#WIB - Q&A With Jean Archary Founder Of Money Messages -

1. Can you please tell us more about your business?

A. We offer a range of financial education and wellness solutions for individuals, employees, and their families that are affordable, and suitable for various learning preferences. This includes online courses for working adults, children, teenagers, and even domestic staff. Our solutions consider both the technical aspects and skills required to manage money, as well as our emotional relationship to it. Both play a role in how we attract wealth and achieve financial wellness.

2. When, how, and why did you start your business?

A. I originally started it in 2010, out of my passion to empower others about money matters. Returned to the corporate world two years later due to personal reasons and pursued my passion on a part-time basis. I published two books teaching kids about money and eventually exited corporate again in May 2021 amidst a pandemic and as a single mom.

3. What is your role in the business?

A. I am a solopreneur and founder of Money Messages– I play many roles. I outsource certain functions that I am unable to do myself like marketing, social media and finance, and tax management.

4. Where did you study and what did you study?

A. I studied for a BA Degree majoring in Psychology and Communications on a part-time basis whilst working full time to fund my studying. My intention was to become a Psychologist but ended up working in financial services. I furthered my studies over the years with a Postgrad in Financial Planning, Postgrad in Adv Tax, and Coaching qualifications. Most of my studies were through UNISA, UFS, and Neuroleadership Institute. My studies continue in the form of continuous professional development, reading, and a range of online learning courses through various learning platforms.

5. How did you finance your business?

A. I have been planning my exit for over two years. Being a cautious spender, I have always saved towards reducing debt. I have driven the same car for 13 years, I cut down expenses where I could and lived a modest lifestyle to be able to fund my business.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

A. I wake up at 5, meditate, do the school run, gym for an hour, my work day starts at about 10. The flexibility allows me to work whenever I want. I sometimes work 7 days a week and evenings but the great thing about this is that it doesn’t feel like work.

7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?

A. When passion and purpose come together, there is no need to balance…not yet anyways. My 13-year-old is pretty much self-sufficient and doesn’t need me as much as she did when she was younger, so this does give me more time to focus on building my business after hours.

8. What drives you and inspires you?

A. Making a positive difference in other people’s lives and helping them to shift the way they think, feel, and behave with money. And my daughter 😊 The reward I get from empowering others to have better control of their financial situation and striving to be a better version of who I was yesterday as a role model for my daughter is what fuels my purpose.

9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

A. During everyday events, when my mind is quiet, during meditation, through self-reflection, and by having a spiritual connection with my higher self. Our mindset plays such an integral role in being open to see opportunities. If you have a victim mentality, you will never see this. This is part of the EQ learnings I apply in my wellness solutions that have a profound effect on whether we attract wealth.

10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?

A. Facebook and LinkedIn, (recently – Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram). Also, I use a marketing company to help me. I use various forms of marketing to share my message (videos, blogs, surveys, posts, email). I have been fortunate to have had quite a bit of media exposure from my book with tv, magazines, newspapers, and radio. This has helped to build my brand. I also partner with other like-minded people/coaches, networking opportunities, and Facebook groups. I also have a group that I manage called Raising money-smart kids on Facebook that I created to raise awareness of the importance of teaching kids about money from a young age.

11. What is next for your business?

A. My vision is to empower as many people as I can using hybrid solutions i.e. online courses, webinars, workshops, and individual coaching. I want MONEY MESSAGES to become the leading financial wellness solution that improves the way we think, feel, and behave with money so that peoples achieve their financial goals and dreams without having to make disastrous money mistakes.

12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?

A. Find your purpose or passion because when you have that you will have the energy, motivation, and commitment to pursue it. Make sure your business idea can be profitable, sustainable, and scalable. Do your homework, find the time, stop making excuses, and work on your business plan. I worked on my business plan and built my business every weekend for 2 years before I left my secure income. I wanted to hit the road running and generate an income as quickly as I could after I left my job.

You don’t have to leave your job immediately, but have a plan towards that goal. Start your business as a side hustle and get it to a point where you are generating sufficient revenue before you leave. Before you leave your full-time job, save, reduce expenses, pay off debt and cut costs where you can. Have at least 6months to 1 year’s expenses saved up. The more you have saved up, the more time you have to build your business. The entrepreneurial journey is not an easy one and you will be filled with fear, doubt, and overwhelm. But if you have a plan and you stick to that plan, anything is possible.

For more details about Money Message, visit their website: www.moneymessages.co.za or connect on social media.

#WIB – Q&A With Jean Archary /#WIB – Q&A With Jean Archary /#WIB – Q&A With Jean Archary