Music Mondays – Fight Song

By
Shannon @ Financially Blonde
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50
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Fight Song

This amazing song written and performed by Rachel Platten has been at the top of many charts for a few months; however, I listened to it a while ago for the first time after I received this text from my oldest and best friend, Susan.

“Listen to this song when you’re feeling like crap. I heard it and thought of all you’re doing and how inspirational you are to so many others and me. Keep rockin. You’re doing awesome!”

I immediately stopped what I was doing, found the song, played it and cried my eyes out because I know the emotions and experiences Rachel drew from when she wrote this song. Two years ago, I left a large wealth management firm to make a change in the world of financial services. I felt like a small boat on the ocean, and most days I felt like the ocean would overtake me.

I honestly never thought about the fact that maybe I was a small boat, but I could still make waves, and Susan’s text woke me up to that. She had no way of knowing, but literally the day that she sent the text and introduced me to the song, I was struggling with my path and the direction my business would take.

Fighting to Make a Dream a Reality

For almost three years now, I have had the dream of creating The Financial Gym, a physical location where people could go to get and stay financially fit. It was an idea that came to me so strongly that I not only lost sleep thinking about it, but I almost lost my marriage over it.

You see, for two years before this idea came to me, I had been struggling with my life purpose. Right after my 30th birthday, I found myself in a big funk, and through my life coach and friend, I realized that I wanted my life purpose to revolve around helping others. I didn’t know exactly how I was meant to help others, but I knew it was my life purpose.

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When The Financial Gym came to me, it truly felt like a sign from God and the answer to my two-year search for my life’s purpose. I immediately began telling friends and family about my vision and my passion; however, I didn’t get much positive support for my dream, including my hubby.

And I don’t really care if no one else believes,

‘cause I still got a lot of fight left in me.

It’s not that my hubby, family and friends didn’t love me and weren’t supportive of me, but I really do think they believed that I was crazy. Common follow up questions to my news included: “How are you going to make money?” “Why would you help people with no money?” “What about your family?”

These were valid questions, but all I could think was “What about all of the people who need financial help and can’t get it?” These were the people who were haunting my dreams and keeping me awake at night; and I knew without a shadow of doubt that I was supposed to help them.

My One Match

I spent a solid two years building my business and proving that the model for helping others could work, and at the end of last year, I decided that I would start to look for investor money to take my business to the next level and bring financial planning to the masses.

I realized quickly that NO ONE wants to be the first investor in a start up company. No matter how great your idea there is a real fear of being the first one in. There were some people who expressed interest, but they quickly dropped off the radar; and I wondered if I was as crazy as people thought I was.

To say that I hit some low points in that time is an understatement. I began to question the last two years of my life and wonder if I should just throw in the towel and go back to corporate America, to the security of a paycheck and a set schedule. Whenever I got in a funk, though, I thought about my clients and potential future clients. Who would help them? Who would be there for them?

Been two years, I miss my home, but there’s a fire burning in my bones.

I still believe. I still believe.

Within a few days of hearing this song, I received my first investor money from a longtime mentor and friend who said that he was investing in me because he believed in my vision and me. The certified check came in an envelope and on the outside of the envelope it said, “Knock ‘em dead!”

I might only have one match, but I can’t make an explosion.

My first check

That check was definitely my one match, and I am now ready to make an explosion. The Financial Gym website is officially going live today and classes will be available at our first location in New York City this September. I’m still in the process of raising more money to open more gyms and looking for people who want to franchise and build a financial gym near you.

I have a long way to go to bring financial planning to the masses, but I’m thankful for songs like this that inspire me to keep fighting along the way, to never give up on myself or my dreams and to believe that I can achieve something great. I hope that you will support me along the way and like The Financial Gym on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Is there a song that inspires you when you need some extra motivation? Have you ever pursued something when everyone around you thought you were crazy?
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Shannon @ Financially Blonde
http://financially-blonde.com
Shannon is a financial planner who left a “traditional” financial services firm to start her own company, The Financial Gym, because she felt traditional financial services firms did not have the tools or resources to help people in their 20s and 30s who are starting out and trying to build assets while also managing debt. She realized that the key to long-term personal financial success is a commitment to financial fitness and making smart financial choices. Through her blog, Financially Blonde, her book, Train Your Way To Financial Fitness, her podcast, Martinis and Your Money and The Financial Gym, Shannon is committed to making financial fitness fun, easy and accessible for everyone.

