She had it all, or so it seemed. Dorothée Loorbach walked away from a thriving marketing career to embrace the risky road of entrepreneurship. She bought what she wanted, drove a new car, and moved into a new home. Every day felt exciting, but even luxury and fun faded when she realized something was missing. The story of what followed—her financial downfall, the “money project,” and the ten hard-won lessons she learned—offers inspiration and practical wisdom for anyone rethinking their relationship with money, success, and purpose.
From Success to Rock Bottom: Dorothée’s Journey
Dorothée’s life looked picture-perfect on the outside. After leaving her marketing job, she dove into entrepreneurship and, for a while, lived the high life. She made enough money for impulse buys—new cars and a house—and filled her days with fun and memorable moments. But as she admits, it was only fun, not joy. “I wanted more,” she recalls, “I wanted joy. I wanted to do something that would last, something that mattered.”
Her search for meaning led her to work with students, mentoring and teaching. For the first time, people thanked her and told her she’d changed their lives. She found purpose, but the money didn’t follow. “I would do it for free—a lot—until even a small setback could ruin me.” That setback hit her at the worst time.
In the summer of 2016, five tax envelopes arrived. All demanded immediate payment for better days gone by. Her savings evaporated. She was left scouring the house for loose change, with only a few coins in hand and €3.97 in the bank. Her daughter was returning home for her birthday, and Dorothée couldn’t even afford to bake a cake. Shame and fear pressed in. “What I wanted to do was just to crawl into bed and cry,” she remembers. But with her daughter’s birthday looming, she refused to give up.
Dorothée chose bravery over hiding. She did something terrifying: she exposed her failure publicly. On Facebook, she revealed her situation, her determination to learn about entrepreneurship and money, and her plan to write a book about her journey—selling copies upfront for €10 each. The risk paid off: that day, she sold 64 books. “Until this day, I’ve never felt more rich in my entire life.” With newfound hope, she set out to rebuild from the bottom.
Life Lessons from The Money Project
Dorothée’s six-month “money project” turned out to be much more than a lesson in financial management. It shifted her thinking about money, work, value, and self-worth. Here’s what she discovered:
1. Money Is Important (But Not in the Way You Think)
Dorothée grew up believing that wanting money was somehow wrong. Somewhere along the way, she absorbed the idea that wealthy people weren’t good people, so when she got money, she spent it quickly or ignored it. Only when she had nothing did she realize the flaws in that thinking.
Money is neither good nor bad—it’s a tool. It simply makes you more of who you already are. If you’re generous, more money means you can give more. If you’re kind, it can help support others. It won’t change your character, only magnify it. Dorothée learned that being broke made it almost impossible to focus on helping others, and that caring for herself (including financially) was key to making a difference. For a deeper look at this perspective, check out the article 25 Money Lessons I've Learnt in My Lifetime.
2. Money Equals Time
As adults, we often trade our most precious resource—time—for money. Dorothée fell into the same trap, exchanging her time for too little money while barely scraping by. Even though she was passionate about her work, she never had enough left at the end of the month to invest in her own future.
The lesson is clear: time can’t be replaced. If your work leaves you drained and missing out on family or self-care, it’s time to shift priorities. Dorothée decided to value her time more, raising her rates so she could work less and live more.
Ways to value your time:
- Track your working hours to see where your time goes
- Prioritize high-value activities over busywork
- Raise your rates when your time is in demand
- Block out time for yourself and loved ones, not just work
For guidance on balancing your rates and value, read How To Know Your Value and Name Your Price.
3. Money Equals Value (and Self-Worth)
Confidence and self-value aren’t always the same. Dorothée always projected confidence, but she hadn’t learned to truly value herself. She undercharged and undervalued her contributions, sending herself the subtle message that she wasn’t worth more.
Everything shifted when she realized, “The way you treat yourself is a reflection of how you see yourself.” She had to learn to see herself as valuable and practice saying, “You’re worth every penny.” Even today, she finds this challenging but keeps practicing.
