Transforming Money Mindsets: Achieving Financial Freedom with Justin Buonomo

Transforming Money Mindsets: Achieving Financial Freedom with Justin Buonomo

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Welcome back to The Daily Mastermind! George Wright III here with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education. I’m really excited today because we’ve got a guy you’re going to be hearing a lot more from. He’s the CEO and founder of a company that’s helping business owners like us master one of the most important areas of our lives—our mindset around money.

This is such a powerful topic for entrepreneurs who want to grow, protect, and scale their business the right way. Justin Buonomo, great to have you on the program, my friend. How are you doing?

I’m doing well, my friend. You’re an absolute legend. I really enjoyed our conversation before we hit record, and I’m extremely pumped to be here. Thank you for having me.

What’s funny is, I usually bring guests on and prep this long bio to introduce them, but after our conversation, I realized we probably won’t even have time for all the amazing stuff we’re going to talk about today. But for those who don’t know, Justin is the CEO and founder of Journey to Financial Freedom—a company designed to help CEOs, business owners, and high achievers design their dream lifestyle through true financial mastery.

The reason I wanted to bring him on is because so many people get into business chasing growth, money, and success—but they forget that lifestyle was the whole reason they started in the first place. And that lifestyle doesn’t magically appear just because you own a business.

So Justin, do me a favor—give everyone a quick snapshot of who you are, what you’re about, and where you came from.

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Justin Buonomo’s Background and Journey

I appreciate that, man. I actually came from a background where my parents were both successful individuals—the cream of the crop. They were high school stars, good-looking, charismatic—but by the time I was ten, they had filed for bankruptcy for the second time.

This was in the late ’90s, and together they were making almost $150,000 a year—great money for that time—but still ended up losing everything. We lost our home, both cars, and even our dog because the rentals we moved into wouldn’t allow pets.

That moment left a mark. I remember being ten years old and promising myself that when I grew up and could control it, I would never have to worry about money again.

Fast forward: I earned my master’s degree in healthcare management with a focus in finance at twenty-three and landed a job at Johns Hopkins Hospital—a position I probably had no business getting. But they needed someone, and I was crazy enough to take on this massive role with a big salary and even bigger financial responsibility.

That job opened my eyes. I realized if I stayed in the corporate world, my income would keep growing—but only if I learned how to manage money properly. So I built a system for myself—a personal money management strategy that worked. Then I helped some friends. And by 2020, I launched Journey to Financial Freedom—a company that now helps business owners master their finances and reach true financial independence.

We’ve grown that business to seven figures by our second year, and we’ve helped many clients do the same. I believe our success comes down to the way we teach—through what I call the two-bucket approach.

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The Two-Bucket Approach to Financial Coaching

We teach finances in two buckets.

The first is systems and strategies—the black-and-white mechanics of money. That includes budgeting, profit margins, financial planning, investments—all the tactical stuff that’s essential for success.

But here’s where we’re different: we don’t stop there. Because while systems and strategies matter, they’re not enough.

Long-term financial success is 80% mindset and only 20% mechanics.

Your external wealth is just a reflection of your internal wealth. You can fake it for a while—you can budget, you can save—but if your belief system around money is broken, those behaviors won’t last.

So, we start by changing those internal beliefs. Once your mindset aligns with your goals, then we move into income and growth—what we call your “financial freedom vehicle.”

Because if you can’t manage what you already have, there’s no point teaching you how to make more.

Our goal is to help business owners reach financial freedom, which I define as owning assets that generate enough monthly income to cover your lifestyle—whether you choose to show up for work or not.

At that point, your business becomes your asset, your vehicle for freedom.

Living your dream life is fueled by your dream business—when you learn to manage money the right way.

Our mantra is simple:

Money is the tool. Freedom is the goal.

I couldn’t care less about money itself. I care about the opportunity and peace it brings—the decreased stress and anxiety it removes for you, your family, and your business.

I’ve found, both personally and through thousands of clients, that money—when managed correctly—is one of the most powerful tools for creating real freedom.

“Money is the tool. Freedom is the goal.”

Bro, that right there is gold. I hope everyone caught that. Because what you’re saying, Justin, perfectly sums up what we try to teach on this show—it’s not about chasing dollars; it’s about chasing freedom. So let’s break that down a bit. You said your process starts with building the foundation—the inner game and outer game. Let’s start with that first bucket: mindset. Because you’re right, a lot of people don’t realize how deep their relationship with money runs.”

