The Future 2%
Most Will Drift
They’ll delay the hard conversations, deny their own patterns, and blame everything but the face in the mirror.
A Rare Few Choose Differently
They embrace discomfort. They reject the noise. They take full ownership, and they live with intention, even when no one’s watching.
They Don’t Chase Fame or Recognition.
They don’t need applause. If you passed them on the street, you would not even notice them. But behind quiet eyes is iron discipline and real financial freedom.
This page honors a select few who’ve walked or are walking the Askesis path and had the courage to share their story. Not to boast. Not to impress. But to show you what’s possible when you stop drifting…. and start choosing.
Voices of the Few
We purposely chose to represent three very different Askesis members here. They represent from beginning to fulfillment of the Askesis journey.
**** Disclaimer – I have been working with these awesome individuals since before Askesis was officially founded. I myself started the Askesis journey at 14 years old, making that 21 years ago, working in a junk yard laying concrete in the middle of summer in Florida. The best day to start Askesis is yesterday, the second best is today.
Jaime A.
Retail Assistant Manager
Miami, FL
Age: 33
How long have you been using the Askesis mindset?
A year and a half.
Do you use any paid Askesis services?
I don’t, I only use the self-help tools for free and get the newsletter.
When you started your Askesis journey, where were you financially?
In the worst spot I’ve ever been in my life, close to 25k in debt, very little savings, no knowledge of investing, living the #yolo lifestyle, and just believing I should spend my money on whatever I wanted, because I just need to enjoy life and feel instant gratification.
What is your current financial reality?
At the moment I’ve grown a lot when it comes to financial education, I’m debt free. I have a brokerage account set up, I’m investing, seeing my money grow. I am mindful about my spending habits, which has helped me add cash to my savings. I am far from where I want to be but I’m definitely more financially stable and moving in the right direction.
Did you have any beliefs or behaviors you had to unlearn?
Many. Spending money on things I didn’t need at all, thinking I should just spend on whatever I wanted because “I deserved it”. Not planning ahead for food, not having a budget, and not checking my spending and income each month.
Which Askesis discipline challenged you the most?
Creating new habits was the most challenging for me. It is very difficult to unlearn a habit, way more difficult than learning a new one (from my perspective). So learning to manage money, save it, being mindful of my spending, learn about investing, and just have a radical change of mindset, it is still challenging, but totally worth it.
What does intentional living look like for you now?
Being mindful with my money, spending less on impulse and more in alignment with what truly matters. I’m focused on long-term goals, asking myself if each purchase supports the life I’m trying to build.
What are your future goals?
My goal is to become financially independent, put my money to work for me, and simply enjoy life. Doing things that make me truly happy like working on my art, spending time with my partner, and gardening.
When would you like to retire?
I would like to retire by 40.
What’s your definition of financial freedom?
Financial freedom means living without money stress, and having the power to choose how I spend my time.
What advice would you give to someone in your same situation?
Start now, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Stop worrying about how hard the process might be and think instead about how hard it would be to stay stuck in a system that drains your time, energy, and potential for the rest of your life. There’s no age limit to begin, maybe you’re 20, or 33 like me, or even in your 50s. Yes, change is uncomfortable. I still struggle daily with the journey I chose to take, but I’m so proud of every step. I’m just getting started but I can see the results and already feel a difference. Askesis changed my life in many ways. Get started, you won’t regret it.
A.M.
Entrepreneuer
Galveston, TX
Age: 49
How long have you been using the Askesis mindset?
Two years
Do you use any paid Askesis services?
Yes. I’ve been a coaching customer for about a year.
When you started your Askesis journey, where were you financially?
I had very little debt, about $800,000 in assets, and a plan. In my plan, I was projecting to be financially free in 15 years with my business income as well as my wife’s salary.
What is your current financial reality?
I own my own business. I am projecting I will be financially free in 4 years. I am shifting my focus to building long-term wealth that I can use to help my family.
Did you have any beliefs or behaviors you had to unlearn?
I was living just under my means. Every time I made more money, I got more stuff. I had a belief that I could just continue to make more money to get ahead. I had to unlearn the daily habits that were wasting my time, energy, and money.
Which Askesis discipline challenged you the most?
Intention. I had my own systems but honestly looking back, they were a mess. I was letting emotion dictate a lot of my decisions instead of sticking to my plan. Askesis forced me to slow down and think about each decision and if it was matching with my goals.
What does intentional living look like for you now?
It’s actually peaceful. When I first started working with Nathan, it was hard. Not going to sugarcoat it. I would say for the first six months he was more my accountability coach. But I truly wake up with clarity and know exactly what I’m building and working towards and that’s brought such a peace to my life.
What are your future goals?
I’m done chasing financial freedom. I can see it. I just need to decide now what lifestyle I want to live in the future, how long I want to live well below my means, and the wealth I want to be able to pass on to my family.
When would you like to retire?
In 3-4 years. Askesis moved that up a bunch.
What’s your definition of financial freedom?
Being able to fully live on my own terms. No anxiety or fear of the unknown.
What advice would you give to someone in your same situation?
If you think you’re doing fine, that’s your warning. I would go from one crisis to the next just because I didn’t really understand my financial picture, my spending was much higher than it could have been, and I was making choices that was making my dream future away instead of closer. I can’t say enough good things about Nathan and what he has helped me and my family with.
Brandon B.
U.S. Marine Corps
Florida
Age: 18
How long have you been using the Askesis mindset?
Two years
Do you use any paid Askesis services?
No, just the self-help.
When you started your Askesis journey, where were you financially?
I had no money. I was 16 years old and just able to start working a job at Carrabba’s.
What is your current financial reality?
I just graduated high school and enlisted in the Marine Corp. I currently have a Roth IRA that I have fully funded for three years now. I have a safety net in my checking account.
Did you have any beliefs or behaviors you had to unlearn?
I was staying up too late and consuming on social media. I would watch too many videos and just get sucked into it. I would then always be tired or need caffeine to get going in the morning.
Which Askesis discipline challenged you the most?
Intention. I didn’t tie my choices and my money to my future freedom.
What does intentional living look like for you now?
I am cautious about how I spend my money. I try to consume less and produce more. I’ve stopped going out to eat which was taking the most amount of money away from me each month. I continue to fully fund my Roth IRA and I am trying to save 75% of my income.
What are your future goals?
I would like to own a three bedroom two bathroom house. I will keep saving to make it happen without taking on too much debt.
When would you like to retire?
Between 55-60. I am still figuring that out and more focused on my short term goals. I think I could move that retirement up a bit if I make good choices.
What’s your definition of financial freedom?
Having money that grows itself instead of having to work.
What advice would you give to someone in your same situation?
If you’re young like me and have your first job, save your money instead of going out to eat all the time.
Be the 2%
Ok, maybe you’re not the 2% yet. But you could be. Get all our latest information and keep moving on up!