Worse Financial Habit. Cost in 6 Months? 15K
Ever walked out of a negotiation, a client call, or even a Zoom meeting feeling like you just swallowed your own voice... again?
Maybe you bit your tongue so you wouldn’t seem “difficult” or “too much.”
Maybe you skipped pitching yourself because you didn’t want to be seen as needy. And yet, your money, your business, your whole financial life isn’t where you want it to be.
This week on The Brown Way to Money podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most expensive, overlooked financial habits I see over and over, especially for women of color entrepreneurs: staying silent.
This isn’t about overspending. It’s not about being “bad at math” or lacking hustle. It’s about the survival strategy we’ve inherited—and what it’s quietly costing us every day.
The Perspective:
Silence Is a Financial Habit (And It’s Costing More Than You Think)
We’re taught to be grateful. Not to ask for too much. To stay humble.
But in business, “humble” often means invisible. And invisible means… underpaid.
For generations, silence kept us safe. Now, it’s keeping us stuck. I’ve seen it with clients who don’t ask questions, don’t push back on unfair contracts, undercharge, or let clients cross boundaries—just to avoid rejection or judgment. I’ve lived it myself.
Every time we stay silent, we pay for it:
Money left on the table
Opportunities missed
Peace of mind lost
And I want to be clear: this isn’t just a you problem. This is inherited. It’s a habit built for survivalpassed down, generation to generation. I dove way deeper on the perspective here 👇🏾
The Practicality:
Where Is Silence Showing Up In Your Money?
Ask yourself:
When did I last not speak up about my rates or boundaries?
Have I hesitated to pitch myself for media, grants, or new business?
Where am I settling just to keep the peace?
Name it. And if you’re brave enough, account for it, the way you’d track an expense. That’s a new kind of bookkeeping, one that finally shows us the true cost of staying quiet.
Rewiring Your Ways
The only way to rewire your money story? Speak up. Show up. Pitch yourself before you feel ready.
Remember: Beyoncé, Rihanna, Michelle Obama…they’re where they are because they got visible. That ripple effect? It started with a decision to stop hiding.
Your Challenge This Week:
Find one place you’ve stayed silent out of fear.
Take one action to do it differently: post, pitch, say it out loud.
Tag me or hit reply, I want to celebrate your win.
Shortcut to Build Wealth: Open Calls & Grants You Should Apply For
Sis, opportunities this week are all about being visible.
REWIRE 2025 Series – 10 Days of Money Mindset Breakthroughs
Get access to raw, honest conversations with Black, Brown, and Latina entrepreneurs who broke the silence and grew their platforms and profits.
→ www.brownwaytomoney.com/rewired
The CO—100: America’s Top Small Business Awards
Get recognized. Get rewarded.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is looking for change-makers, innovators, and problem-solvers—small businesses doing big things locally and globally. Apply to their premier CO—100 awards program to earn your spot as one of America’s top small businesses.
What’s in it for you:
National recognition
Opportunities to enter your business in up to five categories, including tech innovation, marketing excellence, global expansion, longevity, and company culture
A chance to put your story—and your brand—on the main stage
The deadline has been extended to July 25 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Apply here →
Pitch Black Showcase
Apply to pitch
This isn’t a pitch competition—it’s a celebration. A stage built for us, by us—where Black entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries bring their ideas to life in front of an audience that believes in them.
Ready to be part of it?
Apply to pitch at the Pitch Black Showcase →
Last Thoughts…
Sis, silence has stolen enough from us. It’s time to speak up, to charge your worth, to show up with clarity. When you step out of the shadows, you open the door to new levels of wealth, peace, and power—not just for yourself, but for everyone watching.
Forward this to a sister who’s been hiding her brilliance. That’s how we rewire—together.
✨ The Financial Freedom Builder Assessment
To uncover the hidden gaps holding your income back—even when you’re doing everything “right.”
👉🏾 Take the free assessment here
Let’s build wealth from a place of wholeness, not worry.
Sis, want to help me reach more people? 👇🏾
Until next time,
Alejandra Rojas
Founder, Brown Way To Money