← So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
1772: Steps to Reclaim Your Financial Life and Own Your Money Now (Encore)
00:33:16
Loading summary
Transcript58 lines
- [00:00]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Hey prime members, are you tired of ads interfering with your favorite podcasts? Good news, with Amazon Music, you have access to the largest catalog of ad free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com ad freepodcasts that's Amazon.com ad freeppodcasts to catch up on the latest episodes, we without the ads, does it ever feel.
- [00:28]
LinkedIn Ads
Like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results terms and conditions apply.
- [00:59]
Farnoosh Tarabi
So Money Episode 1792 how to reclaim youm Financial Life and Own Youn Money in 2025 with financial expert Anthony O'Neill.
- [01:12]
You're listening to so Money with award winning money guru Farnoosh Tarabi. Each day get a 30 minute dose of financial inspiration from the world's top business minds, authors, influencers and from Farnoosh herself. Looking for ways to save on gas or double your double coup. Sorry, you're in the wrong place. Seeking profound ways to live a richer, happier life. Welcome to so Money.
- [01:38]
Anthony O'Neal
If you don't have a religion, let's say for an example, you don't have someone that you can say is a higher being. I think my fear will only be is, well how do you have accountability? You know I'm saying from something higher.
- [01:52]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Welcome to so Money everybody. I'm Farnoosh Tarabi. I'm really excited to introduce my next guest to all of you. You may already know who he is. He's kind of a deal in the personal finance space.
- [02:03]
Anthony O'Neal
Today we're speaking with Anthony O'Neill.
- [02:05]
Farnoosh Tarabi
He's a best selling author, speaker and personal finance expert.
- [02:09]
Anthony O'Neal
Known for his no nonsense approach to.
- [02:11]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Money and his former role as a Ramsey Solutions personality, Anthony has gone on to help millions of people take control of their finances. He's the author of several books including his latest, Take youe Seat at the Table where he empowers readers to create a vision for their lives and build wealth on their own terms. In our conversation, Anthony shares his own remarkable journey from being 19 years old, drowning in $35,000 worth of debt, to finally breaking free from debt and building a seven figure business. He Opens up about his time working with Dave Ramsey, how it influenced his financial philosophy, and why he eventually decided to strike out on his own to bring financial literacy to underserved communities. We'll also talk about the money mistakes Anthony made back when he was a teenager and how he turned his life. Importance of avoiding consumer debt and focusing on building assets. We also dive into Anthony's and how it's played a pivotal role in his financial life and the teachings he shares. If you are listening and you don't consider yourself religious, kind of like me, can you be financially successful? You might be surprised to hear what Anthony says and, of course, practical steps for eliminating debt, building generational wealth, and owning your money. A great episode as we start a new year. Anthony O'Neal, welcome to so Money. And happy New Year to you, my friend.
- [03:39]
Anthony O'Neal
Oh, my sister, man. Thank you so much for having me on the show. This is my first time you've been on my podcast, but I'm finally on yours. I'm really excited.
- [03:48]
Farnoosh Tarabi
I know what is going on. I apologize. That's. That's on me. Actually. I've been trying to get you on the show. You're a busy person, but you were very gracious. You had me on your YouTube show, your podcast for a healthy state of panic. And I want to actually revisit something. We spoke during that conversation. We obviously talked about fear and our relationship with fear, and you were going through a bit of a scary time, and I want to hear how it's going. But first, Anthony, you have so much going on. You're making such a tremendous impact in the world. And it started with you at age 19, finding yourself in a lot of debt. And that was maybe, maybe it's not the very beginning, but I want to take us back to that moment because I think that is very universal. A lot of us are in that currently, maybe, and you found a way through that and you thrived. So take us back to Anthony at age 19.
