Redefining Wealth with Patrice Washington

The Blessing of Downsizing

One of the hardest things you can do in life is let go. No matter what it is, people or things, it can be a challenge to get it out of your life.
If you want to grow, however, you need to cut out what isn’t working. That’s why we prune trees, so that they can grow bigger and healthier than ever before.
Cutting away the dead branches low on a tree that doesn’t get sunlight anymore, allows the tree to use its energy to maximize its efforts.
That’s exactly what you need to do. Constantly re-evaluate what you have in your life. Our dreams and visions shift all the time, and think about if the things you accumulated are really helping your new vision or not.
And it’s not just people or items that may be holding you back from growth. It might even be your mindset.
Think about how you look at things, maybe it was even a mindset your parents taught you about the world. Is it really serving you, or should you start looking at things differently?
On this episode of Redefining Wealth I wanted to take a moment and share with you the transition I have been going through in my life.
I decided it was time to cut back in life so that I, and my family, can grow even larger than ever before.
We’ve been detoxing our lives, and I even had my husband come on to share his experiences throughout the process.
So download this episode today and learn what we all need to evaluate and trim out of our lives.

Brittney Castro: When Life Happens

One of the most overlooked things from people is a savings. People think they’ll always be able to work, but in reality you never know what can happen.
Even if you eat the perfect diet, exercise everyday, and really take care of your body things can (and will) still go wrong.
Let’s face it, if something happens like you get hit by a car wouldn’t you rather have the option to rest and recover than not?
And a savings isn’t just there for a rainy day. You may need it in order to get in on that dream investment opportunity, or to be able to (finally) start working for yourself instead of someone else.
The point is, life happens. You never know what’s happening tomorrow: but you have to be ready for whatever God is going to throw at you next.
To go more into this I brought on a very special guest, who went through one of the most traumatic life changing events you can image: Brittney Castro.
Brittney is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles-based financial planning firm whose mission is to teach women and couples the art of managing their money the fun and simple way.
As a Certified Financial Planner™, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Accredited Asset Management Specialist, entrepreneur and speaker, Brittney works with busy professional women and couples who are ready to make their finances work for them and use their money to live the lives of their dreams.
After years of working in the male-dominated world of financial planning, Brittney realized she wanted to work with clients the same way she talks about money with her girlfriends–in a smart, personal, feminine way that’s compassionate, fun and nonjudgmental.
Brittney has become a well-known financial expert and a go-to resource for national media outlets.
She’s been featured on CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CBS, KTLA, Fox 11 News, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Darling, Entrepreneur, Woman’s World, Financial Planning, Investment News, Registered Rep magazine and many more.
She’s also a coveted speaker and host, and she loves spreading her wisdom about finance, entrepreneurship and smart investing to the masses.
So download this episode to learn about how you can get your finances in order, and the journey she had to take in order to get there.

Andromeda Raheem: The Anatomy of a Winner

I don’t know about you, but in my life I’ve had people I loved and believed were on my side betray me - especially women.
It’s made me want to avoid women all together and keep to myself. But the truth is, we can’t do that.
We can’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch because in the long run, it’s only going to hurt us even more.
No matter how great you are, if you exist on an island by yourself, you can only get so far. Being great requires connection with others.
You need to find the support of those in your community, and more importantly you need to offer the same support you want to receive from others.
Be the light everyone else wants to be around.
It’s too easy to discredit, nit pick, point out flaws and cut other people down. It takes wisdom and maturity to not allow yourself to stoop to being that person no matter what you’ve experienced.
Instead choose to offer grace and forgiveness to people who may never acknowledge their wrongdoing. It’ll only free you and help you become better, as well as, force others to respect you even more.
To dive deeper into this, I wanted to bring you the author of, She Wins, Andromeda Raheem.
After experiencing years of negative interactions with women, Andromeda made the choice to turn her pain into power and do her part to empower and unite women. While working a government accounting job, Andromeda started a blog to share her stories of betrayal, loss of friendships, and lack of support from other women. At the time, it was simply a passion project and she had no idea that she was putting herself on a path to become the founder of a global network that promotes support and sisterhood among women.
She took this message to social media and began encouraging women to collaborate instead of compete, make themselves accountable for their own happiness and success, and be confident in themselves.

