June 26, 2024 • 44 mins
Struggling with financial guilt and shame? These emotions can hold you back from achieving true financial freedom. This emotional burden not only affects your mental health but also hinders your ability to plan effectively and take proactive steps towards financial stability.
In this episode of the Power, Purpose, & Prosperity Podcast, Sabine interviews Briana Franklin about addressing student debt to regain financial control and establish lasting stability. Briana is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and expert in student debt, dedicated to the socioeconomic and holistic empowerment of Black girls and women.
Listen in to discover how your beliefs about money influence your financial decisions and how changing your money mindset can lead to greater financial freedom. You'll also learn about the importance of self-compassion and flexibility in financial planning, and how to overcome guilt and shame related to money.
Key Takeaways:
- The impact of student debt on your personal and professional life, and strategies for managing and eliminating it.
- Identifying the problematic elements in the financial system and the need for systemic change to reduce the burden of student loans.
- Mindset shifts necessary for effectively using debt as a business owner and building financial stability.
- The importance of self-compassion and flexibility in financial planning, and addressing the guilt and shame associated with money.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- [03:29] Briana’s journey through Ivy League education, accumulating student debt, challenges of managing student debt, and starting the Prosp(a)rity Project.
- [08:39] The Prosp(a)rity Project’s mission to eradicate student debt and close the racial wealth gap.
- [14:20] The distinction between financial literacy and financial efficacy and how the Prosp(a)rity Project addresses both.
- [17:40] Understanding the broader impact of student debt on life choices and how younger generations are navigating these challenges.
- [21:28] The psychological and emotional attachments to money and the necessity of empowering women financially.
- [24:07] Briana explains how the Prosp(a)rity Project's curriculum supports people to do what’s comfortable when repaying debt.
- [30:42] Emphasizing the importance of flexibility and self-compassion with analogies between financial and physical health.
- [33:59] The importance of addressing and healing underlying guilt and shame in women's relationship with money.
Connect with Briana:
- Website: https://www.theprosparityproject.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-prosparity-project
Books Recommendations:
- Own It by Sallie Krawcheck
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
- Mind Your Money by Yanely
- So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newpo
*************
HOST INFO:
Sabine Gedeon is a dynamic force in the world of leadership and personal development. As the Founder of Transformed Leadership Institute and CEO of Gedeon Enterprises, Sabine leverages nearly 20 years of experience to guide clients in both startups and Fortune 500 companies. Her unique approach combines human-centered principles with tech-enabled solutions, delivering customized programs for leaders at all levels to tackle crucial leadership and talent development challenges.
*************
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
Download Free Resources - https://sabinegedeon/gifts
Get Coaching Support: https://meetwithsa
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Are you tired of playing smalland ready to step confidently
into your greatness and shareyour unique brilliance with the
world?
Well, you're in the right place.
I'm your host, Sabine Gideon,and I've dedicated nearly two
decades empowering individualsand leaders as they confidently
navigate the twists and turns oflife and career transitions.
If you're seeking direction,connection, or just a little
(00:22):
push to play bigger, considerthis podcast, your VIP path to a
community that genuinelyunderstands your journey.
Join me every week for candidconversations and practical
guidance designed to help younavigate the challenges of life
and business, foster a growthmindset and cultivate meaningful
connections.
It's time to embrace yourinherent power, define your
(00:44):
unique purpose and prosper inevery aspect of your life.
Let's get started.
Sabine (00:55):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of our power of
money series I am your host,Sabine Gideon.
I'm excited to have RihannaFranklin here as our guest.
Real quick, Brianna Brie is abusinesswoman, philanthropist
and student debt expert andthought leader with a passion
for social economic and holisticempowerment for black girls and
(01:19):
women.
Having taken on a financialburden of nearly 120, 000 in
student debt Through herundergraduate studies, Brie has
developed an acute appreciationfor the challenges many student
debt holders experience.
She has formed the ProsperityProject, as a solution for
eradicating these systemicbarriers.
(01:40):
With that, welcome to the show,Brianna.
So excited to dig in and havethis conversation with you.
Briana (01:46):
Yes, thank you for the warm intro.
It's so awesome to be here.
Sabine (01:49):
Absolutely.
I mean, you know, this, thispower of money series is really
birthed out of the need ofthroughout all sectors of
society, right?
As we look at, you know, what'shappening in the market, we look
at what's happening inleadership and we look at where,
you know, The biggest financialdisparities lie and it's with,
you know, it's with women, um,and certainly women of color and
(02:11):
you can, you know, drill downeven further with those
demographics.
And so this series is reallymeant to empower women to not
only, you know, um, uh, talkabout money, cause that's a
huge, that's a huge barrier forus, but to really gain some
tools and some practicalknowledge around.
What does that mean to, whatdoes it look like to be
(02:32):
financially empowered?
What does it look like to, youknow, leverage the income or the
resources that we do have tomaximize it, to grow it, um,
beyond just our day to dayneeds, but what does that look
like in impacting ourcommunities, impacting the
generations behind us?
And so you are at a pivotalpoint in this.
(02:53):
You're now talking about notonly some of the financial
decisions that perhaps we had tomake, uh, in, in previous parts
of our lives, but how even thesedecisions, these financial
decisions that we've had to makewhen we were younger adolescents
have impacted or, you know,continue to impact us even in
(03:13):
our adulthood.
So before I get into thejuiciness here, I would love for
you to walk us through yourjourney.
for having me.
And you know, what, what reallyinspired you and provoked you to
create this project and howyou're leveraging it today to
support women.
Briana (03:30):
So I just want to say, I, I really adore your use of
the word provoke, because Ithink people often ask me that
they're like, what made you getstarted or what led you to this?
And it was being provoked.
It was a very, You know, a roughpatch in my life and a very
major instance of turning lemonsinto lemonade.
So I graduated from undergrad.
(03:51):
Most people don't believe mewhen I say it because I have a
baby face, but six years agoand, um, leading up to that.
So, you know, my whole backstoryis I was the first in my family
to go Ivy league.
So I grew up hearing thingsbecause I was a straight a
principals list honor rollstudent.
You get the picture, you know,people are like, Oh, you've got
to go to an Ivy league schooland basically.
(04:12):
Setting the message that if Ididn't get a degree like that, I
was falling short of mypotential.
So, um, I was very intentionalabout trying to get into 1.
so I ended up choosing Dartmouthand, um, while I was there, I
had silently racked up about a100, 000 dollars in student debt
principle and mind you, I haveno idea about that because the
(04:33):
paperwork is so nebulous andit's just, you know, like, just
sign here.
Take this, this very mundanequiz, just so we can say we've
done our.
Technically to inform you ofwhat you're doing.
And then, um, yeah, so I, I letthat debt accumulate and then I
came out, you know, because ofthe grace period, you don't
really have to think about it orworry about it too much, but
(04:54):
then it just like smacked meupside the head about two years
later, once the interest set in,especially on the private loans
and.
It came out to about 16, 000 ofinterest on top of that hundred
K.
So I was, you know, close to120, 000.
I felt like I was beingstrangled to death, honestly, by
that debt.
And going back to why it was aninstance of being provoked, you
(05:18):
know, I mean, I don't know ifanyone listening has ever
experienced being late, but.
I mean, they, they go to like noend, um, to get their money.
And so just being hounded andharassed by Sally May, um, you
know, just by the loan companiesand then having other types of
debt that I had racked up too,just through my ignorance of
(05:40):
money, um, I was in a reallytight spot and this was like
summer 2019 and I had fallen sobehind on my loans that I
actually, my credit dropped ahundred.
20 points overnight, uh,somewhere between 120, 150
points.
And it was, I was no longercredit worthy as far as most
lenders are concerned.
(06:01):
So out the window went gettingan apartment, being able to
refinance my car loan, all ofthose things.
So, um, I just remember my dadalso sent me an email and he was
very, uh, Passionate to say theleast, because he was a co
signer on those loans.
And he was, you know, like thishurts my chances of refinancing
(06:22):
my home and all these otherthings.
So I just remember saying, I'mnot even going to get defensive.
Cause he's totally right.
I'm going to take back controland I want my life back.
And I remember I rolled up mysleeves and I just got two part
time jobs just to get moneycoming in, like within the week,
and then that carried me throughthe, the, you know, Uh, the last
days of life as we knew it, soMarch 2020 and then, uh, a
(06:45):
global pandemic emerged amongus.
And then I felt like I was backto square 1 unemployed all over
again and just continuouslyhaving to figure that out.
So, in summer of that year.
When George Floyd and blacklives matter erupted, it was
really an instance of, I thoughtto myself before that happened,
I was like, I have too muchgoing for myself.
(07:07):
I have too much to offer theworld to not have anything
happening for me right now, tonot have any income, to not be
doing anything productive ormeaningful with my time.
And I had been readingentrepreneurship books leading
up to that as well.
And it was just sort of like oneof those gut instincts where no
one really outright says to doit, but you just follow that
that direction.
(07:29):
And then I leaned on thosefoundations and got to work.
And then 1 thing led to another,and I ran a survey that data
came in and I was like.
I think I had the makings ofstarting a non profit and then
it just all snowballed fromthere into what it is today.
Sabine (07:44):
Ah, what an amazing story.
Um, and, and, oh my gosh, I, Ican, I can feel the impact,
especially, you know, well, it'sbeen a few more than six years
for me.
Um, but certainly those firstfew years of like, how do you
balance, you know, what'ssupposed to be, you know, they
sold you this like hundred Ksalary when you get out of
(08:05):
school.
So, uh, Lies.
Um, when you're trying tobalance adulting and figuring
life on your own, and you havethese bills that you accumulated
and trying to navigate that.
And so I'm, I'm so happy to hearthat you, while, you know, it
was triggering in many ways, youdidn't, um, you didn't take the
route of being defeated that youdecided to, to take action.
(08:27):
So.
Tell us about the organizationnow and who you work with and
how you support others who arein the same place or, you know,
close to that same place to getout.
