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.
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.
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.
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 🙂
Ha! I would LOVE for you to become a franchisee!! Budgeting is at the very core of what we do for clients. 🙂
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.
Thanks Natalie!! I am very blessed to call Susan a friend and I agree that this song is crazy inspirational!
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.
I think you have a great business, your website looks awesome! I’m excited to watch your business grow, wish you the best of luck!
Thanks Mrs. Budgets! I’m excited to watch it grow as well!
I never heard of this song before! Congratulations once again on the gym and I hope it’s a huge success! You’ve worked really hard for it and you should be very proud of yourself!
You’ve never heard this song?????? You would love it! Totally inspirational!
Woot woot, the site looks awesome!!
Thank you!! And thank you for all of your support!
Very cool Shannon! The site looks awesome and love the business idea even more. 🙂
Thanks John! Grayson did an awesome job on the site for me and I’m excited to grow this business and help others. 🙂
YESSSSSSS! So freaking happy for you. It’s been a joy to help you out with this vision. I am just as passionate as you are and am so proud of you girl.
I am so freaking happy that you have helped me so much on this journey. You’re the best!!
This is my go to song right now. LOVE IT.
I could seriously listen to it multiple times a day and not get sick. Love it too!
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.
It’s certainly a challenge to get financially fit while living in New York, but I love making it happen for my clients.
Way to go Shannon!!! So proud of you!
Thanks Megan!! I really appreciate all of your support along the way on this journey.
You are absolutely incredible. So happy for you. You’re one of the hardest working people I know and I couldn’t be more honored to call you a friend.
Ahhh, and I’m honored to call YOU a friend! Thank you so much for the kind words and your support!!
Holy cow this is amazing! Congrats Shannon!!! Not gonna lie, I would probably have broken down after getting that first check in the mail with the inspiring note – so awesome!
Not gonna lie DC, I totally broke down when that check came in the mail. He is such a wonderful friend of mine, and he went above and beyond to support me.
Way to go! I’ve seriously admired the tenacity with which you’ve pursued this goal. I’m glad you have a lot of fight left.
Thanks Hannah!! Encouraging words like this definitely give me the energy to keep fighting the good fight.
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!
Thanks Erin!!! I love that I can’t continue to help others and now I have the ability to help even more. 🙂
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.
Thanks Shannon!! I can’t wait to get LOTS of people financially fit!!
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!!
Thanks Mrs. FW!! It’s definitely much harder without the support of those you love, but it really just made me believe in my dream even more. Thankfully, they have all gotten on board and support my dream too! 🙂
I am so impressed, Shannon! Look at how far you’ve come! I can’t wait to learn more about the Financial Gym. I’m so glad you were able to make your dream a reality!
Thanks Kate! It’s certainly taken a lot of hard work to get here and it will take even more to take it further, but it’s a labor of love that I’m glad to take on!
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!!
I love your story about the feather suite Alyssa!! I love how music can take us to different places and make us feel something beautiful!
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. 🙂
SO glad you stopped by the comment Kassandra!!! You have definitely been a big source of inspiration for me on this journey and I really appreciate your support!
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!
I hope it’s one of those success stories as well Jason! Not for my benefit but for the benefit of those that the gym serves! 🙂
Sounds like a great idea! Best of luck getting it off the ground!
Thanks Ali! So far so good!
Wow this is awesome! So happy for you! Just checked out the new site and it looks great.
Thanks Michelle! I am really happy with what Grayson did for the site. Good stuff!
Congratulations Shannon! I know this has been many months in the making. I wish you the best of luck as you build the business.
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.
“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!
Wow, this is my first time here and look what I came in on! I look forward to checking out the new site too! Congratulations and I wish you great success in your new endeavor! 🙂