”Lucky” Is An Insult

“Thinking people are luckier than you will make you doubt your own journey.”
I was up at 2 am to record this episode because I felt a strong tug that this needed to be addressed.
I’ve noticed a mindset from some in my audience I wanted to speak to today in the hopes that we can have an honest conversation and create a powerful shift. I’m not here to scold anyone, or attack anyone. I just want to help you overcome a challenge you may not even realize you are having.
A lot of people fall into a victim mentality because they use a word they think is harmless: luck.
When you look at someone’s accomplishments, you might consider them lucky. They were lucky they got that TV deal, they were lucky to have those friends, lucky to get the job.
What you see is the final polished result. You don’t see all of the hard work, or even years of effort that comes into their success.
The definition of luck is: Success or failure, apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.
So when you say someone is lucky, you are saying they didn’t do anything to get where they are. That’s a bit insulting, don’t you think? How would you feel if someone said you don’t really deserve whatever measure of success or happiness you currently enjoy?
Not only that, but it put you in the mindset that you have to be lucky to get anywhere. That your dreams will just fall out of the sky, and if they don’t it wasn’t meant to be.
It encourages being lazy. It encourages you to not take action.
The truth is, you need to do the exact opposite. You can’t count on simply being lucky, because no one is lucky.
If you try to count on luck to be a success, you’re just going to waste away the God-given gifts you’re supposed to be exploring and unpacking as apart of your unique journey.
This is such a passionate topic for me, so I decided to devote an entire episode to it and I hope you enjoy!
Download this episode now, and learn how you stop waiting for luck and start creating your own success.
“Stop judging other people’s purchases by your paycheck.”
The Cliff Notes:
Make sure your space is peaceful and energizes you.
Your space will set the tone and mood of your day.
A bad mindset can keep you trapped.
Have a supportive mindset and you’ll create relationships that matter.
Don’t make other people feel bad about their pricing, it gives you something to aspire to.
Avoid the word “lucky”.
There’s often a lot more work put into something than you see.
Know the value of what you’ve done, and who you have become.
Be committed to your vision, not to how you get there.
Comparing yourself to others will make you bitter and stagnant.
The success of a marriage is not luck.
Stay in a state of preparation to obtain what you really want.
What does someone else’s luck have to do with you?
Focus on your belief in yourself as opposed to other people.
Not everyone needs to love you for you to be successful.
Get out of the “woe is me” spirit.
“Nothing good can come from a root of bitterness.”

Kelly Cardenas: Living By the ”98/2 Rule”

“You can choose what type of day you will have, and I choose to have an outstanding one every day.” - Kelly Cardenas
How many people have you known in the world that were really smart, had so many degrees and certificates, but were broke and unsuccessful?
That’s because knowledge isn’t everything.
Sure, an education can be helpful, but without a strong purpose there’s no point. People who are just dumb enough to believe in the impossible, will always go further than those who over analyze.
If you take the time to trust in God, and really focus on the “why” in your life then the “how” will be shown to you.
You’ve heard me talk about the importance of surrendering before, but there’s more to it than just saying “I surrender”.
You need to put your hands up, give God permission to search your heart and then listen for how He directs your path.  
How do we know if you truly have surrendered?
We see it in our attitude and our ways of being in good times and bad.
To go more into the power of attitude and surrendering, I brought on a very special guest: Kelly Cardenas.
In fact, his message was so powerful I actually bumped up the release of this episode because I know you needed to hear it.
Kelly Cardenas is taking it upon himself and his team to give the hair industry a complete makeover.
From his work in his salons to his ever expanding educational work both in the US and overseas, he is infusing the industry with excitement and professionalism. His recent expeditions to Chicago, Nashville, San Diego, and Germany have the top industry professionals buzzing about the mark Kelly Cardenas is making on industry.
Kelly’s rock-star status has definitely culminated over the past few years since opening his flagship salon in Las Vegas. With his sights set on opening another 100+ salons in the next 10 years, his legions of fans including John Paul Dejoria, owner of Paul Mitchell, are incredibly excited.
Kelly sees the industry as his blank canvas and the industry professionals are excited for the masterpiece he’ll create.
Download this episode of Redefining Wealth to learn all about how your attitude is more important than your aptitude.
“We have too many people who put on their smart pants and pass up the wisdom that God could give them.”  - Kelly Cardenas
The Cliff Notes:
Success is 98% attitude 2% aptitude.
Many people have knowledge, but not wisdom.
You need to know what to do with the knowledge you obtain.
If you ever wanted something and didn’t get it, that means you didn’t really want it.
You will buy what you need, but you will kill for what you want.
Become a want in every person’s life that you enter.
You need a big enough why that you stay committed to.
Your financial issues are a result of not knowing your true purpose.
Purpose is what sets your priorities.
Find your vibe manipulator to help you get through your day.
All you need is to bring value and have impact.
You can’t control the how, so don’t focus on that.
Take the back seat when Jesus takes the wheel of life.
If you’ve been incarcerated, you have the DNA to be successful at anything.
Money is important, but it’s not everything.
“When you focus on the why, the what will inevitably be yours.”  - Kelly Cardenas

