We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Richards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, is there something you believe many others might not?
Entrepreneurs are often told to “take a leap of faith, and the net will appear!” I don’t agree with this advice. Taken literally, if you quit your job to start a business, with no other income streams or money coming in, then you will be operating out of a place of panic and desperation. And that’s the last thing you want to do as a new business owner. I think you will feel safer and more secure if you can start monetizing your business idea on the side (evenings, weekends). Ensure you can generate revenue. Have a specific monthly revenue goal in mind that you want to hit before you quit your job. I personally wanted to fully replace my full-time income before quitting, and that’s what I was able to do in 2019. It felt all that much more rewarding when I finally went through with leaving my career!

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is all about making the normally boring topic of money, funny and easy to understand. I work with students, GenZ, and millennials to teach them how to get their finances in order and create passive income streams. I have two bestselling books, three online courses, and a mastermind.

Writing my first book was one of the hardest things I’ve done. At first, it was fun and compelling! But 4 months in, I had a total change of heart. By then, I was telling myself things like “Who are you, Rachel, to write a book about finance?” “You’re a young woman. Who will listen?” “This will be embarrassing.” I’ve never felt more scared or vulnerable about anything in my life… so I quit writing the book. I had no intention of ever picking it back up again. Luckily, I had lunch with a good friend who encouraged me to keep going. She was convinced I was onto something. So I picked the project back up. I told myself, “If I can just help ONE person, that’s all I want.” And that was 100% true. I had to take the pressure off of myself if I was going to go through with publishing it. And luckily I did!

To my surprise, “Money Honey” took off in 2017 immediately after I launched it. Money Honey resonated especially with young women. I saw that there was an opportunity to make an impact through my writing, so I launched my second book, “Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement,” in 2019. Once I quit my full-time job that year, the possibilities opened immensely! I had time to create new programs, grow my platform, and even start a TikTok that now has 175,000 followers.

What I’ve done well? I’ve listened to my audience. I understand intimately their struggles, pain points, and challenges. And then I create content to help them. I’ve also surrounded myself with the right people: friends that support me and lift me up, mentors that guide me, and peers that help me work through challenges.

The lesson I want people to learn from me is that anyone, at any age, on any income, can achieve financial independence. I truly want people to believe that. I want to inspire people and empower them to take control and take action. I am not a trust fund baby and I never made 6 figures from a job. Having or not having privileges or advantages will certainly make the journey easier or harder, there’s no denying that. But I truly believe that anyone can attain financial independence. I only want to help you get there.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m traveling around the country with my husband right now, but we still consider Colorado our home base. So if one of my adventurous, outdoor-loving friends showed up in CO, they would be in for a treat. I’d love to show them Aspen or the Maroon Bells area in September or October. I’d love to take them to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of my favorite places in the world. We would get sushi, burgers, pizza, ice cream, ALL of the things. We’d take our dog Chloe to the park and let her run around. We’d see a concert at Red Rocks. Man, I miss my home!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to Chandler Bolt, who wrote the book, “Published.” Your book inspired me to write Money Honey – and 4 years later, I have a six-figure business teaching women and millennials how to manage their money and invest in real estate! I recommend your book to all aspiring authors. You’ve made an enormous difference in my life and in this world!

Website: www.moneyhoneyrachel.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/moneyhoneyrachel

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelhoperichards/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHoneyRachel

Other: Tiktok username: @moneyhoneyrachel

Image Credits
Savannah Karee

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