By Dominique Brun | Founder, DFX & The Domino Effect

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I’ll be honest — I never thought I’d be here.

I grew up with a good foundation, a solid family, and people around me who believed in me. But life has a way of flipping everything upside down. I found myself in a domestic violence situation, I started drinking heavily to cope, and eventually, I was arrested.

During those years, I always told myself I had time. Time to fix my credit. Time to get insurance. Time to plan for retirement. But then I woke up at 40 years old with nothing: no retirement savings, no life insurance, no safety net. That’s when it hit me — time wasn’t on my side anymore.

And if you’re reading this right now, maybe you’re starting to feel the same pressure.

Life has a way of throwing curveballs. When I faced domestic violence, I turned to counseling—one session, one misdiagnosis—and suddenly I couldn’t qualify for the insurance plan my family needed most.

I share that now not for sympathy… but as proof that staying unprotected isn't just financial—it’s personal.

This wasn’t about bad luck. It was about timing. And most of us think we have more of it than we do.

Why This Topic Matters (to You): The Problem Too Many Women Face

You’re here because you know something’s off.
You want to build, to protect, to grow. But you’re stuck—be it credit, insurance, support, or self-belief.

If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s and you’re behind on your finances — you’re not alone.

Women are more likely to:

Earn less over their lifetime (thanks to pay gaps + career breaks for caregiving).

Put off retirement planning.

Wait too long to buy life insurance, leaving families exposed.

Struggle to access business funding because of poor or no credit.

Even smart, capable women put off planning. “I’ll do it later,” we say. But life doesn’t wait.

Women live longer on average, yet often earn less.

We take career breaks

We get denied because of bureaucratic red tape—like that one bad counseling note.

The truth? Most of us don’t “get serious” until life forces us to. But waiting costs time, money, and options.

So if you’ve ever felt held back by your past, your financial situation, or your emotional fatigue, this piece is your roadmap forward.

Protect What You Can, When You Can

Imagine if I’d gotten that insurance before my misdiagnosis. Not only could my family have been protected—I would have had peace of mind before the worst happened. I also believe I would have been further along in my business as well. Before chasing business dreams or investments, you need a financial safety net.

You need:

• Mortgage Protection — to keep your home if something happens to you.

  

• Life Insurance — to secure your family’s future, even if you couldn’t secure it for yourself yet.

• Indexed Universal Life (IUL) — protection + a tax-free way to grow cash value.

These aren’t luxuries. They’re anchors.

Action Step:  If you don't have these in place, make that your first move. Don’t wait until your health declines or rates skyrocket.

Talk to a trusted planner—call Strategically Building Wealth at (279) 239-4477 if you want help, to speak to someone licensed in IUL/mortgage protection now.

Clean Up Your Credit - Even If It Means DoorDash Duty

Okay, I was deep in a storm—about to lose everything. But I started small: When I was looking for solutions, a colleague of mine, now a million dollar producer, told me his story. He’s from the island of Trinidad and came with nothing. He started his business, then realized he was getting into a situation. So he started door dash and Lyft in order to pay for basic operations, like marketing and leads. Now I didn’t have an active license so that was out o the question but I had restaurant experience. I humbled myself and walked around the neighborhood. I filled

out Indeed and Craigslist ads until I found a job as a server about 7 block away. Stable income plus tips that allowed me to get current on bills, fix my credit and invest in my business so I could actually grow.   I hustled—not for status, but to raise my credit score and pay off personal debt so I could legally start a business.

Credit is the ticket to funding, to investment, to control over your financial destiny. Personal AND business credit.

You cannot build wealth or fund a business with bad credit. Period.

Credit is leverage. It’s the difference between paying 10% for a loan and paying 40%. It’s the difference between getting approved and getting denied.

And yes — fixing credit may take sacrifice. That might mean Ubering, Doordashing, cutting back on luxuries, or selling things you don’t need.

For You:

• Pull your reports from all 3 bureaus (free at annualcreditreport.com).

• Challenge errors + negotiate with creditors.

• Get utilization under 30% (ideally 10%).

