Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Collins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Leah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For 13 years I have worked for Fortune 500 companies helping them to reduce their costs. In 2017, I was a young, single, businesswoman living in the District of Columbia, working 15 hours a day on average, for one of the most prestigious accounting and consulting firms in the world. I spent the majority of my career helping global organizations manage their “bottom-line” while my own personal finances were in disarray! I worked my way up the corporate ladder, earning six-figures and had ZERO to show for it.
I developed reckless spending habits that spiraled out of control. Therefore, I challenged myself to become my first client and set a goal to reach financial independence in a single-income household. After eighteen months, I paid off over $40,000 in debt and raised my FICO credit score to over 800. Additionally, I began generating income through ownership of an investment/rental property in Washington, D.C.
People began noticing that I had a glow and inquired about it. Once I told them about my money journey, they began asking for advice and I decided to create a blog to provide financial education. Occasionally, I offer one on one financial coaching to help others acquire a debt-free lifestyle and achieve financial security.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
1. Unwillingness to Delegate
I have wasted financial resources on so-called “experts” who were really social media influencers who were just great at marketing themselves. All influencers are not experts people! These influencers did not have the subject matter expertise that they advertised. These experiences left me traumatized and unwilling to outsource tasks moving forward. I began to think “ If I want something done right, I must do it myself” or “No one will do it better than me”. This led to burnout. I am now learning to do thorough research on all potential contractors and I have created a vetting process for all applicants.
Delegating and outsourcing busywork allows me to concentrate on tasks that grow the company, such as developing strategy and vision and capitalizing on business opportunities.
2. Determine What Is and Is Not Working
I had to learn to evaluate what was working well and what was not and then pivot and make adjustments accordingly. It is important to not only review performance metrics for the business but to also determine if the work you are doing is bringing you happiness. I launched my business with the intent of creating a podcast. I quickly realized that I would not enjoy this. I then decided to create a blog, however, after about six months I realized that I was not passionate about it and actually dreaded working on it each month. During my journey this year, I realized that I love being on camera and I am much more effective this way. Therefore, I am going to create more comedy sketches and a YouTube channel. I am also working on major entertainment projects that will have me in front of large television audiences. My comedy sketches that are posted on social media are about everyday money scenarios that we all face but with a comedic twist. I have so much fun doing these videos and I am able to reach and connect with a much larger audience than I do with the blog.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My approach is entertainment with a message. I create content that connects with millennials by developing messaging that is relatable and incorporates pop culture, current events, and comedy. I attempt to make money management fun and simple.
Initially, I primarily offered one on one coaching. I loved engaging with clients, however, the financial model did not make sense for me. The amount of time that it takes to create personalized plans for clients was not worth the amount of money that I was bringing in. Now, I have my blog and am focusing on major entertainment projects and investment platforms that I should be able to announce next year.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment has been helping one of my social media followers pay off over $30k of credit card debt in one year. At the beginning of the year, he had a fair credit score, $35k in credit card debt, and minimal savings. Within 11 months he has eliminated his credit card debt, increased his credit score, and is actively building his emergency fund. Stories like this are what continue to motivate me to educate millennials on how to gain financial independence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leahmariecollins.com
- Email: hello@leahmariecollins.com
- Instagram: @theleahmariecollins
- Facebook: @leahmcfinance
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