„In the end, you don’t become rich through what you earn, but through what you keep.“
Celine Nadolny is the founder of Book of Finance and a passionate reader who shares her knowledge about finance, personal development, and success with a large community. With over 950 books read, she built her platform purely out of enthusiasm for knowledge and the desire to provide value—authentically, independently, and always honestly. Today, she inspires people to take control of their finances and their lives with self-determination.
Celine, you built an impressive platform entirely on your own, but what was the very first moment when you felt: “I don’t just want to play along—I want to shape things”?
To be honest: I never had that one moment where I thought, “Now I don’t just want to play along—I want to shape things.” Looking back, it almost sounds like I had a strategic master plan but that wasn’t the case. For me, it was much simpler and more honest: I realized that the kind of platform I always wished for as a bookworm just didn’t exist.
So I thought: Then I’ll create it myself. I started the account and filled it with the kind of content I would’ve loved to find back then, no big agenda, just pure passion and conviction. It was more like a self-help project than a plan to build something big.
That it eventually turned into a platform that reaches so many people was completely unimaginable to me at first. I had neither the intention nor the expectation that it would ever grow so large.
My motivation was never: “I want reach or influence.” My motivation was: “I want to create a place I always longed for myself.”
And that’s exactly what still shapes me today: I truly believe that real creation often comes not from calculation, but from genuine need and passion. Everything else—the size, the reach, the influence—was ultimately just a beautiful consequence, but never the original goal.
Many people believe they need to know everything or have a perfect plan before they can get started. What helped you take action despite uncertainties?
To be honest, I’m exactly the kind of person who doesn’t just rush into things without being prepared. For example, I only started writing about books after I had already read over 350 of them. I wanted to really dive deep first before I even had the idea to share my thoughts publicly.
That’s why I’ve never subscribed to the “fake it until you make it” approach on the contrary. I actually think it’s dangerous to go public without substance and then serve people half-baked content. In my view, that only leads to one’s own insecurity being sold as so-called authenticity. That just doesn’t feel right to me.
What helped me take action wasn’t the idea of just winging it, but rather the moment I felt: now I’ve read, learned, and experienced enough to truly offer value. I firmly believe that you should engage deeply with a topic before you involve others in it.
Of course, that doesn’t mean falling into perfectionism, if you wait forever until everything is perfect, you’ll never get started. But for me, there’s a clear difference between “I’m starting even though I don’t know everything” and “I’m starting without any foundation at all.” The latter, in my opinion, is simply irresponsible.
So my path was always: build substance, engage deeply and then get started, even if things aren’t perfect.
Financial independence is a big word—what does it mean to you personally, and why does this journey often start not with numbers, but in the mind?
Financial independence is indeed a big word for me and at the same time, one that unfortunately has lost some of its meaning. Too many people use it inflationarily these days, often without truly understanding what it means, or with an intention that, in my view, misses the point.
For me, financial independence has several layers. At the very beginning, it means security: not having to rely on others immediately in case of emergencies. Then it moves to the point where I can live my values without compromise. For example, turning down jobs that don’t feel right to me, or not having to tell clients what they want to hear just to pay my bills. That, to me, is real independence: the freedom to walk my path honestly, without fear of the end of the month.
At its final stage, financial independence means that work no longer has to be about survival—it can be an expression of passion. Then I work not because I have to, but because I want to. That opens the door to listening more to my body, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and no longer constantly running on empty.
Why does this journey start in the mind? Simple: because financial independence isn’t something you just “achieve on the side.” It’s a long process that requires sacrifice, discipline, and above all, clarity. Many people automatically increase their spending as their income rises and then wonder why they’re not making progress despite higher salaries. But in the end, you don’t become rich through what you earn, but through what you keep. And for that, you need a clear inner stance.
And one more thing: money should never be the goal itself. It’s always just a means to an end. The real driving force is your values, goals, and personal “north star.” If you haven’t defined that, you risk becoming financially free one day and still not knowing what it’s all for.
On your journey, you’ve read an impressive number of books. Was there one book that opened your eyes or realigned you at a pivotal moment?
