Alex Harvey, Money Coach
"My first major learning around money was that it’s not about what you earn, it’s about what you do with what you earn. I went out of uni as an engineer onto a $102k pay package. Before starting that job, after 4 years of being a full-time student and working on the side, I had about $5k in my bank account. After my first year working full-time on that wonderful salary, I had around $8k in my bank account. I was HORRIFIED. What the hell did I do with all that money?
I changed my approach and budgeted for the first time with really awesome results… that was until I decided to leave my full-time job to follow my passion. In 6 short months, I’d spent my entire life savings and had barely figured out how to get paid at all being self-employed… I realised that this was a whole different ball game and that managing money when you’re self-employed takes a lot more skill and focus than getting paid a regular paycheck.
Panic-stricken about how I was going to pay my rent and buy food I did what any good engineer would do… I created system, a money management system to get crystal clear on all my numbers, how much I needed to be bringing in, how I was going to do that and how I could start getting savings back in the bank using a purpose-driven approach. Well, after 12 months of laser focus on following my system and working on my mindset I had $30k back in the bank without a full-time job or thriving business… it’s not so much about what you earn, but what you do with what you earn.
I became hugely passionate about money in the process because I realised that my ability to earn in a way that was meaningful to me and my ability to manage my money effectively was my ability to create a fulfilling life I love where I have the means to live by my values. This led me to eventually become a money coach and help others do the same as me, both changing their relationship to money and developing practical skills to manage money more effectively. I find this work deeply fulfilling as I get to witness what a profound effect this transformation has on people’s lives and what becomes possible for them."