Fear Makes Us Selfish

I have a friend who is plagued by fear.  Name a topic and she can tell you what is scary about it or how it could lead to something bad.  I admit that I have to balance my time with her.  It is generally exhausting and well...scary, to be around her.

The other thing I noticed recently is that she has trouble talking about things outside of what she's scared about.  She has many people who love her and yet she rarely  asks them about their lives or what's going on with them, not because she doesn't care, but because it takes all her energy to talk about the current things she's worried about.

Have you ever been to a performance or listened to a speaker who is so scared the entire audience is tense?  The speaker/performer isn't able to give the audience what they need because they can't see outside their nerves.

Someone who fails a test when they know the information perfectly and just froze with fear while they took it?

How many business opportunities might someone take who is stuck in fear?  Probably zero.  In fear, everything looks like a bad idea.

We all do it all the time and because we all have these moments we start to think it's normal.  Well normal is screwed up!  I don't want normal!

Imagine a scenario in which you did not have to give in to fear.  You knew the secret weapon for dealing with it and when it came over you and tried to put blinders on you, you could tell it to scram.

If you think this scenario is impossible, I encourage you to get help.  There are many people who can support you in addressing this issue, including our team members.  You will need to deal with this issue before you will ever be able to be successful in business.  Business demands that you see outside your box.  That you can identify where there are needs and where you have talents that can meet the need.  If all you see is fear, you will miss countless opportunities.

But when you overcome fear...when you find the secret to peace...there are no limits to what you can do.

If you are interested in coaching from our team, please contact me at noelle1333@gmail.com to set up appointments for Skype or phone.

Taking Control of Your Money

Let's face it, learning and growing demands being willing and able to manage your money.  I have tried numerous types of budgets over the years and usually ended up scrapping the whole idea because when I wrote down the numbers I realized it was impossible to live on what I was making!  Today I'm going to give you a budgeting format that is easy.  I mean it!

It's called the jar system and it was developed by T. Harv. Eker.  There are 6 (maybe 7 if you are self-employed) areas to utilize.

1) Financial Freedom Account (FFA)
2) Long Term Savings Account (LTSS)
3) Giving (GIVE)
4) Education (EDUC)
5) Play (my favorite) (PLAY)
6) Necessities (NEC)

1) The FFA is what Eker calls your "golden goose."  This account NEVER EVER gets spent EVER.  This account is what begins building your empire :) and the only thing you spend are the golden eggs your goose lays.  You can spend on investment opportunities.  For example, my husband and I are currently investing in a new business.  Our FFA money is currently going to that new business.  By investing we are increasing this account.

2) The LTSS is an account we use to save for 6-12 months for things we want or need.  Marcel and I have two of these accounts, one for fun savings, and one for needs that come up.  One account will go toward our trip abroad this year, the other for house repairs, new tires, etc.

3) The GIVE account is pretty clear...if you want to receive, learn to give.  For those of you who are Christians, we are PROMISED abundance when we act in faith in this area.

4) The EDUC will cover the things you need to learn as you grow your business or expand your skill-set in any way. Something that all wealthy people have in common is that they are life long learners.

5) The PLAY account is to be blown in whatever way you wish every single month.  Yes, that is what it means; shopping with no guilt, spa days, books, massages, whatever floats your boat.  When we constrict and hoard we start looking at life that way.  We get resentful and often that leads to over spending or erratic choices.  You must learn to live and receive while you're building your skills.

6) The NEC account is what you use to pay your basic bills; electricity, rent, car pmt. etc.

You're probably wondering how to split all of this up...well here you go.

Taxes - 20% of whatever you bring home if you're self-employed
FFA - 10%
LTSS - 10% (If you have two accounts it is 5% in each account)
GIVE - 10%
PLAY - 10%
NEC - 50%

Let's say you are self employed and bring home $1000.00, here's how it will break down numerically.

Taxes - $200.00
Now you have $800.00 left to split up amongst your jar system
FFA - $80.00
LTSS - $80.00
GIVE - $80.00
PLAY - $80.00
EDUC - $80.00
NEC - $400.00

Now for those of you who exclaim that there is no way you can pay bills on 50% of your income, do not worry.  You can use this system simply by setting up 6 jars in your room or 6 accounts at your bank.  I know a woman who started using the system by splitting up a dollar in her jars.  She had very little to live on but as she practiced good money management her income and resources increased.  The important piece is that you PRACTICE!  If you want to manage millions, learn to manage the smaller amount that you have right now.

Marcel and I have also made some concessions in order to get our NEC account at 50% of our take home.  We've given up our cable television (today is day 1 and so far I have not run out of the house to the movie theater!), I got a less expensive car, and I will be shopping for cheaper car insurance.