Briana (08:39):
Yeah.
So, um, I guess the best way toencapsulate that is during our
mission.
So prosperity projects missionis to completely eradicate.
Yes, I said it.
The now 2 trillion student debtslash predatory lending crisis
as well as close the racialwealth gap for black women once
and for all.
And, I take that charge verypersonally, because I think that
(09:03):
there's so many bad actors atplay.
And, you know, the issues thatwe see on both fronts are the
result of a lot of intentional,um, you know, just greed and
exploitation.
So our organization reallyprides itself on being an
innovator and that.
Um, you know, for ourinitiatives, like our 2 main
programs, we have 35 to free ourflagship and that gets its name
(09:26):
from the 35Billion dollars instudent debt as well as 35
percent rate of financialliteracy that black women hold
collectively.
Um, so that's.
You know, our, our program thatwe hit the ground running with,
but then we've also expandedinto preventative work through
higher, which is an acronymversus higher as in higher
education, where we help highschoolers avoid, like, high
(09:49):
schools of all race and genderbackgrounds avoided to begin
with.
And so we really through both ofthose programs are innovating
because.
A lot of similar entities willjust enable a broken system,
right?
Like we see so much conversationwith high school is around.
Well, college is expensive andpeople talk about it as though.
(10:10):
Well, you know, it's hurricaneseason.
What can you do if you live inFlorida?
Right?
And we're like, no, just tellingpeople to get more scholarships
to keep up with these crazy hightuition rates is not the answer.
We need to be.
Taking a step back and asking,does college even make sense for
every child?
And the answer is absolutely aresounding no.
(10:31):
And then for those, it does makesense for, as in, we'll make
them directly more employableand lead to more profits.
How can we equip them with the,with the awareness and the
skills to be able to.
You know, navigate the financialpiece if they can't write a
check at the parents, you know,don't have it like that and they
will need to borrow to make ithappen.
(10:53):
35 to free is innovating in theway that we're not simply just
paying down the student debt ofblack women.
Like, that is 1 of the aspectsthat I'm proudest of, because I
think everyone tries to tiptoearound that and they're like,
refinance consolidate.
Um, you know, get a personalloan and, and they just want to
dance around it and not actuallyget it out the way.
(11:13):
But we're like, no, we're goingto help you actually get this
out the way.
But it goes beyond that becausewe're also arming our
Prosperettes, the black womenwho go through the program with
financial guidance.
Because if you don't have thatpiece, then what can happen is
the lottery winner effect where,you know, you read about, I
think it's a third or twothirds.
(11:34):
Um, Sorry, I'm not clear on thestat, but it's a significant
chunk of lottery winners who gobroke because they don't have a
management plan for theirearnings.
And then also we don't want tocreate a codependency effect
where they're like, well, I wasleaning on y'all to get out of
debt.
Now that I'm out of the program,what do I do?
Like we're building them up sothat they can far exceed what we
do for them as they continue tomake more money and go through
(11:56):
their career.
So, um, All that's to say, youknow, like we, we try to be very
cutting edge in our solutions sothat we're making lasting change
and not just putting a bandaidon a broken bone.
Sabine (12:07):
Yes.
Oh my gosh.
I love, I love all of that.
And, and so we know thatespecially within the last few
years that black women inparticular are like the most
educated, uh, demographic but noone's really talking about,
well, How much did it cost them?
Um, similar to you, I'm firstgeneration, everything.
And so my, my family did nothave the resources.
(12:30):
And so my only understanding ofhow I could make it possible was
to take on all of these, um,student loans that again, to
this day, I'm still paying off.
And so it's almost like this,this dream that we're sold of
what, you know, is the Americandream or what is the way to get
ahead in society, right?
But the details around the costof that dream are often hidden
(12:53):
from those who are the onespursuing it.
So I love the fact that you are,you know, not only just helping
and supporting people who havegotten in that bind, um, today,
but really trying to prevent itin those who are, uh,
transitioning from, you know,high school into college.
I was reading this book and, andit was actually through a, a
(13:14):
person Former like financialadvisor and you know, we have
first of all the financialliteracy and we're just coming
out of financial literacy month,but the percentage of financial
literacy is low across alldemographics as it is, um, but
For so many years, there's beena focus on financial literacy
versus financial efficacybecause you know, the truth of
(13:37):
the matter is there arefinancial advisors, there are
people who are in this space whocan manage money for or who know
about money or who can makemoney.
But at the same time, they areignorant in terms of like how it
really works and how, what thedifference is between making
money and being able to buildmoney that builds wealth, that
builds something that's greater.
(13:58):
Um, and so it sounds likeyou're, crossing the line from,
you're still supporting in thefinancial, um, literacy aspect,
but you're also moving intolet's, let's help you be
effective so that you're not,you know, You're not ignorant to
how money works overall andbeyond just how to make money.
Is that accurate?
(14:19):
Absolutely.
Briana (14:20):
Yeah, that's really that nails it because we want to make
sure that, you know, we'replanting seeds so that it's a
lingering effect sort of dealand that, you know, the best is
yet to come for our prosperous.
Um, and also for the highschoolers that we've engaged
with, because I know that frommy experience, you know, my
parents, they did the best theycould what they had.
So I don't hold any, you know,shame or, you know, Um,
(14:43):
animosity over them because theywere working with what they had
and that goes all the way back,you know, by the generation, but
it's like, at some point, thatcycle has to be broken if we're
going to level up, like, as aculture, as a community.
Um, but then to your point, too,I think, like, just across the
different intersection alitiesof race and gender, it's pretty
(15:04):
bad overall, because I thinkwhat we saw really coming out
of, you know, like, the.
Once we hit theindustrialization period and
like, just leading up to modernsociety, it was like, these
things didn't need to beoutright taught because number
one, there weren't these massiveperils of predatory lending in
this way.
And also it was just like, okay,you could scrape two cents
(15:26):
together and, you know, investthat.
And then, you know, just thebarriers to entry were so much
lower back Inflation wasn't evena thing a hundred plus years
ago.
So It's like with the timeschanging, we have to catch up
and we're trying to catch youngpeople up because now it's like
you can certainly wade your wayinto debt, but you cannot wade
(15:47):
your way out at least to acertain level.
I mean, maybe if you're talking5 grand, okay, but at the at the
crippling crushing amounts thatso many people are graduating
with, it's like.
People are saying, well, I just,I guess I'm just never going to
own a home.
I guess I'm never going to beable to start a family, get
married, travel, do anything Ilove because I'm enslaved to
(16:09):
this lender for the rest of theforeseeable future.
so we definitely want to justlike shatter that whole
precedent that's now been setand do the grunt work that's,
that's required to startleveling the playing field
again.
Sabine (16:23):
Yeah, yeah.
Um, you made me remember I, Ihad a doctor on, on my show and
she had shared that she came outof school with 400, 000 worth of
debt.
And it's like, Oh my gosh, likeyou never think about that
because you just assume thatcertain professions, like they
just make money and they're notcarrying all of this, but it's,
(16:46):
it's actually a lot worse.
Um, you look at gen Z, you know,many of them, even millennials,
uh, to an extent, to your point,many of them are foregoing these
things that were, Again, tied tothe American dream of owning a
home and starting a family andbeing able to do this.
And now they're just at thespace where they're like, okay,
(17:06):
if I'm going to have to carrythese financial burdens, then
I'm going to live life.
Right.
And whatever that means, right.
It's no longer this.
Um, this, uh, sense ofobligation of holding of like,
Oh my gosh, it's almost like ifI could describe it this way,
not a giving up, but it's almostlike if this is the burden that
I have to carry for this long,then how do I make the best of
(17:29):
life?
And so that's actually shiftedhow they approach work, how they
approach careers, how theyapproach everything.
Briana (17:39):
Yeah, I think that's spot on.
And I feel like people are justreclaiming their sense of
existence because I think, youknow, at first glance, it's just
like the natural instinct is tocry, to scream, you know, to
bang your head against the wall.
Like this isn't fair.
I can't believe people did thisto me.
And to be clear, like all ofthose feelings are totally valid
because it is the system at workas opposed to people just being
(18:03):
dumb and irrational and bad withmoney.
It's like.
People are set up for failure.
It's not like they just went andracked up a ton of gambling
debt, you know, getting drunk ata Vegas casino.
Like this was by design becauseof things like subprime lending.
And people were just totallyeyes shut to that because
they're expecting these peopleto act with integrity, like the
(18:26):
way they used to, so, no, I'm,I'm so, when I hear people who
are like, you know what, thatdebt, it's just, It is what it
is.
And, you know, some people likeI just do the bare minimum to
keep it current because ofcredit.
Others are like, I have given upall hope because I missed out on
10 years of getting to celebratewith my family, getting to, you
(18:47):
know, go to friends, weddings,like life milestones for the
people that matter most to me.
And.
I understand that not everyoneas of right now is like, just in
a position to, to clear thatfinancial hurdle and yeah,
they're just like, hey, life isa party.
We may as well try to dance toit and dance our way through
this.
Um, and I have no choice, but torespect that attitude of
(19:13):
dignity.
Right?
Like, because I think peoplehear that, like, you respect
people being reckless andirresponsible and like, let's
not judge 1st of all, um, Butwhat I'm saying, I respect is
that people have just decided,like, what matters to them.
And again, knowing that studentdebt is it's a different kind of
beast, because you quiteliterally cannot get into the
same situation with a mortgageor with a car.
(19:35):
I mean, car, maybe justdepending on if it's like a
really shady dealership.
Credit cards.
Sure.
But it's like to rack up thislevel of debt.
They're all too happy to getstudents hooked in this way
because it's made them billions.
Right.
I mean, we saw Sally and may getit exposed for taking their
whole team.
(19:55):
They got fluid out the Hawaii onthe company dime, right.
When their clients, theircustomers are, you know, going
into default and having tochoose between fritting fricking
food on the table for theirfamilies and paying them back
all this money.
So.
I mean, it's just the way thatit's set up.
