Rethinking Wealth

Still Waiting

2007-07-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

I'm still waiting on my course to come. In the meantime, I am busy with getting ready for my son's third birthday and cluttering my mind with all kinds of business information.

This happens to me periodically. I start listening to a person and they lead me through their "funnel". Then I get sucked into their joint venture (JV) partners' funnels.

The worst is when someone is promoting their new book and if you go and buy it on Amazon, etc. you get all of these free things from JV partners. The deal is you have to opt in to their mailing lists.

It really becomes so much information that you end up not using any of it.

A lot of this may be due to the fact that most of it has an Internet marketing focus. It really is a glutted topic on the Internet.

I recently responded to a similar promotion to help a needy family. The family runs an online homeschooling business and they have a sick child. A group of people who also have online homechooling businesses got together and ran one of these freebie promotional campaigns.

For a suggested donation of $27 I got a ton of homeschooling resources. I found that promotion to be very helpful for me and not as much of a mental clutter problem. I also learned some new techniques called notebooking and lapbooking that I am really excited about.

The promotion was a success and they earned over $85,000 for the family with a two-week promotion.

You hear a lot about people making fast money like that online. Although, it's not really fast, because all of those people had build up their businesses enough where they had large mailing lists to work with.

For me, it's hard to stick with one product idea because I have so many of them. It's also easy to get bogged down in the details and never get the idea developed in depth.

This is the time when I start opting out of things, making mind maps, and work to find my focus. I'm trying to create my system, and for me it is a difficult process.

Best to You,
Deborah

I Like Jim Edwards

2007-07-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

There's a "guru" that I will listen to quite often. His name is Jim Edwards, and he doesn't like being called a "guru", but I don't have another classification for him.

I heard him at a seminar a couple of years ago. I didn't buy his product at the seminar, but what he said stuck with me enough that I have been a consistent reader and customer for the last two years.

He had a great webinar this past Thursday night. He told the story of how he earned his first million dollars. I've heard part of his story before, but this was more in depth. Plus, I like hearing his story because there's a lot of similarity with my struggles -- except I'm still on the poor end of things.

He was making a four digit annual salary and lived in an old single-wide trailer. He struggled for years doing all of the wrong things or the right things the wrong way. His story really helps me find focus and counteracts some of the discouragement I often feel.

Jim can be a little coarse sometimes, but the thing I like about him is he tells it like it is. He doesn't sugar coat it and he points out the weaknesses and difficulties of things.

My dear husband, Gary, pointed out how what he says makes sense and is very logical. We're anti-hype at our house, so this is very important to us.

You can watch the webinar at
http://myonlinevideohosting.com/myfirstmilliondollarswebinarEDITED/. As with most things like this, it is promoting one of his products. (He doesn't promote the product until the very end though.) Jim always give great content with anything he does so it's worth checking it out to get some encouragement and learn a few things.

To your best,
Deborah

PS: I didn't buy his product because I had already purchased The 7 Figure Code which I feel is a better choice for me right now and I have committed to focus on one thing. (I don't think he'll mind though since I bought it through his affiliate link.)

Mistakes

2007-07-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of the mistakes I have made in most of my life is the "jack-of-all-trades" way of living. I can't really escape from that because I am naturally curious and things interest me.

I am trying to make a practice of finding a few things to focus on and carry them through to the the end. The reality is that if you do everything, you end up doing nothing. I'm trying to find out how to keep the balance between diversity of interests and doing things completely, thoroughly, and well.

I'm starting to realize that I'm not giving up on all these little things, I'm gaining some wonderful big things.

This isn't just in business. A while back I decided "no new crafts". I got rid of some supplies for crafts that I knew I would not pursue diligently and narrowed it down to only embroidery, sewing, papercrafts, leatherwork, and metalwork.

It still sounds like a lot, but that's more focused for me. Part of that was an embargo on buying new craft supplies until I use what I've got. I will give in on some tools and organizational supplies if I can state...

how I will use it,
where I will put it, and
if it will it be a serious help for me.

In business I have packed away real estate, options trading, eBay, vending, and service type businesses like sewing for people. My current focus is Internet marketing, Shaklee, H&R Block.

Internet marketing is my biggie and even within that realm I've had to glean. I am still maintaining my Shaklee business, but the traditional MLM business model is not a good fit for me. I will be doing more online, so it overlaps with my Internet market focus to a great degree.

H&R Block is a great place to work, but I'm not in it for the money. Robert Kiyosaki, writer of the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad says "Don't work to earn, work to learn". The education and experience I am getting is phenomenal!