Tim Storey: Resilience is Your Birthright

“Just because you’re in a drama, that doesn’t mean you have to be dramatic.” - Tim Storey
I wanted to mix things up this week. I feel like I tend to cater to the women in business (I wonder why :) ). Given that this weekend is Father’s Day, I’m going to dive into some topics that will help the men listening. And women, be sure to share this with any man you care about in your life.
In today’s society, men are forgetting how to “man up” and take responsibility in the midst of life’s turmoil. The world is changing constantly, and it’s easy to feel like our world has been flipped upside down, but we don’t get to sit in that.
Instead of giving up, and falling into a victim mentality, it’s time to find the power. Understand things aren’t happening to you, they are happening for you.
It’s time for you to make a comeback and that doesn’t mean a go back.
It’s hard, but we always need to move forward, learn from all of our experiences and realize we are a stronger person because of them.
To dive further into this, I was finally able to bring you a very special guest that’s nearly impossible to nail down: Tim Storey.
Tim is always on the move, in fact he’s been to over 75 countries and often meets privately and counsels high-profile leaders in various industries.
He is an acclaimed author, speaker, life coach and my personal friend. Tim Storey is well known for inspiring and motivating people of all walks of life, from entertainment to executives, celebrities and athletes, to adults and children in the most deprived neighborhoods in the country.
Download this episode of Redefining Wealth to learn how you can make your comeback.
“A comeback is not a goback.” - Tim Storey
The Cliff Notes:
Men need to man up and take responsibility for their lives even in the pain of the drama.
Problems are part of the process.
You can work out your problems with dignity.
Sometimes religion can make you live in the guilt and shame of your past.
You don’t have to be a religious person to be in relationship.
You don’t have to look far for how you should be.
A pioneer makes a way where there was no way before.
Everyone is currently going through recovery and discovery.
The word “behold” means look up and pay attention.
Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.
When you’re feeling good, you go plural.
When you aren’t feeling good, you go singular.
Money, when used the right way, gives you leverage.
“I don’t chase dreams, I cooperate with what heaven has already said.” - Tim Storey

