Hey Ambitious Conquerors! 💫

How many decisions did you make today because you wanted to versus because you had to?

True wealth isn't just about the zeros in your bank account. It's about waking up every morning knowing you're exactly where you chose to be. This week, we're talking about autonomy—the ultimate rich bitch superpower.

Because the richest life is the one where you call the shots.

—The Project Rich Bitch Team

There was a time I had contractor renewal paperwork sitting on my desk. Six-figure contract. Prestigious client. Work I was good at.

And I couldn't bring myself to sign it.

Sometimes you outgrow the very things you worked so hard to achieve. This contract checked every box a few years ago—the money, the flexibility, the prestige. But my boxes changed. All I saw was another year of saying yes to someone else's priorities and no to mine.

My first reaction? Guilt. "You're being ungrateful. This is a good problem to have." The fear of disappointing the client. The fear of disappointing myself if I'm making the wrong call.

But here's what I learned: autonomy isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking the right questions.

The questions I sat with:

I didn't have all the answers. But the discomfort of uncertainty beat the suffocation of staying somewhere I'd outgrown.

If you're at a crossroads, trust this: asking these questions means you're already honoring your growth.

Dana ✨

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I design my life on my own terms, across every dimension. 💎

You can have money but no time. Time but no location freedom. Both but still make decisions based on fear. Real freedom is having all four.

1. FINANCIAL AUTONOMY Having enough to walk away from anything that doesn't serve you. It's saying "no thanks" to the toxic client because you don't need their money.

2. TIME AUTONOMY True control over when, where, and how much you work. Not just flexible hours—actual ownership of your schedule.

Rich Bitch Reality Check: Time is the only resource you can never get back. 🚀

3. LOCATION AUTONOMY Choosing where you live and work. It means picking the beach town that makes you happy over the city with "better opportunities."

4. DECISION AUTONOMY Making life choices based on your values, not external pressure. The mental and financial space to choose everything on your own terms.

Rich Bitch Reality Check: The most expensive thing you own is a life you don't actually want. 💎

The fund that lets you walk away from anything that doesn't serve you. Standard advice says save 3-6 months. We're building more—a freedom fund that protects your peace, time, and sanity.

Goal: $5,000-10,000

Your Move:

Goal: $20,000-40,000 (6-12 months)

This is "I can take 3 months off" money. "I can say no to terrible clients" money.

Your Move:

Rich Bitch Reality Check: Every dollar is a vote for your future freedom. 💎

Goal: $75,000-150,000+ (12-24 months elevated lifestyle)

This is "take a sabbatical," "relocate internationally," "start a business" money.

Your Move:

Rule 1: Only for autonomy decisions (leaving toxic situations, protecting your peace, strategic pivots)

Rule 2: Rebuild immediately if used

Rule 3: Grow it with your lifestyle

Rule 4: Keep it private

Start now: $100/month = $1,200/year. That's the beginning of choice.

Rich Bitch Reality Check: The woman who can afford to walk away never has to. 💫

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The real luxury? Protecting your time and energy so fiercely that your life feels spacious instead of suffocating.

Rich Bitch Reality Check: The word "no" is the most luxurious thing you can say. 💎

1. The Template No (Free) Create 3-5 scripts:

No "sorry." No explanations.

2. The Calendar Audit (2-3 hours) Write down every commitment. Ask:

3. The Boundary Coach ($100-300/session) If saying no feels impossible, work with a therapist or coach. It's not a character flaw—it's conditioning. And it can be unlearned.

Create one "no zone":

Every "no" to what doesn't serve you is a "yes" to what does.

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Design your autonomy. Start at home.

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Shonda Rhimes built an empire at ABC. Her shows generated $2 billion for the network. Her deal was worth $10M+ annually. She was one of the most powerful women in television.

And she walked away.

In 2017, she signed with Netflix for complete creative autonomy. The initial deal: $150M. After Bridgerton's success: $450M expanded.

She wasn't escaping a toxic workplace. She was already at the top. But she was restless—ready to evolve beyond what broadcast TV could offer.

The lesson: Autonomy isn't about having no constraints. It's about choosing your constraints.

Maybe for you that's:

Shonda proved betting on yourself isn't reckless—staying where you've outgrown yourself is.

Rich Bitch Reality Check: When you own your autonomy, you don't just change your life. You change what's possible. 🚀

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