The classes available to me are top notch. I'm taking a ton of them. Plus, I am in an office that has more complicated tax returns so I get great hands on experience in business tax, depreciation, all types of K-1 income, investments, AMT, retirement plans, tax planning, and more.

Added to that, they give us lots of marketing tools and I have had the experience of taking a leadership role in marketing.

Starting next month I will start as a trainer teaching their Basic Building Blocks class. This is something I've really needed because I need to brush up on my speaking skills.

Finding focus is only in the beginning stages for me, but if I really look back on where I was and where I am I can see substantial change. That alone is building momentum in me.

To your best,
Deborah

2007-07-11T18:32:00.001-07:00

E-Z Pay Plan Announced for the 7 Figure Code

I got this email today...

We JUST ADDED a 3 EZ pay option,but only for the next 72 hours or less. Get
The7FC shipped to you TODAY
Payment #1 - $147 (shipped today)(learn and start making money)
Payment #2 - $197 (30 days)
Payment #3 - $197 (30 days) Done Deal -So that's it...
If you had your eyes on The7FigureCode,there has NEVER been a better
time to buy it.
http://7figurecode.rethinkingwealth.com/

Thanks,
Mike Filsaime
PS - Remember, we have a money back guarantee for a full 30 days. Heck, for $147, there is no risk at all, and everything to gain. Do not regret this $147 opportunity, the 3 EZ pay option goes away and we raise the
price at the same time by $300 forever...
Do not miss out. http://7figurecode.rethinkingwealth.com/
(EZ pay price includes shipping)

2007-07-11T14:45:00.001-07:00

I've decided to do an experiment. I purchased a home study course on internet marketing that seems to fit the needs I am having right now. It's called The 7 Figure Code.

As part of my commitment to put what I learn into action, I am going to post my progress and my observations on this blog.

I should receive my course in about a week. Keep checking to see what happens or go to http://www.rethinkingwealth.com/7figurecode/7fc-blog-optin.html to receive the posts by email.

I sent an email to some family and friends to make them aware of course and the special price that ends July 14, 2007. You can read it below.

If you would like to ask questions or discuss it further comment on this blog or drop me an email at deborah@rethinkingwealth.com.

--------------------------------------------

My recent email...

There's a new thing I've discovered that I'd like to tell you about.

I've gone through a spell of buying business information that sounded good at the time, but I am much more cautious now. A few days ago I got an email from a "guru" who I have found trustworthy. He was promoting a home study course that was based on a seminar that the attendees paid $5000 to attend. Since the man making the recommendation has always given me great info I checked it out.

The name of the course is the 7 Figure Code. It was put together by another internet marketer named Mike Filsaime and features workshops from many of the current upper eschalon of internet marketing.

I've been wanting to have a business using the internet, but I have had difficulty with the gaps in my knowledge and inability to focus on one thing. After reading the web page very carefully and watching the video clips from the seminar on that page, I decided this may fill those gaps for me. My first condition for purchasing was that I make the personal commitment to dig into it immediatly and put it into action before the 30 guarantee expires.

Normally, I would wait to check out a product before recommending it to other people, but there is an introductory promotion until Friday July 14th. After that the price goes up by $300. I wanted to make you aware of this before the promotion runs out just in case it is a good fit.

The current cost of the course is $497, so that means that after Friday it will be $797. I pondered a few days about whether I wanted to put money out toward yet another information product. What made me decide to jump in was...
I need something to help me develop my system
My past experience has proven that when I try to teach myself I have too many gaps and more of a struggle.
The course is on DVD with seminarsthat have PowerPoint presentations. This is a good way of learning for me.
The video clips on their website gave very useful and practical information. It appears that their "no fluff" claim may be true.
The testimonials seemed to have more meat and less hype.
I can return it within 30 days.
I am at a place where I need some indepth training to bring me over the hump.
I tired of spinning my wheels and getting bits of information all over the place that just adds to my mental clutter.
Usually when I want to learn something indepth I take classes. This is no
different.
That's what's going on with me. If you are interested in
checking this out you can go to http://7figurecode.rethinkingwealth.com/

I will be getting my course in about a week. I will let you know my progress.

To your best,
Deborah

2006-05-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

Web Design Tools

Many new internet business people start with little or no understanding of how to build a website. Here are a few tools that may help.

CoffeeCup - HTML Editor & Web Design Software

Website ABC's

Here's to your journey,
Deborah

2006-02-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

Do You Have a Wealthy Attitude?

