Episode 458: A Season of Reflection & A Preview of the Brand New Your Journey to Financial Freedom Paperback Book

Jamila Souffrant 0:02

For many of us on this journey, we are going to have pivots. We are going to change our mind. We are just going to be in different places that we can't necessarily plan for specifically, but if you have a framework in place, you'll be able to adjust.

Intro 0:18

Welcome to the journey. To launch podcast with your host Jamila Souffrant as a money expert who walks her talk she helps brave journeyers like you get out of debt, save, invest and build real wealth, join her on the journey to launch to financial freedom in 54321, you. Week one.

Jamila Souffrant 0:45

If you want the episode show notes for this episode, go to journey to launch.com or click the description of wherever you're listening to this episode in the show notes, you'll get the transcribed version of the conversation, the links that we mentioned, and so much more also, whether you are an OG journeyer or brand new to the podcast, I've created a free jumpstart guide to help you on your financial freedom journey. It includes the top episodes to listen to, stages to go through to reach financial freedom resources and so much more. You can go to journey to launch.com/jumpstart to get your guide right now. Okay, let's hop into the episode. Hey, hey, hey, journeyers, welcome to the journey to launch podcast. I'm your host. Jamila Souffrant, I'm so glad you are tuning in and listening today, or whenever it is you're listening for me, it is around the holidays. You'll be hearing this if you're listening to this in real time, right before Christmas. But I know how these things work with podcasts. Sometimes you guys are listening to this years later. Have so many people who say, I just started listening to your podcast. I started from the beginning. And you know the podcast I first launched in 2017 so I know that the content, depending on where you're listening to this can either feel maybe relevant or not. But I'm hoping that no matter when you are tuning in, this feels helpful to you. This will be a solo episode, and if you are happening to listen to this around the holidays, right before Christmas, thank you. Thank you for tuning in, and I hope that you are having a peaceful, joyous holiday season. This is hopefully going to be short, not too long, because I do want to talk about a couple things, a few things, actually, that are pertaining to my book. So my book, Your journey to financial freedom, a step by step guide to achieving wealth and happiness. The paperback copy of this is coming out January 620, 26 and I want to talk a little bit about the journey, like a quick journey to the publication of the book, why I wrote it, the original book, and then what's new with the paperback, why I'm so excited for you to get your hands on it. And then talk about some bonuses you get when you get the paperback, because we're entering a new year, maybe you're listening to this already and it's ready 2026, or beyond. And I want you to begin to realize the Life You Want To Live is in your reach, and it may not be something that can happen right away, meaning the lifestyle you want to live, maybe working flexible hours or not working at all. I'm not promising that that happens right away if you apply the strategies in my work and book, but I'm promising you, though, that your life can change even better than what you think if you just try, if you just start. So I want to go back a little bit because the hard cover of my book, Your journey to financial freedom, first came out December 2023 which I can't believe. It's already been going on three years since the hardcover has come out. And the reason behind the book itself was I was recording and having all this content for the podcast and on social media, and when I got approached to think about writing a book, I said to myself, this is something I actually wanted to do for a while. Just felt like I didn't, wasn't at the right place to do it. And I have a couple of episodes where I talk about my book publishing journey and how I got the proposal together with some help, and also got my agent, and then went to auction, meaning the book, the idea of the book, and what the book was going to be about. A few publishers were interested in it, and so they bid on it to get the rights to the book. I ultimately picked the best deal for me, which happened to be the most money, but also a publisher who reached out to me before I even had plans in place to really have a book. So I really felt it was aligned. And that process took a couple years from just signing the contract and writing the proposal to the book coming