Worth It

How often do you hear an entrepreneur or business owner say “I made 7 figures last year”, and you assumed that meant they took home 7 figures? We’re here to break it to you real nice: 7 figures in revenue is not the same thing as 7 figures in profit. You want to aim for the stars when it comes to both your revenue and your profit, but it’s also important to know the difference so you can properly plan and leverage your business’s money for long-term growth and stability. Interested in how to do that? Listen in on Episode 90.   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN [01:02] The definition of revenue [01:09] The definition of profit [01:24] What’s really going on when people say they make 6 figures in their business [02:37] The “Ritz Carlton” difference and what it means for your brand [06:20] The value of sacrificing short-term profit for the long-term  [07:22] Deciding which is more important in your biz: profit or revenue [07:49] Why increasing revenue is much more valuable than cutting costs [08:07] The parallel

When you’re an entrepreneur, it’s hard to separate work from life. When you’ve built a business (or multiple businesses) from the ground up, it can be even harder. After all, you have big dreams. Maybe you want to scale that biz, hit 7 figures (or 10 figures, you do you!), and work remotely while building your empire. Whatever your vision for your business looks like, odds are that vision also bleeds into your life. It becomes “When I hit 7 figures, I’ll buy myself that Tesla,” or “I want to live in New York so I can build more contacts for my business.” All of this sounds a-freakin-mazing, and we’re totally here for it, but we want to make sure you’re not just tying your life vision to your business vision. They should still be separate, at least somewhat. If you’re wondering if you have tied your life vision to your business vision (or you know you totally have), this episode will give you some tips on how to separate the two, and a few resources you can use to get clear on what your visions for life and wo

As entrepreneurs and business owners, money is a huge part of our everyday lives — from the few bucks we spend on that morning latte to our home expenses and how we use it to invest in new hires for our business. We all have a different experience with money, and most of us have different “money styles” than our loved ones or business partners. Why is that? Well, we think it’s because most people boil down to one “type”: a Spender or a Saver. Now, we know this is a generalization and that we all have a little Spender and a little Saver in us. However, we think that, in general, people lean more one way or the other. We also think that your “type” dictates a lot about how you work with others, whether it’s a spouse or a business partner. Do you know which type you are? Listen to this episode of Worth It and read on to identify your “type” and to get some tips for how to work with your type (and your partners who may be the opposite).  WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  [01:43] The spending styles of Dustin and Danielle (

Do you feel like a total baller because you make a bunch of money each month? Are you living high on the hog because your business is making 6 or even 7 figures? That’s great! Hats off to you. But… we’re here to burst your bubble a little.  While you may be making a really great monthly or yearly income, and you are totally killin’ it at what you do, income is not the same as wealth. Income is literally what is coming in each month from your work or revenue streams. But wealth is the “abundance of valuable financial assets or physical possessions which can be converted into a form that can be used for transactions.” Basically, they’re what you already have that you can use to get by — and thrive. So, this episode, we’re getting into why income is not wealth and how you can actually start building true wealth so you can feel really rich. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  00:48 The perfect example of a business owner who relied on income, not wealth 03:20 What happens when people hit the 6- or 7-figure mark 03:45 What “wealth

If you’ve been in the entrepreneurial space for more than a hot minute, you probably know Charlie Gilkey. He started out with a blog, but now he is the creator of Productive Flourishing, a podcast and a site that helps people do the work that matters so they can become their best selves. Believe it or not, we nabbed Charlie as a guest on Worth It, and we’re really excited to share this interview with you. So, let’s get to it. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  00:40 Who Charlie Gilkey is — and why we’re so excited to chat with him! 01:40 Charlie’s background as an Army logistics officer 03:23 How he took his first blog to a full-on business and podcast 03:43 Why his new book, Start Finishing, is different from other productivity books out there 04:46 Charlie’s view of the “bro” productivity literature that currently exists 06:19 Why our focus on work (rather than our lives) is a crisis of priority 07:40 The hamster wheel so many of us find ourselves on 09:15 Why money is an instrument, not the end goal 11:10 What happens whe

