The Books That Led Me to Financial Freedom — and Building My Own Business
Financial freedom didn’t arrive overnight for me.
It wasn’t a sudden windfall, a viral success, or a single brilliant idea.
It wasn’t a sudden windfall, a viral success, or a single brilliant idea.
It was quiet. Gradual. Built over decades.
In 2025, I made a decision that changed the direction of my life: I left my nine-to-five job. Not because I was tired of working, I work more now than ever, but because I had gained enough financial freedom to buy myself something far more valuable than money.
Time.
Location freedom.
Mental space to build something of my own.
Location freedom.
Mental space to build something of my own.
Today, I’m building a digital publishing business — writing, creating, sharing everything I’ve learned across health, lifestyle, business, and intentional living. But the truth is, this journey didn’t begin in 2025. It didn’t even begin in 2020 when I started investing seriously in the stock market.
It began well over a decade ago, with books.
Before I had a plan.
Before I knew where this curiosity would lead.
Before I understood what “financial freedom” truly meant.
Before I knew where this curiosity would lead.
Before I understood what “financial freedom” truly meant.
I was simply drawn to learning, especially about personal growth, finance, business, and how the world really works.
These are the four books that quietly reshaped the way I think about money, opportunity, and success, and ultimately led me here.
1. Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki
The book that changed how I understood money forever
This book is a classic for a reason.
Rich Dad Poor Dad fundamentally shifted how I saw the world. Not in a dramatic, overnight way, but in a way that stayed with me and continued unfolding over the years.
What this book taught me most clearly was the difference between working for money and building assets.
It introduced concepts that most of us were never taught:
- Assets vs. liabilities
- Owning systems instead of trading time
- Thinking like a business owner, not just an employee
It wasn’t about getting rich quickly. It was about understanding the rules of the game.
The book was so impactful that I ended up buying the entire Robert Kiyosaki series. But this first one remains the foundation. It planted a seed, one that stayed dormant for years, quietly influencing every decision I made.
If financial freedom is your goal, this book isn’t optional.
It’s foundational.
It’s foundational.
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2. You Are a Badass at Making Money — Jen Sincero
Where mindset meets money, without the fluff
This book surprised me.
It’s bold, direct, and unapologetic, but beneath the playful tone is something incredibly powerful: the truth about mindset.
This isn’t a “think positive and money will fall into your lap” book. It’s about identifying the internal blocks that quietly sabotage success:
- Self-doubt
- Fear of visibility
- Limiting beliefs about worth and income
What I loved most is that everything she talks about actually works when applied consistently.
This book helped me understand that money isn’t just about strategy. It’s about energy, belief, and alignment. You can have the best plan in the world, but deep down, if you don’t believe you’re capable, you won’t execute it fully.
This book cleared mental clutter I didn’t even realize I was carrying.
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3. The Compound Effect — Darren Hardy
The book that helped me see my entire life differently
I always understood compounding, at least mathematically.
My father invested. I was interested in numbers. I knew how money grows over time.
But The Compound Effect showed me something far bigger:
Everything compounds.
Not just money — but:
- Knowledge
- Skills
- Habits
- Experience
- Reputation
Suddenly, my entire life made sense.
Every skill I had built in fashion.
Every lesson learned in product development.
Every article is written.
Every project is completed.
Every lesson learned in product development.
Every article is written.
Every project is completed.
Nothing was wasted.
Today, my digital publishing business is not something I “started” recently. It is the compound result of the last 20 years of learning, experience, and curiosity.
This book taught me patience and confidence. It showed me that small, consistent actions always pay off. Sometimes later than you expect, but always bigger than you imagine.
The Compound Effect
- As publisher of SUCCESS magazine, author Darren Hardy has heard it all, seen it all, and tried most of it
- This book reveals the core principles that drive success
4. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success — Deepak Chopra
One sentence that changed how I approach everything
There is a single line in this book that changed my life:
“Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness.”
That sentence never left me.
Over the years, I saw this play out again and again, not just in my own life, but also in the businesses I worked with, the projects I led, and the opportunities others missed.
Opportunities are everywhere.
What’s rare is preparedness.
What’s rare is preparedness.
Most people think success works like this:
“When the opportunity comes, I’ll figure it out.”
But reality works the opposite way:
“Prepare first — and you’ll recognize opportunity when it appears.”
This principle became my operating system.
Now, whenever I want to achieve something, I prepare:
- I build systems
- I develop skills
- I create infrastructure
- I educate myself
And when the opportunity shows up, I’m ready. In fact, as soon as I am ready, the opportunity shows up.
This mindset enabled me to transition into entrepreneurship with confidence.
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How These Books Led Me to Financial Freedom
None of these books alone made me financially free.
What they did was far more powerful:
They changed how I think.
They changed how I think.
They taught me how to see money as a tool.
How to think long-term.
How to prepare instead of hoping.
How to trust the compound effect of consistent effort.
How to think long-term.
How to prepare instead of hoping.
How to trust the compound effect of consistent effort.
When I started investing seriously in 2020, I wasn’t starting from zero. I already had a framework. When I left my job in 2025, it wasn’t reckless — it was intentional.
Every decision was built on years of quiet preparation.
Today, I work more than ever — but I work on my terms. I build, create, write, and share knowledge that has been compounding inside me for decades.
And it all began with books.
📖 Related Read
The Most Overlooked Personal Growth Skill: Financial Literacy
Becoming financially literate gave me freedom — and it started with one book. In this article, I explore why understanding money isn’t about numbers alone, but about confidence, clarity, and the ability to design your life intentionally.
👉 Read it here:
https://elegantanddriven.com/financial-literacy-for-personal-growth/
Final Thought
If financial freedom feels distant, don’t look for shortcuts.
Look for foundations.
Read.
Learn.
Prepare.
Let knowledge compound.
Learn.
Prepare.
Let knowledge compound.
Because when opportunity meets preparedness — everything changes.