Here is an interesting article by affiliate marketing guru Rosalind Gardner

Wealthy people are conniving, selfish, lazy monsters who will steal your last penny if you let them, or so that's what I was raised to believe.

Fortunately, through my work and various associations, I've spent time with many of these 'monsters', and discovered that nothing could be farther from the truth.

In fact, over the years I've learned that wealthy people are the hardest working, most generous people one could ever meet.

Obviously, the fear-based attitudes about money that were instilled during my childhood were not only incorrect, they didn't produce more for me than a steady job.

And no job, no paycheck. No matter how well-paid you are, that's not wealth, that's a dangerous rut.

To me, wealth means income that is generated on a continuous and ongoing basis, whether or not I'm working specifically on that project or investment at any given time.

I knew that if I wanted to live a richer, fuller life, I'd have to let go of my old beliefs and adopt healthier, more productive attitudes to acquiring wealth.

So I set out to learn about the commonly held beliefs and values shared by wealthy people.

The first commonality was obvious. Wealthy people all value their time too highly to exchange it for a paycheck, and therefore they work for themselves. The exception to this is made when they'll work for a company in their chosen industry to gain experience or be mentored.

Truly wealthy folks know that there is no such thing as 'get r*ch quick' and understand that businesses are built, and wealth is acquired, through being of service to others. They find a need and fill it with excellent products and highly quality customer service. Having their customers' trust and support, their businesses stand the test of time. All, without fail, regularly give a portion of their time and money to help those less fortunate.

The wealthy also place great emphasis on healthy nutrition and regular exercise. After their work day is over, rather than flop on the couch to watch a rerun of 'Friends' (and West Wing, and Coronation Street, and Frasier...) they'll opt for a run or a friendly game of squash. They understand that exercise is an activity that creates energy, whereas succumbing to the temptation to 'flake-out' leaves you feeling even more exhausted.

While out on that run, they put the increased oxygen flow to good use by thinking, thinking and thinking some more. They forumulate business plans and strategies for the short, medium and long-term. They know that their vision for a happy, solid future for themselves and their familes is built on goals and the specific plans to achieve them. Family is their top priority. Everything they do is for the purpose of helping to improve the lives of their family members.

Above all, they approach life with gratitude. They know in their hearts that there is more than enough wealth on the planet for everyone to share. They know that whatever effort they make, whatever they choose to give, will be returned to them many times over.

From that perspective, they have no fear, and it's fear, not money, that is the root of all evil. Fear causes people to hold on tight and act in greedy, selfish ways. Give to receive.. it's really that simple.

The 'good life' may seem like a lot of hard work, and it is! But if you truly want to enjoy the good life, then do the 'work' of setting goals, staying healthy, and being of service to others with joy and an open heart. You'll be delighted by the rewards work can bring when you approach life with a wealthy attitude.

About The Author
Article by Rosalind Gardner, author of the best-selling "Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People's Stuff Online". To learn how you too can suceed in Internet and affiliate marketing, go to: http://NetProfitsToday.com.

2006-01-31T21:31:00.000-08:00

Ups and Downs

In the beginning stages of anything there is the learning curve. I like learning, but it gets a little harried when you need results rather than learning for the sake of learning. I have been encouraged be a few quotes lately...

All things are difficult before they are easy.
Dr. Thomas Fuller

Success requires first expending ten units of effort to produce one unit of results. Your momentum will then produce ten units of results with each unit of effort.
Charles J. Givens

Use the losses and failures of the past as a reason for action, not inaction.
Charles J. Givens

If your position is everywhere, your momentum is zero.
William N. Lipscomb, Jr.

2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 New King James Version

Here's to your Journey,
Deborah

2006-01-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Get Out of My Inbox!

As I wrote about earlier, I like to hold on to things that are interesting to me. I don't see this as bad, just as a characteristic that needs some discipline.

Since my last blog, I have seen the fruit of opting out of those unread email lists.
I cleaned out my inbox of 7600+ emails.

If you think that is bad, that is with my deleting email almost every day

AND...
That was only about 6 months of email.

AND...
My deleted items were 11,000+ for fewer months than that.

AND...
That does not include the email that is filtered into the folders I've set up.

It took me quite a while to opt out of all of them, but I cut them out with a vengance.

I guess it was writing down my frustration in the earlier blog that gave me whatever I needed to realize that I wasn't going to miss out on something special if I closed communication with some of these people. (I know that sentence is too long, but I'm not going to change it)

I don't need Target sending me an emails every week telling me I can get 10% off my online order.

