06-25-2025, 11:14 AM
In business and life, the biggest returns often come not from what you do,
but from what you stop doing or never do.
Elimination can be just as powerful as execution.
“Your First Freedom Number”: How to Stop Hustling Blind and Start Building with Clarity
Let’s play a quick game.
If I asked you, “How much money would you need to feel free?”
What would you say?
A million bucks?
Ten million?
Enough to “never work again”?
Totally fair answers. But here’s the thing most people miss:
You don’t need to be a millionaire to feel free.
You just need to know your number.
Specifically: your first freedom number.
Let’s break it down — in plain language, zero jargon, and a whole lot of “ahh, that makes sense now.”
? What Is a “Freedom Number,” Anyway?
A freedom number is the amount of monthly income or savings that lets you stop making decisions from a place of panic — and start making them from a place of power.
That’s it.
It’s not about yachts or Lambos.
It’s about breathing room. Choices. Options.
? Quick Formula: How to Calculate Yours
Take a second and think:
What are your basic monthly expenses?
Now add some buffer for fun, health, and a little life-proofing.
Let’s say that’s $3,500/month.
Now multiply that by 6 months.
Your first freedom number = $21,000.
Boom. That’s your “I can quit this job if I have to” fund.
Or your “I can take a few months to launch something new” fund.
It’s the money that lets you pivot without panic.
? Why This Number Is SO Much Better Than Just “Get Rich”
Here’s why this little number is a total game-changer:
It’s achievable. Like, within a year or less for most people.
It gives you focus — you’re not just “trying to make more,” you’re aiming at something.
It unlocks mental clarity — because you’re not stuck in survival mode.
It forces smart habits: budgeting, saving, investing, and actually tracking stuff.
Once you hit it, something in your brain flips from “how will I survive?” to “what do I want to build?”
And that’s where real wealth starts.
? How to Start Building Toward It (Even If You’re Starting Small)
You don’t need a giant windfall or viral product to hit your first number. You just need momentum.
Here’s a simple game plan that works no matter where you’re starting from:
1. Cut the Noise (Not Your Joy)
We’re not doing monk-mode minimalism here.
But ask yourself:
What am I paying for that I don’t actually use?
What can I pause for 6 months to stack cash faster?
Then redirect that money into your freedom fund.
Even saving $300/month = $3,600/year. That’s a huge chunk.
2. Make $1K on the Side (Repeat x 6)
This is where the fun begins.
You don’t need a business. You just need a useful skill and a few people who need it.
Freelance writing or editing
Resume revamps
Personal finance coaching
Social media help
Selling templates or guides
Do it once. Prove it works. Then do it again. That’s six months of expenses funded right there.
3. Invest Along the Way
Even if you’re laser-focused on saving, don’t ignore the power of putting your money to work.
Start small:
$100/month into an index fund
High-yield savings for your buffer
Auto-transfers into investment accounts
Let compounding be your quiet business partner while you build everything else.
4. Keep Track Like a Grown-Up (But Make It Fun)
Grab a simple spreadsheet or Notion page.
Write at the top: “Freedom Fund: $0 / $21,000” (or whatever your number is)
Update it weekly. Celebrate progress. Make it a little game.
What gets tracked, gets stacked.
? Bonus Mindset Shift: Make Your Money Buy You Time, Not Just Stuff
Here’s the magic mindset:
Don’t just use money to escape your current life.
Use it to build your next one.
Your freedom number isn’t the finish line. It’s the launchpad.
Once you hit it, you can:
Take a sabbatical
Start that business
Learn a new high-ROI skill
Leave a toxic job
Say “no” to stuff that drains you
And all of that? WAY more valuable than another pair of sneakers or a fancier car payment.
✌️ Final Thought: Freedom Comes in Phases — Build Your First One Now
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need a target, a plan, and the willingness to move.
Forget the hustle-for-hustle’s-sake mindset.
Forget trying to impress people who aren’t even watching.
Start building toward your version of freedom. Quietly. Confidently. On your own terms.
The first number is the hardest.
But once you hit it?
You’ll never look at money — or time — the same way again.
