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I’ve got to share something that shifted my entire perspective on work and money. A few years ago, I was coaching some incredibly successful people — senior executives, entrepreneurs, you name it—and many of them had these robust investment portfolios. We’d chat about life, goals, and, inevitably, money. A recurring theme kept popping up: “Yvonne, you’ve got to stop trading all your time for money.” It was a bit jarring to hear, because I was proud of the coaching business I’d built.
But they were talking about Robert Kiyosaki’s concept of the four cashflow quadrants—E (Employee), S (Self-Employed), B (Business Owner), and I (Investor)—and how real wealth often comes from spending time in that last quadrant and cultivating theall important 'investor mindset'.
At first, it felt risky to pivot my focus. After all, I was comfortable coaching, and the notion of diving into investments was a whole new ballgame. But the more I listened to my clients’ stories, the more I realised they weren’t just gambling on the stock market or dabbling in random projects. They had a strategy, and they carried themselves with a certain risk tolerance that I found both fascinating and a little intimidating.
Quietly Building My “I” Quadrant using the Investor Mindset
So, about five years ago, I decided it was time to practice what I preached about continuous growth. I started investing—quietly—learning the ropes, stumbling along, and gradually building up that I Quadrant in my own life. I didn’t shout it from the rooftops, mainly because I wanted to make sure I actually knew what I was doing. I was also grappling with my own brand of fear: “What if I make a mistake? Will people question my expertise as a coach?”
But the deeper I got into it, the more sense it made. I realised there’s a healthy way to balance risk when it comes to investing—especially in emerging areas like Web3, AI, and crypto. My risk tolerance grew as I surrounded myself with people who understood these markets and were willing to help me learn the ropes.
A High-Ticket Investment Club & A Boost in Confidence
Fast-forward a bit: I ended up joining a high-ticket investment club, comprised of people across the world and I bonded with a group of British women in their 50s and 60s, who I felt were in a similar place to me. They are absolute dynamos—knowledgeable, eager, and incredibly supportive. They have taught and continue to teach me so much about due diligence, about separating hype from genuine value, and most of all, about trusting yourself to make decisions in uncertain times.
That’s the thing about risk tolerance: it’s not about being fearless; it’s about learning how to handle fear effectively. Surrounding myself with people who’d been there and done that was a massive confidence-booster. They kept saying, “You really get this stuff, Yvonne—why not teach others who are where we used to be?” After hearing that enough times, I started to think, Maybe they’re onto something.
The Course Idea & My Inner Battle
That’s when the notion of creating a course for new investors started to bubble up. I’d been trading my knowledge behind the scenes, helping friends avoid scams or suss out good projects, especially in the crypto space. But I worried about my reputation. You see, many still think crypto is all “meme coins” and questionable “moonshots.” My well-intentioned fear was: “If I talk too openly about this, will people judge me? Will they think I’m just chasing trends?”
So I sat on the idea for the longest time, letting worst-case scenarios play in my head. Meanwhile, my club friends (and friends and husband) were gently reminding me that there’s a real need for clear, straightforward information in this fast-evolving space. At some point, I realised clinging to my caution was actually riskier than taking a chance—because I was letting time slip by instead of helping people gain the knowledge that had transformed my own life.
Enter PACE: My Go-To Framework
In those moments of internal tug-of-war, I fall back on a process I’ve dubbed PACE—it’s how I handle big decisions without letting stress or doubt spiral out of control.
Prepare - I started mapping out what the course would cover: the basics of crypto and AI, how to spot genuine utility vs hype and strategies for staying safe in a market full of scams. Doing the legwork reminded me I had the smarts to guide people through this.
Assess - Here, I weighed the pros (helping people, building a new income stream in line with my “I” quadrant goals) against the cons (possible judgment or scepticism). I realised the worst that could happen wasn’t near as dire as I’d imagined, and the potential upside was tremendous.
Commit - This was the big leap. I decided that yes, I was going to create the course—and I told a few trusted friends so they could hold me to it. Sometimes, just speaking your plans out loud is enough to push you into action.
Evaluate - I started testing bits of the material with my club peers. Their feedback was a goldmine. Having a small group of knowledgeable investors poke holes in my content helped me refine and strengthen it. With each iteration, I felt my confidence growing—and my risk tolerance expanding right along with it.
Bridging My Coaching & Investment Worlds
The most surprising outcome has been how naturally my coaching skills translate into teaching people about investing. Managing fear, staying grounded, and making decisions you can stand behind—these principles apply to both personal and portfolio growth.
And yes, there will always be naysayers. Some might still think crypto is a fad. Others might question why a coach is talking about investment strategies at all. But at this point, I’ve realised it’s far riskier to let other people’s opinions hold me back from sharing something that could genuinely help others.
A Quiet Nudge for You
If you’re reading this and feeling the urge to do something bigger, maybe explore that Investor Quadrant for yourself or bring your own passion project to life. Let me gently encourage you to take a step. Maybe that step is tiny: reading a book, joining a community, or trying PACE on an idea you’ve been wrestling with. The worst-case scenario might be less frightening than you think, and the best-case scenario could change your life.
With each baby step, your risk tolerance will grow. And who knows? You might wake up one morning in the not-too-distant future, look around, and realise you’ve quietly built yourself a whole new world of possibilities.
Here’s to embracing the unknown—and to making the “I” quadrant a part of our journey, one measured risk at a time.
PS - If you want to know more about my course, click here www.cryptogran.co.uk
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