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Mindset and Beliefs Around Money

I think a lot of people really need to hear this part. Because so many entrepreneurs, whether they admit it or not, have what I’d call a “money blueprint” or thermostat — just like T. Harv Eker talks about.

Some people make a lot of money and then lose it. Others reach success and sabotage it, or they can’t seem to move past a certain ceiling. It’s all because they’re focused on the money — the result — rather than the beliefs driving it.

So, how do you get people to see that no strategy, no budgeting method, no spreadsheet in the world will help them unless they fix their mindset around money first? How do you help them accept that their inner game has to come before the outer game?

That’s a great question. Two things come to mind — one is an analogy, and the other is the science behind it.

First, let’s start with the analogy. When I’m coaching clients, I always ask, “Have you ever been on a diet or workout plan for 60 to 90 days, and then fell off?” Almost everyone raises their hand — myself included.

It’s not that those fitness programs don’t work. They do. The problem is that they only address things at the behavioral level. And if you only change behavior, you’ll never get lasting results. Real transformation happens when you change things at the belief level.

Here’s the science behind that:
Your reality is a direct result of your behaviors, your behaviors are a direct result of your beliefs, and your beliefs are formed by your experiences and traumas.

So if you can go back and identify the experiences that created your beliefs — especially about money — you can start rewriting those beliefs, which will change your behaviors and ultimately, your reality.

Hold on, that’s gold. I want everyone listening to catch that. Because what you just said is everything. Most people are working so hard to change their results — the outcome — when all they really need to do is make a small adjustment to their beliefs. That’s where transformation starts.

Exactly. When you change your beliefs, you create lasting, sustainable change.

And it’s not always about money directly. For me, for example, I had a great dad — but he was hard to please. No matter how much I achieved, it never felt like it was enough. I started to believe that I had to constantly earn love or validation.

So, fast-forward to adulthood: I built my company, Journey to Financial Freedom, not just to impact lives — though that’s a huge part of it — but deep down, part of me was still trying to prove myself to my dad.

I wanted to go back to him and say, “Hey Dad, is this enough?”

That belief — that need to earn worthiness — shaped a lot of my behaviors with money. I made great income, but I spent aggressively or made impulsive investments because subconsciously, I was recreating the same chaotic patterns I grew up with.

That right there… man, that’s deep. And I know a lot of listeners can relate to that. Some people work like crazy, chasing numbers or recognition, not realizing it’s all being driven by something emotional — sometimes even pain or fear from the past.

Exactly. And here’s the thing — even when people make a lot of money, if they don’t feel safe with it, they’ll subconsciously find ways to get rid of it.

I’ve seen it in myself. My dad made a lot of money, but he spent it fast. Our finances were a roller coaster — up and down, constantly unstable.

So as I became successful, I found myself repeating that same energy. Even when I made more money, I’d overspend, reinvest too quickly, or justify huge personal expenses as “investments” — like $500,000 in home renovations that we didn’t really need.

Yes, they were good decisions on paper, but emotionally, I was trying to create chaos because my nervous system was used to it. For me, abundance didn’t feel safe. Stability didn’t feel normal.

And that’s the key: your nervous system is always going to default to what feels familiar — even if that familiarity is dysfunction.

That’s huge. I love what you said earlier about “observing and correcting your behaviors.” Because I think a lot of entrepreneurs hit a wall when they start to realize that the traits that made them successful — drive, competitiveness, obsession — might also be hurting them long term.

So how do you help someone who’s already successful — someone who’s hit seven or eight figures — realize that maybe it’s time to evolve those behaviors without losing the edge that got them there?

That’s such a common struggle. And the truth is, it’s not about changing the behaviors — it’s about analyzing the motives behind them.

A simple question I always ask myself is:

Is this action bringing me closer to God or further away from Him?

That’s how I check my motives. Whether it’s launching a new offer, closing a big sale, or making a big purchase, I ask myself if my motivation is rooted in peace and purpose, or ego and validation.

There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious, making millions, or chasing success — I’ll continue to do that. But now, I’m doing it with the right motives. I’m doing it because it’s in the best interest of my family, my team, and the mission I’m called to lead.

And here’s something I’ll never forget: during one of my quiet times, I felt God say to me, “I gave you that work ethic. Stop making it the enemy. Just make sure it brings you closer to Me, not further away.”