I mean, the fact that lobbyistswere successful in passing
(20:17):
legislation in 04 to makestudent loans on dischargeable
by bankruptcy.
It's just like, there'sliterally no way to shake it,
but to either pay it off or diewith it.
Um, so, yeah, I think it's.
It's a tough spot to be in andit just goes back to like why I
get so riled up about makingsure that not only do more
(20:40):
people not getting into thatspot but also shining the light
on these bad actors who havebeen hiding out behind the
curtain and being like y'all'stime is up y'all gotta to get on
with that like it's time for anew system and you know just
burn it down and start again.
Sabine (20:55):
Yeah, I love your passion as, as, as it goes with
money.
Right.
And, and this is based on workthat I've, I've had to do
personally, um, work that I've,I've, uh, connected with other
financial professionals.
There's the, there's a piecearound.
I call it the technical aspectright or the practical aspect of
knowing how to make decisionsaround money or understanding
(21:19):
how to read you know that 15page contract that they send you
even if it's student loans orit's a it's a credit card or
whatever the case may be.
And then there's also the, the.
piece that we don't see, right?
The mindset, the mental, theemotional, the, the
psychological aspect around ourattachments and the meaning that
(21:40):
we give to money.
And I think that, you know, aswe're thinking about, how do we
elevate women?
To the space where they areempowered with their money that
they can, you know, make it,they can grow it, they can keep
it, they can multiply it andwhatnot.
I feel like at the heart of allof this, it always starts with
(22:00):
what does that person reallytruly believe about themselves?
Yes, there will always beexternal factors, but I think
that when it comes to money andthe, the way that we as a
society have put this premium.
On what it means to have moneyand what it means to, you know,
be wealthy and whatnot.
this is a generalization, butoftentimes the driving force
(22:23):
behind us even moving in thatspace of, of going to get these
degrees and accumulating thisdebt.
Is this hope of, okay, this isgoing to be the thing that like
gets me out, or this is thething that differentiates me, or
this is the thing that opens upmore doors for me.
And because that's our mindsetand that's what we've been
(22:43):
taught, it's.
Sometimes easier to be blindedby.
Okay, but what does this reallymean?
It's almost like we're, we're soengrossed in future self, right,
that we don't recognize how thepresent decisions are are
impacting.
So we're buying time and wedon't realize we're buying time
because, hey, there's a hope ofa bigger financial future.
(23:06):
So many programs out therearound, you know, financial
literacy.
There's so many programs around,you know, just kind of building
your credit and like stuff likethat, which are important
because obviously we know from afinancial literacy perspective,
people need that.
But I feel like there's a deeperwork that's missing in terms of
getting down to the psyche ofindividuals, whether, you know,
(23:29):
it's a younger age or evenadults right now.
To really understanding,identifying where we might have
some money wounds that havebeen, you know, uh, generated or
passed down to us, um, fromfamily members, identifying the
areas or the moments in whichwe've given money, a, a not so
great meaning in our lives, andthen subsequently made decisions
(23:54):
that reflected that.
So I'm curious in, in the, inthe programs that you run.
Do you do a lot of work aroundsome of the healing, around our
money, thoughts, our, ourpatterns and our beliefs.
Briana (24:07):
Like 100%.
And I was really intentionalabout integrating that,
especially into the 35 is a freecurriculum.
Um, so.
To preface, we actually workedwith she's now departed.
Um, unfortunately she ended uphaving conflicts and couldn't
stay on another year, but theincredible Deanna scales, um, by
day she works, uh, as head of Ddiversity inclusion and
(24:29):
belonging at Buzzfeed, but she'salso a finance pro.
Uh, so she came on as a coachand actually helped us custom
build out our curriculum.
And we had meetings every weekand, you know, we went through
different drafts and iterationsbecause I am very much a
perfectionist.
And I was like, I don't knowmoney that well yet, so I'm
trusting you for the content.
(24:50):
But in terms of the structure,like, I know the outcomes I want
for our Prosperettes.
I want them to leave thisfeeling like I can, you know,
like all the people, thenaysayers that you brought up
earlier on Twitter, who love toholler out about, I'll just pay
it off like the rest of us andtake responsibility.
And they just don't get it.
You know, I want, I want them tofeel validated as they go
(25:11):
through it.
Like we're certainly holdingthem to a certain standard and
saying, all right, you know,like it may not have, it started
with them, but it ends with you.
So we're, we're training them totake that agency and because
then you have your power backwhen you're the one who's like,
okay, I'm going to get throughthis, I'm overcoming this.
Um, but certainly the healingpiece comes with that.
(25:32):
And so I, I really do likepride, our whole team and our
culture.
On being a source of support,because I'll tell you, like when
I was starting my journey, youknow, solo, not as a Prosperet,
just like as an individualtrying to put two and two
together, I just turned to theguru.
So many people do Dave Ramsey.
(25:53):
I woke up listening to his show.
I use that as motivation to getthrough those dog days of, you
know, cleaning the gym and likeworking in suffering retail,
like leading up to holidayseason.
And that just.
Made me super clear on my why,but what I hated was the
attitude of Uh, what's the wordcondescension and just how he
(26:16):
will be so quick to just tearpeople a new one.
If they even asked, do I keepaggressively putting money
towards my debt or do I treatmyself?
Well, do you have debt?
You're not treating yourself,your rice and beans and beans
and rice and, you know, no steakin the budget, no fun, no this,
no that.
And, you know, basically lifeis, is beige and gray until
(26:38):
you're debt free.
And so my thing is.
We've we've come up withsomething more like a debt
tolerance where people can gaugewhere they fall on that.
Because I think to say thateverybody should just say, like,
to heck with that I'm done withit.
I mean, I personally am verydead intolerant, so I don't ever
seek to have any more andthat's.
(26:59):
Car credit card, like everythingshort of a mortgage.
And then once I can make enough,pay that down and then I'm
totally debt free.
Um, but some people are like,no, I don't mind leverage and I
don't mind putting things on acredit card and then, you know,
racking up points because I wantto live a more credit based
lifestyle.
So our thing is, I think part ofhealing is establishing your own
(27:20):
identity and finding your voice.
And we seek to be a space wherethat's possible and where people
can feel like Oh, I can call myown shots and I can do a little
bit of both.
I can do what feels comfortable.
I can try a new approach.
So.
100%.
Yes, that's, that's very wellentrenched into our methodology
(27:42):
and in the programming.
Sabine (27:43):
Yeah.
I love that you, you mentionedthat because as a business
owner, at least for mepersonally, because I had racked
up so much debt coming out ofschool and like the first few
years of, you know, learning howto adult, um, I lived off of my
credit cards and I had gotten toa place where I wanted to buy a
home.
My credit was so jacked up and Ihad so much, you know, defaulted
(28:07):
and, and something shifted that,that desire to want to own a
home is what kind of made mestart to look at all of the
stuff that I was ignoring.
So I went through a process.
I think it was about two yearsof, you know, uh, paying down,
uh, uh, charge offs and all thisother stuff too.
I got to a point where I couldbuy a home and then it was
(28:28):
because not that.
It was a little exhausting.
It was a little emotionallyexhausting to go through that
process.
But I got to a point where I wasjust like, I am not messing with
debt anymore.
Like no more, never again.
Will I be entangled and dah,dah, dah, dah, dah.
And as a business owner, Iremember, you know, coming
across, uh, the, theconversation around leveraging,
(28:48):
right.
You know, as you grow yourbusiness, you need capital, you
need everything.
And my mindset was, no, I'mgoing to work for it.
I'm going to do all the thingsthat I'm going to work for it.
But it was almost like there wasa part of me that needed to
understand, okay, this versionof you needed to go through that
process and understand it inthis capacity, in this
(29:09):
environment, it's okay.
And leverage, you know, the, thepast mistakes, if you will, to
really look at how do you wantto show up or how do you want
debt to play a role in your lifetoday?
And so even that for me wasanother.
Pivotal moment of going back andhealing based on like the
(29:30):
decisions and the, the ramennoodles, the years of ramen
noodles to recognize that, okay,I'm in a different place.
Um, I have different tools nowand I can move forward in a
place that's a lot moreconscious and aware.
Of the decisions that I'm makingand I have resources, right?
Like I didn't know, I mean, Iknew about financial advisors,
(29:53):
like back when things werehappening, but you don't think
as a college student or freshout of college, I go, I should
have a final financial advisor.
No one's making that.
Um, so I love the fact that you.
Don't limit it to this narrowlane.
Like this is the only way thatyou can succeed because we know
there's, you know, multiple waysto build wealth, to build
(30:14):
financial stability.
Um, but that you really givepeople the option to explore.
What makes sense for me, becausethat's what's going to make it
sustainable.
Um, if people try to like gointo this lane, they'll
naturally similar to the, to thelottery effect, they will go
back to their reset point.
Um, so I love that you'veincorporated that into your
program and that you create thatspace for people to have that
(30:37):
agency be empowered and make thedecisions that they feel are
right for them.
Briana (30:42):
What they have for sure.
And, and part of it too, I don'tknow if you're familiar with the
Nellie Espinel, miss be helpful.
Oh gosh.
She's a force in finance.
She's been doing work in thisroom for the better part of the
last five years.
And we've done, you know, somany conversations like these
and we had a great dialogue, uh,in April as part of financial
literacy month.
(31:03):
And yeah, we were just talkingabout, you know, like breaking
mentally out of those confinesand then also.
Making an analogous to weightloss.
She's like, I love that.
Let's run with that.
You know, we just talked about,it's like, okay, it really is
just, you know, conscientiousconscientiousness and
stewardship, because if you'refollowing a certain, um, you
(31:26):
know, lifestyle, when it comesto your physical wellness, if
you have goals that you'reserious about achieving, you
know, you don't have a ton ofwiggle room to splurge on, you
know, cake and the desserts and,you know, all the treats that
get thrown your way.
And it's like, But at the sametime, if someone offers you an
extra helping and you're like,you know what?
