Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Cole

Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My financial journey started at the end of my college years. College left me saddled with $55,000 in student loans that I had no hope of paying back. I didn’t want to stay hopeless, so I decided to do something about it. My first job after graduation paid me a $35,000 salary, but I knew I was worth more. One day, I decided it was time to receive it. It seemed like a crazy ask – a $20,000 bump in pay.

I wasn’t a typical college undergrad, though. I had some full-time work experience before I received my degree, so I leaned into that. The $20,000 I was asking for was in line with my years of expertise, even if I had been out of the market a couple of years to finish school.

Often, we find it easier to talk ourselves out of the work required to effect positive change than to simply do the work since it makes us uncomfortable. Work, like asking my boss for a $20,000 increase. If I shied away from that moment, I would have continued to be in the same position I had always been in. I could barely afford to set aside any monthly savings, and that student loan debt kept increasing through interest.

I asked myself what was harder to live with – maintaining my sad reality or wading through uncomfortable conversation to get the result I needed to get above water. Long story short, I got the raise. It was only $9,000 but that bump put me in a better financial position. I used that win as momentum and haven’t stopped ever since.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The road to lifestyle freedom will be anything but smooth. In fact, if it’s smooth, then you must be rich. Money rich. For the rest of us, we need lifestyle freedom to get by. Lifestyle freedom is about using a money plan to accomplish your goals, starting with where you are financially right now.

My goals were to build a savings fund, slay my debt, travel globally every year, and have a bit of money for things like going to the movies and enjoying a play. I struggled every year, but I also won a bit more each year. Just like the saying goes for working out in the gym, “no pain, no gain.”

One of my pains has been fighting for my worth. I’ve had to negotiate several pay increases and starting salaries for new jobs since that first job out of college. I’ve had people look at me as if insane for what I was asking for, or told that I should wait until a certain amount of time has passed before asking for it. Why should I wait for late money for the work I’m doing on time right now?

Another struggle has been healing from my scarcity/poverty mindset. If you grew up without much or have a fear of money running out, you likely have this mindset. I had a negative relationship with money that has become positive through seeing my money work for me, and how much respect I’ve received from colleagues and bosses over my money stances. I’m not fully cured, but I’m no longer as anxious as I once was. I’ve now adopted a growth mindset, knowing that my money will work for me if I train it properly.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

WorthMinded is all about helping women in corporate America and entrepreneurship achieve lifestyle freedom. There are other money coaching programs out there, but they don’t focus on lifestyle freedom. I aim to empower women so that they can use money as a tool to build their dream lives.

That means increasing their net worth on autopilot and also boosting their self-worth in the process. All the worthiness inside them will be uplifted, as it should be. Working is something we all must do to earn money, but what about other areas of life? Should they not be as fulfilled?

One of the things I’m most proud of at WorthMinded is that I was my own first success story. What’s taught in the program are 5 steps that I use year over year to achieve big wins. Some were small at first, but compounded over time to become huge. I paid off $100,000+ of debt, became a homeowner, grew my savings funds to over $30,000, and traveled across 4 continents – all in 6 years.

What matters most to you? Why?

What matters most to me is for women to learn how much autonomy we have. It’s not something that’s openly discussed, and women tend to have less confidence than men in the workplace or self-employment. Throughout our lives, we’ve constantly been told “it’s a man’s world”, so how could we possibly know that we are just as powerful? Not just on a wider scale but individually, where our choices affect us most.

When I realized how much power I held over my life, it was a game-changing moment. That’s why I win even if I lose. Knowing I have the power to course-correct and come back stronger, means defeat isn’t permanent. It would serve women to be more emboldened to ask for more – not just financially but in every area of their life that isn’t in a good place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beworthminded.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthminded/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worthminded