Why you should invest in handbags shoes and shares with money educator Vanessa Stoykov

In this episode of the Powerful Stories Podcast, we had the opportunity to hear from money educator and author, Vanessa Stoykov Vanessa has more than 25 years’ experience working with and on behalf of the finance industry. To be a Boss Lady you need to dress like it. Vanessa rolled in with a pair of re-heeled Prada shoes she has worn since she was 28. As a shoe addict herself, Tory asks, ‘was this a wasted investment?’ Vanessa says no because 'you were actually investing in yourself!’ that is what it takes to be the best you. Vanessa’s career in finance started when graduated journalism at university, where her flatmate was Wil Anderson. She built a media empire for herself and felt she had unlocked that code, but a financial breakdown from growing too quickly happened when she hit 40. ‘I went from a glitzy Gatzby party for my 40th, to being in $90K worth of debt, having to sell our dream home, and restricting the business by 41. I got to a point where my hair would fall out in the shower because I was so stressed about where the money would come from each month. So, if you want advice from someone who did it wrong - it’s me.’ Having to re-build she discovered that ‘Money is energy’. Your emotions and your energy are attracted to you, same goes for money. She relied on her tribe and as the daughter of a Serbian immigrant Vanessa said ‘I just had parents who were solid’.  After coming through the other side of the financial valley, Vanessa felt it was time to share her pearls of wisdom with others. She wrote the top 10 best-selling financial book, “The Breakfast Club for 40 Somethings.” She used her flair for story-telling to paint the picture of the 5 types of people who whiz through life, and then get their financial wake-up call. There is the billionaire, the ambitious one, the stay-at-home mother, the floater and ‘I was the girl who leveraged her wage and ended up in debt.’ Now that she has time to reflect, what are her three most valuable lessons - ‘Don’t bet the ranch on it’ and ‘your reputation is everything - my word is my bond’ and finally, Vanessa has learnt the value of taking the pressure off and being with her family. Life changes - next year Vanessa is coming back to the city – so would she live life as large as before? ‘I wouldn’t live the same as before. What I am doing now makes more money – I have diversified my business so I am not relying on just one thing and that’s what I urge everyone to do.’ Vanessa gives her advice to those who are experiencing financial change in their household and want to create financial freedom, saying ‘taking action today is a must. Think about how you want your future to look, and work back from there. It may seem daunting, but to make it a reality, you have to take the first step.’ So as a woman looking to make an investment, Vanessa says ‘Invest in yourself. That is the biggest asset you have. Also, another tip is to give your money to the smartest people in the room, that has been a mantra of mine and it’s worked very well that way.’ Superannuation is also a great investment in your future, and is underrated by too many Australians. Vanessa clearly lives life with a happy heart and shares how we too can transform our lives and bring our destiny into alignment so that each day we too can wake up with a happy heart when it comes to money and life. So, sit back and enjoy this powerful story with the extraordinary Vanessa Stoykov. Links: Sign up to the Powerful Steps #coffeechallenge to gain Tory’s proven formula for building a global network, with three coffee dates a week. It’s how she connected with the guests on this podcast. Each one is an authentic and trusted connection  Powerful Steps Follow @powerfulsteps on Instagram Powerful Steps on LinkedIn Vanessa Stoykov Book Vanessa to speak Follow @vanessastoykov on Instagram Buy her book, “The Breakfast Club for 40 Somethings” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.