***Go Beyond Financial Literacy, My Story***
Reflecting on my money mindset path, there were many things that influenced my course, but the one thing that really pushed my money mindset to the next level was going beyond financial literacy.
This is a strategy that’s relevant to everyone, but based on my experience—I taught financial literacy for four years— it's especially impactful for Black women. That is because financial literacy is a topic that shows up as remedy to much larger systemic issues that affect Black communities and many low income communities in the US.
Now, let’s dive in.
Not too long ago, I was doing all the “right” things:
Budgeting
Tracking spending
Living within my means
Avoiding credit card debt
Monitoring my FICO score like clockwork
Besties with Experian and Equifax
All of that falls under the umbrella of financial literacy.
At the same time, I was doing everything I could to stay "in line." I was paying off debt, keeping expenses low, and basically playing small. And while I was succeeding at that game, I realized... it wasn’t moving me forward the way I wanted.
It wasn’t helping me build wealth.
It wasn’t helping me think bigger.
It wasn’t shifting my mindset.
And that's the issue with a lot of financial literacy programs—especially ones like Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. They teach you to work multiple jobs, hustle nonstop, and reduce spending in every way possible.
I’ve heard folks say:
“I have a master's degree, and I also drive Uber, and I work at Burger King, and I pick up side gigs…”
And listen, there’s nothing wrong with making ends meet. But my question is:
For those who can: Why aren’t you maximizing the skills you already have?
Why not earn more doing what you’re already trained to do?
That shift—from shrinking to earning—was the game changer for me.
The one thing that truly helped me take my money mindset to the next level was this:
I stopped obsessing over how little I could spend…
…and started focusing on how much I could earn.
I got serious about increasing my income. I followed a step-by-step method. And as a result, I landed my first six-figure job—the highest income I’d ever earned in my career.
And that? That changed everything.
Since then, out of four years of work there was only one year that I earned less than six figures and that was because I was completing my internship. Graduate studies often mandate underearning, but that’s a different blog post.
It flipped the whole financial literacy game on its head.
So here’s my challenge for you this week:
Even if it’s just for one or two days, track your income—and then intentionally work to increase it.
If you're in private practice, you have the flexibility to do this right now. I'm not saying pick up another job, or hustle harder, or start consulting. I’m saying:
💡 Charge a bit more.
💡 Raise your fees.
💡 Value the training and expertise you already bring to the table.
That alone can make a massive difference.
I used to teach financial literacy for years. And while that work is valuable, it didn’t get me where I wanted to go. It kept me focused on the small stuff. On staying inside a box. On trimming every corner of my life.
And that’s part of why financial literacy is so heavily pushed in certain communities—it keeps people small. It teaches discipline, yes, but not always abundance. Not expansion. Not earning power.
So I want you to try this shift for yourself and let me know how it feels. DM me, PM me—whatever works—and tell me:
What was it like to focus on earning more instead of cutting back?
Did something shift for you when you gave yourself permission to expand?
I’d love to hear about it.