The Financial Well-Being Guru, Manisha Thakor

The following is an excerpt from Dave Crenshaw's interview with Manisha Thakor from The Dave Crenshaw Success Project. You can subscribe to Dave's new podcast here.?

Manisha Thakor had a highly lucrative career at a young age, yet her true success came after a couple of major wake-up calls. Two back-to-back medical emergencies transformed her from a money-focused workaholic to an advocate for balance and emotional health. In her interview, Manisha talks about her unhealthy mindset towards her career and relationships, the major wake-up calls that changed everything, and the actions she took to shift her perspective to one of balanced success.

Highlights from Manisha Thakor's Interview:

Manisha grew up in a household with a strong sense of financial literacy. Her parents were both academics with highly successful careers.?

Early in her teenage years, she thought she'd become a doctor. When she took organic chemistry, she realized it wasn't the right fit for her.?

“My parents always encouraged me to be whatever I wanted to be.”

Her mother was a big advocate of financial empowerment for women and how it gave them choices and freedom. This was instilled early in Manisha's mindset, which laid the foundation for her future career.?

Her father contributed to her financial literacy, as well, from a technical standpoint. As a CPA, he taught her all the tools she'd need to handle money properly.

“I really developed an early interest in, at least for myself, personally, in personal finance and understanding how money worked.”

Manisha attended Wellesley College, a women's only campus, where she obtained her American Studies and Economics degree.

She also volunteered at a local battered women's shelter, where she helped abused women overcome their traumas and get back on their feet mentally and financially.

“I've always had a strong passion for helping women.”

Manisha went on to get her MBA from Harvard Business School and started her finance career in the corporate world.?

By age 38, she was running an asset division of an asset management firm that had 6 billion in assets under management.

“I was making more money than I ever thought I would make…but I basically ruined all my friendships because I never had time for anyone.”

Manisha became a workaholic with no time for her personal life. A low point during this time was when her grandmother passed away, and she chose not to attend her funeral. Her mindset at the time was that attendance was unnecessary.?

Another moment was when her husband was severely injured in a car accident. Manisha chose to finish a 3-day business meeting in another city before heading home to be by his side.

“That's how sick my mind was then. Needless to say, we ended up getting divorced. I was a horrible wife.”

Manisha's first wake-up call happened while on a trip. She was bitten by an infected mosquito and contracted Dengue fever. The severity of her case was extremely rare.

Her family was called in, and she thought she wouldn't survive.

“It’s true that when you are on your deathbed, you literally do not think, ‘I wish I had worked more’.”

While this life-altering experience planted the seed of seeking a more balanced life, Manisha still held firm to her intense workload. Before she was fully healed, she dove straight back into the same work patterns for another three years.

Then, a second medical emergency changed everything. Manisha was diagnosed with an acute Epstein–Barr virus and additional inflammation of an unknown origin.

From there, her medical condition spiraled, and she was then diagnosed with an Autoimmune disease.

“My doctor's basically said, ‘You're going to kill yourself. Your immune system is attacking you’.”

Manisha realized she had to make significant changes in her lifestyle immediately. She went on to create a powerful financial and emotional well-being program called MoneyZen.

Through her program, she empowers women to become financially literate and emotionally balanced for a full, enjoyable life.

Today, Manisha continues to empower women. She is also the author of two books, including her newest release, MoneyZen, and enjoys a balanced success complete with traveling and spending time with her family.

Action Principles?

Pick one to do this week:?

1. Financial literacy provides choices. When you're educated about your finances, you're more likely to succeed. ACTION: Take a course or read a book on personal finance.
2. Read more books. By educating yourself on various topics, you'll be ready for opportunities and make better choices. ACTION: Set a goal to read one educational book per month.
3. Live a fuller life. Finding a healthy rhythm and enjoying life now will lead to balanced, long-term success. Ask yourself, "What can I do to start making what I'm doing worth it now?" ACTION: Schedule time in your calendar to do something you enjoy this week.
4. Know your values and source of joy. Defining your values will guide you to make the right decisions in life. Knowing what gives you joy will provide the energy to keep going forward. ACTION: Sit down and identify your top three values and top three joys. Use them as a guide for all future decisions.

Guest Resources

You can continue to learn from Manisha Thakor at MoneyZen.com or by getting a copy of her newest book, MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your Enough. You can also follow her on LinkedIn.

Additional Resources:

The Savvy Ladies Organization

Profit First by Michael Michalowicz

How to Make Your Kid a Money Genius by Beth Kobliner

Suggested LinkedIn Learning Courses

Balancing Work and Life