- [04:39]
Anthony O'Neal
Man, you know, when I think about Anthony at the age of 19, he was young, he was immature. He was a energetic guy who was very, very passionate about one thing, blending in with culture and society. The reason why is because I grew up in a very strong Christian faith home, right? So I grew up in this. This home that, you know, I couldn' to prom, I couldn't go to school dances, football games, basketball games, barnouche. It was only me and school and church. And so if it was. If it wasn't dealing with church and if it wasn't dealing with education, My parents was like, yeah, no, you can't. You can't do it. And so when I graduated high school, I never had a conversation about dating. I never had a conversation about money. I never had a conversation about life outside of God in education, man, I just went for it all. I was like, yo, I'm a free man, man. I'm a grown man. I'm about to turn all the way up. And, and so, sis, I. I get into college and I'm sitting here making all of these mistakes. Like, I'm, I'm. I'm buying ladies roses and taking them to, to Red Lobster. I remember the very first thing I financed on my very first credit card was $150at Red Lobster with all you can eat biscuits.
- [06:02]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Biscuits, though. The biscuits are.
- [06:04]
Anthony O'Neal
It was amazing. But I mean, and I know because.
- [06:08]
Farnoosh Tarabi
I think we're around the same age. Like Red Lobster back then, was it, like, it was the. It's where you would go for your college graduation dinner.
- [06:17]
Anthony O'Neal
No, since I don't think I'm saying Red Lobster was like going to Ruth Chris Steakhouse today. Like, if you were at Red Lobster, you was balling, like, in my community, you was rich. Like, you, you had some money. So I was like, you know, okay, okay, okay. So, I mean, I took her to red Lobster Finance. 150 on the credit card. Then the next day I spent $150 on 1-800-flowers.com sent her two dozens of roses. And then the next day after that, because I really wanted to impress her, I bought her a dooney and Burke's purse.
- [06:47]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Oh, my gosh.
- [06:49]
Anthony O'Neal
So within a matter of not even 24 hours of me having that card, I max it out, right? And.
- [06:55]
Farnoosh Tarabi
And that was your first credit card. You weren't, you didn't. What did you think was going to happen when you took on those expenses, man?
- [07:02]
Anthony O'Neal
Here's the thing. When, when I took on those expenses, I thought I just had to pay it back. So I'm like, okay, cool. If I finance $500 on this card, I just pay back $500 over a period of a year. No one told me that I had to pay interest. No one told me late fees, fees. No one told me that, hey, if you're going to be in the credit world, you better keep your DTI below 30% because it's going to jack up your credit score. No one told me that, hey, you're in colle. Everyone's going to be throwing you money and only accept if you're going to do the credit world only accept what you need, don't accept what you don't need. Like no one gave me the information on really how to steward my money well and so I'm out there just accepting credit cards after credit cards, loans after loans. Chady Southern I didn't even need my student loans. I had my father's GI bill from the Army. Then I had a partial scholarship for the National Forensics League. So all of my education was taken care of. I didn't need to borrow no money, but I took all $10,000 anyways because I wanted the leather couch that was sweaty when I was sitting on it when it was hot.
- [08:07]
Farnoosh Tarabi
So did you have a job?
- [08:09]
Anthony O'Neal
No, I didn't have, I had, I had a work study job on campus, but I didn't have like an actual job job. Right. And so I'll make a long story short because I know it's the first time your audience has heard of me and I want to, I want to keep it real, man. Before I even turned 19 years old, 19, I had $35,000 in debt, $15,000 in credit card, $10,000 in student loans, and another $10,000 in rental things where I went to Aaron Sales and Lease. And I rented all the furniture inside of my house and made a bad decision in college at that time. And it cost me my college experience because I had my college experience. Says I unfortunately had to drop out of school. And when I dropped out of school because of the Christian parents of who, who they are, man, they didn't allow me to come back home. They'll say, yo, since you think you're a grown man, go be a grown man and live with the grown decisions that you made. And so man, age of 19, I'm $35,000 in debt, I am homeless, sleeping in the back of my car. All my friends who I try to impress and blend in with and buy things for, man, they didn't show up for me at all. And so 19, homeless. But I'm grateful today, you know, 40 years old, 100% consumer debt free and built a seven figure business and just really teaching people like you are on, just really how do we help you do good with your money? You know, I'm on a more so the debt free message side of things and just really helping them steward well.
