Jo Lightfoot is a professional property investor, podcaster, public speaker and performance coach. Moving into the world of property in 2015 opened her world up to possibility in life, which enabled her to leave her job in the public sector. She is now passionate about unlocking this possibility in others.

Jo uses the symbol of a rainbow to help individuals shine in every aspect of their personal and professional lives. Her mission is to empower people to identify the full colour spectrum of their personality, talents and skills and perform all they are with unshakeable confidence.

Below she shares her story about how she established financial independence from having nothing.

"Before I started out in property, I was working in a 9-5 project management job in the university sector. I was living between short-term contracts with next to no professional progression opportunity. Financial limitations aside, the biggest pain I felt was not living with a meaningful purpose. I could feel there was so much more to me as a human being but where I was committing the majority of my time felt like it had no meaning and certainly not enough financial reward! 

Three huge motivating reasons made me seek change.

• Responsibility - Stevie is my older brother and has severe mental and physical disabilities. Since I was a little girl I have known that I would be responsible for him when my folks are no longer around and doing what I was doing was not giving me enough time or money to step into that role.

• Respite - these two fabulous humans have worked hard all of their lives and retired with little financial provision. Having also been my brother's primary carers for his entire life I wanted to create financial and emotional respite for them both and allow my brother to transition into a new living setting so that all parties can enjoy their futures.

• Rude awakening - in 2012 my ex-husband had a brain haemorrhage eight months before we were due to walk down the aisle. Hansdown the biggest dose of perspective I have ever had. It turned our world upsidedown. His survival spurred us on to make the most of life and get our financial ducks in a row. BUT it also showed me, as a woman, that I will never allow myself to be financially dependent on another human being again.

Before entering the world of property investment I was renting living to payday to payday. I had never bought a house and certainly didn't believe I ever would. From a position of no money, I went on to purchase my own residential in London and build a lucrative portfolio up north that allowed me to step back from my day job.

My property journey began with an advert in the London Metro back in 2015 advertising a free two-hour property investing seminar with an amazing organisation called, Fielding Financial, headed up by the incredible Gill Fielding. That led on to attaining a full blown diploma in property investing. I am now a teacher in this industry, podcaster and professional speaker. Life could not be any different. I am finally living on purpose. And it feels amazing. I am by no means perfect; I'm a divorcee facing the challenges of single living and entrepreneursgip BUT I'm doing it on my own terms with the freedom that property has given me.

What 3 tips would you give to others in your shoes who want to rebuild their lives and become financially secure

1. Connect to why you want to change; the pain you're moving away from and the pleasure you're moving toward
2. Step into your true colours - identify, accept and action what makes you shine. Money comes from that.
3. It's a marathon not a sprint. Don't get rich quick, learn how to get rich right."

Follow Jo here for ongoing inspiration and motivation. She has her own Property Jam Podcast and is a coach and entrepreneur.

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