out. That was a couple of years of a journey, and since then, so. It's been three years since the hardcover has come out, I would want to say that things have changed, but they almost are almost the same in a bit, and I'll talk about what that is, because I do feel that for many of us on this journey, we are going to have pivots. We are going to change our mind. We are just going to be in different places that we can't necessarily plan for specifically, but if you have a framework in place, you'll be able to adjust, and that's what the book is all about. I wanted to have a one stop shop for someone who wants to plan their journey to financial independence, meaning you do not want to work forever for someone else, or in a situation or job that you don't love or is just not serving you. You want to be able to walk away and have work flexibility, to have freedom over your time, your thoughts, your energy, and it's a place that I've reached where I'm not completely financially independent based on the lifestyle that we want to live and our expenses. But I have so much flexibility in my life. The fact that I can choose what I want to do every day, when I want to work, how I want to work, I can turn down things. Say, You know what, I'm not doing that, or I'm not working with that client, or, you know, I don't have to sell this thing. Feels so good. And I'm at the point also now where, oh, you know, I don't feel like posting on social media, whereas maybe in the beginning of my journey and starting the business, I felt like I had to show up and do all the things to grow the business and to to be present online. And I definitely don't feel that way anymore. And I could not have imagined when I first started journey to launch the blog in 2016 and then the podcast in 2017 like I had plans for this, but I didn't know it would happen as quickly as it did, and I didn't know that I could experience this without having my fi Number, which I talk about in the book, your fi number, your financial independence number, is the amount of money you need invested in your retirement accounts, taxable accounts, savings that you can live off of you can draw down on without having to actively work again. So when I first started this journey, I had a plan and I was going to stick to it, and realize quickly, oh, that plan is not going to work, because I don't want to work this full time job and have this business on the side and grow my family and made all these changes that I talk about that I give you frameworks in the book to help you decide that. And so I wrote the book because I realized that I had a lot of journeyers. That's what I call anyone listening to my content, following me on this path, or with me, I should say on this path is that the podcast, the feedback when you listen, you listen, you find it really helpful, but I wanted you to be able to pick up a book and have it as a reference point that has everything together in one place. So that was the reason for writing the book. Felt like it was a new medium and a new vertical in my business, and in a way I could express myself, because, again, not everyone listens to podcast or knows what a podcast is, but most people know what a book is, and having the book come out in 2023 was such a joy. I had a lot of fun promoting it the hardcover. So that was a lot of fun. I got really great press around it. So I was featured on Good Morning America. The book itself was picked as a best nonfiction book by Amazon book editors when it came out, and I got featured in numerous places. I eventually, over the couple years, I got invited to speak. And it's funny because I got invited to speak by a few notable people where, you know, I knew of them before I feel like they would ever know of me. And they said I read your book and I liked it, and so I'm inviting you to speak at my conference or to be a part of this event. And whenever I had a doubt about whether it was the podcast or specifically the book, how it was reaching people when those things happened, or I got those emails or messages, it really just solidified that all the work I put into writing the book, over the two years that it took, and even beyond, with all the content that I was creating for all these years, was worth it. It was so worth it. And so fast forward now. Well, okay, so a few months ago, my editors, or my publishers, I should say, my publisher said, Hey, we're going to come out with the paperback version in January 2026, and I'm like, Oh, okay. And I remember writing my agents like, is this a good thing? So my agents are basically, they helped me get the deal they negotiated, and they are like, the the intermediary hope I'm saying that

