Ebbs & Flow Founder Weekly Thoughts from Ebony

Hey beautiful souls,

I've been thinking a lot about boundaries lately, especially as someone who's naturally a giver and a go-getter. For years, I thought boundaries were walls that kept people out. But I've learned they're actually bridges that let the right people in while protecting what matters most.

Some time ago, I had to make a tough decision. A lucrative opportunity came up that would have significantly boosted my salary and elevated my position on the traditional career path into a C-Suite role, but it required me to work 70-hour weeks for the unforeseeable future to help someone else’s business get off the ground. Old me would have said yes immediately - more money, more success, right?

But I paused. I used my own strategic pausing practice and asked myself: "What's the real cost here?" The answer was clear - my health, my relationships, my creativity, and ironically, my long-term wealth building capacity would all suffer.

So I said no. And you know what happened? Within two weeks, we launched Project Rich Bitch and now there is a community of thousands of women who are saying no to what doesn’t serve them and forging their own way.

Here's what I've learned about boundaries and wealth: they're not separate concepts. Every boundary you set is a statement about your worth. Every time you protect your time, energy, and peace, you're investing in your capacity to create abundance.

The women I know who've built lasting wealth aren't the ones who said yes to everything. They're the ones who got really good at saying no to the wrong things so they could say hell yes to the right things.

Your boundaries aren't limitations - they're the framework that allows your abundance to flourish. They're not walls keeping wealth out; they're the foundation that wealth is built on.

What boundary is calling for your attention this week? What would change if you honored it?

With love and fierce boundaries,

Ebony 💕

_{ABUNDANCE ACADEMEY}

WEEKLY WISDOM "The power of strategic pausing isn't about doing less - it's about doing what matters most with intention and excellence."

THE POWER OF STRATEGIC PAUSING

Let's get real about something: our culture glorifies the hustle, but wealthy women know the secret sauce is strategic rest. We've been conditioned to believe that busy equals productive, but I'm here to flip that script entirely.

What Strategic Pausing Actually Means: Strategic pausing isn't about being lazy or unambitious. It's about creating intentional space between stimulus and response. It's the difference between reacting from scarcity and responding from abundance. When you pause strategically, you make decisions from your highest self, not your stressed-out self.

The Neuroscience of Pausing: Your brain makes better decisions when it's not in fight-or-flight mode. Every time you pause before responding to that demanding email, before saying yes to another commitment, or before making a financial decision, you're literally rewiring your brain for abundance. Stress hormones cloud judgment; calm creates clarity.

Strategic Pausing Practices:

The 24-Hour Rule: For any decision involving money, time, or energy, give yourself 24 hours before responding. This simple practice has saved me from countless decisions I would have regretted. Your future self will thank you.

The Energy Audit Pause: Before taking on anything new, pause and ask: "Will this energize me or drain me? Does this align with my goals or distract from them?" Energy is your most valuable currency - spend it wisely.

The Boundary Breath: When someone asks something of you, take three deep breaths before responding. This micro-pause prevents people-pleasing responses and creates space for authentic yes or no answers.

The Weekly Pause Ritual: Every Sunday, spend 30 minutes reviewing your week. What energized you? What drained you? What would you do differently? This isn't self-criticism - it's strategic intelligence gathering.

The Investment Pause: Before any purchase over $100, pause for 48 hours. Ask yourself: "Am I buying this from abundance or scarcity? Will this purchase align with my values and goals?" Watch how this transforms your relationship with money.

POWER PRACTICE Create your "Pause Protocol" - a personal system for when you'll automatically pause before responding. Mine includes: any request for my time, any financial decision over $50, any opportunity that feels urgent, and any conversation that triggers strong emotions. What situations need your pause protocol?

MINDSET SHIFT OF THE WEEK Replace "I don't have time" with "That's not a priority right now." Notice how this simple shift puts you back in the driver's seat of your life.

MONEY MOVES

FINANCIAL FOCUS: Time Management for Wealth Building

Here's what nobody tells you about building wealth: it's not just about making more money - it's about protecting the time and energy that create money. The wealthiest women I know aren't the busiest; they're the most intentional.

The Time-Money Connection Every minute you spend on low-value activities is a minute not spent on wealth-building activities. But here's the plot twist - rest and boundaries aren't low-value activities. They're the foundation that makes everything else possible.

Time Audit for Wealth Builders:

Track Your Time for One Week: Write down everything you do in 30-minute blocks. I know it sounds tedious, but this exercise is pure gold. You'll be shocked at where your time actually goes versus where you think it goes.

Categorize Your Activities:

• Wealth Building: Activities that directly increase your income or net worth

• Wealth Supporting: Activities that support your wealth building (rest, exercise, learning)

• Wealth Neutral: Necessary activities that don't build or drain wealth

• Wealth Draining: Activities that cost you money, time, or energy without return

The 80/20 Rule for Wealth: 80% of your wealth comes from 20% of your activities. Identify your highest-value activities and protect time for them like your financial future depends on it (because it does).

