Aisha is excited to share how some life-changing advice has played out for her career. She wonders now: what limiting beliefs has Paula and Joe had to overcome in their businesses?
Lesley is attracted to community bonds as a way to build collective wealth for the underserved. But do the same risks exist as they do in the traditional bond market?
An anonymous caller is intrigued by the promise of Employee Stock Ownership Plans. Is this the answer to a smooth exit from her business that also leaves a legacy for her employees?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.
_______
Aisha asks (2:12): How do you know when it’s time to pivot — not just your career, but your entire environment?
A year and a half ago, I was stuck. I called in asking about MBA programs, but the real question underneath was how to thrive as a woman of color in an industry where I didn’t feel seen. Since then, everything has changed — thanks, in large part, to your advice.
Today, I’m in a part-time MBA program at a top 10 school. I’ve left media, joined the renewable energy space, and found a professional community that lifts me up.
This journey has made me think deeply about mindset, growth, and reinvention. So now I’d love to turn the question to you:
What limiting beliefs have you had to overcome? How do you approach transformation as you shift careers or industries? And how has reinvention shown up in your own life?
Lesley asks (22:10): How do you build wealth in a way that also builds up your community?
I’ve been exploring impact investing strategies that go beyond individual returns and contribute to broader, local change. That’s led me to look into things like community wealth building and rural wealth creation.
From what I’ve read, community bonds are sometimes part of those efforts. But I’ve also heard you mention some concerns about that asset class. Do the risks you’ve flagged still apply when they’re used as part of a broader community wealth strategy?
What’s your perspective on community bonds in this kind of impact-focused context?
Anonymous asks (39:15): What if your exit strategy could also reward the team that helped build your business?
I co-own a small LLC with one partner, who’s older than I am and may retire in 15 to 20 years. I’ll likely be work-optional by then, and while I might want to keep running the business, I also want to leave the door open to selling.
I’ve been hearing more about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as a way to retain great employees and structure a future exit. But if our business stays small — no more than 10 employees — how practical is an ESOP?
What are the pros and cons, and how might it impact my options down the road? Are there any other strategies we should consider? And if we do pursue an ESOP, what kind of professionals should we work with — and how can we vet them?
Resources Mentioned:
Aisha’s original call in Episode 473
Thanks to our sponsors!
Wayfair
Wayfair makes it easy to tackle your home goals with room ideas and curated collections. Go to wayfair.com
OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a top business phone system that streamlines customer communication. Get 20% off of your first 6 months at openphone.com/paula
Policygenius
Visit policygenius.com to compare free life insurance quotes from top companies and discover how much you could save.
Shopify
Sign up for your one month, one dollar per month trial period and start selling today at shopify.com/paula
Indeed
If you’re looking for amazing talent to bolster your team, you need Indeed. Go to indeed.com/paula and start hiring with a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit.