That changed everything.

That’s such a powerful shift. Because it’s not about abandoning the traits that make you great — it’s about refining them, purifying the motives behind them, and using them intentionally. That’s next-level personal growth.

“It’s not about changing who you are—it’s about realigning why you do it.”

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Turning Your Business into a Financial Freedom Vehicle

Let’s pivot into that second bucket you mentioned — turning your business into your financial freedom vehicle. Because I think most entrepreneurs start a business thinking it’ll give them freedom, but the reality is, it often does the opposite. They become chained to it. So how do you help business owners flip that script and turn their business into something that actually fuels their lifestyle?

Most people start a business because they want more freedom, but you can’t live your dream life if your money is a mess. Having your finances in order directly impacts your ability to scale and manage your business effectively.

Money is the ultimate tool for freedom — when used correctly.

Here’s a strategy I walk clients through:

First, calculate your current monthly expenses — let’s say it’s $10,000. Then, add in what your dream lifestyle would actually cost — your ideal home, travel, car, experiences. Maybe that brings you to $20,000 a month.

Now, your goal is to create or grow an asset — like your business — that can generate that $20,000 every month automatically, whether you work or not.

That’s what financial freedom looks like.

Once you understand the number you’re aiming for, you can reverse-engineer your business model to make it happen.

That’s brilliant. I love that you make it so specific, because a lot of people just throw around phrases like “financial freedom” without ever defining what it really means for them.

They think it’s about making more, but it’s really about creating systems and assets that produce income without dependency on your constant effort.

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Strategies for Financial Freedom and Wealth Building

Absolutely. And this is one of the biggest misconceptions out there — most entrepreneurs think that making more money is the solution to their financial problems. But it’s not.

The real solution is taking control of your current situation first.

At Journey to Financial Freedom, we talk a lot about stewardship — the idea that money is a gift from God. And before we’re blessed with more, we have to prove that we can handle what we already have. If you can’t manage your current financial reality, giving you more money will only magnify the dysfunction.

So, the first step is gaining full control over what you already have.

When most clients come to us, they’re overwhelmed by financial stress, but often, that stress is subjective. It’s not based on facts — it’s based on emotion, fear, and uncertainty.

Once we bring objectivity to the situation — by reviewing their financials clearly and without judgment — their stress decreases. And once that happens, creativity increases. They’re able to make better decisions and actually start growing again.

We call this the “biggest door you can swing open” on your path to financial freedom.

Once you have control, then it makes sense to earn more. Because if you make more money before you learn to manage it, you’ll just end up with bigger problems.

That’s so true. I’ve seen it my whole career — people think that earning more will fix their problems, but it just multiplies them. If you’re financially messy at six figures, you’ll be a financial disaster at seven. That’s why stewardship and clarity are everything.

Exactly. That’s why we start with structure and discipline. We build the right systems, repair your relationship with money, and then shift our focus to expansion — scaling your income, investing, and leveraging assets strategically.

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Aligning Lifestyle with Business

That reminds me of something a mentor once told me. He asked, “What kind of life do you want to live?” — not “What kind of business do you want to build?” And it totally reframed everything for me. How important do you think it is for entrepreneurs to define their ideal lifestyle first — before designing the business to support it?

It’s absolutely essential.

That question shapes everything — your income goals, your workload, your team, even your mental health.

When I first started scaling, I looked up to a mentor who was doing over a million dollars a month in his business. Naturally, I thought, “That’s the goal.” But when my wife and I sat down and calculated what it would take — the sales volume, client load, staffing, and energy required — we realized that wasn’t the lifestyle we wanted.

We wanted freedom, not constant stress. So we redesigned our business model to align with the life we actually wanted to live.

That’s the process we now take clients through: defining how much they want to work, how they want to show up, and what “freedom” really means to them. Then we build their income goals backward from that vision.

We call it intentional scaling — earning strategically, not endlessly.

That’s such a refreshing perspective. You’re not saying people shouldn’t have massive goals, but you’re helping them align those goals with reality — with their time, energy, and purpose. Because what’s the point of success if it costs you your peace?

Exactly. And look, in the early stages of business, there’s nothing wrong with the grind. You have to hustle — it’s like pulling back a bowstring before launching an arrow forward.

