Unlocking an Entrepreneurial Mindset

As I graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in computer science, I found myself delving deep into personal finance. This journey began back in my freshman year of college when I started watching Dave Ramsey videos while playing Fortnite—a habit that unexpectedly ingrained a passion for personal finance in me.

Fast forward to my first internship at NextEra Energy as an iOS developer, a coworker recommended I read "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi. Intrigued, I headed to Barnes & Noble and purchased the book. Initially, I read the first chapter but felt it wasn't the right time to fully embrace its teachings. With only an internship and no steady income, concepts like 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, and automated investing seemed premature, especially when my focus was on navigating the upcoming semester.

Once I began working full-time as a software engineer, I revisited Ramit Sethi's book. This time, the lessons resonated deeply. I learned how to automate my investing and savings, and now I can confidently say I have an emergency fund that could sustain me for six months if needed. Moreover, I'm on track to retire comfortably when the time comes.

While it's reassuring to have long-term financial goals, I realized that life is lived day by day. Despite the security of future millions, I found myself questioning how to enjoy my 20s with a well-paying job. This introspection led me back to Ramit Sethi's content, particularly his podcast—originally called "I Will Teach You To Be Rich," now known as "Money for Couples."

Two Recurring Themes

Two recurring themes from his show profoundly impacted me:

Empathy in Financial Understanding: Ramit emphasizes that everyone's relationship with money is unique, shaped by personal experiences and upbringing. Recognizing this diversity allows us to address our financial motivations and psychology effectively.
The Limitless Potential of Earning: He often states, "There's a limit to how much you can cut, but there's no limit to how much you can earn." This perspective shifted my focus from merely budgeting to exploring ways to increase my income.

Embracing the Abundance Mindset

Embracing this abundance mindset, 2024 has become a transformative year for me. I'm actively exploring side ventures to augment my earnings, and one of my passions is creating beautiful, responsive websites. When I showcase my work, people often remark:

"You could get paid for this! I've seen companies pay thousands for websites that don't look half as good."

These comments made me realize the potential value of my skills.

Inspired by Ramit Sethi's principles, I've decided to launch a freelance web development business. My goal is to design elegant, fast, and responsive websites that perform exceptionally on both desktop and mobile platforms. While there are cheaper options and services offering more customization, I pride myself on delivering high-quality sites with exceptional performance and aesthetics.

This venture not only allows me to enhance my skills as a software developer but also offers the opportunity to learn about my clients' businesses and how they invest their time. It's a fulfilling experience, and I'm excited about the prospect of acquiring new clients and growing this side business.

Looking Forward

I'm eager to see where this entrepreneurial path leads me. Combining my passion for web development with the lessons learned from thought leaders like Ramit Sethi, I'm stepping into a future filled with possibilities. Here's to embracing an abundance mindset and unlocking new opportunities!