Even in the realm of learning things for business, I was receiving so many emails that I wasn't reading any of them You can never really catch up when things get like that.

Some of these internet marketers are sending emails on a near daily basis. One of them said they sent out there newsletters 15 times a month. Good Grief!

The whole delete button idea didn't work either. I used to spend so much time deleting the bad stuff that I couldn't get a chance to read the good stuff (hence the full inbox). Having a toddler doesn't give you big blocks of time to check your email, either.

It has been very freeing to have control over my email. It gives me motivation to get other information sources under control, and I believe it has been a factor in the successes I have seen this week.

I must say that I am on a roll.

What else can I delete out of my life?

I'm feeling bold so I will attempt the greatest of the dejunking feats.. PAPER (OOH! GASP!!)

Can I be so brazen to attempt this?!

Stay tuned...

Here's to your Journey,

Deborah

2006-01-17T01:18:00.000-08:00

Get It Going

I recently read an article from Stu "My Idea Guy" McClaren. I like what Stu has to say and how he presents it.

His article really hit the nail on the head for me. It's basically about getting unstuck. So many times I seem to be so busy, but I never seem to accomplish anything.

I easily fall victim to information overload and "analysis paralysis." You see, I like thinking about things. I could almost classify it as a hobby. It's really fun for me to develop my mind.

Of course, this is the reason I get stuck. Thinking is great, but it is usually best to follow it with action. I find myself in the pattern...

THINK>RESEARCH>PLAN>REPEAT
The action part gets put on the back burner.

I first became consciously aware of this problem in myself at a Shaklee meeting. The speaker talked about fledgling business builders who were "GET READY -> GET SET......GET READY -> GET SET......" but never getting to "GO". I just sat there and said "That's Me!".

They say that awareness of the problem is the first step in overcoming it. What the infamous "they" never tell you is that there is usually a long process following the awareness phase.

I am very excited because I am starting to see some of the fruit that comes after that awareness. Taking action is becoming easier. Even when things are difficult, I can see that what I am learning is truly bringing change in my life. It's pretty awesome.

Stu talks about some of these things and other hindrances to our motivation and ability to get things done. Check out his article at the link below. It's a good read.

Here's to the Journey,

Deborah

Momentum: The Unknown Secrets of High Level Players by Stu McClaren

Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.myideaguy.com

2006-01-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

Freebie Info Overload

Ok, I love free things. Who doesn't, but there comes a point where free stuff can be a curse and not a blessing.

I experienced that in titanic proportions over the holidays. I received an email from a list that I WAS on saying that he had 117 Christmas gifts for me. "Wow, that's awesome!" and "What's the catch!" fought for the right to be first place in my mind.

It was awesome because there was a lot of great info being offered buy 117 internet marketers. They were in the form or articles, email courses, audio recordings, ebooks, etc. Some had give away and resell rights. I needed these types of things to give away for my projects.

HERE IS THE CATCH...
In order to get the free gifts from each marketer, you had to opt-in to their mail list. You didn't have to get every gift. You could pick and choose, but that was very difficult. Almost all of them were business related and all of them had information I was looking for.

I was afraid to pick one from each topic, because I might miss the one that was a better fit for me. I wanted to compare them.

Guess what happened. I spent a horrible amount of time opting in to these lists. Some were kind enough to let me have an instant download, but most required me to go back to my email confirm my subscription and download the item through their special page where they were trying to upsell me something else. A lot of times the download link was so tiny you couldn't find it.

I don't mind people upselling me stuff. If there are products out there that will help me, I want to know about them even if it is for future reference. The problem was the quantity of info and the amount of work it took to get it.

On top of that, the website was only going to be open for two weeks, so I had to get it all done during Christmas. What's up with that?

I opted in to most of the lists and I downloaded a bunch of the freebies, then I dropped my laptop before back-up and lost all of it.

Now I am opting out of lists and downloading the freebies that I want and deciding which marketer is worth my time.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not playing the victim here. They didn't force me to do all of this. It actually taught me that I need to develop discipline in my acquisition processes - in all areas. I am a pack rat, I hate to see things thrown away, and I hate to miss a good opportunity. More than that, I like to make comparisons before I make my final decisions about anything. I am going to have to make changes in those areas of my mindset.

So many of my struggles have centered around having too many ideas filling my head and having to much information from all I am hearing and reading. I think this is why this frustrated me so much. I feel like I need to know these things, so I reach for more info.