I'm cool.
(31:46):
If I need, you know, to likemake up for this somehow, or if
I'm just going to be a littlebit further away from meeting my
target, like, okay, so now I'mdown to 20 percent body fat next
January, as opposed to thisOctober, right?
Like just being flexible withyourself and giving yourself
that grace to adjust with lifeand to not be so married to
(32:07):
hitting a certain milestone thatYou are depriving yourself in
every way and it's no longerenjoyable.
I mean, certainly, you know,discipline is not always
enjoyable and it is a balance,but it's like, that's where
discernment comes in to knowwhen you're acting up.
And when it's like, all right,like, you've fallen off the
wagon and then you need to getserious again versus.
(32:29):
I stay serious.
I stay committed.
I stay intentional, but I'm alsohuman.
And I deserve to be able to, youknow, treat myself within
reason.
And if I need to adjust a goal,I can do that.
And debt is, is really likegetting, you know, getting in
shape.
It's like, okay, if I have agoal to be completely debt free
by the holidays of next year,then that means I need to pay
(32:52):
off X amount month over month.
And then.
Assuming nothing changes eitherjob loss or change of income and
in either scenario again, it'san adjustment.
Oh, I got a promotion.
Great.
That was the timeline up 3 extramonths or snap.
My client didn't renew.
So now I'm looking at maybeanother 6 months.
So I think it's just yeah, like,all about.
(33:14):
Giving people that mentalframework so that they know to
be kind and patient withthemselves and they don't burn
the heck out and then just belike, well, I'm a waste.
I can't ever escape this.
Like, I just I'm 1 of theunlucky few who will never make
it happen.
And we're here to remind people.
You absolutely can't make ithappen.
Like, don't let those 30 year.
(33:35):
defaults, you know, uh, thatthey, that they set you up for
these loans, make you think thatyou have to spend a life like
this.
Um, you know, our thing is likethe solution is always to make
more money.
And as you know, that's easiersaid than done, obviously.
So it's like, we're here to justbe the training wheels and to
build people up as they tap intotheir potential to do that.
Sabine (33:57):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love that.
And I want to reiterate this,especially when it comes to
money, when it comes to women.
There's so much guilt and shamethat's wrapped into our
relationship with money, um,hidden underneath the surface,
right?
That it, again, you can give,like, all of the information,
(34:17):
like, you know, this is anasset, this is a liability, and,
you know, all of that stuff, butIf that person is unable to get
the support that they need toget to the root of what were
some of your initialconversations in the house
around money?
What were some of the initialemotions that were elicited when
it came to conversations aboutmoney?
(34:39):
Are you asking about money?
Are you asking for things?
I think that there is just a,there's, there's a need for
healing.
Um, you know, it sounds, it maysound a little woo.
But I think there's a part of itthat goes into the practical and
the tactical and the strategicaspect of how do we move forward
and how we make decisions, butif we're not willing to look at
(35:00):
each and every one of usindividually, and the, the
meanings, the, the beliefs thatwe have attached to it based on
what was given to us, it'salmost like we can move forward.
But it'll be in increments, verysmall increments, or we can move
forward and then find ourselves,um, retracting back.
And then it also builds intothat whole mindset.
(35:22):
And you mentioned it before,right?
Sometimes you can't out earnthis debt, right?
So even that mindset of justkeep working, just keep working,
just keep working.
It keeps people on this hamsterwheel and the value and the
quality of life that they get toexperience is so much less.
Um, so I appreciate the workthat you're doing.
(35:44):
I appreciate the work thatindividuals like Barbara Welch,
uh, who was on the show a fewweeks ago, uh, her focus is
really around the good life.
And it's really looking atholistically, what do you want
to create and then how do weaddress each one of these
buckets?
Um, so for those of you who arelistening, who, you know, maybe
from a student loan perspective,you have had some challenges or
(36:06):
you're facing some challengesand really want to understand.
Um, and then we'll of this orwhat resources are available?
Obviously we'll link all of, uh,Brianna's information in, in the
show notes.
Um, so please connect with her.
Please reach out, um, you know,find the support that you need.
Um, and in the time being, uh,before we get into like the
(36:28):
actual links to get to it, I'mcurious.
I have three questions for youfor our blitz section here.
Um, and then we'll, we'll letyou go.
Um, so as you think about, Oh,Everything that you've learned
up until this point, if youcould go back to a younger
version of yourself and give hersome advice that you think would
have been pivotal for her growthand her development, what might
(36:48):
that be?
Briana (36:50):
I would say specifically in the vein of educating myself.
Um, it's hard to like sum up inlike a quick snapshot, but I
think, you know, where I was at18, I was split the fence.
Like, okay, do I stay at a localschool?
And like, basically the wholething is paid for minus 20 K.
Do I go to this Ivy leagueschool?
(37:11):
And it would be do what isreasonable.
Like, don't do it to try toprove a point, like do it for
the right reasons.
I think that's, that's my quicksoundbite.
Do do it at it being educationand following an educational
path for the right reasons.
Sabine (37:25):
Yeah, love that.
And as you think ahead, um, youknow, as your, I believe that
every day we get to buildlegacy, right?
So as you think ahead, and youknow, you're looking back on
your life, what do you want thenarrative to be?
Briana (37:41):
That she was not afraid to raise hell, because I love
the fact that I've gotten toreally do the work I'm doing by
having a disruptive spirit.
Um, And just the fact that I canbe that snag, you know, I think
about clothing, how sweaters andclothes don't fall apart usually
(38:05):
by being like burned up as awhole.
It's like 1 tiny snag just, youknow, hooking onto something 1
good time is enough to unravelthe whole thing over time.
So I want my legacy to be that.
I was proud to be that snag inthis destructive system.
Sabine (38:20):
Ah, I love that.
I love that you've identified oryou identify with having a
disruptive spirit.
That's awesome.
And then final question for youin this split section as you
think about some books that havebeen helpful to you or
supportive to you or even youknow just from a financial
literacy perspective orempowerment.
(38:42):
You know, are there any booksthat stand out for you.
So I haven't
Briana (38:47):
read any that have been like solely on money just yet.
I mean, I did read on it bySally Krawcheck, who of course,
you know, co founded Ellevest.
Um, and I've been doing a lotmore following certain accounts
when it comes to money.
So I do have next on my readlist, uh, the, I will teach you
book by Ramit Sethi, who is nowhaving his moment on Netflix
(39:09):
with the namesake documentaryseries.
Um, So even just from thepreview that I've checked out so
far, I know that's going to be agreat read, but, uh, in terms of
others, you know, I'll go aheadand plug in Ellie.
She's got mind your money comingout May 30th and, um, you know,
I've gotten a little bit of ateaser on that read too.
So I know that there's greatworks being put out there.
(39:32):
And I have like so many more onmy want to read list, but I've
usually been reading about likegeneral self help and, and
business building.
So this is the year that I'mfinally pivoting more into like
getting into the nuts and boltsof finance reads.
Sabine (39:46):
Yeah.
So on the self help side, isthere one book that stands out
for you as like, uh, like I gotto go back to this multiple
times?
Definitely,
Briana (39:56):
uh, I would say a tie between so good.
They can't ignore you by CalNewport and the power broke by
Damon John.
And I think just identifyingwith my entrepreneurial
inclination before I had anysort of framework for TPP.
And before I knew what any ofthis journey would entail.
I just remember.
(40:16):
Flipping through, especially thepages of, of Damon's book and
being like, yes, like makingsomething out of nothing and
being hungry.
And I knew I wasn't crazy.
And, you know, people areliterally like, in my family,
friends, whomever, they're like,literally laughing at me for
working a real retail job,despite having this Ivy league
degree.
But guess what?
(40:37):
I know the path that I'm on andI know that this is going to set
me up for something.
And even if I can't see it yet,it's like just that validation
of people who have not just beenthrough it, but are now shiny
examples of what happens whenyou stick it out and can come
through on the other side.
I was like, that's all I need tosee is that there's hope here.
Sabine (40:57):
Uh, I love that.
Thank you.
Um, and we will include, uh,these links to the, uh, in the
show notes as well.
Uh, so before I let you go,Brie, if, if, as people are
watching this or listening tothis, uh, when it airs as the
podcast and they want to connectwith you, uh, what's the best
place for them to, to do so?
Briana (41:17):
Yes, so I am all over call it, uh, linked Instagram.
So both of those platforms arewhere you can find both me
personally, and then alsocreating content on behalf of
the prosperity project, um,because it sounds identical and
it's hard to make thisdifferentiation.
Make sure that if you do look usup there on our website, which
(41:38):
is the prosperity project dotorg, you're spelling prosperity
with an a, instead of an E.
that was an intentional namechange that I made within a
couple of days of the founding,because the original spelling
was taken.
But also it's a combination ofprosperity and parody.
Um, and yeah, so those are ourmain links to, you know, stay
(41:59):
connected with us.
Sabine (42:00):
Awesome.
Awesome.
So we will definitely be sure tolink that.
And then certainly, you know,just just continue to to support
the project because it is anonprofit I assume that you
also.
Receive donations for people whomight be thinking I'm not in
that space, but I want tosupport this and I want to be a
part of this, uh, this movementor this disruption, they can
donate as well.
(42:21):
Correct?
Indeed.
Briana (42:22):
Yes, we are a fully tax deductible 501 C3 operating
organization.
Sabine (42:28):
Okay.
Awesome.
Awesome.
So everything will be in there.
Brianna, thank you again, uh,for this conversation.
Thank you for your passion in,in literally breaking chains,
um, and, and rewriting, if youwill, um, old rules that no
longer apply or no longer, um,valid, uh, for this generation
(42:48):
and certainly the generations tocome.
So thank you for being such a, Awonderful world role model.
Sometimes it's in the, it's inthe most negative, painful
experiences in which, you know,innovation is birth, but also
purpose.
Um, and so it sounds like youhave identified a, a avenue, if
you will, or a lane in which youcan, you know, make an impact on
(43:10):
this world.
