For years I said that my journey to financial freedom started due to a random comment about teachers not having money. Then, I realized it was because that random comment came within the same week I discovered I had been defrauded by someone I trusted.

And, that's all true.

Also, true is that my journey to financial freedom was about so much more than finances. It was my journey to find myself again.

See, I'm a recovering people-pleaser. Somewhere along the line, I went from being a magical child and a big dreamer to being a compliant child and an excellent student. I got good grades. I went to a good college and I worked in a noble profession. And I waited for my happily ever after to arrive because I was certain it would.  I mean had done everything right, hadn't I?

But one day I woke up -- miserable. I was empty and devoid of passion because I had put all my dreams away. I carried around a ton of guilt and shame.  And, that was the hardest. Who was I to be secretly unhappy when there were starving children in the world, in my classroom, people who were truly suffering.  

I thought I was just broken so I hid in my prison of obligations and work – having forgotten and lost the courageous fun-loving magical believer that I once was. I no longer had dreams. I had settled for unfulfilled. A big part of me had lost hope.  

I was terrified that what you'd find out was the secret that I tried so hard to cover up, this dark secret, the belief that I wore like a heavy winter coat, the belief that said I just wasn’t good enough.  

Suppressing my passions, my dreams, and my voice led to health issues. I went from coughing after meals to clinching my jaw, cracking my teeth, and even developing an autoimmune disorder.  

At times I felt very stuck, disconnected, and discouraged when it came to seeing or believing in bigger possibilities. I had a lot of doubt and fear when it came to my own abilities -- thanks to the very critical voice I carried around in my head.

Then I was introduced to the idea that thoughts become things through a simple email from Mike Dooley.

Back then I didn't believe I would do or be anything outside of what I was at the time – a perpetually poor, broke high school teacher, but when I started understanding and using the tools I learned everything started to change.  

I went from being the proverbial perpetually poor, broke teacher to having a net worth that anyone would consider rich.

I also danced on stage again. And, I began to travel regularly. I’ve been to 9 different countries, some even twice in recent years. I earned a doctorate. I’ve completed over a dozen marathons and raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities. I’ve written a book and shorter ebooks. I’ve spoken on stages, in other people groups, and on podcasts. And, I know I've inspired thousands of people through being a public school teacher and beyond.

 The dreams I had in my heart -- the ones that I thought were just for other people, special people -- became real for me. And, I want to share that with you.