HAVE YOU HAD THESE TOUGH MONEY CONVERSATIONS?
For many of us, money is a source of great anxiety. Maybe you’re scared of losing it, afraid you’ll make too much of it, fearful it will sabotage your relationships, or concerned about something else entirely. The list goes on and on.
The good news is, worrying about money is totally normal, and it’s something we can all fix with the right mindset, tools, and having the right conversations with the people around us.
I’ll be honest, I remember when money used to scare me to death. It wasn’t until I began surrounding myself with money-minded mentors and started becoming comfortable talking about money that the anxiety went away. I know the same can happen to you.
My guest today will teach us how we can all get there! His name is Anthony O’Neal, and I’m pumped to have him on the show. We discuss everything from the negative beliefs we need to change regarding money, how to develop a vision for yourself for your life and future, and the tough financial conversations we need to have with our partners to make sure we’re a good fit. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
Who Is Anthony O’Neal?
A #1 national bestselling author, Anthony O’Neal has helped over 250,000 people set out on a path toward a debt-free life with his chart-topping book, Debt-Free Degree. He’s also reached over 15 million people in 15 different countries through his podcast The Table, where he always keeps it honest, relevant, and relatable.
Apart from teaching others how to obtain mental, spiritual, and financial freedom, Anthony’s mission is to help singles maximize their single season with both intention and grace. When he’s not interviewing experts and thought-leaders on his popular Youtube channel, you can find Anthony golfing or on an adventure with his beautiful all-black German Shepherd, Rhaven.
Anthony is a true expert in gaining clarity on life’s vision and legacy. I’m ecstatic to share his financial wisdom with you all!
The Secret to Wealth: It All Starts From the Core
Have you ever wondered about the secret to being wealthy? Do you think it’s all about having a good job that pays well or maybe receiving a massive inheritance from your parents? It may be true for some, but for Anthony, it’s different.
Before becoming the success he is today, Anthony was like many of us — struggling from one paycheck to the next. He was once even homeless — that’s when he realized something that would change his life forever.
“Maybe about 12, 13 years ago, I was sleeping in the back of my car off of Highway 76 here in Oceanside, California. I was homeless. I was washing myself in the backseat of the car. Then, I saw myself with soap suds from the top of my neck all the way down. I looked at my reflection, and I started crying. I realized I was tired of living the life I was living. I said, ‘There has to be something better for me, something bigger.’ It was at that time I started looking for: What is my purpose? Why am I here? Who do I need to be?” – Anthony O’Neal
From there, Anthony decided to find mentors. In the process, he eventually found out what his purpose was — teaching what true wealth is to others.
“Growing up, for me, wealth was: What kind of watch do you have? What kind of car do you drive? What kind of house do you live in? How much? But that’s not it. … Wealth is inside us. Wealth is: What are you passing down. So, when I really started seeking for what … my purpose [is] in this life, that’s when I found what true wealth is.” – Anthony O’Neal
How many of us have the same way of thinking that Anthony had before? How many of us consider luxury cars, seven-figure businesses, or mansions as the meaning of wealth? But the truth is, wealth is about everything to do with who we are inside our core.
I would like everyone to take a minute and reflect. What is your assignment? What were you born to do? What’s your purpose? When you really know the answer to that, you can start changing your habits and moving forward to create the wealth you always wanted.
How to Develop a Vision for Your Life and Future
Once you know your life’s purpose, you might wonder what the next step is. In my conversation with Anthony, he gave me a lot of insights that I think can be adapted by anyone who wants to have a more straightforward path in life. There are many, but I’ll just highlight the top takeaways for all of you.
#1: Choose Your Network
Do you believe that the people you spend time with can impact your way of thinking regarding wealth or developing your life’s vision? Anthony believes it is so, and he explains why.
“I have this philosophy that goes by 33%, 33%, 33%. The first 33% refer to people who are talking into you. I think many young people are not building wealth because they don’t have the right people talking into their lives, saying, “Hey, here’s what you need to be doing. Here’s what you should be reading. Here’s what you should invest into.” So if you don’t have the right people talking into your life from wisdom, then nothing is really deposited in you.” – Anthony O’Neal
#2: Mind Your Business
Our minds are powerful. This is particularly true when it comes to creating a vision for your life’s future.
“I told this to everyone, mind your business because your mind is a business.” – Anthony O’Neal
By this, Anthony challenges us to reflect on how we are growing our minds – our number one business. He asks questions like: What podcasts are you listening to? What books are you reading? What are you putting into your mind? Because what we put into our minds comes out.
#3: Align Everything
As Anthony said in our conversation, wealth is not just about money. That’s why it’s also important to consider other things.
“Wealthy people have a vision for their money. …Not only do they have a clear vision, but they also make sure everyone’s connected with them – whether they are dating, married, or have kids. This leads to clear goals and clear daily habits.” – Anthony O’Neal
I agree that having a vision that includes other aspects of your life is crucial to make your dreams happen. Yes, that might sound complex and difficult, but you can start small by writing your goals one by one. With time and patience, you’ll be able to develop one that is a genuine reflection of your life’s purpose.
