|
Author Articles Speaking of Money….:7 Steps to Financial Intimacy
Jenifer is owner of Wealth Journeys, LLC, a financial coaching company dedicated to the prosperity of its clients. Her experience spans fifteen years of coaching people in the key areas of relationships and money: she now teaches how to attract and manage money for the sake of what you love. She has built multi-million dollar franchise territories for the dating industry, led award-winning branch offices for a national financial services firm and developed an international coaching clientele. She is a phenomenal example of what can happen from applying the principles of her work – she has truly ‘walked her talk’. For more information see www.createthemeans.com. Money. It’s what people worry about the most and talk about the least. A subject so taboo that it’s not even included in the ‘top things you don’t talk about’ list of sex, politics and religion. There is an unspoken agreement that you just don’t talk about money, yet, it’s what we need to make our worlds go ‘round. What makes it such a forbidden subject, something that’s considered rude to discuss? Perhaps we are responsible for having elevated it to its ‘untouchable’ status; we tend to tiptoe around it and whisper about it like it was some mysterious dignitary in our midst. So what would it take to get money off the pedestal we built for it and bring it down here amongst the living? Our relationship with money, and what we experience as a result, is no different in its fundamentals than the process by which we find success in our other associations: it takes communication, which leads to intimacy, and intimacy is what leads to success. In order to achieve a level of intimacy on the matter of money that we require in other relationships, we must start opening our mouths about it – decide what we want and be determined to ask as many questions as we need to feel comfortable about the economic part of our lives. I do believe in manners and decorum – I wouldn’t march up to strangers and start questioning them about their financial status, but you can go to successful people today and ask their permission to talk about how they got there. If they don’t want to discuss it, you move on until you find someone who is comfortable discussing money and its myriad uses. Many are willing to share their knowledge. You will be amazed at how much information is available once you make your needs known. So, rather than writing money off as something you’re not supposed to talk about, let’s adapt a system of communication that supports everything you want to accomplish in life. The good news is, learning to become intimate on the subject of money doesn’t have to be hard. A few simple steps, developed into a habit, and finally you’re in control of your financial destiny: #1 – Admit your shortcomings. If you know that you have money habits that don’t support you, look them square in the eye and commit to changing them before you ask anyone else to change theirs, or go looking for help to achieve your goals. #2 – Author supporting beliefs. If you grew up with limiting belief systems around money, resolve to think differently. Quality of life comes from the quality of the questions we are willing to ask ourselves – start asking ‘How can I?’ instead of ‘Why can’t I?’ and watch your financial identity change as a result. #3 – Assert your objectives. No one will take your goals more seriously than you are willing to. Take the time to really outline what you want – be certain before you go to the table with your desires. #4 – Align your team. Get in agreement with the people who will be key to making the goals happen; your partner, a planner, an accountant, a lawyer – anyone who can provide the information you need to see things through. #5 – Act. Pick a path to your goals and get on it. You can always pick a new one if you need to, but don’t delay. Time makes all the difference in the accomplishment of people’s financial goals. Don’t get stuck in thinking “I’ll start this when…” #6 – Become accountable. Have a system that keeps you in tune with what’s working and what’s not. A budget takes on a whole new life when you change your mind to see it as a power tool instead of a whip. #7 – Assess. Bring the players together on a regular basis to see if you’re on track and to discuss any necessary changes. This is not about making money per se; it is about how to take money – take it in to your life and use it as a force for good. It’s about getting comfortable enough with it that it supports what you really love. Ultimately, the great payback comes in sharing your knowledge with others and not allowing the doors of communication to shut around money again.
 |
By Jenifer Madson