Faith Cannot Be Your Financial Crutch

“We don’t have the time to be irresponsible with our finances.”
There’s one thing that truly breaks my heart - and that’s when people use their faith as a crutch.
I’m going to get real with you today, and it may turn you off. That’s ok. Maybe you’re not ready to hear this, but I know a lot of people listening are.
You need to stop relying solely on your beliefs to get you out of your financial problems as if you have no power to do better.
If you dig yourself into a hole, that’s your responsibility - not God’s.
The Lord helps those who help themselves.
I’m not saying God won’t help you at all, but I am saying you can’t expect a pile of money to fall from the sky and suddenly all of your financial burdens will be over.
Right now, I’m reminded of a joke I heard before:
There was a flood, and a woman got caught up in it. As the waters pushed her down a river bank, she was able to grab onto a tree and use all her might to keep from being dragged along.
She prayed to the Lord, “Jesus, please save me. I don’t want to die here today.” She was overwhelmed with a spiritual feeling and knew that Jesus would come save her.
After a few moments a helicopter came and flew up to her.
She told them to go away and said “I don’t need your help. Jesus is going to save me!”
The helicopter left, and eventually the woman lost her strength. The water took her away and she drowned.
When she got up to heaven she sees Jesus, and asked him, “Jesus, why didn’t you save me?”
Jesus looked at her and said, “I sent you a helicopter. What more did you want?”
The point is that if God does send you a miracle, it may be in the form of fellow man. That means you should always seek out guidance and help from others.
Don’t wait until you’re drowning in your finances to seek help. Never be afraid to find a financial advisor.
And if you are starting to drown, grab that help right now.
In the end, it’s only you who can change your financial situation. God gave you the free will to be in charge of your own numbers.
Do you want to make him proud?
On this episode of the Redefining Wealth Podcast, I wanted to dive into the importance of self accountability and your personal finances. So download this episode today to learn how you can stop using your faith as a crutch, and be a better steward of your finances.
“You are the CEO of your life.”
3 Ways You Can Take Control of Your Finances
Know Your Numbers
Accept Help When Needed
Nurture What You Do Know
The Cliff Notes:
People are not always ready to hear certain information.
Faith can be interpreted to glorify being broke.
There is a personal responsibility that comes with personal finance.
Anything used as a temporary, and oftentimes inappropriate support or substitute is a crutch.
Plenty of able bodied people use faith as a financial crutch.
It’s an insult to spend money you don’t have, then pray for your bills to be paid.
You have to know what goes in and what comes out.
Open your Excel sheet, don’t call on the Lord!
Praying doesn’t mean set it and forget it.
Miracles can come from man.
It’s our responsibility to give God something to bless.
Don’t be afraid to sit down with professionals and bare it all.
It’s never too soon to get a financial advisor.
Who do you need on your team right now?
All of the things that you don’t know about money are just stories you’ve told yourself.
Change the way you speak, and it will change your life.
Do NOT let your faith be a crutch.
Give God something to bless.
“Wake up every day with the feeling that you are ready, willing, and able to manage your money.”

Charreah Jackson: Go Hard AND Go Home

“Being willing to give up something good for something great requires trust that something better is always coming”
There’s a common misconception in our society, especially with women, that you have to choose between your work or a relationship.
There are women who report being passed up for a job that required travel because it was assumed that that wouldn’t be appropriate for her marriage. There are other women who despite outperforming their counterparts are axed during mandatory lay-offs because big engagement rings signaled they would be okay.
It’s crazy to think of what we go through as women. This whole ring thing can get complicated. A big ring can earn you respect in the workplace or it can also be your downfall.
My guest today is on a mission to prove that it is possible to overcome these stereotypes. You can do so by treating yourself the way you want to be treated.
Let people know you are a person of power, by respecting yourself. When you respect your time, others will learn to respect it, as well.
And this lesson goes both ways, in both your personal and business life.
Take the time to treat your personal life like a business. Schedule things you love, and block off time for it like you would any business meeting.
Just like you wouldn’t be late for a lunch appointment with a big client, don’t be late for your dinner appointment with your spouse.
This will not only help you achieve harmony in your work and business life, but it’ll make you more productive and present in both.
If you know you can’t work late, you’re going to work harder during the day to make sure you meet all of your deadlines. At the same time, by scheduling time for those around you and treating it like you would a business meeting you’re going to appreciate the time and be more present.
To dive more into this, I interviewed author of the new book Boss Bride (and one of my good girlfriends) Charreah K. Jackson.
Charreach is an international speaker, coach and ESSENCE Senior Editor, empowering the brand's global audience of 13 million. Her informed point-of-view has been featured on CNN, The CW, ABC News, Fortune and TIME.
This is an episode any woman in business NEEDS to listen to, so download it now.
“Life doesn’t have to be ‘either/or.’ Always give yourself the option of ‘AND’.”
The Cliff Notes:
Anyone at any age can be a boss bride.
Make vows for you to be the woman that you want to be.
You are judged based on your relationship status at work.
Life doesn’t have to full of “ORs.” Always give yourself the option of an ‘AND.’
After you go hard, you have to go home.
It’s making informed choices that give you life by looking inside first, then out.
Look for signs you aren’t taking care of yourself with the SOSelfcare signs.
Your personal life won’t take care of itself - you need to plan it out just as much as your business life.
I was tired of giving my leftovers to the things I love most.
Every woman you see who is really powerful, makes sure that her “NO!” and “WHY” are strong.
Our expansion often comes with an exit.
Love is not a passive thing.
You have to treat yourself the way you want others to treat you.
Our dreams live outside of our comfort zone.
“One of the best gifts you can give yourself is to honor how sacred and special your time is.”