Do you think about saving money and instantly feel guilty and/or defensive about your lack of savings right now? You are so not alone. And while we’re here to tell you a bit about how much you should be saving, we spend some time in this episode of Worth It talking about why you should be saving. We hope it gets you fired up and ready to save, so let’s dive in.   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  [02:20 How Dustin managed to build wealth through savings… even during the 2008 financial crisis [07:45 What Warren Buffet says is the hardest skill to craft [09:35 Why you can still have luxury taste and save for the long-term (if you make the money) [11:00 Using windfalls to build up future wealth [11:40 How to leverage market ups and downs to build wealth [13:30 Why you shouldn’t wait for the market to drop to start investing  [16:00 The importance of saving more for a work-optional lifestyle [00:30 How to shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance [03:15 The difference between splurging and celebrating

We hear it all the time: “I feel like I’m not actually an adult because I have debt. And debt is bad!” Do you resonate with that? Well… we’re here to tell you a few things about debt that just might blow your freakin’ mind. Check out the fourth installment of our #Adulting 101 series about *drum roll please* debt repayment. How much should you be paying to debt? You’ll probably be surprised. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 02:19 What people sacrifice for the sake of paying down debt 03:20Generational fear and hatred of debt 03:46 Dustin’s chart that “explains everything” 05:00 Why the truth is that not all debt is bad — and why not all debt should be treated equally. 07:42 Why you should treat interest rates like a game 08:26 The definition of interest  09:09 The good, the bad, the ugly debt 10:56 At what percentage you should start focusing your debt repayment 11:26 What Dustin thinks is “horrifying” 12:58 How much should we be paying off our debt? 13:29 How to shift your savings goals around to pay off high interest debt

You’ve heard us talk about housing. You’ve heard us talk about transportation. Now, we’re talking about life. Not like the heavy “What is life?” stuff… just the money side of it. Do you know how much you spend on “life,” i.e. dining out, clothing, Netflix and chill sessions, vacations, etc.? Do you ever wonder if you should really be spending that much money on yourself? You’re not alone. That’s why, on this episode of Worth It, we’re talking about the “life” category of your spending: how much you should be spending… and how much you should be saving.    WHAT YOU’LL LEARN [00:41] What is included in the “life” category of your expenses [03:41] Why it’s so easy to spend more as you earn more  [05:20 The concept of business longevity  [06:42] What’s happening in our generation when it comes to saving/spending [07:36] What the Law of Attraction has to do with your finances [09:18] How abundance and scarcity mindset affects your “life” spending [10:23] The risk of “abundance mindset” as it relates

Is it time to buy a new car? Are you wondering what you should be spending (or not spending) on your new wheels? We know that it’s tempting to buy the newest model hot off the lot, but this week’s episode offers some guidance on what to consider when it’s time to buy a car, how much you should spend, and what to look out for in your payments.    WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 5:20 The role luxury and status have in our purchase decisions 7:45 Why it’s important to consider why you’re buying a car 8:15 Why buying luxury car is not a problem — as long as you can afford it 10:00 Things to keep in mind with a car purchase, including additional costs 12:05 The risks of unexpected maintenance  13:50 How to break down the true cost of a vehicle 15:05 Deciding if you even need a car 15:25 What percent of income should be allocated to transportation, but only if you’re saving enough money 16:20 How everyone’s values will affect how they spend on transportation 18:25 How to pick a car that aligns with your values 23:45 What to do i

#Adulting: how many times have you seen that hashtag, or even said it aloud? We’re sure it makes older generations roll their eyes, but that’s alright. We know that adulting can feel hard, but we don’t think it has to be that way. That’s why we’re committing this little mini-series to all of you out there trying to “adult.” And as part of our #Adulting 101 Series, we’re diving straight into the deep-end, talking about housing.   BUYING A HOUSE — EEEK! Just thinking about buying a home can make a Millennial break out in sweats — or at least, that’s how the media makes it sound. But we know better. We know that student loan debt, ridiculous living expenses, and job insecurity all play a role in someone’s ability (and interest) in buying a house. But beyond that, we think that sometimes people just don’t have the resources they need to pull off possibly the biggest #Adulting trick: buying a house. If you’re in a place where the thought of buying a house has crossed your mind, or you’re wondering when in the worl

