Four important money lessons

Plus how to combat comparison

Author

Helena Di Biase
January 12, 2025

In partnership with

KIS News Issue #38 - some links included in this issue may be affiliate links

This Week:

Update: 

This week I’ve really been doubling down on my mindset work as the initial motivation and inertia of the New Year began to fade. Our Money Mindset Q&A with Laura inside the Keep It Simple Club couldn’t have come at a better time. Below you can read some of my top takeaways from the session.

I’ve also been working on the logistics of life with two kids, two businesses and a new start up on the horizon. Over the last 12 months I’ve learnt that preparation in all areas of life is key so I’ve been really focusing on how I can make things run more smoothly at home without sacrificing time with my kids. I’m always a work in progress.

Finally, I’m so excited to have my first paid partnership for this newsletter this week with Morning Brew. I’ve been a Morning Brew reader for years so when a notification popped up that they would like to sponsor Keep It Simple, I nearly fell off my chair.

I genuinely love writing this newsletter each week and as I really focus on this as a medium of content creation for 2025, it feels like an incredible milestone to be working with a publisher like Morning Brew. If you don’t already subscribe to their emails, this is your sign. I’m a big believer in solely subscribing to newsletters that are actually useful and this is one that I read every day without fail to keep on top of business and current affairs in a way that is quick and digestible.

Words to live by: You don’t have to control everything you just have to keep moving forward.

Question to ask yourself this week: If I looked at my challenges as opportunities what would I do next?

Food for Thought: This week, I came across a moving TED Talk by Louie Schwartzberg, “Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.” It’s a visually stunning reminder of the miracles we often overlook in our daily rush. Schwartzberg uses time-lapse photography to highlight the beauty of the natural world and pairs it with a simple yet profound message: every day is a gift.

At one point, a child in the video describes their amazement at the world, saying, “Wow, look at that!”—a phrase so simple, but one we lose as we get older. Watching it, I couldn’t help but reflect on how easy it is to focus on what’s wrong or what we’re missing, and how rare it is to pause and appreciate what we already have.

ICYMI Content: How I plan and manage my time with two businesses, two kids and no childcare. If you missed it on TikTok you can find it here >

Mindset Moodboard:

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Turning Comparison Into Curiosity

I’ve fallen into a trap of comparison recently and it’s not a place I like to be. It really is the thief of joy. But it’s also totally normal for fear and doubt to creep in at times, especially if you have taken a knock. Recently I’ve noticed that my views across my social channels have been on a downward curve and last week I let it get in my head. So when my coach asked me what’s going on, I blurted out a river of all my self-indulgent woe-is-me problems. Once I was finished, he gently shared a few home-truths.

  1. I can’t control social media platforms and algorithms or what other people are doing.

  2. I’m not actually doing that much about it. He suggested it was time to explore pushing the needle further and even said the words I dreaded, “maybe it’s just not good enough”. A topic for a different time, but perhaps he is right…

Then came the real gem I took away from the session - instead of falling into a pity party of comparison, turn that comparison into curiosity.

It’s so easy to look at someone else’s success and feel like you’re falling behind. Social media doesn’t help —it’s predominantly a highlight reel of everyone’s wins, while you’re living the messy middle of your own journey.

Here’s what I needed to hear to give myself a kick: comparison doesn’t have to be the thief of joy. It can be the spark for growth.

And this is the exercise I gave myself to work on this week when I felt comparison creeping in:

  • Ask yourself, “What can I learn from their approach?” Focus on their steps, not just their results.

  • Look for clues, not criticism. What strategies might they be using that you can adapt for your own goals?

  • Get inspired. If they’ve done it, it’s proof you can too. Someone else’s win doesn’t take anything away from you—in fact, it’s evidence of what’s possible.

I’ve found that by shifting my energy from judgment to curiosity, I stay focused on my own growth instead of getting stuck in someone else’s story. It’s not about copying or comparing—it’s about figuring out what aligns with you and moving forward with intention.

The truth is, everyone’s on their own timeline. Let them do their thing, and focus on what’s lighting you up. The magic happens when you stop looking sideways and start looking ahead.

Take control of your finances this year

Tomorrow marks the start of our January Money Challenge inside the Keep It Simple Club and I can’t to get started! Each day we are going to be working on something new to take control of our finances and make 2025 our most profitable and lucrative year yet.

