Fire The Haters with Jillian Johnsrud
Last month was Financial Literacy month and believe it or not, we’re fast approaching summertime, so I have books and learning on the brain. I decided to dedicate the month of May to various personal finance or self-help books that I thought would make great books to add to your current or summer reading lists.
Kicking off the month is my friend, Jillian Johnsrud, host of the Everyday Courage podcast and author of the book, Fire the Haters, Finding the Courage to Create Online in a Critical World, a book that helps creatives and entrepreneurs share their best work with the world. She joins me to talk about why she wrote the book and how we can apply the lessons in the book to our online interactions.
What are we drinking?
Jillian - Coffee, milk with a little sugar
Shannon - Black Cherry Schweppes
Podcast Notes
Jillian starts by sharing where her interest in personal finance began and how that grew from creating content online into writing books. She grew up on the poverty line and wanted to learn to be better with money and create options for herself. The only advice she got growing up was, ‘save 50% of your income’ with not much context or direction.
She had $55k in debt and did not pick a high-earning career, but she powered through and after paying that off, saved her first $100k. Fast forward, she became financially independent at 32.
With four kids at home, she found out she was pregnant with number five. In two years, she went from one kid to five!
At 32, she decided to take a mini-retirement, an entire year off!
What does a mini-retirement look like?
A time to step away from your 9-5 to focus on what really matters to you.
Real retirement can feel intimidating. Taking mini-retirements is a great way to experiment and check some experiences off your bucket list.
You can try it for a year, three months, or any amount of time. Retirement doesn’t have to be forever, you can try it out for a shorter amount of time and see how it goes.
There is a reason the great resignation has been so great.
Workers are feeling generally burned out.
These feelings have been building over time, and have been amplified the last few years.
There is a lack of work life balance. It’s important to take time off, rest, recharge, and catch up on needed life things.
Financial independence is really about the freedom of choice. It’s about exploring all of the aspects of your life.
She began writing during that first year off. She decided to pursue personal finance since it was the most transformative habit for her and she wanted to find a community. As a mom with five kids, she wanted to have all of the conversations around money and parenting.
Writing a blog, especially at the beginning, is like your home. It’s a pretty safe space and smaller communities tend to be supportive and kind.
A few months into the blogging journey, she had an opportunity to write for a larger website. Every break is so exciting, and she didn't realize the authors have little say in the titles. She was hired for an article with a title that felt a little shamey towards women and their spending choices. Lots of folks in the comments were unhappy, and it sent her into a spiral. She was unable to eat, was binge drinking and she couldn’t sleep.
That experience made her feel like she wasn’t cut out for this. She internalized fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome.
Even if there are 99 positive comments, the one negative one really sticks with you. Her friend told her to stop reading the comments and it was a significant moment. It can be hard to ignore the comments, but you can’t let the fear of criticism keep you from going for it.
The book came from her desire to gather the collective wisdom she’s gained through her experience. She wanted to help people squash their fears and provide a helpful perspective of how others have navigated the space.
Fire The Haters isn’t only for folks who create content online. If you put yourself out there in any way, you’re opening yourself up to the haters.
Even the people closest to you may not understand your dreams, and that’s okay. It’s not up to you to change someone’s opinion. They can make incorrect assumptions, and you can’t let it deter you.
You’re only responsible for your own thoughts, feelings and assumptions. You have to make the rules and do what feels right for you.
Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you expect, there is a reason you’re compelled. Those voices can be very strong, follow them.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is the importance of understanding your mission and purpose above all else when you’re engaging with people online. As long as you’re happy with what you put out there, then fire the haters, because in the immortal words of Taylor Swift, all they’re ever going to do is hate, hate, hate.
Random Three Questions
Where is your next mini-retirement, and how long do you plan to do that?
What do you do to relax?
If this was your last meal on earth, what would it be?
Connect with Jillian
After becoming financially independent at 32 years old, Jillian turned her personal and professional experience toward a creative life. She is a popular public speaker, teaches online classes, coach, and writer. Her book Fire the Haters: Finding the Courage to Create Online in a Critical World helps creatives and entrepreneurs share their best work with the world. She hosts the Everyday Courage Podcast. Her husband and she live in Montana, near Glacier National Park with their 5 kids and fluffle of bunnies. She’s an avid traveler and drinker of hot tea. You can connect with her at jillianjohnsrud.com
Free Course Links from Jillian
https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/intentional/
https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/mini/
https://www.jillianjohnsrud.com/content/
READ THE BOOK:
Fire the Haters: Finding the Courage to Create Online in a Critical World
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group, and let me know what you want to hear.
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