I have a lot of things that I haven't even read or listened to yet. I had done so well in setting boundaries for myself.

I stopped buying any new information until I have read and processed what I've got.
I began opting out of email lists that I wasn't reading - even if they seemed interesting to me. After all, I WASN'T reading them.
I choose a few pieces on info that applied to my current projects and put all of the others on hold.

Then the freebie wave hit. Shortly after the 117 Christmas Gifts event was launched, I received notice from a trusted list owner about another freebie wave of 207 items.

However, this one didn't hit me the same way. There were no opt-in requirements and the products were about a lot of different subjects rather than exclusively internet marketing. Plus, there was no time limit pushing me to do it now and the downloads were very straightforward.

The 207 promo was a much better experience. The result of the 117 Christmas gifts promo was that I opted out of the list of the guy who sent me the offer. He sends a lot of emails and every time I saw it I thought about needing to opt out of 100+ email lists. At least for me, his participation in the promotion backfired.

I had recently opted out of the list of the guy who was doing the 207 gifts, but he has gained more credibility in my mind. I might reconsider joining after I here him speak at a conference in August.

So, what's my point? Be careful what you let into your life while you are making changes in habits and thinking. If you see something sabotaging you, get to the crux of it right away and keep moving forward as much as you can. There's a reason the term "Three steps forward, two steps back" has been around so long.

Through this experience I got a clearer picture of how clutter doesn't have to be paper and things. It can be a thought, an email or a digital file that can keep me from thinking clearly, drain my energy and prevent me from reaching my goals.

I also became more deeply aware of my fear that I might be missing something out of life if I passed on information or events that are around me. I really need to delve deeply into that one. It has been a pattern in my life and I need to find out why. I'm sure there will be more to come on that topic.

Here's to the Journey,

Deborah

2006-01-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

Blog Changes

It's a new year and a I have realized I need to make some changes in this blog. I have been too busy trying to write article type posts and have neglected the stream of conciousness method that most blogs follow. I created this blog to teach, but I also created it to share my experiences as a fledgling internet entrepreneur.

I do have a lot to say about a lot of things, but I need to get back to the real me. I will still post article type info(concepts, tools, product reviews, etc) from time to time, but expect a lot more of the random flow which is Deborah.

Please feel free to comment - good or bad. I can take constructive criticism. (I have a music degree - it's part of the training.) I like good debate and I'm not afraid to admit that I am wrong.

If you comment, I can learn from you and so can others who are reading. It's a pretty safe way to have a voice.

Here's to the Journey,

Deborah

Tools Genograms

2005-12-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Tools: Genograms

Genograms are a great tool to look at family patterns and find a deeper understanding of yourself. I was first introduced to them in my marriage and family class in seminary. We did the Fonda family (Henry, Jane, Peter, Bridget, etc.) as an example. It was very interesting to see the patterns that repeated within the family. Of course, we also did one for our own families.

In these examples, we were looking at emotional and relationship patterns that carried down from each generation. Genograms are useful for all types of analysis. They are used in the medical field to determine family medical history and by social service agencies to look at patterns of family behavior.

In the area of business, you can use a genogram to look at your family’s career and work patterns, learning and work styles, patterns of wealth and poverty, and entrepreneurial spirit.

When I did my family genogram, I saw that I had several ancestors who were very successful businessmen owning a sawmill, an ice house, a general store, even illegal moonshine stills. Of course, there were other categories such as farmers, ministers and laborers.

I could also see work styles especially a strong pattern of creative starters who would start a new project build on it, pass it on, and start something new. It really helped me validate my creative ways of living life. Interestingly, I saw a lot of linear thinking types like engineers and accountants which helped explain why I value logic and am so analytical.

What can you see in your family tree? You don't have to go back too far, but try to get at least to your great grandparents. Ask questions about each family member. You can ask anything you want, but a few good ideas are...

What did they do for a living?
How did they spend their time?
What were their interests and passions?
Which descendents followed in their footsteps?
Which ancestors did they take after?
What kind of work style did they have? [entrepreneur, laborer, migrant, etc]
How did they view money?
How did they handle money?
Were they spenders or savers?
How did money color their marriage and other relationships?
How did the economic situation of their time affect them and the decisions they made?

You can use the genogram to get a visual picture. There are a lot of symbols you can use to show relationships and some of the links below will guide you. If you don't want to go to all of the trouble to learn them, simply draw the family tree diagram and make notes around it. If you are more right brained, you can come up with your own symbols to help make the connections clearer to you.

