believe any of us are meant to do the exact same thing in the exact same way our entire lives.
“We’re meant to evolve and if we don’t move when our season is up, then we go bankrupt emotionally, mentally, spiritually, financially.”  
For me, I was in a space where I was content. I was America’s Money Maven. I had a weekly segment for years on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. I was doing other shows like Dr. Oz and being featured by publications like Cosmopolitan, the New York Post and Essence Magazine. I had a good name as a money expert. Why would I change all of that?
How to Know When Your Season Is Up
First of all, I experienced what I call the boulder effect.
It started out as a pebble, as it always does. For me, well it looked like me getting annoyed going on all of these talk shows and talking about budgets and credit reports when I knew that money and wealth was much more than those things.
I kept thinking, “If they ask me one more thing about a budget, I’m going to snap!” Money is not about a template, it’s about your behaviors. It’s about your mindset. It’s so much bigger than a budget, and yet, I’d go, get on the couch, smile and do what I was brought there to do.
Then came the rock. My website got hacked. Not hacked in the sense that it redirected to a naughty site or something like that, but hacked in the sense that the hacker went in and deleted files and content, and changed the language. It was bad, and even though the hosting company restored the site, it was a shell of what it had been – so much of my content was gone.
Then came the boulder. I received a letter stating that Real Money Answers, my entire brand, was infringing on someone else’s copyright. What?! I didn’t understand and from what I knew, I’d had Real Money Answers trademarked for quite a while. What I learned through this process, however, was that my attorney had dropped the ball, and I didn’t actually have Real Money Answers trademarked. 
It was like one nightmare after another, and I knew it was time for a change.
What Began as a Dream Turned into a Chore
Another way I knew my season was up was that opportunities that once felt like a dream had turned into a chore. They didn’t excite me anymore.
Perhaps one of my friends describes this best, “You know what it is?” she said. “I’ve tried to romanticize the fact that this thing started as a dream so that I could survive a toxic environment.”
Ding, ding, ding. I know exactly what she means.
As an entrepreneur, if you have consistent contracts or clients, you can chain yourself to something and start to believe that IT is your source. In all actuality though, you’re trying to force it to remain or to be the source because you want to romanticize the opportunity based on how it started out.
“Not everything that starts out one way will end the same way, and not because the environment changes, but because we change.” 
The truth is we can make anything look, feel or seem like a dream opportunity if we have an agenda. That’s the space I was in before finally accepting the call to let go and start Redefining Wealth.
“Purpose evolves and you have the right to say goodbye to one season and hello to another – that is part of the journey.” 
If I can leave you with anything, it’s to be honest and real with yourself. If you’re in the midst of a boulder effect or if you know that what began as a dream has turned into a chore, I want you to know it’s okay to surrender and accept that the season is up.
Lastly, I want to add that one of my clients, Danielle Joseph, has a whole program on seasons and she further explains how you can go from one season to the next in different areas of your life at different times. If you’re interested in learning more about how to know when your season is up, check her out. https://iamdaniellejoseph.com/about 
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW