Dollars and Sense - Finding Your Way

A career in education, reacting to Amberlynn Reid on YouTube and diversifying their career in social media. How Zachary Michael is finding their way.

There was no clear roadmap for becoming a YouTuber when Zachary Michael was in school. No degree in online careers. No guidance counsellor suggesting “internet commentator” as a viable career path. And yet, they built one. In this episode of Finding Your Way, Zachary Michael shares how they turned uploading videos into a full-time career and what it really takes to survive and evolve in the digital world. We talk about the early days of YouTube, handling public criticism, and the pressure that comes with building a platform in real time. But we also dive into something every modern creator has to face: diversification. From streaming to launching merchandise to running multiple channels, Zach opens up about why relying on one income stream isn’t enough, and how they’ve learned to balance creativity with financial sustainability. This conversation isn’t just about YouTube. It’s about risk. Reinvention. And building a career that didn’t exist when you were 16. If you’re trying to carve out an unconventional path or wondering how to future-proof the one you’re on, then this episode is for you. YT: https://www.youtube.com/zacharymichael [https://www.youtube.com/zacharymichael] and https://www.youtube.com/@ZacharyMichaelAlso [https://www.youtube.com/@ZacharyMichaelAlso] Follow on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thezacharymike [https://www.twitch.tv/thezacharymike]

The foster system, fatherhood and how a vanilla bean candle started The Essential Candle Co EMPIRE. How Jamie Woeltjes is finding his way.

Jamie didn’t grow up with ideal circumstances. In his words, he started life in “the shittiest situation.” In this episode of Finding Your Way, he opens up about what his childhood was really like, the mindset shift that changed his trajectory, and how he turned adversity into fuel. From operating out of a garage to building The Essential Candle Co into multiple Ballarat storefronts with his wife Kristine, Jamie shares the reality of scaling a business, what expanding into Melbourne met for the business, and what success means now as a husband and father. This conversation is about more than entrepreneurship. It’s about resilience, perspective, and learning when to push as well as when to pivot. If you’re trying to build something while balancing family, ambition, and your past, this one’s for you. You can follow The Essential Candle Co on Instagram at @theessentialcandle.co [http://theessentialcandle.co]and shop online (and in store) at https://essentialcandleco.com.au [https://essentialcandleco.com.au]

What I've reflected on about money, advice and superannuation. Plus, I address the huntsman in the room.

In this solo episode, Christian reflects on the money lessons he learned after reflecting on his early years of earning. From his first after-school job at a fish and chip shop and saving for his first car, to handling large amounts of cash while working in a currency exchange during university, these early experiences shaped how he began to think about money. But some of the most important lessons came much later. Christian explores the common belief that earning more money will make life easier, the emotional side of financial decisions, and how pride and ego can quietly influence the choices we make. He also shares the experience of downsizing and selling a home, a decision that felt difficult at first, but revealed just how many people are quietly navigating similar financial pressures. Along the way, he reflects on the risks of taking financial advice from the wrong places, why being passive with superannuation can come at a cost, and why so many people are simply searching for clearer financial understanding.

Working on cruise ships and luxury resorts to owning Australia's BEST day spa, how Sarah Emmanuel is finding her way

What does it take to build the epitome of wellbeing? In this episode of Finding Your Way, Christian sits down with Sarah, owner of Ballarat Sanctuary Day Spa, to explore her journey from high school uncertainty to becoming the owner of an award-winning business named Australia’s best day spa at the World Luxury Spa Awards in 2021. Recognised by Visit Ballarat as one of Ballarat’s Leading Ladies, Sarah reflects on leadership, community, and the responsibility that comes with creating spaces centred on care. She shares how her relationship with wellbeing evolved over time, what it really means to lead in a people-focused industry, and the emotional labour involved in working with the public. Alongside moments of humour and jaw-dropping spa horror stories, this conversation dives into boundaries, resilience, and learning how to care for yourself while caring for others. This episode is for anyone finding their way through career decisions, business ownership, people-facing work, or redefining what success and wellbeing truly mean.

Learning to let go without failing, going back without going backwards and relief in making the hard financial call. How Christian Dymock is finding his way.

Four years ago, we left Ballarat for a lifestyle farm we loved. It became part of our identity. Birthdays. Christmases. Picnics. Chickens, ducks and wide open views. We told everyone how much we loved it because we did. Slowly, the numbers began to change. 13 rate rises. Insurance nearly doubling. Hay costs up almost 300%. Fuel climbing. Salaries staying the same. Then came a letter proposing a change to my income and the spreadsheet made the decision unavoidable. In this episode, I share the emotional reality of choosing to move back to Ballarat, saving over $25,000 a year in the process and why the hardest part wasn’t financial but actually confronting my ego. We talk about: * The sunk cost trap * Financial pressure and relationships * Why holding on can quietly cost you * Grief, identity and strategic retreat * And how letting go doesn’t mean you’ve failed This episode is about learning to let go without failing. About going back without going backwards. About finding relief in making the hard financial call. If you’ve ever felt stuck between pride and practicality, then this one’s for you. Follow us on instagram @dollarsandsense.learn