- [09:42]
Farnoosh Tarabi
And your big message is this metaphor of finding your seat at the table, taking your seat at the table. And you don't just want people to take any seat, you want them to go to the head of the table. How did you get yourself to the head of the table?
- [09:58]
Anthony O'Neal
You know, it was, I would say probably about. I was in. I was maybe 27 years old and I remember I was a youth pastor at the time and the non denominational Christian church. What we tend to do is have these big youth conferences and I was the youth pastor. And so on this one particular day, it was my day to present to the church and to the senior pastor my idea of the next youth conference, my very first one that I will be leading as a new youth pastor. Well, when I walked into this particular building and to this particular meeting, it was everyone sitting at the table. Now, there was one seat left available, but my mind programmed me to think, I'm just a youth pastor. I'm just Anthony O'Neal. Let me just stand up and sit on the side. And so no one told me to have a seat at the head of the table since this meeting is for you. So I go on and I present that thing and I present what's going on. But it was my meeting to leave. Well, fast forward about maybe 10 years later, I'm sitting down and I'm having an interview with a very well known magazine who's interviewing me and talking about, hey, you've been able to build and help other people build their legacies and build their businesses and churches and organizations. But Anthony, I want to set that aside. I want to talk about you. What legacy have you built for yourself? And since I got for the first time, you could tell I love to talk. I had no words. I didn't know what to say. I was like, wait a minute, what have I built for myself? I went home that night and I couldn't sleep because when I literally wrote down everything I built for myself, I could only write down three things. A 401k, a home that I just purchased, and a little bit of savings account that I had in my high yield savings. It's not a little bit. It was a good amount, but that's it. No businesses, nothing that I actually owned. And I realized that I was allowing, I was allowing others to tell me what I should do with my life, how I should. What I should do, how I should think, how I should process, when I should do certain things. And I was like, yo, there's more on the inside of me than just being an employee. Now, yes, I want to be a great employee, but when I come home, what can I build for my family that the O'Neill family owns? Well, I'm tired of my boss telling me I can't go to my son's game. For some of you listeners, I'm tired of bankers who are old saying, hey, you know what? You can't go to soccer game, you can't go on spring break vacation. You can't do this because you borrowed money from me. So listen, you got to get an extra second job. So for me, that's when I realized that I was like, man, I'm not sitting at the head of my own life. I'm allowing others from family members, from girlfriends, from friends, from community, culture, jobs, you name it, to tell me how I should live my life. But I really wasn't setting the tone for my own life. And that's the whole metaphor of the table. The table represents our life and how many times have we built someone else's table, but we haven't built our own? And set at the head of it.
- [13:08]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Now, we must mention you were working with Dave Ramsey, and I think this is what you're referring to, this, this ten year period. Talk a little bit about that experience. I know that your religion and faith is so intertwined with the advice that you give and still was that sort of the beginnings of when you sort of realized the marrying of wealth development, wealth building and your faith, the rootedness in your faith?