And so I'm, I'm excited to watchyou flourish, watch you grow,
watch you plow, um, and, andbreak some of these generational
systems.
Briana (43:20):
Oh, thank you.
That means so much.
And just again, thank you forbeing such a gracious host, both
with amazing questions, and thenalso fielding the snafus we kept
running into earlier.
I'm so glad that we were able topull this off.
I mean, the hour literallyzipped by like that because, you
know, I could talk about thisall day.
So just thank you again for theplatform and opportunity.
Sabine (43:40):
Absolutely.
It's been my pleasure.
For those of you who arelistening on the podcast, be
sure to connect with Bri send meany questions at support at
Sabine Gideon.
com.
Have a great rest of the day.
Hope you enjoyed this week'sepisode.
If you found today'sconversation helpful or got a
piece of insight that you planto implement in your life, I'd
(44:01):
love to hear from you.
Connect with me on LinkedIn atSabine Gideon and send me a
message, or feel free to leave areview on either Apple or
Spotify.
I also invite you to share thisepisode with anyone in your
network, another powerhouse,possibly.
Who you think might benefit fromtoday's conversation.
Lastly, as always, any links,any resources, or any upcoming
(44:22):
training is included in the shownotes.
So be sure to check that beforeyou leave today.
Until we chat again, have ablessed and powerful week.
Are you tired of playing smalland ready to step confidently
into your greatness and shareyour unique brilliance with the
world?
Well, you're in the right place.
I'm your host, Sabine Gideon,and I've dedicated nearly two
decades empowering individualsand leaders as they confidently
navigate the twists and turns oflife and career transitions.
If you're seeking direction,connection, or just a little
(00:22):
push to play bigger, considerthis podcast, your VIP path to a
community that genuinelyunderstands your journey.
Join me every week for candidconversations and practical
guidance designed to help younavigate the challenges of life
and business, foster a growthmindset and cultivate meaningful
connections.
It's time to embrace yourinherent power, define your
(00:44):
unique purpose and prosper inevery aspect of your life.
Let's get started.
Sabine (00:55):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of our power of
money series I am your host,Sabine Gideon.
I'm excited to have RihannaFranklin here as our guest.
Real quick, Brianna Brie is abusinesswoman, philanthropist
and student debt expert andthought leader with a passion
for social economic and holisticempowerment for black girls and
(01:19):
women.
Having taken on a financialburden of nearly 120, 000 in
student debt Through herundergraduate studies, Brie has
developed an acute appreciationfor the challenges many student
debt holders experience.
She has formed the ProsperityProject, as a solution for
eradicating these systemicbarriers.
(01:40):
With that, welcome to the show,Brianna.
So excited to dig in and havethis conversation with you.
Briana (01:46):
Yes, thank you for the warm intro.
It's so awesome to be here.
Sabine (01:49):
Absolutely.
I mean, you know, this, thispower of money series is really
birthed out of the need ofthroughout all sectors of
society, right?
As we look at, you know, what'shappening in the market, we look
at what's happening inleadership and we look at where,
you know, The biggest financialdisparities lie and it's with,
you know, it's with women, um,and certainly women of color and
(02:11):
you can, you know, drill downeven further with those
demographics.
And so this series is reallymeant to empower women to not
only, you know, um, uh, talkabout money, cause that's a
huge, that's a huge barrier forus, but to really gain some
tools and some practicalknowledge around.
What does that mean to, whatdoes it look like to be
(02:32):
financially empowered?
What does it look like to, youknow, leverage the income or the
resources that we do have tomaximize it, to grow it, um,
beyond just our day to dayneeds, but what does that look
like in impacting ourcommunities, impacting the
generations behind us?
And so you are at a pivotalpoint in this.
(02:53):
You're now talking about notonly some of the financial
decisions that perhaps we had tomake, uh, in, in previous parts
of our lives, but how even thesedecisions, these financial
decisions that we've had to makewhen we were younger adolescents
have impacted or, you know,continue to impact us even in
(03:13):
our adulthood.
So before I get into thejuiciness here, I would love for
you to walk us through yourjourney.
for having me.
And you know, what, what reallyinspired you and provoked you to
create this project and howyou're leveraging it today to
support women.
Briana (03:30):
So I just want to say, I, I really adore your use of
the word provoke, because Ithink people often ask me that
they're like, what made you getstarted or what led you to this?
And it was being provoked.
It was a very, You know, a roughpatch in my life and a very
major instance of turning lemonsinto lemonade.
So I graduated from undergrad.
(03:51):
Most people don't believe mewhen I say it because I have a
baby face, but six years agoand, um, leading up to that.
So, you know, my whole backstoryis I was the first in my family
to go Ivy league.
So I grew up hearing thingsbecause I was a straight a
principals list honor rollstudent.
You get the picture, you know,people are like, Oh, you've got
to go to an Ivy league schooland basically.
(04:12):
Setting the message that if Ididn't get a degree like that, I
was falling short of mypotential.
So, um, I was very intentionalabout trying to get into 1.
so I ended up choosing Dartmouthand, um, while I was there, I
had silently racked up about a100, 000 dollars in student debt
principle and mind you, I haveno idea about that because the
(04:33):
paperwork is so nebulous andit's just, you know, like, just
sign here.
Take this, this very mundanequiz, just so we can say we've
done our.
Technically to inform you ofwhat you're doing.
And then, um, yeah, so I, I letthat debt accumulate and then I
came out, you know, because ofthe grace period, you don't
really have to think about it orworry about it too much, but
(04:54):
then it just like smacked meupside the head about two years
later, once the interest set in,especially on the private loans
and.
It came out to about 16, 000 ofinterest on top of that hundred
K.
So I was, you know, close to120, 000.
I felt like I was beingstrangled to death, honestly, by
that debt.
And going back to why it was aninstance of being provoked, you
(05:18):
know, I mean, I don't know ifanyone listening has ever
experienced being late, but.
I mean, they, they go to like noend, um, to get their money.
And so just being hounded andharassed by Sally May, um, you
know, just by the loan companiesand then having other types of
debt that I had racked up too,just through my ignorance of
(05:40):
money, um, I was in a reallytight spot and this was like
summer 2019 and I had fallen sobehind on my loans that I
actually, my credit dropped ahundred.
20 points overnight, uh,somewhere between 120, 150
points.
And it was, I was no longercredit worthy as far as most
lenders are concerned.
(06:01):
So out the window went gettingan apartment, being able to
refinance my car loan, all ofthose things.
So, um, I just remember my dadalso sent me an email and he was
very, uh, Passionate to say theleast, because he was a co
signer on those loans.
And he was, you know, like thishurts my chances of refinancing
(06:22):
my home and all these otherthings.
So I just remember saying, I'mnot even going to get defensive.
Cause he's totally right.
I'm going to take back controland I want my life back.
And I remember I rolled up mysleeves and I just got two part
time jobs just to get moneycoming in, like within the week,
and then that carried me throughthe, the, you know, Uh, the last
days of life as we knew it, soMarch 2020 and then, uh, a
(06:45):
global pandemic emerged amongus.
And then I felt like I was backto square 1 unemployed all over
again and just continuouslyhaving to figure that out.
So, in summer of that year.
When George Floyd and blacklives matter erupted, it was
really an instance of, I thoughtto myself before that happened,
I was like, I have too muchgoing for myself.
(07:07):
I have too much to offer theworld to not have anything
happening for me right now, tonot have any income, to not be
doing anything productive ormeaningful with my time.
And I had been readingentrepreneurship books leading
up to that as well.
And it was just sort of like oneof those gut instincts where no
one really outright says to doit, but you just follow that
that direction.
(07:29):
And then I leaned on thosefoundations and got to work.
And then 1 thing led to another,and I ran a survey that data
came in and I was like.
I think I had the makings ofstarting a non profit and then
it just all snowballed fromthere into what it is today.
Sabine (07:44):
Ah, what an amazing story.
Um, and, and, oh my gosh, I, Ican, I can feel the impact,
especially, you know, well, it'sbeen a few more than six years
for me.
Um, but certainly those firstfew years of like, how do you
balance, you know, what'ssupposed to be, you know, they
sold you this like hundred Ksalary when you get out of
(08:05):
school.
So, uh, Lies.
Um, when you're trying tobalance adulting and figuring
life on your own, and you havethese bills that you accumulated
and trying to navigate that.
And so I'm, I'm so happy to hearthat you, while, you know, it
was triggering in many ways, youdidn't, um, you didn't take the
route of being defeated that youdecided to, to take action.
(08:27):
So.
Tell us about the organizationnow and who you work with and
how you support others who arein the same place or, you know,
close to that same place to getout.
Briana (08:39):
Yeah.
So, um, I guess the best way toencapsulate that is during our
mission.
So prosperity projects missionis to completely eradicate.
Yes, I said it.
The now 2 trillion student debtslash predatory lending crisis
as well as close the racialwealth gap for black women once
and for all.
And, I take that charge verypersonally, because I think that
(09:03):
there's so many bad actors atplay.
And, you know, the issues thatwe see on both fronts are the
result of a lot of intentional,um, you know, just greed and
exploitation.
So our organization reallyprides itself on being an
innovator and that.
Um, you know, for ourinitiatives, like our 2 main
programs, we have 35 to free ourflagship and that gets its name
(09:26):
from the 35Billion dollars instudent debt as well as 35
percent rate of financialliteracy that black women hold
collectively.
Um, so that's.
You know, our, our program thatwe hit the ground running with,
but then we've also expandedinto preventative work through
higher, which is an acronymversus higher as in higher
education, where we help highschoolers avoid, like, high
(09:49):
schools of all race and genderbackgrounds avoided to begin
with.
And so we really through both ofthose programs are innovating
because.
A lot of similar entities willjust enable a broken system,
right?
Like we see so much conversationwith high school is around.
Well, college is expensive andpeople talk about it as though.
(10:10):
Well, you know, it's hurricaneseason.
What can you do if you live inFlorida?
