From 30K in debt to Daily Podcast host with Diania Merriam

In today’s episode, Jeff interviews Diania, producer of the EconoME Conference in Cincinnati. Diania is living the FIRE lifestyle and has gone from $30,000 in debt to front loading her retirement account. She is currently hosting (2) daily podcasts that covers all of her expenses and is producing a conference and YouTube series. 

Diania and Jeff discuss: 

1. Discovered at 28, that she had $30,000 in debt from living outside her means.
2. Had a goal to do the Camino de Santiago walk at age 30 and so she decided to get her finances in order.
3. She found a blog called Mr. Money Mustache and some FIRE content creators whose financial advice had a different vibe than the traditional doom and gloom advice.
4. Having a mindset shift from seeing her debt as a problem to seeing it as an opportunity allowed her to get out of debt in 11 months.
5. Over a span of (3) years she received (3) 20% raises of which she saved and continued to live at the same income level before the raises.
6. Saving and investing 60% of her income got her to a point in the FIRE Movement called "Coast FI."
7. She downshifted before reaching the full FI number and hit some milestones and options before retirement.
8. Currently Diania host (2) Daily Podcast that cover all of her expenses.
9. She is also the producer of a conference called the EconoME conference; she started in 2018.
10. She appreciates the FIRE movement for helping her define for herself how much money is enough.
11. Diania believes that there is a misconception about the FIRE movement and giving back to society after retirement.
12. Her career before FIRE was in Brand extension and licensing.
13. The next EconoME conference is March 17-19 of 2023; only in person.
14. She’s launching an interview series called EconoMe Encore on YouTube; recording it in the next couple weeks. 

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “ First thing I would do is talk to all of my social circle/support circle and tell them what's going on and brainstorm with them.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “When I first launched my business I was scared to do it alone so I found a cofounder who didn't bring a lot to the table and cost me a lot of money.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? “The obstacle is the way by Ryan Holiday.”
4. What is a tool that you use everyday that you would recommend? “Project Management system called Asana.”
5. What is the best way to contact you? “Website: contact form on economeconference.com; Email: diania@economeconference.com; Social Channels: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn; Daily Podcast: Optimal Finance Daily.”

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School. 

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