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Escaping the Golden Handcuffs: Michele Harkov on Trading Salary for Legacy
Episode Description:
What happens when you trade a six-figure salary for uncertainty during a market crisis?. Michele Harkov's journey from a high-paying IT role to a top 1.5% ranked realtor reveals the incredible power of intentional decision-making, even when facing massive financial setbacks and personal uncertainty.
Michele shares the pivotal moment she realized she was living life for everyone else, the leap of faith that led her from Chicago to California, and the discipline it took to thrive when her income plummeted to just $12,000 in her first year of real estate.
She details how the commitment to her family became the engine for her business growth, forcing her to create systems and hire a team to protect her values. This conversation is about finding the silver lining in every challenge and embracing the philosophy that "if it looked easy, I did my job well".
Key Takeaways:
• How a single "why"—the commitment to family—led her to leave a successful six-figure career.
• The unexpected silver lining of financial crisis (and how her husband’s layoff became a blessing for family time).
• The strategy behind building a referral-only business while maintaining work-life balance (and why she doesn't work Saturdays).
• Why "great minds think both": balancing client quality care with high family presence.
• The mindset of a top-tier performer: “Change is inevitable, suffering is an option”.
• The power of viewing success not as money, but as helping people find their "sacred space".
Tools & Weapons:
• Goals by Brian Tracy: The book she rereads every year to define intentional, big dreams and specific action steps.
• Intentionality & Specificity: Be intentional and very specific about your goals; the universe will conspire to bring you all that you want.
• Masterminds & Networking: Surround yourself with people who challenge you and help you learn from others' mistakes.
• Feed Your Soul the Good Stuff: Consciously consume positive content (podcasts, books, Instagram) to maintain motivation.
• Meditation: Helps keep her grounded and centered during overwhelming times.
• Value Clarity: "When your values are clear, your decisions are easy" (a quote cited by Michele).
Send us a text
About Gold Dragon Investments:
At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.
Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.
Join Us on the Adventure:
- Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
- Schedule a Call
View all episodes
By Justin MillsEpisode Description:
What happens when you trade a six-figure salary for uncertainty during a market crisis?. Michele Harkov's journey from a high-paying IT role to a top 1.5% ranked realtor reveals the incredible power of intentional decision-making, even when facing massive financial setbacks and personal uncertainty.
Michele shares the pivotal moment she realized she was living life for everyone else, the leap of faith that led her from Chicago to California, and the discipline it took to thrive when her income plummeted to just $12,000 in her first year of real estate.
She details how the commitment to her family became the engine for her business growth, forcing her to create systems and hire a team to protect her values. This conversation is about finding the silver lining in every challenge and embracing the philosophy that "if it looked easy, I did my job well".
Key Takeaways:
• How a single "why"—the commitment to family—led her to leave a successful six-figure career.
• The unexpected silver lining of financial crisis (and how her husband’s layoff became a blessing for family time).
• The strategy behind building a referral-only business while maintaining work-life balance (and why she doesn't work Saturdays).
• Why "great minds think both": balancing client quality care with high family presence.
• The mindset of a top-tier performer: “Change is inevitable, suffering is an option”.
• The power of viewing success not as money, but as helping people find their "sacred space".
Tools & Weapons:
• Goals by Brian Tracy: The book she rereads every year to define intentional, big dreams and specific action steps.
• Intentionality & Specificity: Be intentional and very specific about your goals; the universe will conspire to bring you all that you want.
• Masterminds & Networking: Surround yourself with people who challenge you and help you learn from others' mistakes.
• Feed Your Soul the Good Stuff: Consciously consume positive content (podcasts, books, Instagram) to maintain motivation.
• Meditation: Helps keep her grounded and centered during overwhelming times.
• Value Clarity: "When your values are clear, your decisions are easy" (a quote cited by Michele).
Send us a text
About Gold Dragon Investments:
At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.
Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.
Join Us on the Adventure:
- Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
- Schedule a Call