After achieving financial independence by age 30, Grant Sabatier could have coasted. Instead, the author of Financial Freedom and now Inner Entrepreneur: A Proven Path to Profit and Peace chose to dive deeper into entrepreneurship, not to chase more money, but to build a life rooted in peace, joy, and autonomy.

In our recent conversation, Grant returned to share his story of reinvention, what entrepreneurship really looks like, and how parents can build something of their own, without blowing up their lives.

Why Grant Sabatier Believes Entrepreneurship Is the Future

“There’s so little in life that we can control,” Grant said. “But how we make money is one of those things.”

With layoffs striking even “safe” industries like tech and government, more people are waking up to the fact that traditional job security isn’t guaranteed. According to Grant, embracing the mindset of an inner entrepreneur is not just a good idea—it’s essential.

Even if you’re not ready to quit your day job, entrepreneurial thinking can give you more leverage, creativity, and control. “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” he explained. “Start with small experiments. Try something and see how it makes you feel.”

Why Financial Independence Needs a Companion: Purpose

While many pursue financial independence through stock market investing, Grant emphasizes that saving alone doesn’t guarantee fulfillment.

“I’ve been financially independent for almost 10 years,” he shared. “But I underestimated how I would fill my time.”

Today, Grant owns Clintonville Books, a used bookstore in Ohio. It’s not a high-margin business—he admits that financially, “it’s a terrible business.” But it brings him joy. “Even just making $2,000 a month covers our grocery bills. That’s $2,000 I don’t need to pull from my investment portfolio.”

His point? Entrepreneurship doesn’t need to be big to be meaningful. A small, joyful income stream can lower your withdrawal rate and improve your quality of life.

The Evolution of Grant Sabatier’s Entrepreneurial Empire

Grant’s journey began at 25, building websites for local professionals while working full-time. After discovering a niche in higher education marketing, he launched a consulting agency that netted him over $1.25 million in six years.

But that growth came with a cost. “I was burned out,” he said. “There’s a huge difference between businesses that give you energy and those that take it away.”

Eventually, he stepped away and launched Millennial Money, a blog that started as a creative outlet and morphed into a full-fledged business. That site led to a book deal with Penguin Random House and eventually a sale to The Motley Fool.

From there, he formed MMG Media Group, acquiring and building multiple affiliate-based personal finance sites—including Millennial Money (which he later reacquired), BankBonus.com, and more. The income from MMG covers his mortgage and provides time flexibility while requiring just a few hours of work per week.

Redefining Growth in Business and Life

Today, Grant Sabatier runs his businesses with intention, not intensity.

“Growth is one of the most toxic words in entrepreneurship,” he said. “We’re told we have to grow or die. But we should ask—is this helping me live the life I want?”

Instead of chasing scale, Grant focuses on sustainability, family time, and doing work he enjoys. His workweeks are built around his daughter’s daycare schedule. He’s busy from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, and again after bedtime if needed—but only on projects he loves, like listing rare books or acquiring unique collections.

This approach also allows him to work in sprints, which he prefers over a fixed 40-hour grind.

Grant’s structure is a great example of what’s possible when you pair entrepreneurship with intentional lifestyle design.

Solopreneurs, Don’t Be Afraid to Outsource

While Grant once had over 50 employees in his consulting firm, today he keeps his team lean. His bookstore employs three full-time staff. MMG Media Group is run largely by his business partners.

For those starting as a solopreneur, Grant encourages experimentation, but also emphasizes that you don’t have to do it alone.

One way to reclaim time is by outsourcing repeatable tasks. If you’re considering hiring virtual support, check out our review of BELAY, a top-tier provider of fractional virtual assistant services for small business owners.

What If You’re Stuck in a Job You Hate?

Many listeners of the Marriage Kids and Money podcast are in corporate jobs they don’t love, but the paycheck and benefits make it hard to walk away.

If that’s you, Grant’s advice is to take it slow.

“Just spend two hours a week moving toward entrepreneurship,” he said. “You don’t need to quit right away. I’m not a big fan of the ‘burn the boats’ mentality.”

He recommends having a cash buffer before considering a full-time leap. “Ideally, you want six to twelve months of expenses saved in a high-yield savings account,” he said—what we often call your “FU Money”.

This gives you the emotional and financial runway to experiment, adjust, and ultimately launch your own venture from a position of strength.

Build Your Inner Entrepreneur Before It’s Too Late

One of the most poignant parts of our conversation was Grant’s warning about ignoring the voice inside you.

“If you feel stuck and do nothing about it, those dreams fade,” he said. “I see it all the time. People in their 40s who’ve been in a career for 20 years, and they no longer even dream about doing something different.”

That’s the danger of waiting too long. And that’s why Inner Entrepreneur exists: to offer a roadmap from stuck to self-employed, one step at a time.

Ready to Tap Into Your Inner Entrepreneur?

If you’re curious about building your own business (whether online, offline, or a hybrid of both), Inner Entrepreneur is the guide you need. Grant Sabatier shares not just his wins, but his mistakes, strategies, and lessons from two decades of experimentation.

The book breaks down the four levels of entrepreneurship (beginner, solopreneur, growth entrepreneur, and empire builder) and walks you through how to design a business that fits your life, not the other way around.

You can also learn more about Grant and his journey at grantsabatier.com.

What do you think of the advice from Grant Sabatier? Are you in the process of finding your inner entrepreneur?

Please let us know in the comments below.