Below are a few links to help you get it done. They are not directed at career or business issues. You will need to modify things to make those connections clear to you.

Here's to the Journey,

Deborah

"Basic Genogram Components" from Northwestern University
http://faculty-web.at.northwestern.edu/commstud/galvin/genograms/Basic%20Genogram%20Components.htm

A page from a site selling a genealogy software program.
http://www.genopro.com/genogram/

"Creating a Genogram" from the University of Florida
http://www.cop.ufl.edu/SAFEZONE/DOTY/kfh/Genogram.pdf

"Constructing a Genogram on Word or Excel" from California State University Northridge
http://hhd.csun.edu/williams/340/Genogram Construction on Excel or Word.doc

2005-12-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself: Climb a Tree

We talked about the importance of looking at your family in understanding who you are. I want to take that a step further and climb up your family tree.

When I met my husband, one of the most important things in his life was studying his family history. When he was single, he would do research almost every night. I put a damper on that schedule, but he has succeeded in giving me the genealogy bug. Almost every trip we take involves some kind of visit to a library, courthouse, or cemetery.

Studying genealogy is fascinating. It is amazing to look back and see how you mirror characteristics of your great grandmother or grandfather. You can see how their DNA is living out in you. You can also see how their attitudes and experiences trickle down to you.

You can see patterns in regards to attitudes about money and wealth. When I began learning about my great-grandfather Joe Ben Tingle, I began to understand my work and employment patterns. Joe Ben was a minister (also a big commonality seeing as I have a seminary degree). He was a starter. He would plant a church, build it up, and move on to another project. In between times he would work in the coal mines or farm. When you look at my very diverse resume, you can see how I take after him.

Another great grandfather was Ed Adams. He was the kind of person that everyone in the community liked, but once you knew the real him you weren't very impressed. He was a successful business man with land and cattle. He also owned the local ice house in Myrtlewood, AL. The problem was that he was selfish about money. He would buy nice things for himself while his family had to skimp on basic necessities.

He son, Fred, was my great uncle. He inherited a lot of Ed's business sense and was responsible for building most of the commercial property in Myrtlewood. Myrtlewood only has a few hundred residents, but while my uncle was alive, he received passive income from the leases on the buildings (including the post office) and income from the laundromat or washateria, as we call them in the South.

My grandmother was his youngest daughter, but she never developed that business sense. She always talked about how poor she was growing up and this colored her mindset her whole life.

It is very interesting to look at these patterns and see what shaped us. Looking at my Grandmother's life, I can see some of who I am -- in financial survival mode, but with a loving and generous heart.

Looking at her father's life, I can see how I want to be - entrepreneurial - and how I don't want to be - miserly. The entrepreneurial traits are in my genome and so is the desire to be generous. Those are things I want to build and can see fruit.

How about you? What do you see in your family tree that can help you understand yourself better. My next blog will include some tools to help you do that.

Here's to the Journey,

Deborah

Know Yourself: They Always Blame the Mother It's ...

2005-12-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself: They Always Blame the Mother

Have you noticed that the mother seems to get blamed a lot for the problems of the characters on the TV shows?  Even though the mother may not always get blamed specifically for a person's problems in real life, whenever a person begins dealing with any of  life's woes the question of family usually arises.

We can't deny the fact that our family of origin plays a huge role in how we perceive life and subsequently how we act (or react) in life.  If we try to deny the effect of our family on the decisions we make in our lives, then we can't really see the whole picture.

Our genes and our childhood experiences are a powerful force in how we live our lives. To truly know ourselves, we have to know our family and our place in it. We are a product of our families. It doesn't really matter if something is nature or nurture, we are the people we are in large part because of our genes and our family experiences.

When I was in counseling working on personal issues, my family would tell me that I was blaming my problems on them. It really wasn't that way. I was just looking over my life and seeing why things didn't work.

Most of the things I had to overcome were ineffective systems I had set-up during my childhood. As I was searching and asking questions, I couldn't avoid how the family system I grew up in played a role in how I lived my adult life.

Part of that search was also in how I needed to take responsibility for my problems and create new healthy systems so that I could live the life I wanted to live. It's part of growing and adapting to life in an imperfect world.

While we must take our past into consideration, we must not blame our past for our decisions as adults.  We as adults are responsible for our actions.   We look to the past to see why we struggle and to find understanding about why certain things are more difficult for us.

Acknowledging that the struggles from your childhood affect you today is not blame.  Blame is  when you use them as an excuse not to change.