#4: Have the Proper Mindset
The importance of having a proper mindset can’t be emphasized too much. That’s because sometimes, the fears that we have can cloud our judgment in thinking of what we really want to achieve. As Anthony explains,
“I think a lot of people have made some decisions in the past. Some people are still hurt by history, while some are stuck in what they’ve only been exposed to. So I think there are two things to shift the mindset: One, shift your exposure. You gotta step outside of your comfort zone. … Be comfortable with failure because you’ll learn what you need to do differently every time you fail. … Second, learn to acknowledge your life’s seasons. That’s because you’ll hit a good high, and then boom, something can happen. You gotta learn in that season, because every time a storm comes, the rainbow is next.” – Anthony O’Neal
What Anthony is saying is that going beyond our comfort zones and facing life’s seasons is always a venue for learning lessons. Though these lessons are not easy, what we should all remember is they help us identify our mistakes so we can move to our goals closer. So, if you’re still hesitant to that next step of venturing into an investment or starting up a business you’ve always wanted, that’s totally understandable. But like Anthony’s advice, try to work on your mindset first, so courage can follow.
#5: Ask Yourself a Lot of Questions
Though many of us may not be comfortable with sitting down and being deep in our thoughts, Anthony believes that it’s crucial to know our life’s real vision.
“You really gotta sit down and just ask yourself a lot of questions. What are you passionate about? What do you think your purpose is? Where do you see yourself going?” – Anthony O’ Neal
When we start to ask those questions, we’ll be able to go deep down into our whys — our true purposes. But you might ask, why does it even matter in the first place?
“When you ask yourself that at least five times, you’re gonna really be able to develop a clear vision of, ‘I wanna do this, I wanna do that. I wanna do this by this date because of these particular reasons.’” – Anthony O’ Neal
By doing these five things, I’m confident that you’ll be able to find the clarity you’re looking for. From there, you can take the steps needed to transform your vision into a reality.
Tough Financial Conversations in Finding The Perfect Partner
In making the vision a reality, many of us will meet people who can be potential partners. They can make or break our financial goals, so, as Anthony advises, it’s essential to know their beliefs about money as early as possible. But how can this be done? Anthony suggests asking them tough financial questions,
“Ask them about the conversations they had about money growing up, like what their parents taught them about money. What are their thoughts around ownership and debts? Also, ask them a fun question like: You have a million dollars right now, what are you doing with it? Lastly, ask them: What do they value most in life? … We need a partner that we are aligned[with] … and who [has] our back.” – Anthony O’ Neal
By asking these questions and having conversations, Anthony believes that you’ll get an accurate understanding of the other person and how they will think as you proceed with the relationship. So, if you’re currently dating someone, why not ask these questions and see if the two of you are a good match?
Why You Should Listen to This Anthony O’ Neal Podcast Episode Right Now…
Guys, I’m genuinely grateful that Anthony took some time to share his expertise on this topic. I have to say that this interview offered refreshing perspectives on how we can all reshape our beliefs when it comes to money, relationships, and our futures!
Anthony’s wisdom is reflected by his own definition of greatness,
“Greatness, for me, is when you put everything into your journey. … As long as you gave it your all, as long as you gave it your best effort, that’s greatness.” – Anthony O’ Neal
What Anthony shared with us today is only a part of what he has to offer. So, if you’re interested to know more about his work, follow him over on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also go to his website to check out his new course, The Singles Blueprint: Eight Pillars To Maximize Your Single Season, Gain Clarity on your Life’s Vision and Start Building your Legacy Right Now. If you’re single and don’t want to waste energy and effort dating the wrong people, this is the perfect course, so be sure to catch it soon!
I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and that it inspired you on your journey toward greatness. If it did, make sure to tag Anthony, @anthonyoneal, and me, @lewishowes, on Instagram along with what you liked best about this episode. Subscribe over on the Apple Podcast as well. I really love hearing feedback from you guys!
If you’re ready to overcome any fears or anxiety you have about money, learn how to know if you and your partner are a match when it comes to finances, and so much more, then don’t miss Episode 1,222 of The School of Greatness!
To Greatness,
Some Questions I Ask:
- How do you find your purpose?
- How long does it usually take for someone to become a millionaire?
- What are the conversations you should be having with your children about money and how early should you start?
- How important is choosing the right life-partner?
- What should someone do if they want to date someone that happens to be in debt?
- What are your thoughts on joint bank accounts or prenups?
In this episode, you will learn:
- The negative beliefs about money you should stop having.
- The habits you need to form to make more money.
- How to develop a vision for yourself.
- The hard conversations to have with your partner around money to make sure they’re the right fit.
- Plus much more…
Show Notes:
- Get Anthony’s new course: https://waitlist.anthonyoneal.com/
Transcript of this Episode
Music Credits:
MUSIC CREDIT
Kaibu by Killercats
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