Stop Waiting to Future-Proof Your Career
Your path to freedom starts with having a safety net.
“I have tough news to share. We’re eliminating your job.”
Ten words no one I’ve coached — or met — is ever fully prepared to hear.
First, your gut clenches. Your heart races. Then comes the storm: a swirl of shock, fear, guilt, and shame.
And just when you need your clearest thinking, panic takes the mic:
“What am I supposed to say?
I thought I could trust them.
How will I tell my family?
Can we still take that vacation?
Should I return the new suit I just bought?
What am I going to do?”
I’ve sat across from hundreds of leaders in this exact moment. I’ve delivered the message to over 300 employees myself. And yet, when it happened to me in early 2024, I still heard that voice inside whisper-screaming:
“Wait… what?!?”
But unlike many, I found myself surprisingly calm — because I was prepared:
I had a financial cushion. Not for a few months — for a few years.
I had a plan. I’d known for decades I wanted to coach.
My partner and I were aligned. There was no blame, just clarity.
I still had to feel the loss. But I didn’t have to feel the fear.
No one can predict the future, but you can prepare for it.
We are living in volatile times: economic uncertainty, global unrest, technological disruption. Even the most high-performing leaders are getting blindsided.
Reskilling and personal branding matter. But you can do all of that right — and still get swept up in change you didn’t choose.
This is why today’s post isn’t about growth.
It’s about freedom.
And that freedom starts with your safety net.
Because true career security isn’t earned at the office.
It’s built at home.
Why most leaders stay stuck.
Nearly every executive I coach has thought about making a major career change. Many, more than once.
But they don’t.
Not because they lack ambition or opportunity.
Because they lack financial security.
They want to move closer to family — but can’t walk away from the paycheck.
They crave a more flexible role — but feel handcuffed by their mortgage.
They dream of building something new — but worry they can’t afford the risk.
It’s a sad, but true fact:
Money won’t make you happy, but the lack of it can keep you stuck.
The two levers of career freedom.
There are only two ways to create financial freedom:
Earn more.
Spend less.
Do both, and you’re future-proofing your career — and your life.
I didn’t know what “FIRE” (Financial Independence, Retire Early) was until my 40s. But I was already living many of its principles:
Aggressive saving
Strategic investing
Minimal lifestyle inflation
Conscious trade-offs for long-term freedom
This didn’t mean I stopped working. It meant I worked on my terms.
My motivation for financial independence started early.
As a kid, I dreamed of being an artist. But I knew how hard money was to come by. My immigrant parents couldn’t afford the “extras” — expensive toys, study abroad, and trendy clothes.
So I saved. Worked every summer starting in high school. Opened a Roth IRA and maxed it out as a teenager every year. Applied for every scholarship I could find.
By my mid-20s, I bought my first apartment in Manhattan.
Not because I made millions.
Because I made conscious, consistent decisions.
I wasn’t going to let my dreams be limited by the size of my bank account.
And neither should you.
8 Habits the Created My Safety Net
Note: I’m not a financial advisor — just someone who’s walked this path and wants to help others do the same. Always consult a professional before making any financial decisions.
1. Save more than you spend.
Sounds so simple, and yet approximately 38% of Americans with an annual income of $100,000 or more carry credit card debt (InvestmentNews, August 2023).
If this is you, STOP.
Stop keeping up with the Joneses.
You don’t live with the Joneses. You don’t have to pay their bills, and they don’t have to pay yours. If someone thinks less of you because your house is smaller or your car is more modest, is that someone you really want to call your friend?
Spending because you think someone else will care is one of the worst reasons to kill your financial dreams.
Stop buying more stuff. Less stuff = more freedom.
Cut back on what you buy (most people only need 80% of what they buy)
Instead of filling your life with stuff, fill it with nature, reading (from the library), and people who enrich you
Downsize your living.
Fixed costs are the hardest to adjust. If you’ve already spent the money and committed, investigate what it would take to unwind your decision. Your future self will thank you.
Cut everything and everywhere: take public transportation or walk; don’t eat out at fancy restaurants or pay for fancy drinks; choose a less trendy gym; stop getting all the wellness extras.
Unless it generates long-term value (increasing your skills, is resellable, adds to your income, improves your well-being, adds to your experience, strengthens relationships) and you are actively using it, it is on the chopping block.
Until you save way more than you spend, you won’t be able to build a significant enough financial safety net.