Remember that making these acknowledgements will not bring about immediate change.  Most of our patterns have been entrenched in us for most of our lives.  It will not go away  by Tuesday of next week just because you put it on your goal list.

Here’s to the Journey,
Deborah

Product Review Rich

2005-12-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Product Review: Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad has set me and many others on the journey to rethinking wealth. It has had the distinction of being on the New York Times Bestseller list for five years. That itself shows that it is much more than a fad. I had actually read a sample chapter many years before, but for some reason it didn't sink in. I don't really know how I came across it the second time. I just remember that it stuck. This book has really changed me personally, not just the way that I think. I can't say that for many books.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is very easy to read (or listen to on audio). It's not one of those dry informational books and it's not an overly emotional, sappy, hyped up, motivational piece. (I really hate those!)

Robert's rich dad was his best friend's dad and his poor dad was his own father. Rich Dad, Poor Dad is the story of two very different men on very different paths. Robert is telling the story of what he learned from these two men and he successfully bridges that gap between the poor and middle class approach to gaining wealth and the way that the rich view money and wealth. He makes the rich mindset accessible to those who want to pursue it.

One of the things I love about Rich Dad, Poor Dad is that it is down to earth and personal. So is Robert Kiyosaki for that matter. Oh, just in case you were wondering, Robert was a millionaire before he started selling his books and games. He started out living in his car with his wife and was financially free in 3 years. He was a millionaire in less than 10 years. He made his money by starting businesses, investing in real estate, and investing in the stock market.

He began his Rich Dad enterprise with a game called Cashflow and wrote the Rich Dad book as support material for the game. From this endeavor, a world class company was built.

I am very impressed with the Rich Dad company. Robert, his wife, Kim, and his business partner and co-author, Sharon Lechter have created a company where employees are encouraged to build their own passive income so they can eventually leave the world of employment (the rat race).

I was at a conference and asked Sharon Lechter and the Rich Dad employee who was assisting her how they dealt with the turnover. They told me that it is a celebration when someone reaches that level of success. They send them off with joy and blessings. She also said that turnover is not a real problem either. Many people thrive in the day-to-day work environment and the Rich Dad company provides them with a wonderful place to work.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is NOT a how-to book. If you want to find a step by step guide to build your business, then go somewhere else. There are many materials on the nuts and bolts of a particular business. Rich Dad publishes many such books from their Rich Dad Advisors series that are helpful in that matter. The original Rich Dad, Poor Dad is about teaching you a new way of looking at the world so that you can use your own creativity and passions to build the world you need and desire for you and your family.

I chose to review this book first because I believe it is foundational in this journey to a new mindset about wealth. I believe in the Rich Dad philosophy of education and giving back and I believe that anyone who truly desires change can benefit from hearing Robert's story.

Here's to the Journey,
Deborah

Read more about Rich Dad, Poor Dad on Amazon.com

Browse Rich Dad products on Amazon.com

2005-12-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself: What Do You Think of Wealth?

We all have a mindset about wealth. That mindset has both truth and errors. There are personal elements to any mindset. Meaning some things may be true for one person while being untrue for others. Yet, universal truths still remain. It is important to figure out what kind of preconceptions we have about money and wealth. It's these preconceptions that control your responses when faced with money-related situations.

A lot of people don't like the idea that we have a relationship with money. Many see money and any sort of quest for it to be wrong or even evil. Throughout history there have been people who gave up all worldly goods in the belief that it brought them closer to God. There are others who chose the path to seek financial wealth at all costs.

People even today feel that rich people are evil. I remember a discussion I had with a college professor who was stuggling to find a new job. I was telling him about some of things I had been learning from Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I was in the early stages of changing my mindset.

He truly believed that rich people are all bad people. It was really an odd concept to me as I thought about our conversation. This person was seeking a job in institutions where most would not exist without the wealthy people who founded them. It takes money to build and maintain buildings, pay for equipment, hire the many workers needed to keep a college running, and to provide scholarships for so many students. These costs aren't covered by tuition alone. This is why schools receive state funding and spend time soliciting so many donations from alumni and community members. The very job he was pursuing was made possible in large part through people who had wealth to share.

Of course wealth is not just about having money. It's about having faith, family, and quality of life. Those who deny that will many times end up with financial wealth and nothing else.

The thing that is harder to grasp is that wealth can include all of these elements. Money can't buy happiness, but it can take away stress and buy you free time so that you can have those non-material forms of wealth. What's more, you can open up that world for more people by sharing your financial wealth and by teaching others what you have learned.