Time Management Strategies for Wealth Builders:

Time Blocking for Abundance: Block specific times for wealth-building activities. My calendar has protected blocks for: investment research (Sundays 9-11am), business development (Tuesdays 2-4pm), and financial planning (first Friday of each month). What gets scheduled gets done.

The Power of No: Every yes to something unimportant is a no to something that could build your wealth. Practice saying: "That sounds wonderful, but it doesn't align with my current priorities." You don't owe anyone an explanation for protecting your time.

Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar activities together to minimize context switching. I batch all my financial tasks on Sundays, all my content creation on Mondays, and all my meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This creates flow and efficiency.

Delegate or Eliminate: If a task doesn't require your unique skills and doesn't build wealth, delegate it or eliminate it. Your time is worth more than the cost of hiring help for low-value tasks.

Energy Management Over Time Management: Work with your natural energy rhythms. I do my most important wealth-building work when my energy is highest (mornings for me). When are you most focused and creative?

This Week's Power Practice: The Time Audit Revolution Before you can multiply your time, you need to know where it's actually going. I recently discovered that AI scheduling tools can show you patterns you never noticed - like how reclaim.ai revealed I was losing 2 hours daily to context switching. That's 10 hours a week, queens! Imagine what you could build with that time back.

LUXE LIFE

LUXURY REDEFINED: SELF-CARE AS WEALTH STRATEGY

Let's talk about the most important investment you'll ever make - the one in yourself. But we're not talking about bubble baths and face masks (though those are lovely). We're talking about luxury self-care that actually builds your capacity for wealth.

The ROI of Self-Care Real self-care isn't selfish - it's strategic. When you invest in your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, you increase your capacity to earn, create, and build wealth. A well-rested, healthy, confident woman makes better decisions and attracts better opportunities.

Luxury Self-Care Investments That Pay Dividends:

Premium Sleep Setup: Your sleep quality directly impacts your decision-making, creativity, and energy levels. Invest in blackout curtains, a quality mattress, silk pillowcases, and a white noise machine. Poor sleep costs you money in poor decisions and missed opportunities.

Mental Health Support: Therapy, coaching, and mindset work are some of the highest-ROI investments you can make. A coach who helps you overcome limiting beliefs or negotiate better can pay for themselves in one conversation.

High-Quality Nutrition: Meal delivery services, organic foods, and quality supplements aren't expenses - they're investments in sustained energy and mental clarity. I've been experimenting with functional mushrooms lately (hello, Endorf's Lion's Mane for that CEO-level focus), and the difference in my afternoon energy is chef's kiss. When you feel good, you perform better - and that's the ultimate luxury investment.

Movement and Fitness: Personal trainers, boutique fitness classes, and quality workout equipment are investments in your energy and confidence. We recently discovered Actively Black's luxury activewear line - when your workout gear represents purpose AND performance, every rep feels more powerful. Physical strength builds mental strength, which builds financial strength.

Professional Services: House cleaning, meal prep, grocery delivery, and other time-saving services aren't lazy - they're strategic. Your time is worth more than the cost of these services.

LUXURY SELF-CARE BUDGET FRAMEWORK:

• Tier 1 (Essential): Sleep optimization, basic healthcare, quality nutrition

• Tier 2 (Strategic): Fitness support, mental health services, time-saving services

• Tier 3 (Amplifying): Spa treatments, luxury experiences, premium services

Start with Tier 1, then add Tier 2 as your income grows, and Tier 3 when you're financially comfortable.

SELF-CARE INVESTMENTS BY BUDGET:

$0-100/month: Quality sleep setup, meditation apps, home workout equipment, meal planning

$100-500/month: Add house cleaning, grocery delivery, basic fitness membership, therapy/coaching

$500+/month: Add personal trainer, concierge medicine, luxury spa treatments, premium services

LUXE LIFE HACK: For every dollar you spend on self-care, invest an equal amount in your wealth-building accounts. This ensures your self-care spending actually supports your financial goals rather than competing with them.

THE SELF-CARE AUDIT Look at your current self-care spending and ask:

• Does this increase my capacity for wealth building?

• Does this align with my values and goals?

• Am I investing in myself or just spending on myself?

• What would change if I treated self-care as a business investment?

WEEKLY SELF-CARE WEALTH BUILDERS:

• Sunday meal prep or meal delivery service

• Wednesday massage or spa treatment

• Daily 20-minute walk or workout

• Evening skincare routine as meditation time

• Saturday morning sleep-in (no guilt!)

Remember, luxury self-care isn't about the price tag - it's about the intention. The most luxurious thing you can do is treat yourself like the valuable asset you are.