EPISODE SUMMARY A conversation about money conjures up all kinds of feelings. For many of us, they’re not warm and fuzzy feelings. I’m no different. Most of my feelings about money came from family and environmental experiences in my impressionable years. I developed a toxic money mindset that I’d call Money Avoidance. I didn’t want anything to do with it because I believed it would change me like I thought it changed many others.   In Episode 27 of the Focused Photographers Podcast, I share how early experiences with money created some bad habits later in life. Those bad habits led to uncontrollable spending and mountains of debt. I share my journey from the tumultuous moment of staring down mountains of debt and the birth of our first daughter to a transformed, renewed, and healthy perspective on my relationship with money.   In a few highlights of this episode, I share: the small spending mistakes that made a not-so-small impact on my financial situation several big and stupid mistakes I made along the way that put me further behind in the journey to financial independence what my first steps were after the “A-Ha!” moment that put me on the actual journey to financial independence the ONE BOOK that had the most significant impact on the financial health of my business the books that helped me reframe my negative money mindset, pay off debt, and organize my personal finances where I’m at now with my habits and behaviors around money.   If you take anything from the episode, it’s this: Wealth is often hidden. It’s hard to study what’s hidden. Don’t confuse “rich” for “wealth.” Getting wealthy and staying wealthy requires some form of frugality and paranoia that it can all go away in an instant. Success today does not guarantee success tomorrow. The same is said with money.   And finally, JL Collins has my favorite quote about personal finance that is easy to memorize and live by:   Spend less than you earn. Invest the rest. Avoid debt. CONNECT WITH HANK PAUL Website: WWW.DANIELMOYERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Education: WWW.FOCUSEDPHOTOGRAPHERS.COM Wedding Instagram: @DANIELMOYERPHOTO Education Instagram: @GETFOCUSEDPHOTOGRAPHERS LINKS & RESOURCES​ Books that I mentioned in the episode: TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY by Morgan Housel A SIMPLE PATH TO WEALTH by JL Collins YOU ARE A BADASS: HOW TO STOP DOUBTING YOUR GREATNESS AND START LIVING AN AWESOME LIFE by Jen Sincero SUBSCRIBE Thank you for stopping by friend! If you’re enjoying what you’re hearing, subscribe in Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss an episode! ? SUBSCRIBE IN APPLE PODCASTS SUBSCRIBE IN SPOTIFY REVIEW IN APPLE PODCASTS This podcast is about giving to others in knowledge, joy, insight, and (*hopefully*) humor. You can help too! The more reviews and ratings in Apple Podcasts, the higher the Focused Photographers Podcast will rank and ultimately the more people will listen to it. So if you’re getting value from this podcast, will you consider leaving a rating on Apple Podcasts? Just click below!    LEAVE A RATING IN APPLE PODCASTS!