When it comes to entrepreneurship, we hear a lot about how y’all want to do good and give back. And we’ve talked about that before, from donating cash to creating private foundations to creating socially minded business. Today, we’re talking to an entrepreneur who has built a business designed around the concept of social good and we think you’re gonna love it.  Listeners, meet Stephanie Hepburn of Good Cloth.  This episode is really eye-opening, both from an entrepreneurial standpoint and from a consumer standpoint. We already know you’re gonna learn a lot, so make sure to listen along.   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  05:03 What purchasing power has to do with preventing human trafficking 07:21 How reader feedback led Stephanie into retail  09:43 Why Stephanie was resistant to B-Corp status at first  10:14 The importance of being honest about how you do business 12:02 The misconceptions of sustainable clothing 15:40 The spectrum of sustainable or socially minded businesses 16:58 Why Stephanie decided B-Co

Are you about to marry a small business owner or entrepreneur? Are you in a committed relationship with one? Whether you or your partner have a side-hustle-turned-income-stream or are building a budding small business, there are bound to be questions about finances. After all, how can you make it work with possibly variable income, and what will you do if

**Summer Replay: Here is one of our favorite episodes we are re-releasing with a new introduction. Stay tuned for all new episodes coming later this summer** On this episode of Worth It, Dustin R. Granger, CFPⓇ and I interview Jesse Patel, the cofounder of Workflowy, the fastest, most flexible list maker on the planet and one of our absolute favorite tools for business and at home. We discuss how this simple, but powerful tool has changed our lives and his. We dig into his journey from working a typical 9-5 job, to joining an incubator, to creating  the ultimate list-making program, where you can shift focus from the big picture to minute details in a fluid fashion. So take a pause from your to-do list and listen to our interview with the creator of the ultimate to-do list app!   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN [2:34] The journey behind the creation of WorkFlowy: from idea to incubator to success [16:41] How the app appeals to people on both ends of the organization spectrum [27:54] What are the changes and goals d

**Summer Replay: Here is one of our favorite episodes we are re-releasing with a new introduction. Stay tuned for all new episodes coming later this summer** Managing your money is a little bit like going camping or hiking. You spend a lot of time preparing and packing for the journey and then you’re off, ready to see where the road takes you. But what happens when you forget your map? And what happens when you don’t plan out where you’re going? Starting off without a direction can feel exciting, but it can also prevent you from seeing (and doing) everything you want. The same goes for your money. If you don’t have a direction for your money, you may feel like it’s not enough, or that you’re not able to reach your goals. But your money can help you do all those things… it just needs a little direction. Listen to this episode to learn why your money needs direction and how to do it. Here’s what you’ll learn 0:48 The importance of a roadmap when it comes to using your money successfully 5:47 Why Dustin doesn’t

**Summer Replay: Here is one of our favorite episodes we are re-releasing with a new introduction. Stay tuned for all new episodes coming later this summer** The most liquid asset is cash, but what about other assets? And what does liquidity mean? On the Worth It podcast, we dive deep on what liquidity is (and is not) and what it can do for your finances. --- Which is easier to drink when you’re thirsty: a block of ice or cold water straight from the tap? The tap water, right? It makes sense in this context, but many people — especially business owners — have a hard time understanding how this applies to their assets. Liquid assets are the kind of assets that are easy to buy and sell without affecting the asset’s price. This means that you, whether as an individual or as a business, can easily liquidate (sell) assets without worrying about delays in time or decreases in value. Think of the difference between selling some stock and selling a house; the stock has a very clear value assigned to it and you can se

