With naivety that makes me laugh now, after having my first child, I thought I'd have so much free time, why not start a business?As much courage as it takes to tell one’s story, it’s also tremendously freeing and empowering.

I heard it said that the most important gift we can give is our story.  Every story we hear is a gift because we find ourselves in each other’s stories.  We receive the gift of permission to live out our own story bravely, own it, and share it.

I’ll share how I, Rachel Marshall, became a cash flow coach, how it’s a part of my family, why I keep going, and why I want to keep growing for my entire life.  More importantly, I’ll tell you about the mindset breakthroughs along the way.

I’ll tell you about the ugly mistakes I made during the process.  I hope to encourage you not to give up.  I hope to show you that there are lessons on the other side that are worth every gut-wrenching tear.

And I’ll show you how consistently taking action, no matter how imperfect, has been the secret to growth, confidence, and progress.

I hope to give you the permission to think differently and grow along with like-minded entrepreneurs.

In case you missed it, in the prior episodes, we covered How The Money Advantage Began, and my co-host Bruce's backstory in The Mindset Shift.

Table of contentsMy Core Strengths Illuminated By an Eclectic HistoryThe Intrigue of EntrepreneurshipThe Silly Idea That Got Us StartedPersonal Financial Failures and the Lessons We Learned as a ResultHow a Personal Financial Mindset Shift Changed Our BusinessThe Transformation from Just Sticking with ItHow I Serve Business Owners TodayThe Elevated Mindset in BusinessWhy I’m Still GrowingMaking Sense of It AllThe Podcast Has MoreEpisode Resources

My Core Strengths Illuminated By an Eclectic History

I grew up the oldest of 4 on a farm in Minnesota.

Everything I did was with my whole heart, with a grand, epic meaning.

I was involved in 4-H throughout grade school. At 12 years old, on one of my project folders I defined 4-H:

… a window into greater levels of knowledge, determination, personal development, perseverance and effort which involves making friends, learning new skills, and having fun.

I rode horses and competed at the state level in barrel racing.  This taught me alot about dedication, hard work, and being coachable.

At 17, I moved 1,300 miles away from home to join a ministry training program.  We traveled across the nation, leading youth conferences.

I joined the administrative staff of my church and led a team of 90 volunteers, and learned that I loved inspiring people to work together.  Through writing training curriculum, I developed the ability to teach.

After I married Lucas in 2006, I finished out a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business.  I was drawn to marriage and family therapy.  In college, I discovered my aptitude for accounting and was offered a paid scholarship to make it my major.  I turned it down, thinking I wouldn’t be interested in “crunching numbers.”

Out of college, I landed a career in business and human resource management.  Training and development was my strength, and I thrived in building relationships that drew out the potential of others and inspiring teamwork.  I learned that leadership and influence didn’t have to come from a company title or a supervisory position.

The Intrigue of Entrepreneurship

I can point back to an eighth-grade introduction to Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad, and the Cashflow Game, as the first seed of entrepreneurship in my life.

I wanted to understand investing and business ownership that made money and created financial freedom.

The desire lay dormant for several years and resurfaced when Lucas and I were dating.

We’d have long conversations about what we wanted to do in the future.  We weighed and researched many options, from starting a computer services company, to a coffeehouse,