How My Net Worth Grew By $17k While My Income Dropped
In February, I left my job to build Flow State Financials full-time. It was terrifying…losing the steady paycheck to chase a dream, with no guarantee of immediate income replacement.
But today, when I ran my Q2 numbers, I noticed something incredible: My net worth had grown by $17,000.
My net worth grew while my active income dropped significantly.
This is the story I want to share with you today…not to brag about my financial wins, but to illustrate something crucial about how real financial security works.
The Plot Twist: Income Isn't Everything
We're conditioned to think that financial growth requires income growth. More money in = more wealth, right?
But here's what actually happened during my first five months of entrepreneurship:
My monthly income dropped a lot
I was investing heavily in my business (website, marketing, education)
I was spending more than I was earning every month
And my net worth still grew by $17k
The Foundation That Made This Possible
This didn't happen by accident. It happened because of financial foundations I'd been building for years—foundations that continued working even when my income became unpredictable.
1. Investment Portfolio That Works While I Sleep
Long before I left my corporate job, I'd been consistently investing in a diversified portfolio. While I was focused on building my business, my investments were quietly growing in the background.
While I was aware of market cycles and took the initiative to buy a little more than usual during the dip, this practice is mostly passive. I built a system for myself that didn't require my active management or constant income contributions to keep building wealth.
The lesson: Your investments should be working harder than you are.
2. Emergency Fund That Actually Functioned as Intended
I had built up a solid emergency fund that gave me the breathing room to take this leap without panic. This wasn't money sitting idle—it was money strategically positioned to support my goals.
When your emergency fund is robust, you can make aligned decisions without desperation driving your choices. You can invest in your future rather than just surviving paycheck to paycheck.
The lesson: Emergency funds aren't just for catastrophes—they can be for opportunities.
3. Money Habits That Don't Waver
Here's what doesn’t change when my income grows or drops: my fundamental money habits.
I still track every expense. I still make intentional spending decisions. I still prioritize investments when possible. I still operate from a place of abundance rather than scarcity.
When you have strong money habits, they become your financial anchor during uncertain times.
The lesson: Habits matter more than income level.
Redefining Financial Security
This experience has been a reminder that financial security isn't only about your paycheck, it's about your system.
Of course, making money matters. But true financial security comes from building systems that work regardless of your current income level:
Investments that compound over time
Habits that serve you in any financial season
An emergency fund that provides real peace of mind
Spending plans aligned with your actual values
Multiple streams of potential income (even if they're not all active yet)
The Confidence to Make Aligned Choices
Here's the real gift of having strong financial foundations: You can make decisions based on your goals instead of your fears.
When I was considering leaving my job, the decision wasn't driven by desperation or escape. It was driven by alignment and opportunity. I could take this leap because I knew my financial foundation would support me during the transition. I could focus on building something meaningful instead of panicking about immediate income replacement.
This is what I want for every entrepreneur, every dreamer, every person who feels called to something bigger but held back by financial anxiety.
The Ripple Effects
Growing my net worth while building my business has created positive momentum in unexpected ways:
Confidence in client relationships: I'm not desperately chasing every potential client because I'm not operating from financial fear.
Better business decisions: I can invest in quality tools, education, and support because I'm thinking long-term.
Sustainable growth: I'm building a business that aligns with my values rather than one designed just to replace my previous income as quickly as possible.
What You Can Start Today
Whether you're dreaming of leaving your job, starting a business, or just wanting more financial confidence, here are a few foundational steps:
Build Your Investment Habit
Start with whatever amount feels manageable—even $25/month. Consistency matters more than size.
Create Your Safety Net
Work toward 3-6 months of expenses in your emergency fund. This gives you options and reduces financial anxiety.
Align Your Spending
Track where your money actually goes and ask: Does this spending reflect my values? Am I investing in my future self?
Think in Systems, Not Just Goals
Instead of just setting a savings target, build the habits and systems that make saving automatic.
The Real Measure of Financial Success
My net worth growing by $17k during a period of income uncertainty taught me something important: financial success isn't only measured by your current income. It's measured by your financial resilience and your ability to make choices aligned with your values and goals.
When you have strong financial foundations, you can:
Take calculated risks with confidence
Invest in your future without sacrificing your present
Make career decisions based on fulfillment, not just fear
Weather financial storms without losing your direction
Your Financial Foundation Starts Now
If you're feeling inspired but overwhelmed by where to start, you're not alone. Building financial foundations doesn't happen overnight, but it also doesn't require perfection. It requires intention, consistency, and a willingness to think differently about money.
This is exactly why I created the Money & Mindfulness program—to help people build these foundations in a supportive, values-based way. Because everyone deserves the confidence to make aligned choices, regardless of their current financial situation.
Your turn: What decision would you make differently if you had unshakeable financial confidence? What dream would you pursue if money anxiety wasn't holding you back?
The path to financial security isn't only about earning more money (though that's amazing too). It's about building systems that support your values and dreams, regardless of what your current paycheck says.
And that journey can start today.
Ready to build your own financial foundation? Money & Mindfulness enrollment is open! Our founding cohort kicks off on July 21, just $8 for 8 weeks of financial wellness sessions + lifetime community access. We hope to see you inside.