There was a time when I was working for an employer, giving them my all and providing care to patients in the best way that I knew how. But when it came time for me to collect my paycheck, nothing ever changed. I got paid the same as every other nurse practitioner, and all my extra efforts were unrealized.

I’m sure many of you feel the same way. You do exactly what’s asked of you and want the best for everyone who walks through the door. However, you’re also waiting for the manager or owner to come along and give a raise or another type of promotion, which won’t happen. Sadly, this is just wishful thinking, and to put it bluntly, it’s not a strategy for helping yourself – it’s financial sabotage.

Not a day goes by that I look back on my decision to start my own practice and start seeing patients on my own terms. It’s been life-changing not only for my net worth but also my self-worth as I now feel more energized about my career. I know that every accomplishment we make at my practice benefits me directly. My only regret is not having done it sooner.

If you genuinely want to bring a change to your financial livelihood, then the best advice I can give you is to stop holding yourself back. Instead,

• Start your own practice
• Invest for the future
• Build multiple streams of income

Don’t let fear hold you back from doing what you’re capable of. Sometimes you have to decide you will go all in and leave yourself a way to return. As they used to say back in the old days, burn the ships.

Even if you do something simple like contributing more to your retirement plans this year – stretching all the way up to the IRS limit of $22,500 as of 2023, it will mean more money in your pocket and less of it going to the taxman.

Or maybe you can finally take a chance on buying real estate and diversifying into rental property income. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, then you could always buy a REIT (real estate income trust) and still take advantage of high-dividend yields.

It’s these kinds of opportunities that will help you to break your financial plateau. But you have to let yourself do so. It would be best if you put yourself on the trajectory needed to live the life you’ve always wanted.