- [13:32]
Anthony O'Neal
Yeah. No, no, no. Such a great question. You know, working with Ramsey Solutions was, I think, one of the best decisions I ever made because I was exposed to so much from. I believe Dave Ramsey is one of the gurus in his financial space. He's built something amazing. And I've had the opportunity to learn and watch and see how we built and see what he's still doing, which is still amazing in my opinion. But when it comes to intertwining my faith and finances, it was actually before, before my time at Ramsey. So when I was a youth pastor on Wednesdays we had midweek Bible studies and what I would do with the permission of my pastor at that time, I said, hey, I don't really want to teach only Bible on Wednesday. I want to bring in actual practical life skills and I want to have the foundation of it from a biblical religious perspective. And so when I was doing that, man, I was bringing in thousands of kids and we was talking about how to get scholarships and we were talking about credit cards. What are credit cards? We were talking about taxes. Like I remember one young kid came up to me and said, man, I was supposed to make $150, but they only gave me a check for 87. Where's the rest of my money? I was asking my mom pa, and I was short for Pastor Anthony and I was like, yo, I'm gonna teach y'all about taxes because y'all are working, you're going to school and you're getting the education, but no one's teaching you all. When you go get this side job on the weekends during the summer months, you're going to have to pay taxes. And so I was doing that already. Before Ramsey Solutions, I was already teaching from a biblical perspective, financial skills and lessons. And so when I transitioned there, man, it was just a literal transition and just being exposed to more great opportunities there. But I mean, for me, I believe that if you really want to build long sustainable wealth, there needs to be a religious component to to that.
- [15:18]
Farnoosh Tarabi
When we come back, Anthony will talk about how his faith became the cornerstone of his financial philosophy and he offers advice for those who aren't religious but still want to build a life of purpose and we plus practical strategies for avoiding debt and creating generational wealth. More after this break.
- [15:38]
Anthony O'Neal
Let me ask you something. Have you ever experienced a dry, itchy scalp? Or like me, wondered why your hair color isn't lasting as long as your stylist promised? Well, unfiltered mineral filled water could be the reason why. Did you know hard water is a leading cause of damaged hair and dry, irritated skin? About 85% of the United States uses hard water filled with dissolved minerals and added chlorine. And that's where canopies filtered shower heads come in. Canopy, known for their beauty hacks and reimagined humidifier, has revolutionized the filtered shower head space with not one filtered shower head, but a handheld version as well. I'm obsessed with mine. Dermatologists recommended this unique three stage filtration system greatly reduces contaminants and odors in your shower water, leaving you with healthy hair and glowing skin. Best of all, the Canopy's filtered shower heads are hassle free, installation is a breeze, and its unique filter replacement feature allows for seamless filter changes unlike any.
- [16:33]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Others on the market.
- [16:34]
Anthony O'Neal
Go to GetCanopy Co to save $25 on your canopy filtered showerhead purchase today. With Kanopy's hassle free filter subscription and even better listeners, you can use the code SOMONEY1WORD at checkout to save an additional 10% off your canopy purchase.
- [16:53]
LinkedIn Ads
Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads you can know you're reaching the right decision maker. You can even target buyers by job title, industry company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results terms and conditions apply.
- [17:24]
Whole Foods Market
Save on feel good favorites with great everyday prices at Whole Foods Market. Look for the yellow low price signs throughout the store on quality proteins like responsibly farmed Atlantic Salm. Prioritize well being for less with 365 by Whole Foods Market supplements and delicious smoothie ingredients like organic whole strawberries and almond milk. Don't sacrifice quality Shop great daily prices at Whole Foods Market, in store and online.
- [17:51]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Hey prime members, are you tired of ads interfering with your favorite podcasts? Good news. With Amazon Music you have access to the largest catalog of ad free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com ADFreePodcasts that's Amazon.com ADFreeP Podcasts to catch up on the latest episodes without the ads.
- [18:22]
So if you don't have a religion, what is your fear for that person?
- [18:26]
Anthony O'Neal
You know my fear is if you don't have a religion, let's say for an example, you don't have someone that you could say is a higher being. I think my fear will only be is, well how do you have accountability, you know what I'm saying, From something higher. I love all people. I have people who are actually atheists, friends who are atheists and we have a healthy conversation. They even have friends who are opposite faith. They have a faith but they may be Muslim and we have that conversation. So but I think that people of non faith could definitely still be wealthy. I don't want to knock that from that perspective, but I do believe that there is just something powerful when you are a Christian. Align with the Bible.
