Ep 74: You Don’t Need More Discipline, You Need This
Money On My Mind
We’ve all told ourselves we just need more discipline—wake up earlier, spend less, invest more—but here’s the truth: discipline isn’t the real problem. In this episode, I reveal why discipline is overrated and why the real game-changer is building systems that do the heavy lifting for you. I share the exact framework I’ve used in my own life and with thousands of BudgetDog Academy students to eliminate decision fatigue, rewire limiting beliefs, and set up automated systems that drive lasting results. If you’ve been white-knuckling your way toward financial goals only to...
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Ep 73: The Scarcity Script: Where It Comes From and How to Rewrite It
Money On My Mind
“If I just made more money, everything would be fine.” Sound familiar? The truth is, your financial challenges likely have nothing to do with your income and everything to do with the scarcity script that was programmed into you long before you ever touched a dollar. In this episode, I unpack how childhood lessons, cultural beliefs, and even well-intentioned advice can plant deep-seated money scripts that keep you stuck in fear, lack, and limitation. I share my own journey of breaking free from these beliefs—and the exact steps you can take to rewrite your financial story...
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Ep 72: From CPA to Creator: The Hardest Part of Reinventing Myself
Money On My Mind
I thought I had it all figured out—steady career, financial security, and a clear path as a CPA at Deloitte. But deep down, I knew I was living someone else’s dream. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my biggest career pivot: leaving the corporate world to build BudgetDog from scratch. I share the surprising way I fell into accounting, the turning point that pushed me to walk away, and the emotional and financial hurdles I faced starting over from zero. This isn’t just about career change—it’s about identity, courage, and redefining success on your own terms. If...
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Ep 71: Sharing Logan's Journey
Money On My Mind
In this heartfelt guest episode, my wife and I are hosted by Josh Madsen as we share the deeply personal journey of our daughter Logan’s battle with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and challenging seizure disorder. We open up about the emotional rollercoaster we’ve experienced as parents, the frustrations of traditional medical advice, and the incredible transformation we’ve seen through alternative therapies. From discovering toxic mold in our home to seeing Logan climb rock walls and slide down playgrounds for the first time, this conversation highlights the power of persistence, hope,...
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Ep 70: How to Define Your "Enough" Number
Money On My Mind
In this episode, I open up about one of the most complex and personal aspects of wealth building—understanding when enough is truly enough. After achieving every financial milestone I once dreamed of—paying off six-figure debt, reaching millionaire status, and building a $4M+ net worth—I still found myself chasing the next number. Why? Because “enough” kept changing. I share insights from deeply personal experiences, pivotal conversations with my mother-in-law and behavioral psychologist, and journal prompts to help you define your own version of success. Whether you’re...
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Ep 69: When Winning Isn’t Worth It: Lessons from a Hyper-Focused Life
Money On My Mind
Ever chased success so relentlessly that everything else blurred into the background? In this raw and deeply personal episode, I pull back the curtain on the hidden costs of hyperfocus and high achievement. From my early days grinding at Deloitte to building a business from a hospital room, I share the real stories—both the highs and the hard lessons—that shaped my journey. This one’s not about tactics or checklists. It’s about the internal tug-of-war between ambition and presence, and what it truly means to win. Join me as I reflect on what I’ve learned about balancing the drive for...
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Ep 68: We Grew Our Net Worth by $310K in Q2: Here’s How and the System We Used
Money On My Mind
We just had our biggest financial leap ever, a $310,000 increase in our net worth in just one quarter. In this episode, I take you behind the curtain to reveal exactly how we did it. But this isn’t just about our win—it’s a blueprint for how you can do it too. I’m sharing the exact system we use (and teach inside Budget Dog Academy) that’s changing lives and stacking net worth gains for hundreds of our students. I’ll show you how simple financial tools—like a balance sheet, budget, and roadmap—when automated and aligned with your values, can completely transform...
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Ep 67: How Being a Dad Made Me Rethink Financial Freedom
Money On My Mind
I used to think financial freedom was a number. Then I became a dad—and everything changed. In this episode, I share my personal journey from the hustle-and-grind definition of success to a more meaningful, family-centered vision of financial freedom. You’ll hear how my daughter Logan’s health challenges made financial freedom not just a goal, but an urgent mission. I dive into the emotional shifts, the mindset changes, and the practical steps that helped my wife and me build a life that gives us the time and presence our family needs—right now. If you’re a parent who wants...
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Ep 66: How Money Mindset Shapes Financial Freedom
Money On My Mind
Hey everyone! In today’s episode of Money on My Mind, I’m bringing you a special treat: my recent interview on Self Improvement Daily with Brian Ford. We dug deep into one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—parts of your financial journey: your money mindset. You’ll hear us unpack how your subconscious beliefs about money shape your financial outcomes, why many of us unknowingly hold ourselves back, and what you can do to break through old patterns. We also explore practical steps to take control of your finances by automating your plan and surrounding yourself...
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Ep 65: Building Budgetdog
Money On My Mind
In this special episode, I’m sharing a powerful conversation I had as a guest on the Two Comma Club podcast with Jonathan Marsh. We got real about what it means to break free from the traditional 9-to-5, the mindset shifts that changed my financial future, and how I turned my personal finance struggles into a mission-driven business helping thousands of others. You’ll hear my full journey—from crushing $300K of debt to building Budgetdog Academy into a thriving brand. We also dive into the practical tools that helped me, the challenges I faced leaving corporate life, and the...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing my biggest money mistake—the one that left me and my wife with $304,000 in debt by age 23. It was reckless, avoidable, and rooted in the worst kind of financial influence: societal pressure. From student loans I didn’t need to cars I couldn’t afford, I followed the crowd straight into financial chaos.
But I didn’t stay there. I took full accountability, built an automated financial system, and climbed out of that hole to become debt-free and financially independent by 30. I walk you through every painful mistake, what I learned, and exactly how you can avoid the same traps. If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or confused by the financial system—you are not alone. This episode is your wake-up call.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
01:24 $304K in debt by age 23
03:12 Breaking down the debt: student loans, car loans, and a $10K ring
05:20 What I could’ve saved with just a little effort in high school
06:38 The $22,000 car mistake (and why “safe” doesn’t mean “smart”)
07:25 A $10,000 engagement ring… on $2K in the bank
09:08 The overpriced mattress and marketing that got me
11:10 How societal expectations impact your financial health
12:42 The real reason people are broke
15:00 Why accountability is the only way out
18:03 Automations to help you pay off your debts
23:56 How the Budgetdog Academy has helped thousands of people
Quotables
“I didn’t have a money problem—I had an awareness problem.”
“Accountability is the key. You didn’t create the mess, but it’s still your job to clean it up.”
“Your system should be so simple, it works without you thinking about it.”
Links
Budgetdog