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50 COMMENTS

  1. I love this idea, and I have a ton of questions about it regarding the location, structure, financials, etc. It’s probably too early (or private) to answer them hear, so maybe I’ll just wait to ask them when I apply to be a franchisee 🙂

  2. Yayayy Shannon! Way to go girlfriend. That’s so awesome one of your friends recognized you in that way (btw, I love that song)! Such a good idea to use for your Music Mondays. This song definitely inspires me right now.

  3. Well this is a really neat idea. I’ve seen the value in being with people of a like mind and how well it works with Weight Watchers groups (my mom had a lot of success there) and when I did CrossFit for 4 years. It’s amazing that when you’re all working together towards common goals (financial stability or debt free or weight loss or eating healthier or getting stronger) how many other benefits you’ll get. Working through your own struggles with the help of someone else (and knowing that others have similar issues too) definitely makes the road easier. The site looks fantastic and NYC is a great place to start! Good luck!

    • Thanks Chris! I actually lost 50 pounds on weight watchers three years ago and I think that journey has inspired a lot of my business model. I think working as a group or with someone else is a great way to find success in many areas of your life, but especially in your finances.

  10. Wow, so exciting! It’s such an awesome idea and a wonderful resource for those struggling with their finances…there are many in NYC for sure. It’s a tough place to make it since it’s so expensive and so many temptations to spend your hard earned cash. Can’t wait to hear more about the financial gym.

  15. I am so, so happy for you!! I don’t think you’re a small boat at all – you’ve been rocking and making waves ever since you started this blog, and I’ve been thrilled to watch everything take off for you. =) This is such a great vision and one I really identify with (I love helping others, especially where money is concerned). I know you’ll make a difference in tons of people’s lives. Congratulations, and the site looks awesome!

  16. Love this song too, Shannon. Just makes you want to stand up and cheer. So excited that your dream is finally coming true. You’ve worked so hard to make it happen. I can’t wait to see where it takes you! Congratulations, my friend. You’re going to help a lot of people get financially fit.

  17. Huge congrats, Shannon! This is such an awesome culmination of your vision and hard work. I could not be happier for you! I love that you didn’t give up on your dream and that you kept at it even when you didn’t have the support of people closest to you. It’s inspiring!!

  19. This is absolutely wonderful, and I’m wishing that we had The Financial Gym here!! Congratulations on your new adventure!! I do have one motivating song, well it’s more instrumental. It’s The Feather Suite from the movie Forest Gump. It was the song that accompanied the first time I performed on stage in dance. It was also the first time I’ve seen my dad cry because he was so proud. Since my father’s passing from cancer, it is the one song that fully surrounds me with love and motivation. Anytime I need comfort, security, or support I put that suite on and everything melts away. I wish you the best of luck for everything you are pursuing!!

  20. I am SO happy and proud of you Shannon! You believed in yourself and stayed true to your purpose despite the fear; you felt it and did it anyway. Sending you my love and support! You got this. 🙂

  21. Financial Gym? Brilliant! I hope it’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of that” success stories!

    I do hope you share here on the blog once you get it up and running. So much to talk about: location, marketing, successes!! Can’t wait to hear more.

    Good luck to you!! Oh and by the way, I also find that music “speaks to me” in several odd ways. There are truly some talented writers out there that know how to connect words and emotions. Anyway, I’m excited for your new venture!

  25. I love listening to this song of Rachel. In relation to finances, whatever money problems we are dealing with, we just have to keep fighting until we can say that the fight is over and that we have learned so many things and have become better than before.

  26. “When The Financial Gym came to me, it truly felt like a sign from God and the answer to my two-year search for my life’s purpose.” I believe it was exactly that. I’m crying as I write this comment. So excited for you!

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