Right?
And we're like, no, just tellingpeople to get more scholarships
to keep up with these crazy hightuition rates is not the answer.
We need to be.
Taking a step back and asking,does college even make sense for
every child?
And the answer is absolutely aresounding no.
(10:31):
And then for those, it does makesense for, as in, we'll make
them directly more employableand lead to more profits.
How can we equip them with the,with the awareness and the
skills to be able to.
You know, navigate the financialpiece if they can't write a
check at the parents, you know,don't have it like that and they
will need to borrow to make ithappen.
(10:53):
35 to free is innovating in theway that we're not simply just
paying down the student debt ofblack women.
Like, that is 1 of the aspectsthat I'm proudest of, because I
think everyone tries to tiptoearound that and they're like,
refinance consolidate.
Um, you know, get a personalloan and, and they just want to
dance around it and not actuallyget it out the way.
(11:13):
But we're like, no, we're goingto help you actually get this
out the way.
But it goes beyond that becausewe're also arming our
Prosperettes, the black womenwho go through the program with
financial guidance.
Because if you don't have thatpiece, then what can happen is
the lottery winner effect where,you know, you read about, I
think it's a third or twothirds.
(11:34):
Um, Sorry, I'm not clear on thestat, but it's a significant
chunk of lottery winners who gobroke because they don't have a
management plan for theirearnings.
And then also we don't want tocreate a codependency effect
where they're like, well, I wasleaning on y'all to get out of
debt.
Now that I'm out of the program,what do I do?
Like we're building them up sothat they can far exceed what we
do for them as they continue tomake more money and go through
(11:56):
their career.
So, um, All that's to say, youknow, like we, we try to be very
cutting edge in our solutions sothat we're making lasting change
and not just putting a bandaidon a broken bone.
Sabine (12:07):
Yes.
Oh my gosh.
I love, I love all of that.
And, and so we know thatespecially within the last few
years that black women inparticular are like the most
educated, uh, demographic but noone's really talking about,
well, How much did it cost them?
Um, similar to you, I'm firstgeneration, everything.
And so my, my family did nothave the resources.
(12:30):
And so my only understanding ofhow I could make it possible was
to take on all of these, um,student loans that again, to
this day, I'm still paying off.
And so it's almost like this,this dream that we're sold of
what, you know, is the Americandream or what is the way to get
ahead in society, right?
But the details around the costof that dream are often hidden
(12:53):
from those who are the onespursuing it.
So I love the fact that you are,you know, not only just helping
and supporting people who havegotten in that bind, um, today,
but really trying to prevent itin those who are, uh,
transitioning from, you know,high school into college.
I was reading this book and, andit was actually through a, a
(13:14):
person Former like financialadvisor and you know, we have
first of all the financialliteracy and we're just coming
out of financial literacy month,but the percentage of financial
literacy is low across alldemographics as it is, um, but
For so many years, there's beena focus on financial literacy
versus financial efficacybecause you know, the truth of
(13:37):
the matter is there arefinancial advisors, there are
people who are in this space whocan manage money for or who know
about money or who can makemoney.
But at the same time, they areignorant in terms of like how it
really works and how, what thedifference is between making
money and being able to buildmoney that builds wealth, that
builds something that's greater.
(13:58):
Um, and so it sounds likeyou're, crossing the line from,
you're still supporting in thefinancial, um, literacy aspect,
but you're also moving intolet's, let's help you be
effective so that you're not,you know, You're not ignorant to
how money works overall andbeyond just how to make money.
Is that accurate?
(14:19):
Absolutely.
Briana (14:20):
Yeah, that's really that nails it because we want to make
sure that, you know, we'replanting seeds so that it's a
lingering effect sort of dealand that, you know, the best is
yet to come for our prosperous.
Um, and also for the highschoolers that we've engaged
with, because I know that frommy experience, you know, my
parents, they did the best theycould what they had.
So I don't hold any, you know,shame or, you know, Um,
(14:43):
animosity over them because theywere working with what they had
and that goes all the way back,you know, by the generation, but
it's like, at some point, thatcycle has to be broken if we're
going to level up, like, as aculture, as a community.
Um, but then to your point, too,I think, like, just across the
different intersection alitiesof race and gender, it's pretty
(15:04):
bad overall, because I thinkwhat we saw really coming out
of, you know, like, the.
Once we hit theindustrialization period and
like, just leading up to modernsociety, it was like, these
things didn't need to beoutright taught because number
one, there weren't these massiveperils of predatory lending in
this way.
And also it was just like, okay,you could scrape two cents
(15:26):
together and, you know, investthat.
And then, you know, just thebarriers to entry were so much
lower back Inflation wasn't evena thing a hundred plus years
ago.
So It's like with the timeschanging, we have to catch up
and we're trying to catch youngpeople up because now it's like
you can certainly wade your wayinto debt, but you cannot wade
(15:47):
your way out at least to acertain level.
I mean, maybe if you're talking5 grand, okay, but at the at the
crippling crushing amounts thatso many people are graduating
with, it's like.
People are saying, well, I just,I guess I'm just never going to
own a home.
I guess I'm never going to beable to start a family, get
married, travel, do anything Ilove because I'm enslaved to
(16:09):
this lender for the rest of theforeseeable future.
so we definitely want to justlike shatter that whole
precedent that's now been setand do the grunt work that's,
that's required to startleveling the playing field
again.
Sabine (16:23):
Yeah, yeah.
Um, you made me remember I, Ihad a doctor on, on my show and
she had shared that she came outof school with 400, 000 worth of
debt.
And it's like, Oh my gosh, likeyou never think about that
because you just assume thatcertain professions, like they
just make money and they're notcarrying all of this, but it's,
(16:46):
it's actually a lot worse.
Um, you look at gen Z, you know,many of them, even millennials,
uh, to an extent, to your point,many of them are foregoing these
things that were, Again, tied tothe American dream of owning a
home and starting a family andbeing able to do this.
And now they're just at thespace where they're like, okay,
(17:06):
if I'm going to have to carrythese financial burdens, then
I'm going to live life.
Right.
And whatever that means, right.
It's no longer this.
Um, this, uh, sense ofobligation of holding of like,
Oh my gosh, it's almost like ifI could describe it this way,
not a giving up, but it's almostlike if this is the burden that
I have to carry for this long,then how do I make the best of
(17:29):
life?
And so that's actually shiftedhow they approach work, how they
approach careers, how theyapproach everything.
Briana (17:39):
Yeah, I think that's spot on.
And I feel like people are justreclaiming their sense of
existence because I think, youknow, at first glance, it's just
like the natural instinct is tocry, to scream, you know, to
bang your head against the wall.
Like this isn't fair.
I can't believe people did thisto me.
And to be clear, like all ofthose feelings are totally valid
because it is the system at workas opposed to people just being
(18:03):
dumb and irrational and bad withmoney.
It's like.
People are set up for failure.
It's not like they just went andracked up a ton of gambling
debt, you know, getting drunk ata Vegas casino.
Like this was by design becauseof things like subprime lending.
And people were just totallyeyes shut to that because
they're expecting these peopleto act with integrity, like the
(18:26):
way they used to, so, no, I'm,I'm so, when I hear people who
are like, you know what, thatdebt, it's just, It is what it
is.
And, you know, some people likeI just do the bare minimum to
keep it current because ofcredit.
Others are like, I have given upall hope because I missed out on
10 years of getting to celebratewith my family, getting to, you
(18:47):
know, go to friends, weddings,like life milestones for the
people that matter most to me.
And.
I understand that not everyoneas of right now is like, just in
a position to, to clear thatfinancial hurdle and yeah,
they're just like, hey, life isa party.
We may as well try to dance toit and dance our way through
this.
Um, and I have no choice, but torespect that attitude of
(19:13):
dignity.
Right?
Like, because I think peoplehear that, like, you respect
people being reckless andirresponsible and like, let's
not judge 1st of all, um, Butwhat I'm saying, I respect is
that people have just decided,like, what matters to them.
And again, knowing that studentdebt is it's a different kind of
beast, because you quiteliterally cannot get into the
same situation with a mortgageor with a car.
(19:35):
I mean, car, maybe justdepending on if it's like a
really shady dealership.
Credit cards.
Sure.
But it's like to rack up thislevel of debt.
They're all too happy to getstudents hooked in this way
because it's made them billions.
Right.
I mean, we saw Sally and may getit exposed for taking their
whole team.
(19:55):
They got fluid out the Hawaii onthe company dime, right.
When their clients, theircustomers are, you know, going
into default and having tochoose between fritting fricking
food on the table for theirfamilies and paying them back
all this money.
So.
I mean, it's just the way thatit's set up.
I mean, the fact that lobbyistswere successful in passing
(20:17):
legislation in 04 to makestudent loans on dischargeable
by bankruptcy.
It's just like, there'sliterally no way to shake it,
but to either pay it off or diewith it.
Um, so, yeah, I think it's.
It's a tough spot to be in andit just goes back to like why I
get so riled up about makingsure that not only do more
(20:40):
people not getting into thatspot but also shining the light
on these bad actors who havebeen hiding out behind the
curtain and being like y'all'stime is up y'all gotta to get on
with that like it's time for anew system and you know just
burn it down and start again.
Sabine (20:55):
Yeah, I love your passion as, as, as it goes with
money.
Right.
And, and this is based on workthat I've, I've had to do
personally, um, work that I've,I've, uh, connected with other
financial professionals.
There's the, there's a piecearound.
I call it the technical aspectright or the practical aspect of
knowing how to make decisionsaround money or understanding
(21:19):
how to read you know that 15page contract that they send you
even if it's student loans orit's a it's a credit card or
whatever the case may be.
And then there's also the, the.
piece that we don't see, right?
The mindset, the mental, theemotional, the, the
psychological aspect around ourattachments and the meaning that
(21:40):
we give to money.
And I think that, you know, aswe're thinking about, how do we
elevate women?