On a final note, this budgeting stuff is not for the faint of heart.  Many of us have guilt or shame around money and se we tend to spend it when we get it, ignore it, hoard it, etc.  Any of those habits will be challenged by this new practice, so DON'T TRY TO DO IT ALONE!  Have a friend, coach, counselor, partner, etc. who is committed to learning this with you and above all, connect with God who has ultimate power in your life and is the source of discipline and growth.  Remember God sent Jesus so you can have abundant life...life to the full!  Learning these skills is a part of building abundance so know you are supported and loved as you practice.

Please feel free to ask questions or get feedback from us as well.  Now go forth and conquer!

Impossible

I've been reading a book called "The Bondage Breaker." I'm struggling with it to some degree, wrestling with some new concepts.  But of one thing I am certain; it has given me a new perspective on Spiritual battles.  Satan attacks our thoughts.  If he can distract me from who I am in Christ then he has won that particular battle and I am left with ashes.  And I have been sitting in ashes to some degree this past week.  One time the voice said that God takes away everything I love.  Other times the voice says that none of this (business building) will work and I should just stick to watching dreams happen in the movies.  I don't believe these voices, but this past week I did.  Yes, God has asked me to give up many things that I love.  A little at a time I have chosen to walk away from those things and as I look back at the truth of what happened, I have NEVER regretted it.  God has ALWAYS given me back five times what I could have ever hoped for.  Following God has not been easy, but it has always been worth it.  This woman that I've become.  This woman that I like.  She is here because of God.

I've taken a break from The Bondage Breaker to let it settle and started a book by Davis Bunn called, "My Soul to Keep."  I love Davis Bunn because he manages to write killer good stories without losing the Spiritual connection.  He manages to capture what hearing from the Holy Spirit feels like and writes characters that put it all on the line when they hear from God.  So this morning I was feeling morose and wanting to hide away.  I read for awhile and without giving away the plot, the characters met a disaster and one of the main characters says the following:

"'It's impossible that I would have brought together a major list of investors by calling around a prayer chain.  It's impossible that I've gotten a dozen calls since I got word of the fire, and didn't tell a soul myself.  It's impossible not one of those investor folks would pull out.  It's impossible the only thing they've told me is they're praying hard as they know how.'  Bobby stabbed his finger at the ashes. 'A sign I said and a sign I meant.  Now here's what we're going to do.  We're going to join hands and we're going to pray.  And we're going to ask God to be just what He is.  A great God.  A God of miracles.  We're going to thank Him.  You know why?  Because right here, we have a chance to watch our Lord perform."

I started crying.  My chest feels like it is too small for what is happening inside.  This paragraph is not fiction to me.  I'm choosing to live a life that is not just a story on a page.   I believe that God can be trusted and so I can say to the people on the other side of this screen, watch us.  This blog is just the beginning of what God is going to do.  He has put a burning in our hearts...literally it sometimes hurts;  for women to be free Spiritually, emotionally, and financially.  For all of us to know that His promises are real and letting Him be in control is...

You know the feeling you get inside when you're watching someone you love and they don't know you see them?  The feeling from a song that speaks your soul?  The feeling when you stand out in the rain with your face uplifted and arms outstretched?  They are all intangible moments but they are real.  God is our reality.  His word is our truth even when it doesn't make sense.  You can depend on that.

Nothing that happens will be me, or Gale, or Kathy, or the other women and men who will join our team.  God will get the credit because He's making it happen.  We're just enjoying the love, the song, and the rain.  We hope you'll join us.

Is It Better To Give Than To Receive?

Take a deep breath and blow it all out.  Now keep it that way.  Don't inhale.  Don't receive.  What do you notice happening in your body?  How long are you able to keep it up?  Most of us grew up hearing the cliche that it is better to give than to receive and for every incredible gift we get there is a faint stench of guilt marring the excitement and joy.

Look at the laws of our earth.  Plants take in water, nutrients, and sunlight and in return they give off oxygen for us. Some of them give beautiful blooms, healing properties, or food.  There is no giving without receiving.  We can't survive without taking in breath and giving it back.  If both things have to be in place in order for the other to exist, how can one be better than the other?

How many times have you given someone a compliment and they tell you you're wrong?  It doesn't take long before you learn your lesson and stop complimenting them.  They can't receive it.

I recently learned that the original translation of the phrase, "It is better to give than to receive" is actually "It is better to be in A POSITION to give than A POSITION to need to receive."  It changes the nuances doesn't it?