- [19:10]
Farnoosh Tarabi
What's your relationship with debt Now? Anthony I know that Dave Ramsey, not to bring him back into this conversation too much, but he's often known as sort of being the anti debt guy. No debt, don't even take out a mortgage, which I don't know how practical that is. And a lot of that, a lot of it is rooted in sort of his faith focusing on debt. For just a moment here, I want your thoughts on that as a tool potentially to build wealth. But then also maybe what are some of the other like scriptures or teachings from the Bible that sometimes when it comes to the applications in your money life can get confusing?
- [19:49]
Anthony O'Neal
Yeah, no One good thing, you know, Dave, is. I don't know about his stance today. I haven't really been following him too much, only because I'm focused on myself and building our business here. But for. I can speak for me, I won't speak for Dave, because I haven't been there almost five years now. But for me, my stance is no consumer debt. I really do believe that we have to be very mindful of the consumer debt we have, because consumer debt, that interest rate is just killing us. I am huge on financing your home and actually go out there and get you multiple homes that is within the budget of your income that you have coming in. Because we understand that wealth is one of the greatest. I mean, one of the greatest ways to build wealth is through real estate. And so I don't want you to sit there and wait 20 years, $20,000 or $200,000, go buy a home. No, no, no. I want you to get into that within the means of your income. For me, I don't do consumer debt. I don't have a problem with people having credit cards. My biggest problem with credit cards are two things. The debt that you carry and the interest that you pay. We have to get out of the mindset of paying interest and carrying debt, and we got to get into the mindset of receiving interest. And so I would rather us, you know, have no credit card debt, have no consumer debt, and we're investing well and we're receiving the power of compound interest. And I think that's what's important for me, and that's where I align at. One of the main reasons why I resigned from Ramsey Solutions years ago was because I wanted to take this information that I learned and go into the less fortunate and minority communities. Within the minority communities, we are taught to work hard and be consumers, but we're never really taught to be owners and how to be owners and how to build wealth. And so I want to bring in the mindset of, hey, let's get a fully funded emergency fund. Let's start investing into our 401ks and to the stock market. And as we see here as of almost two years ago, we see that the less fortunate minority community is growing in an investment portfolio now. And so for me, when I talk about debt, my. My thing with debt is let's. Let's avoid consumer debt as much as possible and let's start investing into assets, into businesses that is now producing generational wealth. And then also it's turning our money into making more. And that's where I'm really sitting at. In this season of my life.
- [21:59]
Farnoosh Tarabi
And I agree. And speaking of investing, I think we both agree that investing in yourself is also really, really important. And so, going back to your book, your new book, take your seat at the table. What are some practical ways people can begin to take ownership of their lives if they are, you know, to your point, that person at work who's being told, no, you can't go to your son's baseball team, or, no, you can't take that time off so that you feel more in control of your time, your decisions, and how you make money.
- [22:28]
Anthony O'Neal
Yeah. One of the things I talk about in one of the chapters. I won't give you all the chapters because I need y'all to go get the book.
- [22:33]
Farnoosh Tarabi
We will.
- [22:34]
Anthony O'Neal
You know, but I talk about having a clear vision, especially if you are a married person, when you have a clear vision with your spouse or your partner, let's say you have a clear direction of where you want to go. Prime example. I was at Starbucks with one of my good friends years ago, and she came into Starbucks and she was real happy. Her boss had sat down with her and said, hey, man, you know what? This year you're going to be this. And then next year you're going to do this. And then you're going to have to work some extra hours. And you know what? Within five years, you're going to be the director of this. And then within seven years, you can be an executive VP. Now watch this, though. Throughout these seven years, you're going to be making about anywhere between 125 to $200,000 a year. That's amazing. You're going to be making about 20, $30,000.
- [23:18]
Farnoosh Tarabi
They really sell it, don't they?
- [23:20]
Anthony O'Neal
They sell it, right? And then she was so excited. Oh, yeah, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. He. He said. He said. He said. But then he also said that if I want to get there in seven years, I can't have a kid. I leaned back in my chair, sis, and I was like, did he ask you what you wanted to do with your life?
