Hidden Mentality How To Become Financially Free In Your 20s Even If You’re Broke - Lillian Zhang | #28
What if your “money problem” isn’t laziness—but a short-term, TikTok-fuelled mindset quietly killing your long-term future? In this episode, Lillian breaks down the biggest Gen Z money myth: chasing quick wins instead of building a 5–10 year plan. We talk about why old-school boomer advice doesn’t fully fit today’s world (AI, meme coins, post-COVID jobs), and how to balance learning vs doing so your skills, internships, and network actually turn into future income.
You’ll learn how to think about student loans, your first salary, big-ticket costs like rent and cars, and the difference between “luck” and real long-term investing. Lillian explains compounding in both money and habits, and why building a personal brand might be one of your most powerful financial moves. If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or stuck, this episode gives you a simple roadmap to grow your skills, income, and confidence—without comparing your step one to someone else’s step 100.
Lillian is a first-gen Asian American author, financial and career educator, media entrepreneur, and tech marketer based in San Francisco. As the author of The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance, Lillian turns her lived experience—figuring out money, career, and wealth from scratch—into clear, actionable guidance for the next generation.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianzhang1/
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Intro Song Credits: Song: Cartoon, Jéja - On & On (feat. Daniel Levi) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/onandon Watch: http://youtu.be/K4DyBUG242c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohNAtR5av4 - Instrumental