You’ve got to pull yourself back before you can propel forward. That initial tension — the late nights, the hustle, the learning curve — it’s necessary. But it should be temporary.

Once you’ve done that foundational work, your business should transition into an asset that creates leverage, not just labor.

For me, those early years were intense — but now, our company runs on autopilot. We’re generating multiple seven figures, and I work about ten hours a week. And that’s because the systems are solid, and the business is built around my lifestyle, not the other way around.

“Freedom isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing what matters most.”

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Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Man, there’s so much wisdom in what you just said. And what I love most is that you’ve lived it — this isn’t theory, it’s experience. Before we wrap up, I want to give you a chance to leave the audience with some actionable advice. What would you say to business owners who feel stuck — grinding, overwhelmed, maybe even burned out — but wanting to get back on track toward a lifestyle of freedom?

Two things come to mind.

First, understand that building wealth and freedom has very little to do with the number you hit and everything to do with the person you become along the way.

Your financial journey isn’t linear. At best, it’s a beautiful dance of four steps forward and two steps back. You need the tension, the mistakes, and the lessons because those moments are your medicine.

They’re what shape you into the kind of person who can sustain success, not just achieve it.

Second, stop operating in the gray area. Most financial stress comes from subjectivity — from guessing. Entrepreneurs say things like, “I think I need to pay this off first,” or “I think I should earn this much.” Those “I think” statements create 95% of your anxiety.

Replace subjectivity with objectivity. Put real numbers on paper. Look at your situation in black and white. Because what you resist will persist — and the longer you avoid your finances, the more power they have over you.

Start simple:

1. Create a budget or P&L to understand your monthly cash flow. Budgets shouldn’t make you feel restricted — they should make you feel empowered.
2. Create a balance sheet to track your net worth. It’s your snapshot of progress — what you own versus what you owe.

Once you know those two things, you have the variables to build a real financial strategy. And there’s a massive difference between a good strategy and an optimal one. That gap can cost you years of progress — and peace of mind.

That’s powerful, man. And I love how you frame budgeting as empowerment rather than scarcity. It’s not about restriction — it’s about intention. You’re giving your money direction instead of letting it drift.

Exactly. Financial mastery isn’t about doing math — it’s about creating clarity. And clarity creates confidence.

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Closing Reflections

There’s so much to unpack here, but I want everyone to take this to heart: it’s not about chasing money, it’s about chasing mastery. The money follows who you become. Like Jim Rohn said, “Success isn’t something you pursue — it’s something you attract by the person you become.”

Justin, thank you so much for sharing this. We’re going to link all your resources, social handles, and that webinar we talked about in the show notes, because I know people will want to dive deeper with you.

It’s been an absolute blast, George. Thank you for having me. And yes, I’d love to come back and unpack this even further.

We’ll make it happen. And for everyone listening — remember this: it’s never too late to start living the life you were meant to live. But it starts with action. Define your lifestyle, align your beliefs, and build your business around your purpose — not the other way around.

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About George 

George Wright III is a proven, successful entrepreneur and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve massive results. With more than 20 years of executive management experience and 25 years of direct marketing and sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and strategies to every driven and passionate entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to empower entrepreneurs globally, to create massive change and LIVE their ultimate destiny.

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You have GREATNESS inside you. I BELIEVE in you. Let’s make today the day you unleash your potential!

George Wright III

CEO, The Daily Mastermind | Evolution X

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About Justin Buonomo:

Justin Buonomo is the visionary CEO & Founder of Journey to Financial Freedom, dedicated to empowering business owners to achieve their dream lifestyle through financial mastery. With a passion for helping business owners live their dream lives fueled and funded by their dream business, Justin believes in the transformative power of taking control of your financial destiny. Driven by this conviction, Justin and his team at Journey to Financial Freedom provide unparalleled financial coaching and consulting services, equipping business owners with proven systems and strategies to optimize personal & business finances, scale their businesses correctly, and attain true autonomy and freedom. Through intention, strategy, and hard work, Justin helps business owners unlock new levels of success in both their personal and professional lives. Justin resides in Cockeysville, MD with his wife, two dogs, and daughter, Peighton.

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Guest Resources:

Free Class: https://www.group.journeytofinancialfreedom.co/free-masterclass

Website: https://journeytofinancialfreedom.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/justin_buonomo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeytofinancialfreedom.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKM4gmtD9jWqACUF5zfCqmw

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