Rich Doesn't Mean Wrong: How I Stopped Apologizing for Wanting More

Over the past two weeks, I've had numerous conversations about money and abundance with friends and clients - many of them women entrepreneurs like myself. A common thread emerged: we all struggle with charging appropriate prices for our services or asking for fair salaries, despite having big dreams that require financial abundance to fulfill.

Recently, I've been exploring my own relationship with money and made two significant realizations. First, I discovered that my happiest moments coincided with periods of financial abundance. It all began in New York City in August 2000. At 18, I joined my boyfriend during his summer internship, staying with family friends. I landed a job at a French restaurant on 72nd and Lex, earning $100-120 daily in tax-free cash, with free accommodation and meals. For the first time, I experienced the freedom to shop and buy what I wanted. This taste of independence and abundance ultimately drew me back to New York after completing my master's degree.

My second realization was more complex: I had unconsciously developed a belief that wealthy people were show-offs who lacked work ethic - and I didn't want to be "one of those people." This mindset wasn't taught to me; I created it myself. It stemmed from my experiences at a private elementary school, where some wealthy classmates flaunted expensive clothes and exotic vacations. Their displays of wealth made me feel like an outsider and triggered both jealousy and judgment.

This mindset followed me into my finance career, where I struggled with the lavish bonuses and what I perceived as excessive lifestyles. Feeling unfulfilled by helping clients accumulate more wealth, I eventually left to open my restaurant. While this decision impacted my family's finances, I believed I was happier with a more modest lifestyle.

Now, as a coach, I've found my true calling helping clients transform their lives. But I've had an important epiphany: I can maintain my values while embracing financial abundance. As a single divorced mom, I can seek financial independence to provide the best education for my kids, travel to beautiful places, and occasionally treat myself - all while maintaining a balanced perspective on wealth.

I'm learning to charge premium prices because the impact I have on my clients' lives is truly valuable. Interestingly, many of my clients share similar money mindset challenges rooted in childhood. One recently shared, "My dad thought rich people were bad," and was startled to recognize the same belief pattern in herself.

Rewiring these deep-seated beliefs about money and abundance takes conscious effort and self-reflection. What's your relationship with money? Do you struggle to raise your prices or ask for better compensation? If you're ready to explore the root causes of these limiting beliefs and develop a healthier money mindset, I'm here to help.