I couldn’t say there was one book that changed everything for me. Rather, it was a whole series of books that accompanied and shaped me at different points along my journey. I even recently wrote an article in which I shared my five most important books.
But if I had to name a few that were particularly formative, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey would definitely be one of them. This book showed me a completely new way to approach my work and my business. It taught me not just to react, but to act consciously and focus my energy on what truly matters.
In the financial space, Souverän Investieren by Gerd Kommer had a big impact on me. It gave me a scientific perspective on investing and helped me move away from short-term trends and shallow promises toward a long-term, well-founded approach.
Then there’s The Big Five for Life by John Strelecky. This book realigned my inner compass and gave me a new perspective on my goals and life’s purpose. It’s not just about success in the traditional sense, but about ensuring the milestones in your life align with what truly matters to you.
And finally, my absolute heart book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book grounds me again and again; it inspires me to take my dreams seriously and to act on them. It reminds me that “journeys” aren’t only physical, but internal too, that it’s important to have the courage to dream and to follow the path that truly fits me.
All of these books together have shaped me during different phases, helped me realign, and allowed me to see my own path more clearly.
Your brand comes across as very authentic—not a contrived image, but your true self. How did you learn to show up as yourself without compromising who you are?
To be honest, I never consciously learned how to do that. For me, pretending was simply never an option. Book of Finance was born out of my passion—not from a business plan or strategic branding concept. And because the growth happened so quickly, I didn’t even have time to come up with an artificial image or spend much time thinking about how I wanted to be perceived.
From the very beginning, it was clear: this is me. My passion, my thoughts, my enthusiasm—and also my doubts and weaknesses. I never felt the need to sugarcoat anything or play a role. Instead, it was natural for me to show everything as it really is.
I think that’s exactly what makes it so easy for me to stay authentic: I don’t have to wear a mask that might slip one day. I don’t have to think about how “my brand” appears to the outside world—because at its core, my brand is simply me. And that not only feels more honest, but also makes it much easier to stick with it long term.
Were there setbacks or moments of doubt when you were close to giving up? And what helped you get through those phases?
Of course, I’ve had difficult times too. But honestly, there was never a point where I seriously considered giving it all up. There’s just too much heart, time, and passion in this project. No phase was so bad that I feared for my livelihood or felt like I couldn’t go on.
What I did experience, however, were moments when I increasingly had to distance myself from the bubble I was moving in, for example, certain parts of the finance blogger scene. I realized how much in that space often felt inauthentic or dishonest, and that weighed on me internally. But instead of discouraging me, it actually motivated me. I wanted to be exactly the person who stands for the values I wish were more common in this industry.
And that’s what carried me through: my own stance, my convictions, and the belief that I can make a difference. On top of that, my personal support system is incredibly valuable: close friends, mentors, and many wonderful people who continuously have my back. Some of my “mentors” are even authors of books that deeply influenced me, some of them know it, others don’t. But these sources of inspiration gave me strength in moments of doubt.
So giving up was never truly an option for me. If anything, those moments only pushed me to walk my own path with even more clarity.
For anyone who feels stuck right now or is just starting out: What’s one small first step they can take today to get moving again—professionally or personally?
In my view, the very first step isn’t to rush into action or start ticking off to-do lists—it’s to consciously take time. Time to honestly reflect on your own goals and passions. Because the biggest problem many people face isn’t that they’re “stuck,” but that they don’t actually know where they want to go, or they’re focused on the wrong definitions of success.
A lot of people measure themselves by things like income, status, reach, or follower count. But if that’s your only compass, you’ll eventually feel empty. Real momentum doesn’t come from external validation—it comes from inner clarity.
That’s why my first tip would be: find a quiet moment and ask yourself, What truly excites me? What do I want to cultivate because it gives me energy and fulfills me? Once you identify that passion, you can begin building on it step by step.
Because when you work on something that truly aligns with you, energy flows almost automatically. You find motivation, you improve, your offering evolves, and none of it feels like a chore, but like a natural process. That’s how you get moving, not because you have to, but because you genuinely want to.
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