- [23:39]
Farnoosh Tarabi
No.
- [23:40]
Anthony O'Neal
Did he inquire about, hey, what position do you want here in your life, in this position in this company? She was like, no. So pretty much, he told you what to do with your life. That benefits his company, but it doesn't benefit your life? I said, because didn't you and your husband say, y'all want to have kids within two years? She was like, yeah. I said, well, it sounds like, you're not sitting at the head of your own table, darling, it sounds like he's sitting at the head of your life. And she leaned back in her chair. I'll never forget that day. She sipped on her coffee. You know how ladies can be. Y'all just get quiet when y'all be thinking. And I saw her whole face be afraid. Yes. I was like, wait a minute. Don't be upset with me. But I saw her whole face turn from happy to like, what in the world? And she said, hey, love you. I gotta go. And she went home and she talked to her husband, and she stayed there for another year. And she resigned that year because she got pregnant. And she told that company that, you know, that, hey, I would love to be here, but I know that you had a different idea for me. And so I'm just going to take my time off here with my baby, and I'm going to start my own business and do what I'm doing here and do it as a contractor. So she went from potentially making $200,000 a year to where now her company is doing about close to $500,000 a year on her own. Why? Because she took the seat at the head of her table. And she did that because when she went home for that year, she said, husband, this is what just happened on my job. I talked to ao. We need to have a clear vision about what we want to do if we want kids. What does that look like if I have to resign from my job? And inside of that vision, this is why I tell everyone, you don't quit your 9 to 5 job to take a seat at your head of your table. You can still be at the head of your table, the head of your Life with a 9 to 5 job. But does the job align with the vision of where you're trying to go? Right, that's it. And so when she made her vision, she stuck to that vision. And look at her today, man. She's doing well, loved with Now2Kids and making $500,000 from home and employing other people to help them get to where they want to go.
- [25:56]
Farnoosh Tarabi
It's a great story. I want to talk about employing other people. So now you are at the head of your table, and you have been for many years, and you are building a massive team. In fact, when we were chatting in your at your headquarters last summer for my book launch, we were talking about your expansion EFF efforts. First, I just want to know, Anthony, as now an employer, how are you making sure that your team still can feel empowered and feels like they're at the heads of their own tables while they're also working for you. So now you're kind of on the other side of things, right?
- [26:30]
Anthony O'Neal
Yeah. Yeah, I really am. And you know, it's so funny that you asked that question because Farnish, I. Before I even hire anyone, whether you're a contractor and or a full time W2 employee, I ask them up front, what is the vision for your life? And I tell them up front, this is a safe space. I'm not looking for you to impress me. I want to know what's the vision for your life and how does this company align with that vision? And every single employee has told me their truth and I tell them up front, like, hey, okay, cool, great, we're going to do that. So one thing that I do here at my job, and I'm very honest with them and I tell them, hey, listen, AO Enterprises, the Neatness Network, I own it. It, it's mine. You're never going to make more money than me. But when you get off of work and I don't make them work on Fridays, and you're off on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, and we get off right around 4:00 throughout the day, you need to build something for yourself. As a matter of fact, I want you to tell me what you're doing on the side. And if I have friends within the industry, within the community that needs some, I'm going to send them your way because I understand one thing. It is your responsibility to provide and to protect for your family. It is not my responsibility to provide for your family. It is my responsibility to steward you as a teammate to help me take this message out there. So I'm going to bait. I'm going to pay you the best way that I possibly can, but I'm not going to work you like a Hebrew slave, though. I want you to have the freedom to do that. So for my company, you know, my. Everyone loves working here at the company because I understand what it. No, I understand what it feels like to work. Work crazy. So we're off every Friday. They get two weeks off in July paid. They get an extra 14 days throughout the year that they can choose to take off. They work from home and then also November, they're off for a whole Thanksgiving and then the last two weeks of December, they're off for two whole weeks. So when we did the math, they got about like two and a half months off. When it comes to a year, when it comes to working for me, And I tell them, hey, you guys, steward that, well, build something of your own. I even have a young guy right now who's Transitioning from a W2 employee to a contract employee because his side business has boomed and he's doing well. I'm extremely excited about that. You know why? Because he's taking a seat at the head of his own table, and it doesn't impact my business because he's still going to help me as a contractor. And so I want to be known as, hey, I'm helping people take reign over their lives. Lives. Because at the end of the day, Anthony O'Neill is responsible for me and my family's life. And at the end of the day, you're responsible for that. And so that's how my company is aligning. And it is scary, though, if I'm being honest, because I need employees. Like, I need help doing the things that I'm called to do, but I don't want to be selfish doing that. And so this is the Christian side of me. I believe if I do people the way that I wish that they would do me, then God will take care of me and I'll get the right people to help me with my vision and my goals with this company.