• Build business credit alongside your personal credit (so you’re not stuck funding everything personally).

• Use a secured card or a vendor tradeline to rebuild.

• Spend $5–10 a week using a vendor or rebuild-friendly account. Pay it off. Let it build your credibility. That $10/day adds up.

Build a Business With a Plan, Not "Fast Money" Lies & Unrealistic Expectations

No overnight riches here. Every “get-rich” pitch I tried broke me. Instead, I built on insight, not impulse.

Too many people are chasing “fast money.” That’s why scams, overnight business coaches, and false promises exist.

But real wealth? It’s built with planning + patience.

If you’re starting a business, here’s what you really need:

• Capital → To invest in systems, marketing, staff. Not just passion.

• Good Credit → So you can access funding when banks say no.

• A Supportive Environment → You can’t grow in chaos. Who you hang around matters.

• Mental Resilience → Entrepreneurship will test you. If you’re not grounded, you’ll quit.

• Communication Skills → Learn to speak like a leader. Stop overexplaining. Be clear, direct, and confident.

For You: Join groups, mastermind circles, or mentorship programs where you’re surrounded by builders, not doubters.

Here’s what going smart and steady looks like:

Learn to talk money like a leader—confident, clear, not defensive.

Breathe—founder life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Action Step: Journal for 5 minutes every morning—what’s your why today? Then ask: what’s one small step toward that why?

Embrace Emotional Resilience

Here’s the truth: money isn’t just about you. It’s about the people who come after you.

… burnout is real. I used to drink to silence the trauma, but today I hold peace instead.

When I was stuck, drinking, reacting, emotionally broken, worried, stressed and surviving — I wasn’t thinking about legacy. I was thinking about how to just get through another day. But once I got clear, I realized:

My kids deserved more.

I deserved more.

My health & God deserved more.

Legacy isn’t just money in the bank. It’s breaking cycles. It’s teaching your kids about insurance, savings, and credit before they hit 18. It’s creating stability that outlives you.

Resilience tools you can start today:

• 5-minute daily journaling (gratitude or intention).

• Emotional check-ins—not numbing, not shaming.

• Boundaries: you’ll say “no” to people—yes to your peace.

• Replace over-explaining with anchored presence.

For You: Share one boundary with love this week. Say, “I’m not available at 8 pm to stress.” And stop apologizing for wanting peace.

Invest In Your Legacy (Time, Self, Business)

Legacy isn't only about money—it's about the energy and choices you leave behind for your kids and the women who look up to you.

1. Teach financial literacy to your kids early, even with a lemonade stand or chore money.

2. Write your goals on a mirror in your room. Dreams start with vision seeds.

3. Celebrate small wins—you just cleaned up your credit? You cashed in a IUL dividend? Celebrate. Record it. Let it fuel your next domino.

If any piece of this spoke into your reality—the waiting, the rebuilding, the second chances—you’re in good company because if you’re reading this and feeling behind, here’s your roadmap:

1. Protect your family → Get life insurance, mortgage protection, or an IUL in place.

2. Audit your credit → Fix what’s broken. Build business credit.

3. Create income streams → Be willing to hustle (Uber, DoorDash, freelancing) if you need to stack cash.

4. Educate yourself → Join financial literacy groups, courses, or communities. (The Domino Effect is my own space for women + veterans ready to rebuild.)

5. Build resilience → Heal the wounds, stop apologizing, and step into your power as a leader.

Don't Wait Like I Did

I thought I had time. Time to get insurance. Time to save for retirement. Time to fix my credit. Time to start my business.

But the truth is, waiting almost cost me everything.

So if you’re reading this at 25, 35, 40, even 55 — the best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is today. You’re not behind. You’re just on your timeline—and every small domino you tip today builds the foundation for your unstoppable future.

Your Next Step…

"If you’re ready to stop waiting and start building, join me inside The Domino Effect — where I teach women and veterans how to protect, fund, and grow their wealth step by step.”

Need a strategic plan for funding, credit repair, or insurance? Book a free 1:1 session now: 📥

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