Pursuit of wealth can be an idol in a person's life. When pursuing wealth becomes more important than anything else - it is an idol.

The opposite is also true. A person can make the abandonment of wealth an idol as well. This happens when the idea of financial wealth is mocked or turned against soley for the purpose of self glorification. Many times people believe they are serving God or seeking a higher cause and their real motives -unconciously - are to build themselves up or to create their own sense of righteousness.

How do you view wealth? Do you think your views of wealth are true? If you believe that your views of wealth are true, then test them.
Observe others
Look for contradictions
Do a deeper study of your faith's beliefs

You can't go wrong by digging deeper. You will find a deeper understanding of your belief and and an ability to communicate them to others. You may also find errors in your thinking that need to be corrected. It's important to find these errors. They are a part of growth. Who can deny the need for more growth?

Here's to the journey,
Deborah

2005-12-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself: Nothing More than Feelings

Our emotions play a very important part in all areas of our life. They can work as a warning system to let us know something is wrong. They can also take control and lead us to make poor or impulsive decisions. They cause physical responses within our bodies.

Many people deal with emotions by suppressing them and denying their impact on their lives. Others let loose and display all of their feelings for the world to see. We need to find a balance. You can't really separate emotions from logic. Even the Vulcans on Star Trek never really use pure logic. Many of their reactions are emotional hidden by a veil of logic. (Am I showing my geekhood here?)

Whatever your opinion about emotions, you can't deny that they are there. They are part of being human.

Let's take a moment to explore some things you may be experiencing. Don't worry, it won't be too touchy-feely, and it won't take very long either.

Position yourself comfortably where you are. Breath deeply through your nose and as you exhale through your mouth slowly say the word R-E-L-A-X.
Now that you have focused yourself a little, I want to ask you a question. Don't think to hard about the question. Don't even try to answer it verbally. I want you to listen to how your body responds to the question. What kind of answer is your body giving you?
Breathe deeply again remembering to slowly say the work R-E-L-A-X as you exhale, and answer the following question...

How do you feel about money?

What was your initial reaction to question? Did your body tense up? Did you feel muscle twitches? Were you verbal? Did you moan, groan or sigh? Did you curse?

Maybe you had a positive response? Maybe it was neutral?

If you had a noticeable response, there is a reason for it. Our mind lies to us a lot, but our body will always give it away. If you want to better understand why your body responded the way it did take a few minutes to focus on your feelings.

Write down the words that came to mind even if they don't make sense. Draw a picture of your feelings or at least paint a mental picture. Let your mind flow freely.

Think beyond your surface feelings like "I don't like my job" to the reasons behind your feelings - such as "my job takes away time with my family", "I don't feel respected or valued there", or "The work required doesn't inspire and motivate me".

You will probably find that money in itself is not what's causing the emotions. It's a figurehead for deeper longings and needs. It represents the needs and longings that aren't being met because of a lack of money and a lack of understanding on how to acquire it.

Rest assured, the trap is not impenetrable. You can begin to break free - all by changing the way you perceive the world around you - by changing your mindset.

Here's to the journey,
Deborah

2005-12-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Know Yourself: Introduction
The first step in any journey is learning who you are. This is the first in a series of blogs to help you start to ask yourself questions and to understand how you tick. Knowing yourself will help you understand how you think about money and how you act and react in situations involving money. It will also help you understand what emotional issues may be holding you back from the successes you desire. If you really desire to see financial change in your life, then you must begin by looking inward. It is scary sometimes, but it is always a real path to growth.

2005-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

Rethinking Wealth Introduction

We have a mindset about money. It was shaped during our childhood and forged throughout our lives. It affects how we think, act, and speak about money. It affects how we live our day to day lives.

You have come to this website for a reason. Something sparked a curiosity in you. You may be on a journey to change your relationship with money. Yes, it is a relationship and it is a powerful one.

You may be skiddish about the use of the word wealth. You may even fear that moving toward wealth will lead you to lose your integrity. Some people do, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

We can move toward wealth and keep our souls intact. It is all about changing the way we think about money and how we relate to money. This web site is about finding a new path – one that fits you – one that teaches you how to look at money in a whole new way.

Who am I? I am on a journey myself. I am starting this site in order to help me find focus as I help others along the way. Join me on this path and we can learn together.

I will share with you some advice as well as some questions. I will share the tools I have picked up along the way with an honest appraisal of their strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, we can begin to learn from each other.

Best of all, we can begin to pay it forward and teach others how to be freer from the power that money and the lack of it has over our daily lives. I look forward to journeying with you.