"Embrace the power of self-reliance and remember: If it's to be, it's up to me."
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Natalie Freeman, the visionary CEO of Edward Jones Investments in the world of finance and an exceptional entrepreneur. From being known as “Tampa Bay’s Tax Lady turned Money Lady” to establishing a legacy of empowering businesses and creating wealth, Natalie’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
From her early days in the financial industry to becoming an influential leader, Natalie shares the invaluable lessons she’s learned along the way.
Throughout this exclusive interview, Natalie Freeman opens up about her strategies for navigating challenges, motivating teams, and embracing change in an ever-evolving business landscape. Her insights and wisdom serve as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike.
Join us as we uncover the driving forces behind Natalie’s achievements and her unwavering commitment to transforming businesses and lives.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Natalie Freeman: Hello! My name is Natalie Freeman and I live on purpose in purpose. I am a native Floridian who has had a lifelong career in the Financial industry.
(Since the age of 17 literally!)Self proclaimed “Tampa Bay’s Tax Lady turned Money Lady”, I passionately create strategy to help businesses be profitable and redirect those assets to create wealth. I am excited to have this opportunity today to share my story with Valiant CEO.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Natalie Freeman: Am I free to say I don’t know? I DO NOT KNOW!! This may sound humorous but I barely know what it takes to makes myself happy let alone those around me.
This is what I do know. Most Americans in the workforce are bored and have settled into careers out of fear and obligation. While some bosses may not be experts in organizational behavior or how to motivate a team, I will not jump on the bandwagon to lay blame solely on management.
As an entrepreneur it took years for me to cultivate an attitude to find the motivation to do well on my job, for a project, or with a client in the absence of outside human influence. Most people do not take the time to develop this necessary characteristic We’ve all heard the adage, “If it’s to be it’s up to me!” While this is not entirely true, there has to be a level of self motivation to do well.
If we circle back to my initial premise that most have settled to work jobs because out of fear or obligation, it contains a clue as to why we are not motivated to do well on the job. If you do not enjoy a job where you will spend 80% of your waking hours, it is easy to develop resentment and feel unworthy and underappreciated.
With these feelings can come a lack of motivation to speak out against inequities, ask for more challenging roles in your division, or a transition to a more suitable department.
We as leaders and managers of businesses must maintain a balance to reach organizational goals, while simultaneously developing our team. Many times we are fearful that we will invest many resources into our team and they will “level up“ after we have poured so much into them.
Perhaps we should redirect our fears and hope that investing in our team will show that we care about the people who have come alongside of us to bring our visions to pass. If they leave, hopefully we will have created better humans and should appreciate the time that they spent with us. Some will stay. Some will leave. This is a reality we must be comfortable with.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Natalie Freeman: The book that has influenced me most is the Bible. While I, like so many others, appreciate it as a source to increase my faith and follow a moral path, it is also full of leadership models and methods! Deborah, Abigail and Rahab were great women leaders in the Bible.
Noah was a visionary who was laughed at but went forward anyway to construct a massive vessel that had never been created. Daniel was a political leader that maintained a personal devotion to take a break during his workday to pray that was unpopular in his day – yet he proved to be most effective in his position.
And Jesus…….well….He was the GOAT! I have existed almost a half of a century, so I have learned many lessons! I will summarize them below with some of my favorite quotes. “No matter what just keep going.” Reginald Lewis “Beautiful are the feet of woman who knows her worth and uses her steps to change the world” – Natalie Freeman “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all things will be added unto you.” – Bible
The book that I have gifted the most is called “The Automatic Millionaire” by David Bach. It was gifted to me by a millionaire when I shared my vision to create wealth building habits for myself and my clients. I oftentimes gift it to young families that join my practice as new clients.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Natalie Freeman: In August 2019 I wrote a women’s Bible study entitled “LEADing Lady. Every Lady Is A LEADing Lady!” The premise behind this book was that women are influential, and have the potential to lead from their every day opportunities.
The book includes encouragement, space for journaling and introspection, as well as reaches leadership traits to model. During this time I was the Women’s Director for a large ministry in Tampa Bay. We were looking for a Bible study that would inspire the women and speak directly to some of the current challenges they were facing.
I felt the ones on the shelves didn’t quite fit the bill so I wrote a Bible Study!
I hope to write “Happily Ever After”, a chronicle of my marriage that ended after 17 years because of mutual abuse and the revelations I received regarding components that are often neglected in cultivating a loving and lasting marriage.
I’d also like to write “How Does Your Garden Grow”, a family-centered work that uses the concept of gardening to depict how the characteristics of community, collaboration and quality time can strengthen the family unit.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Natalie Freeman: That’s a loaded question! Many facets of running a business are often underestimated yet I feel one of the most impacted groups when running a business is the family of the Visionary or CEO. The support your family provides and the sacrifices most families will make while building a business is often undervalued and an underestimated necessity.
When starting my first company in 2009, I lived, ate and breathed the business. While my family supported me, I didn’t do the best job of setting time aside BEFORE diving into this endeavor to share the vision with my husband and son, share the sacrifices that may be necessary for our family and ask for their backing.
My son was five years old at the time and since that time we have had many conversations where he has noted that he often remembers seeing me in my office working endless hours instead of spending time with him. It broke my heart because in my mind these efforts were for my family and I assumed they understood this.
Honestly, over 15 years later, I struggle to maintain consistent family time. I am very aware now and will continue to work at improving this area of my life.
What does “success” in 2023 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Natalie Freeman: In 2023 success means maintaining a productive and balanced work week that includes high-level strategic sessions with top businesses and families, community service and practice at the driving range with restful yet enjoyable weekends. Period.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Natalie Freeman for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Natalie Freeman or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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