I'm sure you're eager to jump into the actual nuts and bolts of optimizing your career and finances. But before concerning ourselves with any practical details or fancy arithmetic, let's take a step back and identify why the work we'll be doing together in this book is important.

Although work and money are interconnected, the extent to which these two areas of our lives impact and inform each other may not be so obvious. It certainly wasn't to me. However, I've found that creating an integrated work and money strategy can empower people to gain more control over their lives than they might have imagined, leading to greater happiness and a clearer sense of purpose. This has certainly been the case for many of my financial planning clients, as well as for me personally.

We'll cover several key concepts in this section that will help motivate you on your journey toward professional and financial well-being. In particular, we'll examine how your living expenses can either help or hurt your job and life flexibility. We'll also clear up some common misconceptions about how to pursue a satisfying career by dispelling several of the myths that may have led us into unrewarding jobs. The insights you gain will lay the foundation for your work and money plan.