Rachel Rodgers: This Multimillionaire Started With $330,000 in Debt and a $41,000 Salary

Afford Anything

#613: Rachel Rodgers graduated from law school with $330,000 in student loans. Her starting salary? Just $41,000.

Most people would have accepted this crushing debt-to-income ratio. They'd slowly chip away at payments for decades. Rodgers had a different plan.

She deferred her loans and started her own virtual law practice in 2008 — during the recession, when jobs were scarce and most lawyers were struggling to find work.

Her mom thought she was crazy.

Her first year, she made around $65,000 in gross revenue with only $300 in overhead costs. By year two, she was earning $300,000.

The key to her success wasn't cutting expenses or living on rice and beans. Rodgers focused entirely on earning more money.

We talk about the practical steps she took to scale her business.

She waited until hitting $250,000 in annual revenue before bringing on her first full-time employee — an administrative assistant who immediately paid for herself by responding to client inquiries faster than Rodgers could manage alone.

Rodgers also shares insights from a CEO's perspective on what employees should know when asking for a raise.

Understand your company's goals. Know your boss's pain points. When you spot a problem, bring three solutions — not just the issue. She usually goes with whatever option her team recommends.

"You are the asset," she explains. This mindset applies whether you're an entrepreneur or an employee trying to maximize your career potential.

Our interview covers her transition from solopreneur to multimillion-dollar business owner, her approach to leading employees, and her philosophy on building wealth through entrepreneurship rather than cost-cutting.

Timestamps:

Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(0:00) Introduction

(2:00) Rachel's $330,000 debt with $41,000 salary

(5:35) Why earning more beats cutting expenses

(6:40) Starting solo law practice during 2008 recession

(9:13) Hitting $300,000 revenue in year two

(11:00) Debt payments versus business reinvestment

(14:20) Small Business Bodyguard digital product success story

(21:00) Virtual law offices and perfect timing decisions

(24:30) Taking calculated risks

(39:00) Financial independence and Fat FIRE goals

(46:00) When to hire employees

(53:00) Why opportunity costs matter more than expenses

(57:00) Being invaluable employee from boss POV

(1:11:00) Salary negotiation tactics

(1:19:00) Building relationships with remote team members

(1:21:00) Launching adult kids into financial independence

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