For more on setting fair prices and self-worth, explore How to Put a Price on Your Value.
4. What People Say Doesn’t Define You
Opening up about failure brought a flood of reactions. Some people left hateful public comments. Others sent private messages confessing their own failures or struggles, grateful for her honesty.
Dorothée realized that criticism says more about the person giving it than the one receiving it. People’s opinions arise from their own worldviews and circumstances—they’re not a measure of your worth.
“The way other people treat you is a reflection of who they are.”
Letting go of others’ judgments made her stronger and more resilient.
For more insights on this idea, see The Most Important Money Lessons People Learn Too Late.
5. What You Say to Yourself Matters Most
External voices are loud, but the voice you hear most is your own. Dorothée realized her internal dialogue painted her as a failure again and again. Her daughter’s attitude—“We don’t have money worries. We just have less money than most people”—transformed Dorothée’s thinking.
She saw that negativity was only hurting her chances for change. Her circumstances didn’t define her; how she responded did.
Ways to practice self-kindness:
- Replace “I’m a failure” with “I’m learning and growing”
- Celebrate small wins every day
- Remind yourself: circumstances can change, and so can you
6. The Simple Truths of Money and Business
After months of hustle, studies, and interviews, Dorothée realized she could have learned most of what mattered from her grandmother. The core money lessons aren’t complicated.
Four simples rules:
- Spend less than you earn
- Find ways to earn more
- Invest what you save with intention
- Value yourself enough to charge fairly
These basic steps often make the biggest difference. For a practical collection of life-tested tips, check out 14 Lessons About Money & Life From 40 Years of Living.
7. Parkinson’s Law and Managing Expenses
Why do so many of us end every month with nothing left over, even as our incomes rise? Dorothée points to Parkinson’s Law: expenses will always rise to match your income. This pattern traps lottery winners and high earners alike.
Dorothée saw her own 12-year-old self in her spending habits, so she set up safeguards. Most of her income goes straight into accounts she can’t touch, making it harder to overspend. This level of discipline, she admits, may need to last a lifetime—but it’s worth it.
To learn actionable strategies for managing your pricing and personal finance pitfalls, have a look at How to Price Yourself: Tips, Tricks, and Common Mistakes.
8. Being Broke Sucks, But It Can Teach You Focus
Scarcity dragged Dorothée down into a world of constant crisis. “Everything was urgent” and she felt like a full-time problem solver, living with what she calls “blind panic.” There was no energy left to plan ahead.
The rigid focus on today’s survival blocked all thinking about tomorrow. “The first thing I could do was breathe,” she says. Taking a pause, finding focus, and recommitting to her purpose was how she crawled out of crisis. Once she made the decision to succeed in her own way, everything changed.
Even in panic, finding a moment to breathe can make space for hope and action.
9. The Paradox of Wealth and Staying Broke in Spirit
Dorothée shares an ancient quote by Epictetus: “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” The more money she had, the more she saw that peace and solitude—simple things—became true luxuries.
Her most profound happiness came from simple acts: sitting outside, going for a run, sharing time with her daughter. Neither of them needed expensive gifts. Undivided attention was all they really wanted.
Now, even with more money, Dorothée chooses to live “as if broke.” This choice brings freedom and keeps her focused on what matters. As she puts it:
“Money is not important. Not once you’re free from worrying about it.”
Final Thoughts on Money, Value, and Life
Dorothée Loorbach’s experience cuts through the myths around wealth, success, and happiness. Her journey from financial security to the edge—and back—reveals that life’s richest lessons often come when the money runs out.
You are not your bank balance or your job title. Value comes from what you give, how you spend your time, and how you treat yourself and others. Success isn’t just climbing the income ladder. It’s knowing what matters, spending wisely, investing in yourself, and being kind—especially to yourself.
What's your relationship with money and value? Take a moment to reflect, or even jot down your own hard-earned money lessons. Sometimes, losing it all isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of everything that really counts.
___________
0 facebook:
Post a Comment