You Are A Badass At Making Money

This book is the second installment in the You Are a Badass series. Author Jen Sincero asserts that anyone can make more money by mastering their mindset. She shares her personal history of financial struggle, which lasted into her forties. During this time, she lived in a converted garage, constantly stressed about money, and employed extreme cost-cutting measures. Her plan for escaping this struggle was based on negative beliefs and a paralyzing indecision about her career. The turning point came not as a dramatic epiphany, but when Sincero grew tired of her own complaining and made a "hell-bent-for-glory decision" to overcome her fear of money. She began taking significant, uncomfortable risks, such as investing large sums of borrowed money into starting an online business coaching writers, despite her inexperience. Sincero reveals that she is now a seven-figure success coach and author, arguing that this transformation is possible for anyone willing to get uncomfortable by taking such risks and allowing themselves to desire and create wealth.

Sincero argues that a primary obstacle to wealth is the refusal to give oneself permission to be rich. She recounts her initial negative reaction to Wallace Wattles's book The Science of Getting Rich, which claimed that one cannot live a complete life without being rich. This idea offended her long-held belief that wealth was "overrated” and “gross." Sincero redefines "rich" as being able to afford the experiences required to live one's most authentic life. She posits that people’s unique desires are a road map given to them by a Universal Intelligence, and in modern society, fulfilling these desires requires money. She distinguishes this healthy desire for wealth from greed, which she states comes from a "lack mindset."

The author uses a childhood story of being tricked into eating squid, which she believed was worms, to illustrate that one’s realities are shaped by one’s beliefs. She explains that one’s mindset, composed of one’s beliefs, thoughts, and words, is at the root of all one’s experiences. Sincero introduces the concept of the subconscious mind as a "seven-year-old prince" running people’s adult lives based on unprocessed childhood information. This subconscious self is primal, sneaky, and resists change, trying to keep people in a familiar comfort zone decorated with excuses. She urges readers to entertain the idea of a Universal Intelligence, an unseen energetic force that responds to one’s thoughts. One’s "outgoing thoughts" alert this force to one’s desires, while "incoming thoughts" are how it communicates back through intuition, synchronicity, and inspiration. Money itself is a neutral medium of exchange, an energy that takes on the meaning one gives it. It comes from Universal Intelligence through other people, so the key to attracting it is to focus on the frequency of one's thoughts, not on specific people.

To uncover the subconscious beliefs that block wealth, Sincero advises readers to face their fears by taking big, audacious action, which she argues is the fastest way to reveal these hidden blocks. She recounts attending a seminar where she considered paying $85,000 for a coaching package. The terror of this huge financial risk forced a deep belief to the surface: that if she became financially successful, her father, who showed love by providing for her, would feel abandoned and unneeded. Other methods include monitoring one's language for negative phrases and writing a letter to money as if it were a person. Sincero warns against getting so caught up in processing these blocks that one fails to take action. She admits that after her own breakthrough, she hesitated and did not sign up for the coaching, a mistake she urges readers to avoid.

To build the motivation for this kind of action, one must connect to their desire for money with unstoppable passion. Sincero tells a story about two goats who break into a house and completely destroy it, using them as a metaphor for the relentless commitment required to achieve a goal. This requires getting clear on the specific "Why" behind the desire for wealth. Vague aspirations lead to vague results, but specifics create the powerful emotions that drive action. She also advises aligning with one's "truest you" by pursuing what comes naturally and brings joy, rather than what one "should" do. This involves rejecting "either/or" thinking, such as believing one can either do what one loves or make money, in favor of an abundance mindset that allows for both.

Sincero shares the story of actor Jim Carrey, who, while broke, wrote himself a check for $10 million and eventually received that exact amount for a movie role. This illustrates the power of holding a clear vision with unwavering faith. She recounts her own experience of being challenged by a coach to make $10,000 in a week. Her specific "Why" was to pay off credit card debt. The money came unexpectedly when a former client, whom she had just thought of, emailed her out of the blue, leading to her making $15,000 in two days. This highlights the importance of focus, emotion, and imagination. 

Faith allows one to let go of knowing how a goal will be achieved and to trust that the Universe will provide a path. Sincero describes faith being tested right before a breakthrough, sharing a story of turning down a book-to-TV deal with unfavorable terms, only to have the company return a week later and meet her demands. Gratitude is presented as the most powerful tool for strengthening faith, as it aligns one's energy with the Universe and shifts focus from lack to abundance.

Decisive action is crucial. Sincero explains that a true decision "cuts off" all other options and mobilizes one's mindset, actions, and Universal Intelligence. To combat the overwhelm that often accompanies big goals, she advises "chunking" large tasks into smaller, focused steps. A year after hesitating to sign up for the expensive coaching seminar, Sincero made the difficult decision to borrow $85,000 from a frugal acquaintance who nevertheless believed in her for a different coaching program. This uncomfortable but decisive action was the catalyst for her business growing to seven figures.

To support this new mindset, one must upgrade their environment. Sincero explains how moving into a tiny converted garage just to be in her desired beach neighborhood raised her energy and inspired her to make more money. The most important part of one's environment is the people in it. She advises surrounding oneself with supportive, successful people and being willing to let go of relationships that no longer serve one's growth.

Sincero emphasizes the importance of confronting one's financial reality rather than avoiding it. She offers practical advice for various career situations, from starting a business to asking for a raise, but stresses that the core work is always internal. She tells the story of the musician Prince being booed off stage while opening for the Rolling Stones. Instead of changing his act, he decided to never be a warm-up act again, demonstrating a powerful connection to his unique identity. 

Tenacity is the final key. Sincero shares the story of a neighbor who started an investment firm with her life savings during the 2008 financial crisis and, despite extreme stress, persevered to become massively successful. Wealthy people attribute their success to their refusal to give up. This requires pushing past self-imposed limits, being willing to risk unpopularity, ignoring temptations that lead back to the comfort zone, and forming successful habits. It also means being flexible enough to "course correct" when necessary, like the Miller Brewing Company, which survived Prohibition by shifting to non-alcoholic products.

Sincero concludes by recounting a visit to her childhood home, where a castle that once seemed immense now looked small. This serves as a metaphor for how fears and obstacles shrink as one's mindset grows. The transformation to wealth is an internal shift that positively affects all areas of life. She reminds the reader that they have everything they need to get rich, that the Universe is backing them up, and that they are meant to blossom into their “fantabulous badassery."