Your bucket list isn't for "someday", here's how to start now

Hey  ,

Quick question: When was the last time you actually did something on your bucket list?

Not planned it. Not pinned it. Not added it to your "someday" list.

Actually did it.

If you're like most ambitious moms I talk to, your answer is probably "I can't remember" or "I'm too busy building my career/business/life to think about that right now."

I get it. I was the same way.

Last year I made close to $500K in tech sales. On paper, I'd "made it." But I was still asking myself: "When will it be enough? When can I finally slow down?"

Then I lost my mom.

We were supposed to go on a cruise together that September. She passed in July. And I realized something that changed everything:

I was postponing my actual life until some mythical future date when I'd finally feel "ready" or have "enough" saved.

That's why this week's podcast conversation with financial consultant Lisa Sakai hit so hard.

Lisa specializes in something she calls "bucket list acceleration" — helping people live NOW instead of waiting for retirement. And she dropped some truth bombs that every ambitious mom needs to hear.

Listen here

Here's What We Covered:

The Real Problem: Most of us have vague bucket list goals ("travel more," "spend time with family") but no actual plan. We're so busy building wealth that we forget to build a life.

The Solution: Conscious decision-making about what you actually want—not what society told you to want. Then taking action on it NOW, not "someday."

The Peace of Mind Factor: Lisa and I are both mortgage-free. And while people love to argue about "good debt" and interest rates, there's something they can't put on a spreadsheet: the peace of mind of owning your home outright.

That peace? It's what gives you the capacity to take bigger risks, make bolder moves, and actually live your bucket list.

Your Action Steps This Week:

Here's what you can do RIGHT NOW to start building freedom that lasts (not just income that looks good on paper):

1. The 10-Minute Audit

Spend 10 minutes looking at last month's credit card statements.

Not to judge yourself. Not to feel bad about what you spent.

But to get conscious about where your money is actually going.

Ask yourself with each purchase: "Did this move me toward my actual goals, or did I buy it because I was overwhelmed/bored/trying to keep up?"

This one habit will give you more financial control than any budget spreadsheet ever could.

2. Write Down Your REAL Bucket List

Not the performative one. The real one.

What do you actually want to experience in the next 12 months?

Get specific:

• Not "travel more" → "Take the kids to see the Grand Canyon in April"

• Not "spend time with family" → "Have Sunday morning pancakes without checking my phone"

• Not "financial freedom" → "Make enough from my course so I can take Fridays off"

The Connector Method™ in action: Vague goals create vague results. Specific goals create evidence you can measure.

3. Calculate Your "Enough" Number

This is the exercise that changed my life.

Sit down and actually calculate: What would financial freedom look like for ME?

Not for the finance bros on Twitter. Not for your college friend who retired at 35. For YOU.

Questions to ask:

• If I lost my job tomorrow, how long could we survive on savings?

• What monthly income would let me work part-time instead of full-time?

• What one-time purchase or investment would give me the most peace of mind? (For me: buying our homestead mortgage-free)

Here's the truth: Even at $500K/year, I didn't feel free until I defined what "enough" actually meant for me.

4. Pick ONE Bucket List Item to Start This Month

Not next year. Not when you hit your next income goal. THIS MONTH.

It doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming:

• Want to learn to paint? Take one online class this weekend

• Want to travel more? Book a weekend trip within driving distance

• Want to spend more intentional time with your kids? Block off Saturday mornings for the next month — no phone, no work

This is The Connector Method™: Action reveals truth. You'll learn more from one small step than six months of planning.

5. Audit Your "Shoulds"

Make a list of things you're doing because you think you "should":

• Should save for a bigger house

• Should keep climbing the corporate ladder

• Should spend holidays with extended family

• Should have the dream wedding

• Should keep up with what everyone else is doing

Now cross out everything that doesn't actually align with YOUR vision of freedom.

I cancelled my wedding planning, eloped, and saved that money for a house instead. Best decision I ever made.

What "should" are you ready to let go of?

The Bottom Line:

You don't have to choose between building wealth and living your life.

But you DO have to get conscious about what you actually want—and then take action on it before you feel "ready."

Because here's what I know: The difference between hoping and having is action.

And your bucket list isn't for "someday." It's for right now.

One More Thing...

If this resonates and you know another ambitious mom who's stuck in the "when is it enough?" cycle — forward this to her.

This is exactly the kind of conversation we don't have enough of. Let's change that.

And if you want to hear the full conversation with Lisa (including how we both became mortgage-free, the psychology of conscious spending, and why I went from $48K to $500K in 4 years), listen to the full episode here.

Take action today,

Makeda Boehm
Chief Action Officer, Seed & Society™

P.S. Want to know the real reason I started Seed & Society? I sat down and calculated: "If I lost my job and we had no income for 90 days, what would happen?" That one question led to building parallel income streams, buying our homestead, and designing a life where I'm not dependent on any single source of income. That's what asset-based wealth actually means—and it's exactly what I teach ambitious moms to build. More on that next week.

P.P.S. This week's podcast guest: Lisa Sakai is a financial consultant who works with clients on bucket list acceleration—helping them live NOW instead of waiting for retirement. Connect with her on YouTube for more strategies on conscious wealth building.

The content shared by Seed & Society™ is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this newsletter, blog, or website constitutes financial, investment, or legal advice. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them—at no additional cost to you. Always do your own research and consult professionals before making financial decisions.