The Mindset of Money
Jessie DaSilva mixes sound business acumen with a touch of magic and entertainment. Heather Drymon
Jessie DaSilva built a business on strategy, intention and joy
BY ELLEN GILLETTE
DaSilva’s book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other platforms in paperback, Kindle and audio versions.
Port St. Lucie native Jessie DaSilva, a business consultant and life coach, was selected as one of Yahoo Finance’s Top 10 Money Coaches in 2020. That same year, a Forbes reporter reached out to her for a Halloween-themed article that dubbed her the Millennial Money Witch.
“I thought, ‘Everybody’s going to Google me and think I’m a whack-a-doodle.’” DaSilva said. “But I just decided to roll with it, have fun with it.”
DaSilva has influenced thousands through her business, articles, speaking engagements and social media posts. “I talk about mindset: setting intentions, taking self-inventory, treating things as rituals,” DaSilva said.”
If that conjures up a vision of standing under the full moon chanting, that’s fine. DaSilva says that even making a cup of coffee in the morning can be a ritual, if you hold it in your hands and imagine infusing it with power. “If you identify with a certain belief, praying as you cook — for the people who will eat the meal to feel your love — is a ritual,” she said. “It goes back to building a mindset that empowers you to take action that you’ve previously felt hesitant to take.”
She encourages the idea that, “It’s not crazy if it works,” — that is, if it gives you confidence and moves you forward toward your goals. “You don’t want to wash your jersey for an entire sports season, or you carry a worry stone? Go ahead! That’s like spell work. Florida Panthers fans throw [plastic] rats on the ice. That’s a collective spell, sending good vibes. It’s hilarious, but it’s a good example.”
NEW PATHS
DaSilva graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism, where she was editor-in-chief of a student-run newspaper. She eventually interned with Roll Call, a newspaper and website in Washington, DC, and with the Tampa Tribune. She also worked in the communications departments for the City of Gainesville and US Sen. Bill Nelson.
When the economy crashed in 2008, DaSilva got a job in public relations. “It wasn’t a good fit. I didn’t enjoy it. The media industry had been hit hard, so I looked at my skill set and said, ‘What else can I do? I’m great at writing and research. I’m great at oral communication. I’ll go to law school!’”
DaSilva was a lawyer for about 10 years, although not practicing in the traditional sense the entire time. She wrote for various publications as a criminal law journalist. Writing for the nonprofit National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers gave her a sense of being part of a solution.
As much as she loved the organization’s people and mission, however, the job didn’t check all the boxes for her. Taking away all thoughts of what it would cost, she asked herself what, if she could do anything, would that be?
The answer? Getting paid to give advice. “The best thing I ever did was stop giving unsolicited advice for free and start charging strangers on the internet.”
Hiring a business coach, DaSilva figured out how to create an offer, sell it, and market it. She took on a few pro bono clients, just to make sure she was on the right track. “That lit me up more than anything ever had. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I love this!’”
UPS AND DOWNS
DaSilva has taught workshops around the country, in person and via Zoom, helping individuals and small businesses succeed. ANTONIO HUNT, JR.
In less than a year, DaSilva had a healthy clientele and was earning significant money — until the pandemic. “At first I panicked. Then I thought, ‘I just spent all this time teaching myself how to make money online. A lot of people are going to need to know how to do that.’ I started teaching people how to take what they did, either as a hobby or in their professional lives, and sell that as a service.”
Small business counseling took off. Today, DaSilva helps both small businesses — with advice in areas such as strategy, marketing and talent recruitment and retention — and individuals who need help nailing interviews or negotiating salaries.
From the beginning, DaSilva emphasized aligning one’s mindset with one’s goals, following practical plans and being aware of personal blocks to progress. Believing that everybody should benefit from what she’d learned, not just those who could afford a coach, she posted content on her website and social media accounts.
OPPORTUNITY
“I’d always wanted to write,” DaSilva said, “always wanted a book deal. I took my own advice and looked at that seriously: Why didn’t I have one? One, I hadn’t written anything. Two, I didn’t know how to write a query letter. Three, I didn’t have an agent, or four, a following that was capable of selling a book. That was my to-do list. I started writing.”
One day, a literary agent who had not yet agreed to participate in one of DaSilva’s group programs offered encouraging feedback about the same time she saw a HARO [Help A Report Out] request for resources to address the perks that millennials want in the workplace.
DaSilva wrote a passionate response and filmed herself, posting it on TikTok. “Millennials don’t want perks, I said. They’re middle age. They want benefits. Maternity leave. They don’t want pizza parties, right?”
The post went viral. HR Exchange published her piece. A publisher contacted her on LinkedIn. In a matter of months after taking her own advice, DaSilva had the plan, several chapters, a following, a book deal and an agent for The Witch’s Way to Wealth: The Every Witch’s Guide to Making More Money.
“It’s a matter of intention plus action,” DaSilva said. “The best strategy in the world isn’t going to work if you don’t believe in it, if you don’t believe in yourself. You can’t just set intentions and meditate. I teach practical strategies — how to network, how to create a good resume, how to do lead generation and marketing and writing for the web.”
DaSilva’s book sold 6000 copies in the first six months.
For five years, DaSilva focused on increasing her income. “I had a lot of clients; I was making decent money. Had speaking engagements, published a book. But I was so unsatisfied, I could only see what I didn’t have, what I hadn’t accomplished.” Developing physical and mental health issues, she realized a shift was necessary.
Today, her focus is on finding joy. “Of course we need and want money — but money with joy. Joy is the foundation to creating businesses and careers that are satisfying. No matter what’s going on, you have to decide what success means to you.”
JESSIE DaSILVA
Website: jessicadasilva.com
Instagram: j_dasilva
TikTok: millennialmoneywitch
Facebook: Jessie DaSilva