I have never met a person who didn't long for more.  We are created for abundance and joy.  In relationships,  in Spiritual connection, in finances, in time.  I encourage you to practice receiving this week.  When you get a compliment breathe it in and let it land in your heart.  If you find a coin on the road celebrate it. Notice how much more you have to give at the end of the week when you let God fill you up.

(Concepts adapted from Millionaire Mind Intensive and "The Go Giver.")

Millionaire Mind Intensive

This past weekend I and my business partners as well as my hubby, went to a conference on money management.  Before you roll your eyes, the difference about this conference was that the founder's philosophy is that we all have an emotional "money blueprint" and that blueprint tells us how much money it is right, safe, or possible to have.  The goal of the conference was to raise people's blueprint so that it didn't have limits.  

The presenters gave numerous examples of their own and other's experiences.  One facilitator talked about how angry he was because of an abusive childhood and how the root of his drive to make money had been to prove his father wrong.  He said that because his root of earning money was about anger, the more money he made the angrier he got.  Eventually he lost it all.  He talked about dealing with his emotional issues around money and how that had impacted his ability to rebuild his wealth and retain it.

I felt like I was at home this weekend.  Intuitively I have believed these last several years that if I get my emotional life around money stable that I would be able to move forward into the goals and dreams I have had for a lifetime.   This intuition has paid dividends and Marcel and I have been continuously increasing our income each year during a recession.

Becoming emotionally stable around this topic is no easy task though.  Think about it; what are your beliefs about money?  Do you feel a little guilty when you think about how nice it would be to have a lot of it?  Do you believe it's really difficult or even impossible for you to be wealthy?  There are a lot of get rich quick schemes out there, but rarely does anyone talk about emotions and beliefs about money.  This conference did and in powerful ways offered healing and hope for things that held us back.

Throughout the weekend I kept marking things in my notes and reminding myself to blog about them.  Needless to say I have a series of topics in mind and wanted to let you know that the next few weeks will be a series of sorts, looking at our attitudes and beliefs about money.  I will likely suggest exercises for those of you who are interested.  So to kick things off I wanted to share about one of my favorite ideas from the weekend.

One of the suggestions at the conference was something I put into practice immediately.  They suggested a success journal.  Adam Markel, who is the CEO at Peak Potential and was our main presenter, talked about practicing this discipline daily.  He pointed out that if a success is not acknowledged and celebrated it is not actually a success to us.  I thought about what an impact this makes in all areas of our lives.  Not just money.  I have so many clients who struggle to make changes simply because all they can see are the things that are wrong.

So here is my challenge: start a daily success journal.  Follow this series.  For anyone who is active and in contact about their impressions or findings during this series, we might have a surprise for you! :)

For anyone interested, here is the content of my success journal so far today...

1) I got clarity on a long-term wound in therapy.  Began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
2) I figured out our net worth despite the fact that I wanted to run for the hills rather than face the reality.  I set goals about how that number will change by the end of the year.
3) I cleaned the kitchen
4) I called our homeowners insurance about the leak in the basement. (I tend to want to run and hide when financial issues hit, this is why it was a success to follow through.)
5) I got a new calendar and labeled important dates
6) I started a new success journal!

All of these felt great to record and the day isn't even over yet! They don't have to be huge successes, just important to you.  Feel free to share your successes in the comment section, we'd love to hear about them.  We'll look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks ahead.

Dream Trips & Chocolate!

I decided that I wanted to add a section to the blog on business options/opportunities. (Yes, I do also have ulterior motives for this particular post.  Let me explain!)  From time to time I plan to invite women who are working their own businesses to guest blog (there are a few in the works right now) or I will highlight options that you might be interested in.

Today I wanted to talk about a company called Dream Trips.  It is a direct sales company (many of you may know it as network marketing.)  I tend to think that these types of companies have gotten a bad reputation because too many people have tried to make it sound like it's easy money that you don't really have to put any effort into.  My experience is that these companies can be great opportunities if you are passionate and interested in the topic and ready to put in some time building it up; just like any other endeavor.

Years ago I had a dear friend who was making a lot of money in a scrap-booking business.  She LOVED scrap-booking and was always encouraging me to join.  I hate taking pictures and rarely open a photo album.  Not a good business opportunity for me!  You get the idea?  If you are passionate about the product or service it is not sales.  You just naturally find yourself telling people about this great product, service, etc. The difference with direct sales is that with these businesses, if you put the time in, you are going to have an unlimited source of income.  This is unlike your 9-5 job that is dependent on the companies budget and your boss's idea of your value to the company.  If you are valuable you will likely get a 3% raise.