**Summer Replay: Here is one of our favorite episodes we are re-releasing with a new introduction. Stay tuned for all new episodes coming later this summer** Are you guilty of holding on to things just a little too long? We’re not just talking about those jeans from high school — we’re talking about the big stuff: Jobs, negative relationships, and even other people’s expectations of you. Maybe even your expectations of yourself. We all want to level up in some way, whether that means taking on a side hustle so you can build your empire, hiring on an assistant, or finally getting coaching for that big scary dream you’ve got. But we’ve all got baggage that just keeps weighing us down. The good news is: you can let it go. And we are gonna help you figure out how in this episode of Worth It (we promise, there is no Frozen sing-a-long in this episode). What you’ll learn about letting go 6:07 All the different ways people choose to level up in their lives. 7:04  That you’re definitely not alone in feeling scared a

If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, you may already feel like the boss of your money. After all, you’re pretty much solely responsible for what goes in and what comes out, right? But as many entrepreneurs and biz owners know, that can also lead to a lot of stress. In many cases, taxes aren’t withheld, revenue can vary from month-to-month, and it always seems like there’s a new bill to pay. So how do you feel like you’re REALLY the boss of your money, rather than holding on to money for a while before it goes out the door again? That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Worth It. In it, we explain what business owners and entrepreneurs need to pay attention to in regards to their money and income, and what they can do to gain control.  WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 00:51 What symphonies and maestros have in common with your money 01:05 Why taking control of your money will help you personally and professionally 02:05 A cautionary tale of what can happen when you don’t tell your money what to do 03:02 The

On today’s episode of Worth It, we’re talking to Marc Champagne, the co-founder of Kyō App, (pronounced KEY-OH). His app, which blends journaling, mindfulness, and what Marc calls “mental fitness,” offers a place for smartphone users to write down their thoughts, access journaling prompts and mindfulness resources, and build a routine of self-awareness and self-care. The discussion ranges from Marc’s background in Big Pharma, the importance of a daily routine, to handling money stress. We had a lot of fun talking to Marc and really appreciate his insights. Check this episode out if you want to take back your smartphone use, build a daily practice that makes you feel good, and understand your thoughts and emotions better. What you’ll learn 04:24 Why daily practices aren’t just for “zen” people 06:42 How a simple prompt on the Kyo App can help you set an intention for the day  11:42 The definition of mental fitness 14:55 Finding ways to fit a daily routine into your life for better mental health 17:30 How to re

If there’s one thing we know about today’s business owners and entrepreneurs, it’s that they’re breaking the mold. They’re not doing business like previous generations, and they’re using their money, products, and services to make the world a better place. That translates into more than just how they make their money; it bleeds into how they invest, as well. More and more Millennials, Gen Z’ers, and even Baby Boomers are choosing to invest in socially responsible businesses and to be “selective” with the mutual funds and stocks they choose to put their money into. We also see this in our own financial planning practice, where more and more of our clients want to know how they can invest in businesses that aren’t “evil” or trashing the planet. In today’s episode of Worth It, we’re talking all about ESG investing: what it means, what it entails, and how you can grow your wealth with it. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 1:19 Why Millennials are the generation leading the charge on responsible business 2:23 What ESG stands for

When you think about legacy, do you think about inheritances or a last will and testament? Of course, those are all parts of planning a legacy, but we know that what you leave behind goes far beyond money and paperwork. Instead, we want to talk about the real legacy — the stuff that made you so special to the people you’ll leave behind. For some, this may seem like a morbid topic or one that’s slightly depressing. But we think this episode of Worth It is important for two reasons: You should be planning your legacy. It can’t wait. You should be talking about death, because it makes life that much sweeter. But enough of that. Let’s dig into what we talked about on this week’s episode.   WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT 00:48 Why thinking about a legacy isn’t just for old people 01:24 Why talking about death isn’t morbid 04:49 How Game of Thrones is connected to your legacy 07:42 The ways what you leave behind affects others 09:00 What kind of legacy do you want to leave? 12:27 Why you should think about how you want to