To the space where they areempowered with their money that
they can, you know, make it,they can grow it, they can keep
it, they can multiply it andwhatnot.
I feel like at the heart of allof this, it always starts with
(22:00):
what does that person reallytruly believe about themselves?
Yes, there will always beexternal factors, but I think
that when it comes to money andthe, the way that we as a
society have put this premium.
On what it means to have moneyand what it means to, you know,
be wealthy and whatnot.
this is a generalization, butoftentimes the driving force
(22:23):
behind us even moving in thatspace of, of going to get these
degrees and accumulating thisdebt.
Is this hope of, okay, this isgoing to be the thing that like
gets me out, or this is thething that differentiates me, or
this is the thing that opens upmore doors for me.
And because that's our mindsetand that's what we've been
(22:43):
taught, it's.
Sometimes easier to be blindedby.
Okay, but what does this reallymean?
It's almost like we're, we're soengrossed in future self, right,
that we don't recognize how thepresent decisions are are
impacting.
So we're buying time and wedon't realize we're buying time
because, hey, there's a hope ofa bigger financial future.
(23:06):
So many programs out therearound, you know, financial
literacy.
There's so many programs around,you know, just kind of building
your credit and like stuff likethat, which are important
because obviously we know from afinancial literacy perspective,
people need that.
But I feel like there's a deeperwork that's missing in terms of
getting down to the psyche ofindividuals, whether, you know,
(23:29):
it's a younger age or evenadults right now.
To really understanding,identifying where we might have
some money wounds that havebeen, you know, uh, generated or
passed down to us, um, fromfamily members, identifying the
areas or the moments in whichwe've given money, a, a not so
great meaning in our lives, andthen subsequently made decisions
(23:54):
that reflected that.
So I'm curious in, in the, inthe programs that you run.
Do you do a lot of work aroundsome of the healing, around our
money, thoughts, our, ourpatterns and our beliefs.
Briana (24:07):
Like 100%.
And I was really intentionalabout integrating that,
especially into the 35 is a freecurriculum.
Um, so.
To preface, we actually workedwith she's now departed.
Um, unfortunately she ended uphaving conflicts and couldn't
stay on another year, but theincredible Deanna scales, um, by
day she works, uh, as head of Ddiversity inclusion and
(24:29):
belonging at Buzzfeed, but she'salso a finance pro.
Uh, so she came on as a coachand actually helped us custom
build out our curriculum.
And we had meetings every weekand, you know, we went through
different drafts and iterationsbecause I am very much a
perfectionist.
And I was like, I don't knowmoney that well yet, so I'm
trusting you for the content.
(24:50):
But in terms of the structure,like, I know the outcomes I want
for our Prosperettes.
I want them to leave thisfeeling like I can, you know,
like all the people, thenaysayers that you brought up
earlier on Twitter, who love toholler out about, I'll just pay
it off like the rest of us andtake responsibility.
And they just don't get it.
You know, I want, I want them tofeel validated as they go
(25:11):
through it.
Like we're certainly holdingthem to a certain standard and
saying, all right, you know,like it may not have, it started
with them, but it ends with you.
So we're, we're training them totake that agency and because
then you have your power backwhen you're the one who's like,
okay, I'm going to get throughthis, I'm overcoming this.
Um, but certainly the healingpiece comes with that.
(25:32):
And so I, I really do likepride, our whole team and our
culture.
On being a source of support,because I'll tell you, like when
I was starting my journey, youknow, solo, not as a Prosperet,
just like as an individualtrying to put two and two
together, I just turned to theguru.
So many people do Dave Ramsey.
(25:53):
I woke up listening to his show.
I use that as motivation to getthrough those dog days of, you
know, cleaning the gym and likeworking in suffering retail,
like leading up to holidayseason.
And that just.
Made me super clear on my why,but what I hated was the
attitude of Uh, what's the wordcondescension and just how he
(26:16):
will be so quick to just tearpeople a new one.
If they even asked, do I keepaggressively putting money
towards my debt or do I treatmyself?
Well, do you have debt?
You're not treating yourself,your rice and beans and beans
and rice and, you know, no steakin the budget, no fun, no this,
no that.
And, you know, basically lifeis, is beige and gray until
(26:38):
you're debt free.
And so my thing is.
We've we've come up withsomething more like a debt
tolerance where people can gaugewhere they fall on that.
Because I think to say thateverybody should just say, like,
to heck with that I'm done withit.
I mean, I personally am verydead intolerant, so I don't ever
seek to have any more andthat's.
(26:59):
Car credit card, like everythingshort of a mortgage.
And then once I can make enough,pay that down and then I'm
totally debt free.
Um, but some people are like,no, I don't mind leverage and I
don't mind putting things on acredit card and then, you know,
racking up points because I wantto live a more credit based
lifestyle.
So our thing is, I think part ofhealing is establishing your own
(27:20):
identity and finding your voice.
And we seek to be a space wherethat's possible and where people
can feel like Oh, I can call myown shots and I can do a little
bit of both.
I can do what feels comfortable.
I can try a new approach.
So.
100%.
Yes, that's, that's very wellentrenched into our methodology
(27:42):
and in the programming.
Sabine (27:43):
Yeah.
I love that you, you mentionedthat because as a business
owner, at least for mepersonally, because I had racked
up so much debt coming out ofschool and like the first few
years of, you know, learning howto adult, um, I lived off of my
credit cards and I had gotten toa place where I wanted to buy a
home.
My credit was so jacked up and Ihad so much, you know, defaulted
(28:07):
and, and something shifted that,that desire to want to own a
home is what kind of made mestart to look at all of the
stuff that I was ignoring.
So I went through a process.
I think it was about two yearsof, you know, uh, paying down,
uh, uh, charge offs and all thisother stuff too.
I got to a point where I couldbuy a home and then it was
(28:28):
because not that.
It was a little exhausting.
It was a little emotionallyexhausting to go through that
process.
But I got to a point where I wasjust like, I am not messing with
debt anymore.
Like no more, never again.
Will I be entangled and dah,dah, dah, dah, dah.
And as a business owner, Iremember, you know, coming
across, uh, the, theconversation around leveraging,
(28:48):
right.
You know, as you grow yourbusiness, you need capital, you
need everything.
And my mindset was, no, I'mgoing to work for it.
I'm going to do all the thingsthat I'm going to work for it.
But it was almost like there wasa part of me that needed to
understand, okay, this versionof you needed to go through that
process and understand it inthis capacity, in this
(29:09):
environment, it's okay.
And leverage, you know, the, thepast mistakes, if you will, to
really look at how do you wantto show up or how do you want
debt to play a role in your lifetoday?
And so even that for me wasanother.
Pivotal moment of going back andhealing based on like the
(29:30):
decisions and the, the ramennoodles, the years of ramen
noodles to recognize that, okay,I'm in a different place.
Um, I have different tools nowand I can move forward in a
place that's a lot moreconscious and aware.
Of the decisions that I'm makingand I have resources, right?
Like I didn't know, I mean, Iknew about financial advisors,
(29:53):
like back when things werehappening, but you don't think
as a college student or freshout of college, I go, I should
have a final financial advisor.
No one's making that.
Um, so I love the fact that you.
Don't limit it to this narrowlane.
Like this is the only way thatyou can succeed because we know
there's, you know, multiple waysto build wealth, to build
(30:14):
financial stability.
Um, but that you really givepeople the option to explore.
What makes sense for me, becausethat's what's going to make it
sustainable.
Um, if people try to like gointo this lane, they'll
naturally similar to the, to thelottery effect, they will go
back to their reset point.
Um, so I love that you'veincorporated that into your
program and that you create thatspace for people to have that
(30:37):
agency be empowered and make thedecisions that they feel are
right for them.
Briana (30:42):
What they have for sure.
And, and part of it too, I don'tknow if you're familiar with the
Nellie Espinel, miss be helpful.
Oh gosh.
She's a force in finance.
She's been doing work in thisroom for the better part of the
last five years.
And we've done, you know, somany conversations like these
and we had a great dialogue, uh,in April as part of financial
literacy month.
(31:03):
And yeah, we were just talkingabout, you know, like breaking
mentally out of those confinesand then also.
Making an analogous to weightloss.
She's like, I love that.
Let's run with that.
You know, we just talked about,it's like, okay, it really is
just, you know, conscientiousconscientiousness and
stewardship, because if you'refollowing a certain, um, you
(31:26):
know, lifestyle, when it comesto your physical wellness, if
you have goals that you'reserious about achieving, you
know, you don't have a ton ofwiggle room to splurge on, you
know, cake and the desserts and,you know, all the treats that
get thrown your way.
And it's like, But at the sametime, if someone offers you an
extra helping and you're like,you know what?
I'm cool.
(31:46):
If I need, you know, to likemake up for this somehow, or if
I'm just going to be a littlebit further away from meeting my
target, like, okay, so now I'mdown to 20 percent body fat next
January, as opposed to thisOctober, right?
Like just being flexible withyourself and giving yourself
that grace to adjust with lifeand to not be so married to
(32:07):
hitting a certain milestone thatYou are depriving yourself in
every way and it's no longerenjoyable.
I mean, certainly, you know,discipline is not always
enjoyable and it is a balance,but it's like, that's where
discernment comes in to knowwhen you're acting up.
And when it's like, all right,like, you've fallen off the
wagon and then you need to getserious again versus.
(32:29):
I stay serious.
I stay committed.
I stay intentional, but I'm alsohuman.
And I deserve to be able to, youknow, treat myself within
reason.
And if I need to adjust a goal,I can do that.
And debt is, is really likegetting, you know, getting in
shape.
It's like, okay, if I have agoal to be completely debt free
by the holidays of next year,then that means I need to pay
(32:52):
off X amount month over month.
And then.
Assuming nothing changes eitherjob loss or change of income and
in either scenario again, it'san adjustment.
Oh, I got a promotion.
Great.
That was the timeline up 3 extramonths or snap.
My client didn't renew.
So now I'm looking at maybeanother 6 months.