- [29:35]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Yeah. This is dovetailing so well with another interview that we have airing close to yours about the relationship between kindness and making money and math, you know, and how I think your model is exemplary. I do think that for all those of us listening, and we want to go to our bosses and at bigger companies, right? Publicly traded companies and in the finance world or wherever, a lawyer, there's a lot of fear to have that conversation with your employer. Like, hey, I want to build something. You know, on the outside, I mentor a lot of women who are in the corporate 9 to 5 space, but they have a lot of great ideas. They want to be thought leaders. They want to get on big stages. They want to consult and coach outside of their nine to fives. And they're worried about getting too big and not staying too quiet, because then the employer finds out, and then they wonder, where's your loyalty? But when they do have those conversations, more often than not, it goes pretty well. So that's what I want to encourage people is like, there is that fear, potentially. But have the conversation, because if you are afraid, it means maybe you're doing the right thing. You're onto something. Right. You love this idea so much that it scares you. It could go away by a conversation. So have that conversation. And I know you, Anthony at one point last year, you were expanding, and you seem like a fearless guy, but you were anxious about the financial investment, mostly of building this bigger team, finding bigger space. How did you work through that and where are you today with it?
- [31:11]
Anthony O'Neal
Man, you know, we're doing great. You know, we are in an amazing studio in downtown Alexandria, Virginia area. And if I'm being honest with you, we haven't really maximized on the building yet. You know, my studio was in there. We have an amazing green room, and it's a. It's a huge building. But the monthly expenses on that thing is crazy. Says. And I'm like, man, I need to figure out how to make some more money in this building. But I took a leap of faith. You know, we have the finances to do it. I'm believing that we're going to be able to get some other podcasters and, and youtubers and thought leaders in there to use this space. But it is nervous. You know, anytime you really take the seat at the head of your table, you got to make decisions that are not comfortable. One thing I've realized that nothing extraordinary happens with inside of our comfort zone. So it was comfortable for me to get up. You, you've been to the house, go downstairs into the basement and record and then go right back upstairs. And I'm in my home. It was free to do that because I was already paying it. Actually, I got a tax write off from doing it. But at the same time, not you. You're amazing. But I've had some people come to my house. I was really skeptical. Like, no, yeah. You know, I'm like, I don't know if I should have invited them to my house.
- [32:31]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Oh, gee.
- [32:32]
Anthony O'Neal
I said, you know what, Let me, let me move out. Let me get that right, and then from there we can go. But it's, it's what I, What I've learned is we have to. Entrepreneurs are going to make decisions that are a little scary. But those scary decisions, I think, are the same reasons why we have the freedom that we have whenever we do get to that freedom. That's also the same reason why we do have the conversations that we do have. And so I'm just excited about this season. I haven't figured it all out. I'm not gonna sit here like, I got it all put together. I've made some mistakes, but at the same time, I've made some mistakes that I will never make again because I made the mistake. So I'm excited about this season, and.
