When did George Kao say he started his business?

George KaoBusiness coach for soulpreneurs since 2009. Author of 4 books & 20 courses re: Authentic Marketing & Joyful Productivity

stop chasing financial freedom... beware the hype

6 Nov 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:05

George Kao recounts that he began his business in 2009 motivated by a dream of "financial freedom"—travel, possessions, and no money worries—but discovered that much of the market sells the dream rather than teaching sustainable livelihood. After buying into programs, he realized the promoters profit from the hype while he delayed building a genuine practice. He urges a shift from chasing formulas and others' strategies toward committing to authentic business: daily practice, serving enough clients, and securing enough sales as the path to a meaningful, sustainable livelihood.

Questions this video answers

2009

Chapters

I used to dream about financial freedom. And I started my business in 2009 with that dream. This idea that what if I could have so much money that I could travel anywhere I like, buy anything I want, not ever have to worry about money ever again. After buying into a lot of programs, I realized that the people who are making the money are the ones selling the dream of financial freedom. And that I was getting caught up in this culture of hype, that I was actually delaying my true livelihood. I was missing out every single day on the deeper purpose that was available to me in the pursuit of having enough clients and having enough sales. That's why I'm here and I'm always trying to encourage us, inspire us, that with a dedication to authentic business, we commit to the value of daily practice. The chasing after the financial freedom makes you want to go after the formulas and the perfect strategies that are supposed to copying someone else's strategy because they promise you the stars and the moon. Moon. They can't get me there.