So I think it's just yeah, like,all about.
(33:14):
Giving people that mentalframework so that they know to
be kind and patient withthemselves and they don't burn
the heck out and then just belike, well, I'm a waste.
I can't ever escape this.
Like, I just I'm 1 of theunlucky few who will never make
it happen.
And we're here to remind people.
You absolutely can't make ithappen.
Like, don't let those 30 year.
(33:35):
defaults, you know, uh, thatthey, that they set you up for
these loans, make you think thatyou have to spend a life like
this.
Um, you know, our thing is likethe solution is always to make
more money.
And as you know, that's easiersaid than done, obviously.
So it's like, we're here to justbe the training wheels and to
build people up as they tap intotheir potential to do that.
Sabine (33:57):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love that.
And I want to reiterate this,especially when it comes to
money, when it comes to women.
There's so much guilt and shamethat's wrapped into our
relationship with money, um,hidden underneath the surface,
right?
That it, again, you can give,like, all of the information,
(34:17):
like, you know, this is anasset, this is a liability, and,
you know, all of that stuff, butIf that person is unable to get
the support that they need toget to the root of what were
some of your initialconversations in the house
around money?
What were some of the initialemotions that were elicited when
it came to conversations aboutmoney?
(34:39):
Are you asking about money?
Are you asking for things?
I think that there is just a,there's, there's a need for
healing.
Um, you know, it sounds, it maysound a little woo.
But I think there's a part of itthat goes into the practical and
the tactical and the strategicaspect of how do we move forward
and how we make decisions, butif we're not willing to look at
(35:00):
each and every one of usindividually, and the, the
meanings, the, the beliefs thatwe have attached to it based on
what was given to us, it'salmost like we can move forward.
But it'll be in increments, verysmall increments, or we can move
forward and then find ourselves,um, retracting back.
And then it also builds intothat whole mindset.
(35:22):
And you mentioned it before,right?
Sometimes you can't out earnthis debt, right?
So even that mindset of justkeep working, just keep working,
just keep working.
It keeps people on this hamsterwheel and the value and the
quality of life that they get toexperience is so much less.
Um, so I appreciate the workthat you're doing.
(35:44):
I appreciate the work thatindividuals like Barbara Welch,
uh, who was on the show a fewweeks ago, uh, her focus is
really around the good life.
And it's really looking atholistically, what do you want
to create and then how do weaddress each one of these
buckets?
Um, so for those of you who arelistening, who, you know, maybe
from a student loan perspective,you have had some challenges or
(36:06):
you're facing some challengesand really want to understand.
Um, and then we'll of this orwhat resources are available?
Obviously we'll link all of, uh,Brianna's information in, in the
show notes.
Um, so please connect with her.
Please reach out, um, you know,find the support that you need.
Um, and in the time being, uh,before we get into like the
(36:28):
actual links to get to it, I'mcurious.
I have three questions for youfor our blitz section here.
Um, and then we'll, we'll letyou go.
Um, so as you think about, Oh,Everything that you've learned
up until this point, if youcould go back to a younger
version of yourself and give hersome advice that you think would
have been pivotal for her growthand her development, what might
(36:48):
that be?
Briana (36:50):
I would say specifically in the vein of educating myself.
Um, it's hard to like sum up inlike a quick snapshot, but I
think, you know, where I was at18, I was split the fence.
Like, okay, do I stay at a localschool?
And like, basically the wholething is paid for minus 20 K.
Do I go to this Ivy leagueschool?
(37:11):
And it would be do what isreasonable.
Like, don't do it to try toprove a point, like do it for
the right reasons.
I think that's, that's my quicksoundbite.
Do do it at it being educationand following an educational
path for the right reasons.
Sabine (37:25):
Yeah, love that.
And as you think ahead, um, youknow, as your, I believe that
every day we get to buildlegacy, right?
So as you think ahead, and youknow, you're looking back on
your life, what do you want thenarrative to be?
Briana (37:41):
That she was not afraid to raise hell, because I love
the fact that I've gotten toreally do the work I'm doing by
having a disruptive spirit.
Um, And just the fact that I canbe that snag, you know, I think
about clothing, how sweaters andclothes don't fall apart usually
(38:05):
by being like burned up as awhole.
It's like 1 tiny snag just, youknow, hooking onto something 1
good time is enough to unravelthe whole thing over time.
So I want my legacy to be that.
I was proud to be that snag inthis destructive system.
Sabine (38:20):
Ah, I love that.
I love that you've identified oryou identify with having a
disruptive spirit.
That's awesome.
And then final question for youin this split section as you
think about some books that havebeen helpful to you or
supportive to you or even youknow just from a financial
literacy perspective orempowerment.
(38:42):
You know, are there any booksthat stand out for you.
So I haven't
Briana (38:47):
read any that have been like solely on money just yet.
I mean, I did read on it bySally Krawcheck, who of course,
you know, co founded Ellevest.
Um, and I've been doing a lotmore following certain accounts
when it comes to money.
So I do have next on my readlist, uh, the, I will teach you
book by Ramit Sethi, who is nowhaving his moment on Netflix
(39:09):
with the namesake documentaryseries.
Um, So even just from thepreview that I've checked out so
far, I know that's going to be agreat read, but, uh, in terms of
others, you know, I'll go aheadand plug in Ellie.
She's got mind your money comingout May 30th and, um, you know,
I've gotten a little bit of ateaser on that read too.
So I know that there's greatworks being put out there.
(39:32):
And I have like so many more onmy want to read list, but I've
usually been reading about likegeneral self help and, and
business building.
So this is the year that I'mfinally pivoting more into like
getting into the nuts and boltsof finance reads.
Sabine (39:46):
Yeah.
So on the self help side, isthere one book that stands out
for you as like, uh, like I gotto go back to this multiple
times?
Definitely,
Briana (39:56):
uh, I would say a tie between so good.
They can't ignore you by CalNewport and the power broke by
Damon John.
And I think just identifyingwith my entrepreneurial
inclination before I had anysort of framework for TPP.
And before I knew what any ofthis journey would entail.
I just remember.
(40:16):
Flipping through, especially thepages of, of Damon's book and
being like, yes, like makingsomething out of nothing and
being hungry.
And I knew I wasn't crazy.
And, you know, people areliterally like, in my family,
friends, whomever, they're like,literally laughing at me for
working a real retail job,despite having this Ivy league
degree.
But guess what?
(40:37):
I know the path that I'm on andI know that this is going to set
me up for something.
And even if I can't see it yet,it's like just that validation
of people who have not just beenthrough it, but are now shiny
examples of what happens whenyou stick it out and can come
through on the other side.
I was like, that's all I need tosee is that there's hope here.
Sabine (40:57):
Uh, I love that.
Thank you.
Um, and we will include, uh,these links to the, uh, in the
show notes as well.
Uh, so before I let you go,Brie, if, if, as people are
watching this or listening tothis, uh, when it airs as the
podcast and they want to connectwith you, uh, what's the best
place for them to, to do so?
Briana (41:17):
Yes, so I am all over call it, uh, linked Instagram.
So both of those platforms arewhere you can find both me
personally, and then alsocreating content on behalf of
the prosperity project, um,because it sounds identical and
it's hard to make thisdifferentiation.
Make sure that if you do look usup there on our website, which
(41:38):
is the prosperity project dotorg, you're spelling prosperity
with an a, instead of an E.
that was an intentional namechange that I made within a
couple of days of the founding,because the original spelling
was taken.
But also it's a combination ofprosperity and parody.
Um, and yeah, so those are ourmain links to, you know, stay
(41:59):
connected with us.
Sabine (42:00):
Awesome.
Awesome.
So we will definitely be sure tolink that.
And then certainly, you know,just just continue to to support
the project because it is anonprofit I assume that you
also.
Receive donations for people whomight be thinking I'm not in
that space, but I want tosupport this and I want to be a
part of this, uh, this movementor this disruption, they can
donate as well.
(42:21):
Correct?
Indeed.
Briana (42:22):
Yes, we are a fully tax deductible 501 C3 operating
organization.
Sabine (42:28):
Okay.
Awesome.
Awesome.
So everything will be in there.
Brianna, thank you again, uh,for this conversation.
Thank you for your passion in,in literally breaking chains,
um, and, and rewriting, if youwill, um, old rules that no
longer apply or no longer, um,valid, uh, for this generation
(42:48):
and certainly the generations tocome.
So thank you for being such a, Awonderful world role model.
Sometimes it's in the, it's inthe most negative, painful
experiences in which, you know,innovation is birth, but also
purpose.
Um, and so it sounds like youhave identified a, a avenue, if
you will, or a lane in which youcan, you know, make an impact on
(43:10):
this world.
And so I'm, I'm excited to watchyou flourish, watch you grow,
watch you plow, um, and, andbreak some of these generational
systems.
Briana (43:20):
Oh, thank you.
That means so much.
And just again, thank you forbeing such a gracious host, both
with amazing questions, and thenalso fielding the snafus we kept
running into earlier.
I'm so glad that we were able topull this off.
I mean, the hour literallyzipped by like that because, you
know, I could talk about thisall day.
So just thank you again for theplatform and opportunity.
Sabine (43:40):
Absolutely.
It's been my pleasure.
For those of you who arelistening on the podcast, be
sure to connect with Bri send meany questions at support at
Sabine Gideon.
com.
Have a great rest of the day.
Hope you enjoyed this week'sepisode.
If you found today'sconversation helpful or got a
piece of insight that you planto implement in your life, I'd
(44:01):
love to hear from you.
Connect with me on LinkedIn atSabine Gideon and send me a
message, or feel free to leave areview on either Apple or
Spotify.
I also invite you to share thisepisode with anyone in your
network, another powerhouse,possibly.
Who you think might benefit fromtoday's conversation.
Lastly, as always, any links,any resources, or any upcoming
(44:22):
training is included in the shownotes.
So be sure to check that beforeyou leave today.
Until we chat again, have ablessed and powerful week.
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