— Ryan Rincon
but from what you stop doing or never do.
Elimination can be just as powerful as execution.
“Your First Freedom Number”: How to Stop Hustling Blind and Start Building with Clarity
Let’s play a quick game.
If I asked you, “How much money would you need to feel free?”
What would you say?
A million bucks?
Ten million?
Enough to “never work again”?
Totally fair answers. But here’s the thing most people miss:
You don’t need to be a millionaire to feel free.
You just need to know your number.
Specifically: your first freedom number.
Let’s break it down — in plain language, zero jargon, and a whole lot of “ahh, that makes sense now.”
? What Is a “Freedom Number,” Anyway?
A freedom number is the amount of monthly income or savings that lets you stop making decisions from a place of panic — and start making them from a place of power.
That’s it.
It’s not about yachts or Lambos.
It’s about breathing room. Choices. Options.
? Quick Formula: How to Calculate Yours
Take a second and think:
What are your basic monthly expenses?
Now add some buffer for fun, health, and a little life-proofing.
Let’s say that’s $3,500/month.
Now multiply that by 6 months.
Your first freedom number = $21,000.
Boom. That’s your “I can quit this job if I have to” fund.
Or your “I can take a few months to launch something new” fund.
It’s the money that lets you pivot without panic.
? Why This Number Is SO Much Better Than Just “Get Rich”
Here’s why this little number is a total game-changer:
It’s achievable. Like, within a year or less for most people.
It gives you focus — you’re not just “trying to make more,” you’re aiming at something.
It unlocks mental clarity — because you’re not stuck in survival mode.
It forces smart habits: budgeting, saving, investing, and actually tracking stuff.
Once you hit it, something in your brain flips from “how will I survive?” to “what do I want to build?”
And that’s where real wealth starts.
? How to Start Building Toward It (Even If You’re Starting Small)
You don’t need a giant windfall or viral product to hit your first number. You just need momentum.
Here’s a simple game plan that works no matter where you’re starting from:
1. Cut the Noise (Not Your Joy)
We’re not doing monk-mode minimalism here.
But ask yourself:
What am I paying for that I don’t actually use?
What can I pause for 6 months to stack cash faster?
Then redirect that money into your freedom fund.
Even saving $300/month = $3,600/year. That’s a huge chunk.
2. Make $1K on the Side (Repeat x 6)
This is where the fun begins.
You don’t need a business. You just need a useful skill and a few people who need it.
Freelance writing or editing
Resume revamps
Personal finance coaching
Social media help
Selling templates or guides
Do it once. Prove it works. Then do it again. That’s six months of expenses funded right there.
3. Invest Along the Way
Even if you’re laser-focused on saving, don’t ignore the power of putting your money to work.
Start small:
$100/month into an index fund
High-yield savings for your buffer
Auto-transfers into investment accounts
Let compounding be your quiet business partner while you build everything else.
4. Keep Track Like a Grown-Up (But Make It Fun)
Grab a simple spreadsheet or Notion page.
Write at the top: “Freedom Fund: $0 / $21,000” (or whatever your number is)
Update it weekly. Celebrate progress. Make it a little game.
What gets tracked, gets stacked.
? Bonus Mindset Shift: Make Your Money Buy You Time, Not Just Stuff
Here’s the magic mindset:
Don’t just use money to escape your current life.
Use it to build your next one.
Your freedom number isn’t the finish line. It’s the launchpad.
Once you hit it, you can:
Take a sabbatical
Start that business
Learn a new high-ROI skill
Leave a toxic job
Say “no” to stuff that drains you
And all of that? WAY more valuable than another pair of sneakers or a fancier car payment.
✌️ Final Thought: Freedom Comes in Phases — Build Your First One Now
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need a target, a plan, and the willingness to move.
Forget the hustle-for-hustle’s-sake mindset.
Forget trying to impress people who aren’t even watching.
Start building toward your version of freedom. Quietly. Confidently. On your own terms.
The first number is the hardest.
But once you hit it?
You’ll never look at money — or time — the same way again.
— Ryan Rincon
