Denise Do is the Chief Instigation Officer of Agents of Change. She is an ovarian cancer survivor, a mom of two, and a proud Living Benefits advocate. Denise is a strong believer in Conscious Capitalism and has dedicated her life to helping others find financial freedom.
“I do get those moments where I’m in my head and I forget to have fun. That’s why I love having kids because they remind me to have fun. “
What is Living Benefits and how did you become an advocate?
Denise: Living Benefits is a revolution happening in financial services; specifically, in the life insurance space. It’s basically life insurance that you don’t have to die to use. You can now access your death benefit while they’re still living after thirty days of experiencing one of the triggers listed in their policy, including things like heart attacks. I was actually a client at first because I had ovarian cancer. When you’re given a second chance in life like that, you’re driven to serve. I’m not special. I started this on unemployment. I was praying for a way to do this legitimately and in a way that aligns with my values. I think the Living Benefits industry is so honorable. I give families hope through options and if you can hope, you can cope.
Share with us your journey of becoming a mom and an entrepreneur at the same time.
Denise: I became an entrepreneur before I became a mom. I didn’t plan to become a mom when I did, and I even thought about having an abortion for a time. I hate myself for having even thought of that. I had to slow down and figure out what was really important to me. Someone once told me: “Be careful of what you give up in pursuit of what you want.” Honestly, having a child made me a better entrepreneur because I used to think that I could only be one or the other, that it was impossible to balance both. But a mentor once told me that it’s not about balance, but about harmony. My kids travel with me and watch me at work so that they can see the sacrifices that it takes to become successful. The reason we become entrepreneurs is for freedom, but since you have to be an entrepreneur, why not? Your schedule is your boss. Being self-employed is great and all, but if you don’t manage yourself, things go off the rails fast.
What have you learned about building your business on social media?
Denise: I remember writing an essay about why I hated social media back in the Myspace days. I was a “secret agent” for a long time but eventually came to terms with the fact that you need to be on social media as an entrepreneur. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that documentation over creation. I use my phone in harmony with my lifestyle. I document not only the good things but also the bad, like, “Here’s my flat tire,” then, “Here’s the officer that helped me.”
How do you balance having fun, raising kids, and still make money?
Denise: Number one, I hope entrepreneurs are doing something in their spare time that they have fun doing. If you don’t have the time, you’re in the wrong industry or the wrong platform. My favorite four-letter “F” word is FUN! with the exclamation mark. But I do get those moments where I’m in my head and I forget to have fun. That’s why I love having kids because they remind me to have fun. Really, my litmus test for everything in my life is: “Do I have fun doing it?” It can be challenging, but is it worth it? I gamify things, too: I have scoreboards for my diet, my business, and everything else to maintain the fun. The way I gamify business is not by focusing on money, but on impact, because impact equals income—period.
What limiting beliefs stopped you for a long time to getting to where you are today?
Denise: I had a bad relationship with money. I was good at making it but I wasn’t good at keeping it. I’d give, give, give to everyone at the expense of my own needs because I believed that money was evil when I kept it for myself. I had to understand that money is a tool. In fact, my big breakthrough was when I learned that money is a magnifier. It’s okay to make more because money magnifies who you are; so, if you’re a good person, hell yeah, make more money because you’re going to do more good! Making money is never about you. When we have self-doubt of any kind, our focus is on ourselves instead of we’re serving—instead of our purpose.
How do you build your kids’ wealth consciousness and relationship with money?
Denise: Robert Kiyosaki has comic books and board games for kids. I invest in tools like that to give them a mindset of abundance. Also, the currency we use at home is not money, but on intangible things. For example, if they read a book, I reward them. When they do chores, they don’t earn anything because those are chores. I always tell my kids: “Do what you have to do first before you do what you want.”
What projects are you working on this year?
Denise: This Saturday, I’m hosting an event called Decentralizing Financial Services. I’m getting heavy hitters from different industries like Certified Financial Planners, real estate brokers, doctors, and others. People can ask them questions about money. I want to give people access. The theme is empowering Main Street versus Wall Street. If knowledge is power, it better come from the right resources. If you take someone’s opinion, you take their lifestyle as well.
Learn more about Denise Do
Her website: https://www.agentsofchange.today
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdenisexyz
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