Millionaire in a Year: Time, energy, and money. The wealth trio I've been getting all wrong.
This breakthrough has changed my brain chemistry. It'll probably change yours too.
—Exciting Announcement—
I’m hosting a live limited series, called The Shift, because being on the brink of a breakthrough isn’t easy. I’ve got some storiessss and am yearning to build more community around transparency during this transition into multi-millionaire status. The thing is… I can’t be telling allll my business to everybody.
So if you’re tired of being the center of your business, or you’re ready to shift into what you truly see for yourself, subscribe to paid and tap into the series. It’ll be a mix of juicy and gems. This newsletter is a lil’ tasty taste.
Series begins Tues. May 6!
You didn’t build what you’ve built by playing small. And neither did I.
I’ve got receipts. Clients, revenue, a brand people actually recognize. But lately? It feels like I’m sprinting on a treadmill that just keeps speeding up. I’m working so much, earning just enough, and wondering why it still feels like I’m nowhere near where I’m supposed to be.
And if you resonate with how I’m feeling, let’s just get this out the way: It’s not because we’re lazy, unfocused, or need to manifest harder. It’s because we’re managing our time, energy, and money like they’re separate systems— when in reality, they’re a three-part power grid. If one’s out of whack, the whole thing flops.
So instead of viewing productivity as working harder (because we already work hard enough over here, chile) let’s talk about how to align our time, energy, and money so they start compounding instead of competing.
And let me be very clear. This post is not from the mountaintop. I’m not your guru. I’m the woman next to you in the trenches, doing the work, building the thing, and figuring it out in real time.
And this realization right here? It’s shifting everything for me.
I Thought I Had a Time Problem
But it wasn’t time that was the problem—it was what I was giving my time to.
Time is the first thing we try to manage when things feel chaotic. We color-code our calendars, download new productivity apps, and start waking up at 5am because that has to be why the results aren’t resulting.
And yes, that works. Until it doesn’t lol. I was trying to squeeze more into my day, even though I was already maxed out. Plus, the revenue wasn’t matching the grind.
That’s because I was managing time like an employee, not a CEO.
CEO Time = Strategy, delegation, vision work, brand positioning.
Employee Time = Doing everything yourself because “it’s faster that way.”
And the worst part is that I know these things. I teach them. Yet I still struggle to operate in them. Now, as I shift into a new mindset with bigger goals, and a new role (mommy), I’m forced to manage my time differently.
The next level isn’t about more hours. It’s about more impact per hour.
Start asking:
What am I doing that someone else could do 80% as well?
What’s my highest-leverage activity that I keep deprioritizing?
Shift: My calendar should reflect where I’m going, not just where I’ve been.
I Was Running Out of Energy—Not Time
The part no one really talks about? Energy management.
I’d end my days with this weird combo of being exhausted but also feeling like I didn’t really do anything that moved the business forward. I was showing up, but not SHOWING up. I know you know what I mean.
That’s when I realized: I need to stop treating energy like this infinite resource that I can just keep tapping into.
Energy, unlike time, isn’t fixed. It can be renewed or depleted.
So I started tracking what drains me, what fuels me, and what I’m doing purely out of obligation. I built this little 2x2 grid, and started mapping everything out.
I guess you can call this an Energy Audit. She works.
Every task you do falls into one of four zones:
Zone of Genius: High-impact, energizing—your magic zone.
Necessary Evils: High-impact, but draining—batch or delegate.
Feel-Good Fillers: Energizing but low-impact—fun, but don’t overdo.
Energy Black Holes: Draining and low-impact—cut or create boundaries.
So now I’m starting to design my day around my energy peaks. Yes, some days I still have to commit to doing the things I don’t feel like doing (that’s life, honey) but at least I know exactly how my time and energy are working together.
Productivity without energy is just burnout dressed as ambition.
Shift: Don’t just plan your time, plan how you’ll use and refuel your energy.
I Was Still Working for My Money—Instead of Letting It Work for Me
The third piece of this (and maybe the one that hit the hardest): money.
If my money is only flowing when I’m on, then I don’t have a business. I have a job I made for myself. Whew. Typing that was rough. But somebody had to say it.
So now I’m reworking my offers, tightening my systems, and ideating a new business model that leverages my personal brand, but doesn’t rely on it. (Can’t wait to share more on that!!!) I’m learning to let go of offers that feel heavy, to raise my standards (and my rates), and to build in space for creativity because that’s where million-dollar thinking actually happens.
Lately I’ve been asking myself:
Does my business make money without me constantly pushing it?
Do my offers align with my zone of genius AND my financial goals?
Is my pricing reflective of the transformation I provide—or my self-worth struggles?
Shift: Money flows to systems, not just effort.
It’s All Connected
Here’s the big realization I’m sitting with: time, energy, and money aren’t separate. They’re a power trio. And when one’s off, they all wobble.
When my energy’s low, I make poor decisions with my time.
When I’m wasting time, I start chasing short-term money.
When money feels tight, I overextend myself and burn out my energy.
So now, I’m learning to manage all three – together.
Not perfectly. But intentionally. Because that’s what scaling really looks like.
Shift: Alignment across all three is our real superpower.
If You’re in This Season Too…
I see you. You’re not lazy. You’re not behind.
You’re evolving. You’re shifting out of hustle and into alignment.
And shoot, the hustle worked. It got us all through the messy middle. It helped us build momentum, find our niche, and get proof of concept.
But the version of me who wore every hat? She’s tired now. And she knows deep down it’s time for something different.
This isn’t about giving up.
It’s about leveling up with intention.
Simply put, you’re not meant to be the engine of your business forever. You’re meant to be the architect. And this is the beginning of making that shift.
Xx,
Erin
P.S. - If you said “yessss” at any point while reading (or listening) to this newsletter, you are going to be obsessed with my upcoming 4-part live limited series, called The Shift.
Think of this as a live podcast meets a mastermind roundtable chat. It’s gonna be so magnetic and interactive and the goal is to create community around being on the brink of breakthrough. I want to commune with you if you’re in a similar place in life as me — basically, your life hasn’t caught up to your potential. You are in between wanting more and getting it. You’ve reached so many goals but you aren’t quite where you’re destined to be.
It’s included in paid and will be loaded with personal insight, and sooo much fun (plus, you’ll officially be one of my cousins! That’s what I call my paid subscribers lol). So make sure you subscribe to paid because the series starts Tuesday, May 6!