Be Inspired: Court
When I was five years old my parents started my financial education. I received a $1.00 allowance each week in the form of 10 dimes. I had to put one dime in my “Savings” jar, one dime in my “Charity” jar, and then the other eight dimes I could spend as I wanted. As I grew so did my allowance…and so did the complexity of my budget. To this day I am grateful to my parents for teaching me how to budget, handle money, live within my means and just generally be financially smart. So when I came across Court on Twitter I knew right away I wanted to feature him in this series. I am inspired by people who can help money make sense to other people and who are financially smart…and that’s Court!
It is my hope that you leave this blog feeling inspired. Whether you spend 2 minutes reading the blog every month or check the blog on a daily basis, it is my hope that when you click away from my site you leave inspired. Inspired to try something new. Inspired to step out of your comfort zone. Inspired to embrace a new challenge. Inspired to make a difference. Inspired to dream big and chase those dreams. Inspired to live life a little bit different. Inspired to be the best you possible. This series introduces you to people and stories that inspire me and it is my hope that they will inspire you as well.
Meet Court…
What dream are you currently pursuing?
The dream I am currently pursuing is trying to create some sort of income so that I can stop working my day job and live a lifestyle that I truly want to live.
I am currently working on writing a couple of short eBooks. I actually just recently released my first one a few days ago. My goal is not necessarily make a ton of money off these eBooks because I know that would be a difficult task. My goal is to create these eBooks and sell them and then kind of figure out the rest from there. It is kind of scary and exciting rolled into one.
What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to be financially independent and to have the ability to work anywhere and live the lifestyle that I want to live. Being bogged down in a 9 to 5 job is not the way I want to spend the next 40 years of my life. I’ve seen many people who are able to work on their own time from virtually anywhere, and that is what I am striving for myself.
I work hard every day trying to improve myself and create something that will give value to people in hopes that my hard work will pay off and the favor will be returned.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life?
The accomplishment I am most proud of is graduating with my master’s degree and passing the CPA exam all within one year. While it was a tough journey, I think it was worth it for all of the knowledge that I gained. Not only that, but I have learned how to discipline myself and focus in the process of achieving those goals.
Who has been an inspiration to you and how have they inspired you?
I’m going to cheat and give a few people. The first two are my parents of course. They have always encouraged me to succeed and have always been there for me. They never forced me to do anything that I didn’t want to do. I believe that gave me the ability to explore myself and who I am and it allowed me to grow into who I am today.
The second person is Warren Buffet. He is inspired me from a business perspective and also from an inspirational perspective. You can learn so much from him about investing and running a business. What I love most is how you can learn about life from what he preaches. He is one of the richest men alive, but still lives in the same home he bought in 1958. He has a great approach to life and I think everyone can learn a thing or two from him.
How do you handle obstacles that arise as you pursue your dreams?
This can be tough for me sometimes. There are always things that will pop up and try to distract you from you dreams. Drama, unfortunate circumstances, and the temptation to relax a little too much have all plagued me.
I try to shut out all of the noise around me and focus on what my end goal is. I take on every day as a new obstacle and set mini goals to achieve each and every day. If some things do try to knock me off my path to my dreams, I really try to figure out how I can overcome those obstacles easier in the future.
Can you share five interesting facts about yourself?
- I love watching football and my favorite team is the Florida Gators. Go Gators!
- People tell me that I’m pretty tall (6’4” to be exact)
- I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college
- The most inspirational book that I have read this year is The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ Demarco.
- My two favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones
Connect with Court on his blog or via Twitter and I’d love to hear in the comments below…what’s the best piece of financial advice you’ve ever received?
17 Comments
Theresa @DearCreatives
I think it’s important to follow your dreams. Nice interview.Shutting out the noise and focus is so important!
Laina Turner
Life is way to short NOT to follow your dreams!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Amen!
Kelly - A Side of Sweet
You’re so lucky your parents emphasized financial responsibility! I struggle a lot with this. Because I’m so busy with being a pediatrician and running a blog, plus trying to stay balanced in all other aspects of my life, something has to give. For me, that’s worrying about finances. My husband manages 100% of our money and I love it that way! I don’t even know what our bank account balance is! :/
I know it’s horrible and sometimes I think I need to step up, but for my mental health the situation will stay as-is for now at least. I’ve just recognized that I can’t excel in all domains. Hrmmph.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think juggling blogging and being a full time pediatrician is enough…it’s okay if your husband handles finances!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets
Working towards financial independence is important to so many people, myself included! Good luck with all of your endeavors Court!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think financial independence is such a good goal to have!
Jamie Cody
Great post! and by a man blogger, awesome! Breaking Bad is one of my favorites too, #1 on my Top Ten Favorite TV Shows of All Time post at my blog.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think there should be more men bloggers!!!
Dagmara-GlamistaHome
Hello GONTM, thank you for the post. I enjoyed reading Court’s tory, because it was very similar to my ambition of what I would like to do accomplish with my blogging adventure, being independent in charge of my own life, deciding on the lifestyle I want to live and live anywhere in the world while sharing my passions and interests with others. Thank you for the post, it was nice to read of another person who has similar goals and dreams. 🙂
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I also love connecting with people who have similar goals and interests so glad you enjoyed Court’s story!
Anitra Elmore
I love that you have a “Be Inspired” series. We’re bombarded by so much un-inspirational content online, so it’s definitely a breath of fresh air! I’m glad what your parents taught you about finances “stuck.” We’re hoping our hard work with our kids pays off too. Thanks for the introduction to Court.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thank you for the encouraging words! This is one of my favorite blog series because I love finding and talking with inspiring people!
Joanna @ Motherhood and Merlot
Great post:) I love that it’s a male blogger too. There aren’t as many of though as there should be! My parents used to do the same thing with the coins in the jar when I was little:)
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think there should be more bloggers as well! And glad I’m not the only one who was getting coins with a budget as a kid!
Kirsten
Love this post. Reminds me that I need to work harder with my own children on teaching them financial responsibility. Sometimes it seems they believe money just appears out of nowhere (yeah, that’s called a credit card, lol). Loved your interview too. Fun to find inspiring people to share their stories. Enjoy your week!
Jen
I have one child who cannot hold onto a dollar to save his life! Teaching financial responsibility is still a work in progress around here!
Nice to meet you Court,good luck as you pursue your dreams 🙂