Earlier this week my co-host Owen and I spoke to a room of nearly 150 awesome people, who came to our event on kickstarting your 2020 financial goals. We had four great speakers covering a range of different topics, but the overarching theme was about taking charge of your financial future and not doing things the way everyone else does them. It was amazing to see so many people taking time out of their busy lives to talk about a subject we so often avoid in our personal lives. 

Talking on a podcast is worlds apart from talking in front of a large audience, and although I was very apprehensive about talking in front of a large group, I was happy that I did it. Each time you say yes to doing things that scare you, it gets a little bit easier. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be nervous and have butterflies in your stomach, but you’ll be so pleased looking back that you pushed yourself outside your comfort zone.

One audience member mentioned that self-belief was a key aspect holding him back from taking control of his finances, and I absolutely get it. While I might be comfortable with the subject of money, I was absolutely terrified a year ago of entering the gym. It required a significant amount of time and commitment to just get the basics, and I had to enlist the help of a professional to make sure my technique was correct and I wasn’t doing anything that would cause me issues down the track. 

Sometimes you’ve sorted out the time, knowledge and money aspects of your financial life, but you don’t think you’re ready to pull the trigger. One thing I want to stress is that people aren't born with strong financial skills, it’s something that we all have to build and develop over time. We might not feel like we’re ready to act, but if we’ve put in the work then it’s important to get started. When I ask people what their number one tip for people their 20’s and 30’s is when it comes to money, the most common answer is to start sorting out your finances and investing as early as possible.

Whether you’re saying yes to a new job, starting a new course or buying your first share, it’s important to take that step. Trust me, every time you challenge yourself and say yes to new opportunities, your world will expand just a little bit further.