What is way more? For most of my career, I saved 50% of my income post-tax, post-401K, post-healthcare contributions, every year.
The more you save now, the less you worry later.
Don’t wait until your income is disrupted for you to scrutinize every expense.
Do it now.
2. Aim for 18 months of emergency funds.
Take a portion of your savings and contribute it to your emergency funds.
Why 18 months? Because the average executive job search is now taking 12-18 months.
These should be liquid, meaning easily accessible so you can use it when you need it most.
3. Invest what you save on a set-it-and-forget-it schedule.
Invest the money you save in ETFs (exchange-traded funds) on a regular schedule and don't touch them until you approach retirement (as recommended by J.L. Collins, the godfather of long-term, low-effort wealth accumulation).
Why on a regular schedule? Most people (like me) are not day traders and are terrible at timing the market. When you have a set schedule for investing (“Dollar Cost Averaging”), you’ll never miss the ups and you won’t get taken down by the downs.
Why not touch them? What if the market crashes? Over time, the market has always grown. The people who win are the people who stay in the market — for years, decades, multiple decades.
If you’re approaching retirement, you might adjust your investments over time to less risky, lower-growth options like bonds. Plan with your financial advisor to get specific.
4. Take the time to understand inflation and taxes.
No one likes inflation or taxes. They both exist for a reason. And neither are going away.
Do your homework and understand how they impact your money.
Ignorance is a strategy, but not a smart one.
5. Align with your partner.
Don’t try to create financial independence alone. Too many couples make the mistake of making one of the two people “the money” person. And then sadly, “the money” gets sick and passes away, or they separate.
The remaining person is now left completely in the dark.
Don’t be the person keeping the other person in the dark. Don’t be the person in the dark.
Take the time to align together, learn together, and build together.
6. You are the company you keep.
Find your people. Be thoughtful about who you choose.
Share books, podcasts, financial advisors, and other materials with each other. One of my favorites: Katie Gatti Tassin — smart, approachable, real.
7. Understand retirement and what you’ll need.
There is an abundance of free retirement calculators. Many banks and investment firms offer them. Use one. Even a rough estimate is better than flying blind.
Don’t know your monthly spend? Start there.
8. Always have a Plan B.
What will you do if your job disappears tomorrow?
For me, it was coaching. For you, it might be consulting, writing, real estate, or acquiring a small business.
You might have multiple ideas. Awesome. Do light reading on them. Know which one would be your first choice.
You don’t need to act on it now.
But you do need to name it and talk with your partner about it.
Final Thoughts: Don’t wait.
You don’t need a course.
You don’t need a new credential.
You don’t need permission.
You just need to start.
Because if your career hits turbulence, your past choices become your parachute.
In Brief
When in doubt, talk to your financial advisor and accountant. These 8 steps can get you started:
Save more than you spend.
Aim for 18 months of emergency funds.
Invest what you save on a set-it-and-forget-it schedule.
Take the time to understand inflation and taxes.
Align with your partner.
You are the company you keep.
Understand retirement and what you’ll need.
Always have a Plan B.
Prioritize your financial well-being. No one else will.
Your Turn
Are you building your safety net?
If yes: What’s worked best for you?
If no: What’s one thing you’ll start doing this week?
💬 I’d love to hear your story — reply in the comments or DM me through the Substack app.
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PS: Ready to create a future with more clarity and confidence?
I just opened 5 coaching spots for Q3 .
If you’re ready to take bold action, let’s talk.
Book a free 15-min strategy call with me.
May you lead without limits,
I needed this reminder! Waiting to feel “ready” or “safe” has kept me stuck for way too long. And I hopped on Substack to ditch just that!
This is so true. I've been living modestly and saving for many years, but I've seen many people take 5 holidays a year and spend masses of money on stuff.
New iPhones every year. Expensive cars that depreciate quickly but bought with interest bearing loans. Expensive gyms, hair salons, personal trainers plus a raft of massages, acupuncture, and chiropractor appointments.
This is all very well if you've paid of your mortgage, have your retirement fund set up and earn a fortune, but otherwise, it's madness.
I started my money journey by reading. I got heaps of books out of the library, and I made notes. And as I'm a woman, I read books by women, for women.
Then I started looking at websites, going to local talks about finance and slowly I learned.
Great post Kathy, as you see, we're on the same page!