You’ve dedicated years to building a life of financial security, saving diligently for retirement, and achieving a comfortable lifestyle. So, what comes next? What if financial freedom isn’t the final destination, but the starting point for a new journey? What if your success is the key to creating a ripple effect that empowers others for generations to come?
This is a question I’ve been asking myself lately. While my mission has always been to empower women through projects like the Women’s Million Dollar Conversations, speaking engagements, and mentoring, I’ve felt a calling to do more. I want to leverage my resources to make a deeper, more lasting impact.
At a recent WMDC alumni gathering, I announced a new personal mission: to give away one million dollars over the next two decades. This goal goes beyond charity; it’s about sowing seeds of hope and cultivating a future where more women are free—free from financial stress, free to dream, and free to create their own abundance.
I’m sharing this with you because I believe that together, we can create a profound impact on the next generation of women on their path to financial freedom.
The Power of the Three T’s: Time, Treasure, and Talent
When we think of giving, money is often the first thing that comes to mind. And for those who have achieved financial freedom and have excess to share, it is a powerful tool. However, you don’t need to be a millionaire to make a difference. True impact comes from leveraging all of our resources. I often speak about the “Three T’s”: Time, Treasure, and Talent. Not everyone is in a position to give away $50,000 a year, and that’s perfectly fine. The key is to give when you feel able, using what you have to create an impact.
The Power of Time
Your time is one of your most valuable assets. Think about this: if you bill at $1,000 an hour, intentionally mentoring someone for just an hour a week is the same as giving away $52,000 in a year. That investment of time can create an incredible, compounding impact.
I learned this firsthand during the pandemic when a friend, a fellow entrepreneur, was struggling to navigate working from home and managing her team. I offered to do a 15-minute check-in with her every weekday morning. We would begin with a short prayer, recite our affirmations, and then tackle one challenge. We did this for four weeks, and even though it only amounted to a little over four hours of my time, the impact was immeasurable. She told me that to this day, when faced with a difficult decision, she still asks herself, “What would Alice say?”
Impacting the World With Your Talent
We each have unique skills and talents that can be leveraged to create a positive impact. Maybe you have a knack for organizing events and can help a local non-profit with its annual fundraiser. Or perhaps you’re a skilled athlete and can use that knowledge to coach underserved youth. Leveraging your talents and skills to change the world is just as powerful as writing a check.
My friend Tiffany Salzman, owner of Candor Concepts, is a perfect example. She built a successful marketing agency and uses her skills to help local organizations thrive by creating websites and handling marketing for non-profits and community clubs. She has woven into her business the foundation of using her and her team’s talent to help others continue their good work in the world.
Whether you can offer 25 hours or 10 hours a year, $100 or $10,000, using your resources to encourage and empower others creates a ripple effect that compounds over time. The key is to share when you feel able to. It’s not about a “one size fits all” expectation; it’s about doing what you can to make a difference.
Creating a Legacy of Hope
For some, the idea of thoughtfully giving away resources can feel daunting. After working so hard to achieve financial freedom, it can be challenging to shift our mindset from saving diligently to letting our resources flow more freely. This is where the “oxygen mask” mindset comes in. Just like on an airplane, you must take care of yourself and your priorities first before you can effectively help others. When you are grounded and secure, giving becomes a joyful act, not a stressful obligation.
My vision of giving away one million dollars over the next two decades is about creating a legacy of hope for women. It’s about showing them that financial freedom is attainable and that when they believe in themselves and make that decision, the universe will bring the community to support them.
When women are financially resilient, they can face any challenge. They believe in their ability to achieve their dreams, even through setbacks. Imagine a world where every woman feels empowered. That’s the impact I want to create by giving my time, talent, and treasure over the next twenty years.
Will you join me?
