Christy Wright: From Dave Ramsey to Solopreneur – The Power of Saying Yes Before You’re Ready

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How did Christy Wright go from a 25-year-old with no experience to sharing the stage with A-List speakers around the country? It all started by saying yes to an opportunity she didn’t feel ready for…

In this episode, you’ll hear Christy’s story of working for Dave Ramsey, why she left to start her own business, and the surprising lessons she’s learned along the way.

Christy is the #1 bestselling author of Business Boutique, Take Back Your Time, and Living True. She’s a certified business coach, speaker, and personal development expert, as well as the host of two top-rated podcasts where she helps entrepreneurs grow in their faith and their business.

Press play for the full interview or keep reading below!

The Call to Join Dave Ramsey

Christy always had a heart for business. Both her parents were entrepreneurs, she ran multiple side businesses throughout college and became a certified business coach in her 20s.

After graduating with a degree in advertising, she went to work at the YMCA with dreams of changing the world. Although the work was meaningful, it wasn’t long before she burnt out from the long hours and low pay.

Christy prayed for guidance and heard a voice in her head tell her: “You’re going to work for Dave Ramsey.” It seemed like divine intervention…especially since she had no idea who that was.

The Yes That Changed Everything

Christy didn’t waste any time. She got a job as a project manager at Ramsey Solutions, one of the largest finance education companies in the country, headed by none other than Dave Ramsey.

In the spring of 2010, Dave’s daughter Rachel was about to start her first speaking tour. She was booked for 20 events, but Dave asked their team to cut it down to 10.

When Christy called the conference organizer to give him the news, he told her he needed someone to fill the remaining spots. Christy volunteered. “I had no experience,” she says, “but I knew I could figure it out.”

And just like that, her speaking career had begun.

The Best Way to Learn is By Doing

Christy became part of the Dave Ramsey speaking group, traveling around the country to spread their financial gospel.

The other speakers had clear niches: they spoke to entrepreneurs, young adults, or the Hispanic community. Anything that didn’t fit into one of those categories was sent to Christy. The result was a unique training ground for speaking.

Christy spoke everywhere from family reunions to college campuses, learning to research content, craft a talk, and connect with different audiences.

“It was very unglamorous work, but now as a professional keynote speaker who’s shared the stage with some of the greatest names in the speaking world and the faith space, I can hold my own with these A-List speakers.”

Don’t Wait for Proof Before Taking Action

Christy says public speaking is like parenting: no matter how many books you read, nothing prepares you for the real thing. The best way to learn is by doing. “I never had a single practice audience. My first time ever speaking was in front of 1000 people.”

So many entrepreneurs (especially women) wait until they have permission or proof to try something new. But you have to be willing to say yes before you know how. If you have the opportunity to help someone, make money, or challenge yourself, take it.

“My entire life changed because I said yes before I knew how. Was I bad at first? Absolutely. But are you willing to humble yourself to be a beginner?” Remember, everyone starts somewhere!

Diving into Entrepreneurship

After years of speaking on dozens of different topics, it came time for Christy to choose a core message. She chose work-life balance for women in business. Dave Ramsey let her run with it and build a new arm of the company. “I got to feel like an entrepreneur.”

She spent 12 years working on that project, but by 2021 it was no longer enough for her to feel like an entrepreneur—she wanted the real thing.

Christy left Ramsey Solutions in 2021, which turned into a tumultuous year when her middle son was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Christy and her older son were also later diagnosed with ADHD. Around the same time, she lost her nanny.

“I look back on that year and think I was just surviving.” Between leaving work at Ramsey, trying to start something new of her own, and wanting to be there for her kids, Christy found herself struggling with the topic she’d spent years speaking on: balance.

Take Back Your Time

Because Christy theoretically could be with her kids all the time, she felt like she should be with them 24/7 (a feeling all of us mom entrepreneurs can relate to!). But trying to spend every waking minute with them left Christy with no time for herself or her business.

In the end, she realized she needed a clear schedule to stay present. Instead of focusing on what you’re not doing (like thinking about work when you’re with the kids or the kids when you’re at work), ask yourself: “What’s right right now?”

That question became the thesis of Christy’s book, Take Back Your Time: “Life balance is not doing everything for an equal amount of time. It’s about doing the right things at the right time.”

From Having a Team to Solopreneur and Back Again

Christy’s business journey is a bit unusual. She came into her business with most of the skills that most entrepreneurs have to learn on the job, like writing copy and planning launches.

But that experience also came with challenges. Christy was used to operating with a team that would keep her focused and fill in any gaps in her skill set. “Now I don’t have an IT department,” she jokes. “I am the IT department.”

Once Christy’s business started to take off, she didn’t hesitate to invest in support. She wrote out five urgent needs and found specialized contractors for each role.

“Go make money doing the thing you’re brilliant at. Don’t be scared to hire, because you can make so much money if you get that thing off your plate.”

Price for the Value You Create

The best thing Christy has learned about money is: “Value is subjective.” So many business owners price their offers based on what they think the value is—but as the creator or service provider, they tend to undervalue their own work.

Christy shares a recent example from her own business of a client who needed help with their content strategy. For Christy, this was an easy service to add on. It only takes her a few hours. But for her client, it’s changed their entire business.

In my course The Blueprint Model, I show you exactly how to get out of the time-for-money mindset and price for profit. Check it out here!

Be Proud of What You’ve Built

Christy never imagined that saying yes to that first speaking gig would lead her to where she is today. “I’m still doing what I love, but I’ve evolved and my audience has evolved with me.”

Her biggest win is the success of her coaching business and that she now gets to train others to speak. “I know that’s not like I’ve been on The Today Show, because I did that with Ramsey. But I think this is even more significant because it’s mine. I built it.”

Looking back, Christy would tell a younger version of herself: “I know you’re scared. But you’ll be so glad you did it.”

More from this Episode

To hear the full story and more about Christy, press play on the player above for the full interview or click here to download the transcript.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Free Resources by Christy

Goal Getters Club Coaching Group

Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance

Christy’s Goal Setting Guide

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Christy’s Podcast Channel: Get Your Hopes Up & Business Bootcamp

Rachel Cruze

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Christy Wright

Christy Wright is the #1 bestselling author of Business Boutique, Take Back Your Time, and Living True. She is a certified business coach, dynamic speaker and personal development expert. Christy hosts two top-rated podcasts. On her show Get Your Hopes Up, she encourages people to get to know God, get closer to Him and get their hopes up again. Her Business Bootcamp show gives business owners the practical steps they want and the tough love truth they need to succeed. Christy has been featured on The Today Show and Fox News, and in Success, Entrepreneur, and Woman’s Day magazines.

Whether she’s running on stage in heels or running after her kids, coaching leaders or cleaning up goldfish crumbs, Christy makes the most out of life and loves to encourage others to do the same. Christy lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Matt, their three children Carter, Conley and Mary Grace, and their dog Cooper.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTY:

Website | Instagram | Goal Setting Guide

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