Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christopher Banas, founder of Mountaintop Financial Consulting LLC., located in Santa Monica, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I started MTFC with one sole mission in mind, to provide the simplest path toward financial freedom possible. A world where financial freedom is no longer a privilege and can be obtained by all who desire it.
I'm going to be straight and honest with you. I'm not some millionaire internet education guru. I live in an apartment with three roommates, drive a 2013 Hyundai Accent, and live well below my means. My lifestyle isn't lavish, but it's low cost and very comfortable, and most importantly, I want to help others learn the same. But there is one difference. I learned how to become financially free on way less resources and work than the other guys claim. I was able to quit my job, take off a month for a road trip to the other side of the country, and start a new life in Los Angeles without one worry.
I'm free, not owned by a job or corporation. I sleep till I want, take breaks whenever I please and can go sit on the beach on a nice sunny day for the whole day and do nothing. To me, that's worth more than chasing this dream that you have to become rich and successful to finally start enjoying these things. I chose to start enjoying them today!
Realistically it's a 2 - 3 year process, and I can teach you how to get here, and then it becomes way easier to reach the next step if that's your goal. I don't have tons of free resources to offer because I know those don't do anything. Regardless of how many free resources, seminars, books, and documentaries I collected and went to, nothing made a difference until I started taking action. You need to have skin in the game, and those are the only people I want to work with. I don't want to clutter up your inbox or mine.
Tell us about yourself
One day when I was sitting behind my computer in my cube at work, I asked myself, how am I going to live out my dream when I'm living behind this screen!? I was stuck in the nightmare of the corporate grind with no life, I had lost my father to suicide, was struggling with a spinal injury, and had an emotional breakdown that sent me to the hospital and into therapy.
How did I manage to make it out of that? I DESIGNED the life I wanted. NOT what my mother, boss, family, college professor, friends, or anyone else wanted, and sometimes that means you're going to have to lose some friends, push away your family, stand up to superiors in your work and school, and challenge yourself to be very uncomfortable and scared.
You can't please everyone, and by trying to please everyone, you're not living an AUTHENTIC life.
Now I live in Santa Monica, CA, on the beach, and I retired young. I quit the corporate grind, made investments in myself, and put in the hours to get out of what was before a miserable life for me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Actually starting my business. There is no greater accomplishment than taking the plunge and quitting your steady job to start a business. I encourage you to break free from the Matrix.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The fear of not being good enough and getting stuck in the GOOP or (good opinions of other people).
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Look, I know it can be frustrating and annoying to be at that job you hate, unable to build wealth, stuck in debt, or just being lost in no man's zone. Trust me, because if anyone knows, it's me. I also know what it feels like to have gold in my hands and not do anything with it. This is where accountability comes into play! Just start today; it can be done for a lot less than you think and much faster than you expect.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I've read all the self-help books out there and seen every documentary going. Here's the conclusion I came to about all the big guys. Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, Dean Grazosis, Robert Kiosaki, etc. They found a mentor or connected with someone early on that showed them the ropes and that they could use as a resource. They didn't overload themselves with free video courses.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mountaintopfinancial.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissbananas/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-banas/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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