- [33:16]
Farnoosh Tarabi
I don't know if you Remember? But I think I may have been just thinking it at the time. I don't know if I express it to you, but I was like, does Anthony know who he is? Like, he's going to be fine. And I, and I, and I say that because I think often we get to certain points in our careers and then we get afraid to take the next step because there's uncertainty. But you have to remember, like, you have navigate uncertainty every day and you have thrived. And it hasn't always been a straight line, but remembering who you are, the resources you have, the relationships you have, the ideas you can generate, those are assets. And you're going to take those with you into that uncertain time. And now we're in 2025, and people are scared for a host of reasons. Political changes, with everything you've just shared, putting it in the context of this new administration, this new year, wherever your political affiliations lie, I mean, people are just, you know, change is hard. What's your advice for someone who wants to make a big change this year but is nervous because of sort of a lot of the macro uncertainty is happening around them?
- [34:18]
Anthony O'Neal
It doesn't bother me at all. You know, here's my thing. Whether it's Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, it doesn't bother me because here's my thing. I'm not gonna focus on the things that I can't control. I'm only gonna focus on the things that I can't control. I can't control what Donald Trump is gonna do in the White House or what Joe Biden did in the White House or what President Obama did. But what I can control is okay, once the laws are passed, what can I do for my family within my house with the things that I can control? Now, I will focus on that. And so for me, I'm not fearful. And this is what I tell my friends all the time. I'm like, man, I'm trying to look for something. What can I learn to every single president while I'm sitting here upset about this and that, okay, wait, who is this president? What can I learn from him or her? And how to per example, Donald Trump, everyone's upset he didn't pay all these taxes. I, for me, I'm like, well, while y'all are upset and y'all complaining about that, I wanna sit there and learn, okay, how did he do it? And how can I do it legally, ethically, morally, and then also spiritually because of my spiritual convictions? So I'm doing research, I'm asking questions rather than being upset. I'm just trying to learn on what can I do that you did and bring it back here to this house. Now every president, everybody in the White House, everyone, we will always have something to say about every single person President. For me, I'm looking for the good. And I'm looking for how can I take whatever I can learn from whomever's in the White House and apply it to my house so my family and I can eat good and well, but I'm not going to focus on the things that I just can't control and I'm only going to focus on the things that I can control and I can create the narrative on. So if you're feeling nervous, don't be nervous. Focus on you. Get out of debt. Go start that side business. Start investing. Start listening to my sister's podcast more. Go learn more and watch your life change.
- [36:15]
Farnoosh Tarabi
And pick up Anthony's new book. Take your seat at the table Anthony. Thank you so much. You are so many things. You are honest, you are smart, you are hilarious. You are warm. I can't wait to see you again in person. I hope you'll come to New York for a book tour. A bookstop. I'll definitely be there.
- [36:33]
Anthony O'Neal
Appreciate you. No, I gotta come. I gotta come for real.
- [36:38]
Farnoosh Tarabi
Thanks so much to Anthony O'Neal for joining us us. His new book again is called take your seat at the table, available widely and I hope your day is so money.
- [37:01]
Whole Foods Market
If you haven't noticed, it's winter. And now more than ever, I'm in need of a little treat. That's why I joined firstleaf, a wine club that delivers my favorite types of wine right to my door. Because there's really no better treat than a glass of delicious red white. Or go ahead and treat yourself to world class wines from First Leaf. Go to tryfirstleaf.com winter to get your first six bottles for just $44.95 with free shipping. That's T R Y F I R S T l e a f.com winter there's one thing that will forever change the way you sleep and it's the softest 100% organic cotton sheets from Bol and Br Branch. You'll fall asleep faster wrapped in the most luxurious comfort. You'll never sleep hot again with sheets that feel breathable to sleep in. You'll experience the purest softness on night one and feel your sheets get even softer with every wash. Discover the difference with 15% off your first set of sheets@bolenbranch.com with code buttery exclusions apply. See site for details.