Sep. 1, 2025 - When Money Becomes an Ally for Self-Leadership
Sometimes, freedom is built quietly…
Not in a sudden leap or a dramatic decision, but in the everyday choices we make about how we live, spend, and save. For me, those choices - often invisible at the time - became the springboard that allowed me to leave behind a once-fulfilling career in construction and step into my current work as a coach.
Recently, I had the chance to explore this journey in conversation with Isabelle Saleh, a money coach and host of the podcast Mon argent a cœur battant (“The heartbeat of money”). Isabelle helps people see money not as a source of stress but as a partner in building a life aligned with their values (learn more about her here). Together, we talked about what it means to align money with what truly matters - and how finances can become an ally in self-leadership.
Lessons from Childhood: Living Within Our Means
I grew up in rural France, in what I like to call the real countryside - very few neighbors, simple living, and parents who worked in the jobs available around them. My parents didn’t earn much, but they made intentional choices: living in the countryside they loved, growing vegetables in the garden, and taking us camping for vacations.
There was never any extravagance. My parents avoided debt (apart from their mortgage), and my mother managed the weekly household accounts with discipline. Even though money wasn’t openly discussed, I understood that they lived within their means.
From that childhood, I carried forward two important lessons:
- Live according to your resources. If you don’t have the money for something, and it isn’t essential, you don’t buy it.
- Money is a tool, not the goal. It serves the life you choose to create.
Building Quiet Freedom in My Career
When it came time to choose my studies, I set my childhood dreams aside and focused on reality. I needed to earn a living quickly! That led me to pursue short, practical studies in construction. Thanks to scholarships, I was able to study abroad, and eventually launched an international career that took me across Europe and later to Canada.
Throughout those 25 years in the construction industry, I lived below my means. This wasn’t about restriction - I still traveled, explored, and enjoyed life. But I didn’t chase status symbols: no luxury vacations, no oversized house or flashy car.
Without realizing it, those choices built something powerful: financial freedom. By saving consistently, I created a cushion that gave me options I didn’t even know I would one day need!
The Turning Point
After nearly two decades in construction, I began to feel increasingly disconnected. The industry, heavily focused on profit, no longer aligned with my values. I felt stuck, unmotivated, and out of place.
At the same time, I discovered coaching - and was drawn to its essence: empowering people to become more independent, to follow their own path more often, and to live more in alignment with who they are. But leaving a stable, well-paid career for something entirely new is never easy!
What made it possible for me was that financial cushion. Because I had consistently lived below my means, I could resign without knowing exactly what would come next. I had the time and space to reflect, retrain, and ultimately build a career that felt true to me.
Money, in this case, wasn’t the reason I stayed trapped. It was the reason I could leave!
Four Lessons for Others
Looking back, there are four key lessons I would share with anyone starting their career, or even those who feel stuck mid-way through it:
- Balance reality with dreams. Yes, practical choices matter. But don’t lose sight of what you truly want.
- Know your priorities. These will shift over time, and that’s okay. Respect them and adjust accordingly.
- Seek financial guidance. Not just from a bank, but from an independent advisor who can help you see possibilities.
- Build basic financial literacy. Even simple knowledge can make a big difference in the decisions you make.
These aren’t just financial principles - they’re self-leadership principles. They’re about making intentional choices that allow you to shape a life aligned with your values!
Closing Reflection
My conversation with Isabelle reminded me that money, when managed with awareness, can be an ally in self-leadership. It can give us the confidence and freedom to step away from what no longer serves us and move toward what truly matters.
So I’ll leave you with a question:
👉 What’s one decision you’ve been postponing because of money - and how might things change if you looked at your finances as an ally rather than an obstacle?
If you’d like support in exploring your own next step, I’d love to connect:
🌱 Easiest option: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
🎯 More involved: Join an upcoming event
💬 Deepest option: Schedule a call with me
Because self-leadership begins with the small, courageous choices we make - including the way we choose to see and use our money!
I’m Christelle Soto-Suarez, founder of Pistachio-Cassis Coaching, where I help mid-level professionals build the clarity, confidence, and momentum to lead their own way.
