Your Journey to Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant
One of the financial goals that I am most passionate about is Financial Independence and that’s the ability to work because you WANT to work and not because you HAVE to work. It's the number one goal we give to all of our clients at Financial Gym and it’s the number one goal I beg of you to set for 2024 and beyond. Joining me today is Jamila Souffrant, founder of Journey to Launch and author of the new book Your Journey to Financial Freedom to discuss how she became a voice in the FI space and why her book is the perfect guide for you to start your own FI journey.
What are we drinking?
Jamilla - Coffee with Trader Joe’s Oat Milk Creamer
Shannon - Black Cherry Schweppes
Podcast Notes
The Evolution of the FI/RE Movement
Jamilla spent her twenties working a job with a long commute, and she knew this was not what she wanted long-term. She felt stuck and started side projects to see what else was out there.
Once she got pregnant, the long commute really started to bother her, and she knew a change needed to happen. She Googled ‘How to quit my job,’ which is how she discovered the FI/RE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement. Seeing average people achieve this goal inspired her to apply it to her finances.
She started making changes, and her husband got on board and shared what she was doing on the blog. She started the podcast a year later, and everything has taken off from there.
When she started, the movement was mostly one specific type of person, and the process felt unattainable for many people. There are now different categories of FI, and the focus is being on the journey rather than reaching an end goal number.
When Jamilla started her podcast, no one was talking about FI in a way that spoke directly to her. She wanted to add her perspective and bring more diversity to the space. She wasn’t interested in a super frugal journey but rather one that she enjoyed along the way.
There is a lot of life between now and the end goal. You may have to make drastic changes to reach your goal, and every journey is different. The longer you wait, the more challenging it can be to make a change.
The New Book, Your Journey to Financial Freedom
Jamila had used her voice, developed systems, and an audience through her platforms. The book was an opportunity to bring her voice to another form of media.
There are only so many ways to explain a budget, and many books and websites do that well. Jamila aimed to make this book different, capture her journey, and highlight a more balanced approach.
The book is laid out in 5 stages. This is so there is a clear plan with easy-to-follow steps.
How long you go through each stage depends on several factors. It’s about understanding where you are and how you want to live.
Final Thoughts & Reminders
Try not to fixate on where you are right now. It can be hard to imagine the future in survival mode. Put the goals into place and start working towards them. Things will change and evolve.
Focus on how you can enjoy life right now the way it is. The real journey is internal.
A financial journey takes time, and you may be in the first stages of the journey for a few years. It’s okay if things take longer. The quality of the journey matters more than the speed. There should always be a balance.
Even if you don’t reach FI within the timeframe you set for yourself, It’s a fail-proof goal because you’re always putting yourself in a better position than before.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Past Episode of MAYM - Journey to Launch with Jamila Souffrant
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is that Financial Independence is possible no matter where you’re starting from, our clients at Financial Gym are living proof of this. So don’t let fear of where you starting from prevent you from starting the journey.
Random Three Questions
What is the next big trip you’re planning for the family?
If this was your last meal on earth, what would it be?
What is something you’re currently binging?
Connect with Jamila
Website: yourjourneytofinancialfreedom.com .com
Instagram: @journeytolaunch
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook Page, and let me know what you want to hear.
In addition to hosting this show, I’m the founder and CEO of The Financial Gym. We are celebrating 10 years of this journey, and now, more than ever, I see the importance of the work we do every day. Rising inflation, the return of student loan debt, high interest rates on mortgages, and volatile stock markets make it a time when you need a best financial friend to help you make the best choices.
At Financial Gym, you get paired with a Certified Financial Trainer, who we call your BFF. Our team has coached clients through every financial season, whether they were living paycheck to paycheck or headed into Financial Independence and retirement.
To celebrate the final season of Martinis and Your Money, listeners can get 20% off of one-on-one training services. So what are you waiting for? Head over to financialgym.com to get started today. Our warm-up calls are free of cost and judgment.