Jamila Souffrant 9:50

right to between me and the publisher and with books. So when publishing, sometimes you're like, is this book doing well? And ultimately, the book is doing well. Well, it's consistently selling well. But I'm like, is I feel like it could have done better. It could be doing better. And so when they approached and said, Hey, we want to release the paper book I wrote my agents, like, is this a good thing that they want to release the paperback? And they're like, Oh yeah, it's definitely a good thing. And so I'm like, All right, like, that's amazing. So not only do I feel like it was successful and is successful with readers. When you guys pick it up and read it and implement it, it also feels like, wow, the fact that they want to release a paperback put more money behind a paperback. Now feels good, because that means for them this must be something that they want to continue to invest in and see a return on as the publishers and so when they told me that they were like, Okay, think of some things that we can add to the book to make it even, you know, more special, so that people, even if they have the hardcover, they're going to want to get the paperback, or maybe they didn't buy the hardcover, and the paperback is a great place to start. And so I thought of some bonus content that is in the paperback that I'm really excited about that I think it's going to be really helpful for you as the journeyer or reader or listener to the podcast. So not only in the original book, you're going to get the content now in the paperback, all that original content where I'm helping you map out your path to financial freedom. So it goes through finding your why who you are and what your journey needs to look like, the five journey or stages that you need to go through to reach financial independence. And for me, understanding this and breaking down this concept was so useful and helpful to me, and I know it's been useful and helpful to you, but knowing the five stages where you currently are. So for example, the five stages go through the Explorer stage, where you're just getting started and you're at the beginning. Then it goes to the cadet stage. That's stage two, where you're in consumer debt, trying to get out of consumer debt. Stage three is the aviator stage, where you're out of consumer debt, and now you are focusing on investing or building your assets. Stage four is the commander stage, where you are work flexible, so you can choose what you want to do for work. That's where I am currently. And then the captain stage is the ultimate stage, and each stage has things you need to focus on and do so that you can either happily be in that stage, at least until you can elevate or help you move to the next level. And so I talk about all that in the book. I also show you how to think about cash flow, because this is really important. The fact that a lot of people don't manage the cash flow properly or think about it, is why, apart from just the economy, right, I understand there are things outside of our control, which is going to lead us to the bonus chapter. But apart from the things out of our control, a lot of us, especially me, in the beginning, before financial independence, was not thinking about cash flow properly, in the way I thought about organizing my expenses, and that was a big game changer. When I switched the flip on investing and saving were mandatory things I could not skip. And so I talk about how to think about that, how to do that differently, and then also mapping out your path to wherever you want to be. So we'll discover through the book and through the exercises where you want to be. But how do you get there from here? That was really important to map out in the book, and so I do that. And so you get all that. You get all the original content from the book, plus some updates. So it's funny because after the book came out, no matter how many eyes looked at it, how many times I read it over, the editors read it over. There were a couple of mistakes. And it's funny because a couple of people did reach out and they were like, I think this number is wrong. So I was actually really happy the paper book was coming out, because I'm like, This is my chance to fix this error that is bugging me that for the most part, it doesn't change how you can apply what's in the book, but it was just bugging me that it was there. And so I'm glad that now there's a newer version the paperback book that where the numbers in this particular section are updated, so that's really cool, and I'm happy about that. But now that the paperback version is here, or it will be here at the top of January, the bonus content includes a bonus chapter. And the bonus chapter was important for me to put in because I was thinking about, Okay, what do people need to feel and apply to their journey three years later and apply to me, but the name of this bonus chapter is when life happens, staying on the path to financial freedom through setbacks, shifts and uncertainty. And I thought that was really important, because while I am walking you through how to change things in your control. There are things that are not going to be in your control on this journey. So how do you navigate that? How do you stay flexible? So there's a new bonus chapter that talks about that, and I will probably do an episode next couple of weeks or next week about that kind of just also giving you more information, because I think it's. Timely and helpful, especially with the start of the new year with the paperback coming out, but that is one bonus content that you'll get. Also in the paperback version, you have a book club guide. So one of the things that I want this book to be for people is something that you actually implement. So not only do you buy the book, thank you for buying it, but you read the book, read it, read it, and not only read it. So that's like, phase one is buying it or borrowing it from the library. Phase two is reading it and hopefully finishing it, but at least reading it and taking sections that you can apply to where you are. And then three, the most important thing for me is you to implement what you are reading in the book and take action. And one of the ways I thought like, how can people start feeling confident to take action after they read or while they are reading, is why not create a book club guide? So I created a book club guide, and it has prompts by section and by chapter for you to be able to implement what you're learning. So you can do this by yourself. So it could just be you or I recommend gathering friends or family or people to do it with. So it's a guide and discussion guide where you can discuss things with each other. There are actionable tips and then exercises that you can do together. So that's baked in into the paperback version of the book. So I think those are two really great bonuses when you buy the paperback. And if you want to go check it out, you can go to journey to launch.com/paperback or go to your journey to financial freedom.com and you'll see all the information about the paperback. The other cool thing that you know I love, I don't know, I feel like, maybe I do too much of this, but I want to make it valuable for you, even though I feel like, by itself, it is. But I was like, Okay, how can we, like, make this a no brainer for people to buy this book and get all this information? So when you buy the paperback, you get a couple bonuses, separate bonuses, right away. So I know the paperback does not come out until January 620, 26 but if you're listening to this before that, and you're like, Okay, I'm definitely in I want this new paperback version, whether you bought the hardcover or not, or you just haven't bought it at all. I want you to get like benefit right away. So if you go to your journey to financial freedom.com