Here’s the agenda for the week ahead:

Monday 13th - Setting Revenue Goals - 30 min on-demand class

Tuesday 14th - Charging your worth- 10 min on-demand class

Wednesday 15th - Pricing for Profit - 10 min on-demand class

Thursday 16th - LIVE - Money Metrics - How to host a monthly board meeting

Friday 17th - Setting up for success & accountability - 10 min on-demand class

Saturday 18th - Long term profit strategies - 20 min on-demand class

Each day you will find a new class inside the “implementation sessions” area of circle plus links to the live sessions inside the members club circle platform.

If you’re not already a member and you want to join us for the January Money Challenge and catch up on the last week, you can get access to all areas of the member’s club for free for the next 7 days here »

*7 day free trial then cancel anytime.

Lessons from Money Mindset & Financial Wellbeing Expert Laura-Ann Moore

Earlier this week we welcomed money mindset and financial wellbeing expert Laura-Ann Moore to the Keep It Simple Club for a money mindset Q&A implementation session. It’s not often I use the word transformative but on this occasion it’s the only word to do it justice.

Here were my key takeaways.

  1. You don't need to earn rest. The feeling of needing to work yourself into the ground to make money and run a business is part of your money story that isn't serving you and you can change it.

  2. You don't get to pick the timeline of your progress or success so you need to find ways to enjoy the journey

  3. Your self worth doesn't equal your net worth

  4. One of the best things you can do to improve your relationship with money and your money mindset is to focus on being mindful and present in your body and being aware of your state. Money is emotional so if we are moving through life unaware of our emotional state, we are going to make decisions about money in a subconscious way. And spoiler, if we've been neglecting working on our relationship with money and that subconscious state is not aligned with where we actually consciously want to be, then it's easy to see how things can unravel. Being present and aware is the antidote.

You can catch up on the full replay as well as access the rest of the Keep It Simple Club content on a 7 day free trial below.

*7 day free trial then cancel anytime.

The Let Them Theory

I first came across the “Let Them / Let Me” concept whilst listening to a podcast a few years ago, and while it resonated at the time, I didn’t fully embrace it. But as I was setting my goals for the new year, I was prompted to revisit it—and it feels like exactly what I need right now.

Here’s the core idea, originally shared by Mel Robbins: when someone’s actions, decisions, or opinions don’t align with what you’d do or believe, the most freeing response is to simply let them.

Let them live their life the way they see fit.

Let them make choices that don’t make sense to you.

Let them stay stuck in their patterns if that’s what they choose.

It’s not your job to manage anyone else’s life or carry the weight of their choices.

This year, one of my personal goals is to stop letting other people’s actions and agendas dominate my time and energy. I realised I’ve spent too much mental bandwidth worrying about what others are doing, thinking, or expecting from me—and not enough energy on living my life the way I want to.

This is where the second part of the theory comes in: while you’re letting them do their thing, you focus on what you need.

Let me make choices that align with my goals.

Let me set boundaries that protect my time.

Let me pursue what lights me up without guilt or hesitation.

This simple mindset shift has been a game-changer for me. Instead of getting caught up in trying to please everyone or manage outcomes I can’t control, I’m intentionally choosing to focus on what I can control—my actions, my energy, my priorities.

A few weeks ago, I found myself caught in a familiar pattern. Someone close to me had made a decision that I didn’t agree with—one I knew would create challenges for them down the line. My first instinct was to step in, offer advice, and try to redirect their choices. But then I caught myself and thought, What if I just… let them?

So, I said nothing. I let them navigate their decision on their own. And do you know what? Not only did it take the emotional weight off my shoulders, but it also gave them the space to figure things out—and they did. It was a reminder that people don’t always need saving, especially when they aren’t asking for it.

Here’s how I’m practicing it:

  1. When someone does something frustrating or unexpected, I take a deep breath and silently say, “Let them.” It’s a reminder that their choices are theirs—not mine to fix or carry.

  2. When I feel pulled in a hundred directions, I ask myself, “What do I need right now?” and give myself permission to focus on that.

  3. When I feel tempted to justify or over-explain my choices, I pause and say, “Let me”—let me live in alignment with my values, no apologies required.

It’s amazing how much lighter things feel when you stop carrying what was never yours to hold. And the best part? This isn’t just about boundaries; it’s about empowerment. By letting others take responsibility for their actions, you free yourself to take full responsibility for yours.

So, as we head into the new year, here’s my reminder for both of us: let them, and let me. The energy shift is worth it.

Have a great week ahead & remember to keep it simple.

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