Vision Doesn’t Need Validation

“If God gave you the vision, he’ll give you the provision.”
Have you ever had an idea or a dream that you thought was so great, you couldn’t keep it off your mind? Then you went to share it with someone you really care about, and they didn’t see what you see?
Did it crush you? Make you doubt yourself? Stop your vision right in its tracks?
I know you’ve been there. We all have.
But you can’t let other people hold you back from your vision. It’s YOUR vision, not theirs. You can’t expect others to support everything you do.
And you can’t expect to live your life by pleasing others. If I lived my life the way my father saw it, I would be a lawyer right now. Maybe successfully, but I highly doubt fulfilled.
I respect those who do that kind of work, but that’s not me.
Live life for you, because it’s your life.
If you feel like you’re being pulled toward something. If it’s all you can think about, and you feel excited to do it when you wake up in the morning - that’s all you need.
The only confirmation and validation you need comes from within you.
I understand you can’t do it alone, and you will need coaches or mentors to help. So surround yourself with people who do support your vision, but accept that not everyone will.
It’s ok. They have their own vision, and it probably doesn’t align with yours.
On this episode of the Redefining Wealth Podcast, I wanted to dive further into why you don’t need validation from others.
There are plenty of great people who didn’t get validation. In fact, the greatest people often were shot down early on in their careers.
And what made them great is that they didn’t stop. They pushed forward with their vision, because they knew the world needed it despite the naysayers.
So download this episode to learn how you can let go of that need for validation, and chase your purpose with the support of the only person that matters - you.
“People know when they are not capable of going with you to the next level.” - Marshawn Evans
The Cliff Notes:
Validation is for parking, not dreams.
Don’t let other people add fire to your fears.
The responsibility to carry a vision relies on you and you alone.
It’s hard to explain an empire state of mind to someone with an employee state of mind.
You can’t expect everyone to see and cheer on your vision.
If you feel called to do it, your calling is your confirmation.
Some people let their fears get in the way of your dreams.
You can’t expect other people to have the capacity to hold your vision for you.
Most people can barely hold on to their own vision.
If everyone around you had the same vision, there would be too much competition.
When someone disagrees with your vision, thank them for sharing and move on to new resources.
All ideas need some work, so be flexible.
Give yourself permission to let go of any validation you think you needed.
“You can not spend your life trying to fit into someone else’s expectations.”

Debt Will Determine Your Destiny

“Debt will force you to make choices rooted in fear as opposed to faith.”
As many of you know, I have been traveling around the country speaking. My favorite part is using the opportunity to meet and speak to every single person who attends a session with me.
I love hearing what you take away, and what is really important to you.
That’s why I decided to make this episode, continuing last week’s discussion on accountability. Chances are you need to take more accountability about the debt in your life.
Many people have myths about debt that are hindering them from reaching their greatest goals. In the end, these myths are preventing them walking into their destiny.
I want you to understand the role of debt in your life. Really understand how it’s holding you back from fulfilling your true purpose.
When your decisions about where you work, who you work for, where you live, what you eat, and everything else is decided by how much money you have to put towards your debt each month - you’re not really free.
In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Your debt is limiting your ability to choose.
You won’t be able to live the life you want as long as you have debt.
And let me make it clear, all debt is bad. Even debt you are leveraging to own things like a house is still bad because thinking that they’re good will never motivate you to get out of debt.
Download this episode today to hear why you need to handle your debt, and what you can do about it to be able to live your life in choice.
3 Myths About Debt:
Debt is not stopping me from anything.
I have good debt.
Everyone has debt.
“Your Attitude about anything will determine your success with it.”
The Cliff Notes:
When you become your best self, money is a byproduct.
There are many myths about debt.
Don’t let debt stop you from living the life you truly desire.
When you are burdened by debt it takes away your freedom to choose.
Anything you accept as ok, you are going to allow to persist.
A lot of people fill their void by getting more stuff, adding to their debt.
If every decision you make is about paying off debt, you’re chasing money.
There is no such thing as good debt.
It should always be your goal to be debt free so you can have more choices.
Credit scores only matter if you plan on having debt.
Just because everyone has debt, doesn’t mean you need to as well.
“Rationalizing is how we ration out lies.”