Jamila Souffrant 17:28

and you purchase the paperback, which you can find currently on Amazon, but it's going to be everywhere, I believe, when it comes out and you go and you put in your information, you will get a few bonuses. You get the fire starter course, which is a course that I created, really simple, but I think effective for people who are just starting out, trying to figure out what a fire is. And so it takes and breaks down in four lessons, what fire is, how to define it for yourself, the journey or stages, and then figuring out your fire number. And the second bonus is, is the Find your fire number worksheet. So here's where you can plug in your actual expenses to figure out what your fire number would be. So what is that magic number in the sky that you need in the future to be able to retire or quit your job? And so you could put in your expenses and play around with it to find different levels of what fire could look like for you. So you get those two bonuses right away when you order the paperback, and you can go to your journey to financial freedom.com. For more information and pick up the paperback. The other thing I wanted to just talk about was how I evolved since the book has come out, and just being excited about the paperback. Because I'll be honest, yeah, I heard the paperback was coming out, I added all these bonuses and things to it, but I really got excited about it when I got my hands on the paperback, which it came in last night. So for me, this is like, in real time, the publishers finally sent me the paperback version. And I didn't think I would care as much like to get the paperback version, but when I got it, I was like, wow, especially comparing it to the hardcover, like it's a little smaller, it's a little cuter, in my opinion, and it just feels different. And I was like, wow, this is a big deal. So I actually got really excited when I held it in my hands. And so that's new for me, because I feel like for the past few years, this is the way my brain thinks, I believe is that I get excited about things, but I get over it really quickly. And my accomplishments, I don't know if it's not that I don't celebrate them, because I do. I had a great launch party. I have a great support system around me. But for me, sometimes I'm just like, on to the next like it is what it is like I'm just doing the next thing. And so even. Know, the book came out, and I feel like I've been getting great responses. It still doesn't feel real, if that makes sense. And I know that's something I just need to figure like, I just like, it's real. Obviously it's real. Your your your face is on the cover of a book that is in airports. So that's one of the cooler things that has happened, or is happening, is that when I travel to an airport to and from and I see the book and I'm able to sign it, that feels amazing. The fact that my face is on the cover also brings up some things. And so if you've been following the journey, you know that I didn't know if I wanted my face on the cover. It's something actually, my publishers had to talk me into because I was like, Ah, I'm not like, that famous. I'm not famous in general, that my face should be on it, but eventually put my face on the cover. And so it does feel like, when I'm in spaces or people who have the book see me, I'm like, Oh yeah, that's me. It's almost like, I don't know. I get a little shy. Perfect example is at my gym, somehow someone found out that I had a book, I might, they might have asked the question, and I say, oh, you know, I have a podcast, and I wrote a book, and then they looked it up. And so two people actually bought the book, and they had it in the gym for me to sign. And I was so, I mean, a couple of people did this before, but in the gym, which is like, I feel like my separate life, like my life as Jamila, the journeyer, Jamila slash journey to launch. That's one thing, but then Jamila as, like a mom, just like the regular person in the world, I feel like I don't talk about my work unless it gets brought up, right? Unless maybe there's a conversation about what I do. But I don't go up to people and say, Hey, I have a podcast. I have a book. If you find it out, great, we could talk about it, and, you know, I could give my advice or resources, but otherwise I don't say anything. I think people think that's weird, because I've been around people where they're like, What I didn't know you had this. Why don't you talk about it? Why don't you promote it? And I'm like, Yeah, you know, I don't know. I feel weird doing that. So it was funny, because in the gym that day, I feel like they were blowing my cover, because here I am being, you know, undercover. I kind of talk about this in the book, that when you have this level of financial freedom, you may not look like much, right, like I don't think people, if you see me, I'm I just like everyone else, truly, but I do feel like I have this power inside of me where I can choose the way my life works now, where that feels powerful, but it you may not see it. You may not look at me and say, oh, like she looks like she's solid financially, right? And so I feel like that blew my cover a bit, because I'm like, Oh, now people are gonna start looking me up. And then, because I talk about, like, some personal stuff and like my kids and certain things, like, I'm like, oh, people are gonna know more about me than I know about them, like one of those things, which, again, one of the things you kind of face as a creator, public facing figure, when I truly feel like I'm more of, like a laid back kind of want to be in the background. So I signed the books. Of course, I'm so grateful that they did that. They're super nice and sweet. But those are like, the kind of moments where I'm like, Oh my gosh. Like, I do have, I do have a platform and a book and things that can help people. So I thought that was cool, but those are the things that have been happening over the last three years. And of course, I want more people to read the book. I want more people to be inspired by the book and to implement what they learn from it. I want more people to meet me where I'm at in the commander stage, but ultimately, just to get themselves in a solid position in life to make choices. Because I ultimately feel like that is the goal. You don't necessarily have to become a millionaire or have a million dollars, but for you to be able to make choices and to have choices, that is the goal, and good choices at that. And so I hope that the paperback version now of the hardcover, your journey to financial freedom will reach even further than it has. I hope that you pick it up and you get it, and if you want to pick it up right away, you want to buy it as a gift for someone else. You want to get those bonuses. You want to learn more. Go to your journey to financial freedom.com. I will link everything in the show notes for this. Thank you so much for tuning in, and stay tuned for the next few episodes. I'll go deeper into the bonus chapter and some more information that I hope will be helpful. All right, until next week, keep on journeying. Journeyers, don't forget, you can get the episode show notes for this episode by going to journey to launch.com or click the description of wherever you're listening to this and you can still grab your jumpstart guide for free to help you on your journey to financial freedom by going to journey to launch.com/jumpstart

Jamila Souffrant 24:40

if you want to support me and the podcast and love the free content and information that you get here, here are four ways that you can support me in the show. One, make sure you're subscribed to the podcast wherever you listen, whether that's Apple podcasts, that purple app on your phone, your Android device, YouTube, Spotify, wherever it is that you happen to listen, just subscribe. Subscribe so you are not missing an episode, and if you're happening to listen to this in Apple podcasts, rate review and subscribe there. I appreciate and read every single review. Number two, follow me on my social media accounts. I'm at journey to launch on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and I love, love, love interacting with journeyers. There three, support and check out the sponsors of this show. If you hear something that interests you, sponsors are the main ways we keep the podcast lights on here, so show them some love for supporting your girl four, and last but not least, share this episode, this podcast, with a friend or family member or co worker, so that we can spread the message of Journey to launch. All right, that's it until next week. Keep on journeying. Journeyers. You.

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