Given the income potential (Yes, I have actually made money from these type's of businesses) and my passionate desire to chart my own course, I find myself a fan of this type of business.  You will likely hear about a few of them from me. Having said that, I will say that Dream Trips is a company Marcel and I signed on with.  We have more than one set of friends who absolutely rave about the trips. (All inclusive, four & five star hotels, all over the world, safari's, cruises, etc.)  We signed up quite awhile ago and like typical Type A's, we haven't actually gone on a trip yet.

After signing on we promptly forgot about it.  I don't mean we actually forgot about it, but we got busy with other things and it got buried under a different pile of projects.  The really ridiculous thing is that if we tell four friends who decide they'd like to join there is no monthly fee.  I would really like to stay in until we actually take advantage of one of these wonderful trips.  So, if you like to travel and you like to travel in style for really cheap, here is the link.

Marceltravel.worldventures.biz

When you get to the website click the number two on the left side of the screen to see a short video (15-20 minutes) for details about the company.  You can sign-up on the spot if you wish.  To the first four people who sign up, we would like to send you a 1 lb. box of your favorite chocolates.  (Yes, the good stuff, Godiva, See's, etc.)

When signing up please make sure to post on the blog and we will respond to obtain information on your favorite chocolate after we've confirmed your registration with the company.  After that, we might be off to Aruba together!  Also, any of you who have experience with the trips from this company, please feel free to post comments about your experience!

Thanks for your time everyone, we'll see you next week!

Shame Spiral

It seems the world has gone mad sometimes.  I know the media always has some catastrophe to report, but I’m talking beyond that.  There are moments where it seems every email, every phone call and every client contact I have, someone is going through a crisis.  I have wondered at times why this seems to happen, and all I can figure right now is that the holidays are often incredibly difficult and they invariably bring up any old pain people have that hasn’t been addressed.  I often feel sad about this, but not hopeless.  I see it as a chance for people to heal on a deeper level.  To let God touch their pain and clean out the wound.

I don’t say this from a professional detached place.  I say it from a personal place.  There have been moments in my life where to let God touch and see my pain feels like it might kill me.  And it’s no wonder, His love is that powerful.  Ephesians talks about God building us up from the inside so we can understand the depth, the height, and the width of His love for us.  That recently hit me on a deeper level and I realized that to let someone touch our shame and pain, to let someone see it and face complete love in response; takes some inner strength.  And scripture tells us that God needs to build us up so we can take it.  Without that build up, the power of God’s love would crush us.

In the face of our pain though, it seems we often think the answer is to start listing all the ways we are despicable people.  I call it the "shame spiral."  The voice in our head that says horrendous things that we would never consider saying to someone else.  And what’s worse is that sometimes we attack anyone who suggests this may not be a good idea.  Scripture talks about Christ not coming into the world to condemn the world.  That voice in our heads that tells us we’re horrible people and the world would be better off without us; that is Satan.  It never comes from Christ.  

I have done a fair share of sinning.  Things that I don’t feel comfortable posting on the internet.  I have noticed over the years in the face of things that I didn’t even know I was capable of, God has always been gentle in His correction of me.  He has always lovingly brought me back to His side.  And sometimes the face of that love has been more painful than if God was beating me up.  So I beat myself up and on some level feel more pious because of it.

When people I love are convinced they are so bad there are no answers for them I feel angry. I see it as a direct victory for Satan. I feel angry because I know the years and the joy that the same cycle cost me. It impacts every level.  We certainly can’t build a business in that place.  Really all there is to do in that place is to numb the pain somehow.  Purge, drink, use, have sex, cut, shop, eat...the list of behaviors that will medicate us is long.  And then we feel guilt and the cycle continues because we have new and fresh evidence of how horrible we are.

Here is the reality, you are the Bride of Christ.  Sounds cliche?  Heard it all before?  

Start by picking out the dress.  Money is no object because the Father of the bride owns the universe.  Picture your dream dress.  The flowers.  The setting.  Perfect in every way, with all of the people you love present.  Go ahead and picture it.  Who is there?  Close your eyes and see the details.  Smell the smells.  Taste the food.  What’s on the menu?  Feel the beating of your heart to know You have told Him everything about you, the best and the worst, and He loves you without hesitation or reservation.  Watch His eyes as you walk toward Him.

After the wedding you get to look forward not to a life of perfection, but a life of perfect love, a life where someone is standing by your side through every trial.  Someone who will walk beside you and has all the resources you need to build your business, raise your children, and bask in love.  

This is our reality.  We walk by faith and not by sight.  That means our reality is unseen, but just as real as the ground under our feet.  This New Year, what would it look like to ignore the lies and step into the reality we see in God’s eyes?  How would your life change?  And what would you do with this clean slate?  

Feel free to leave comments.  We'd LOVE to hear from you.