Have you had your 12-1-55 Moment yet?

Do you guys know where the phrase '12-1-55 Moment' comes from?  If you've been to any of our workshops, you know that I took it from the date that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus.  On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks was ordered to give up her seat so that white passengers could sit.  After having given up her seat time after time, that day she decided that enough was enough.  Parks recalled, "When that white driver stepped back toward us, when he waved his hand and ordered us up and out of our seats, I felt a determination cover my body like a quilt on a winter night.  People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in."

What is a 12-1-55 Moment?

A 12-1-55 Moment takes place in that split second when a situation pushes you to your limit.  It's when you've had all you can take, and you can't take any more.  It's that feeling when you turn around after being pushed and face the person who expected you to just give in.  Something snaps within you and you say to yourself "No more!  It's stops right here and right now!"

I believe that it's not until a person has their own 12-1-55 Moment that they make any significant life changing decisions.  Whether it's a job you don't like, a relationship you're in, or a financial situation you find yourself facing, there comes a time when you say "No!  I'm not going to put up with this anymore.  I'm going to do things differently from now on."  That's when you know that you've had a 12-1-55 Moment.  That's when your life changes.

So what happens when you have that moment?  That's when you decide to take action.  That's when you begin to look for ways to change your situation and your life.

·         That's when you tell the person you're in a bad relationship with that you're through.

·         That's when you quit that lousy, low paying, dead end job and begin to look for something better.

·         That's when you stop accepting that your financial situation isn't going to change and do something to improve it.

So, have you had your 12-1-55 Moment yet?  Have you decided that you're fed up with your financial situation and you're going to do something about it?  Let me know what 'the last straw' was in your life and what you're going to do to make sure that tomorrow is better than today.

Dream for a Day Discoveries

Hey Superstars,
I have had the opportunity to speak with some of you guys after our Dream for Day event and one of the things I’ve learned is there are some unbelievably talented superstars who are out there praying for God to give them confirmation that He is allowing them to swing the bat. They want to know that He sees their desires and hears their prayers. They just don't want to be mediocre, or average and ordinary.

Some people walking out there are holding on to the scripture that “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Let's stay in that bubble of faith and walk our true calling. We may all have different desires and talents but one thing remains the same … we are all destined for greatness. We just got to go get it.

Remember, it’s all about the power of the triple threat of the three D’s. You must have determination, discipline, and take control of your decisions. I believe they work together. When you accept and understand you have the power to make the decision to go after financial independence and you have the determination and discipline to focus on it, nothing can stop you from winning.

See, one thing I know is that anybody can start the journey. The real winners are the ones who overcome their obstacles, welcome their fears, and bulldoze their way to greatness.

I am so pumped about the progress that many of you guys are making. Whether you have decided to launch that business you’ve been dreaming about for so long or just decided to take back control of your financial situation, either way, I am definitely a proud momma. :)

I would love to hear from you guys on the things you are doing to continue to walk in your greatness and I want to encourage you to keep going. You deserve it!

Half-time Celebration

I don't know if you as are excited as I am that we are almost there. In one of my favorite books “It's Your Time” by pastor and speaker, Joel Osteen, he says “You are closer than you think.” When many of you began the road toward financial independence, it may have seemed like wishful thinking, but I am here to tell you that you are closer than you think.

As I thought about the past week and the fact that we are now talking about budgeting, I realized that we are half way to home plate. You did it!!! Some of you thought that you would not make it this far but you did. The word of God says, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me” Phllipians 4:13. This means there is no defeat.

On your journey with F. I. Coaching you have deCIDED to kill all negativity and doubt and move forward. Decisions are tough but so is the price of success. Can you feel the atmosphere changing? Think about how many things you have accomplished over the last few months. It's time to pat yourself on the back, take a deep breath, and keep on running. Through my years in business I have seen many people stop right here. Don't stop the momentum. It's time for your second wind.

1. Refocus - regain laser vision of your purpose and goal
2. Redefine - sort through ideas and paths that have proven to be effective and streamline and redefine your processes
3. Renew - revamp your way of thinking; remove any residual doubt and fear. Surround yourself with positive thinking, positive people, and positive words.
4. Rededicate - the determination should be to run even faster and train even harder. What does that mean? - read more, write more goals, research avenues for open doors; most of all walk in purpose and passion. Many people have the talent but few have the tenacity.

It's time to make it to the home stretch. Remember you are almost there.

Dream For A Day

I have to tell you ... the Dream For A Day workshop was awesome! Seeing all of you sitting there identifying your dreams and putting the first steps in place to make those dreams come true was really inspiring. I hope you know that you guys inspire me a whole lot more than I would ever inspire you. I really get a kick out of seeing your eyes dance as you realize that you really can reach your goals. It was so much fun watching you talk to one another and and then tell the group what each others dreams are. I saw a lot of you smile with pride as someone other than you expressed how important your dream is to the world while the rest of the group nodded in agreement.



Another fun part of the workshop for me was when I taught you guys about the S.T.A.R. System. I really saw the light bulbs go off for many of you when you realized what your personality is really like and why you do what you do every day. It was great when you began to reflect on your dreams and how your personality (and the personalities of those important to you) affect your path toward those dreams. I heard several of you at the Tuesday Financial Freedom class talk about different people in your lives in terms of their personality types and how understanding S.T.A.R. helped you understand them better. I was even able to explain at the meeting how S.T.A.R. affects how you learn when I was going over the Income Protection topic.



Now don't go thinking that the Dream For A Day workshop was a one-time deal. Steve and I are planning to continue teaching, educating, and inspiring entrepreneurs through a series of related workshops that can lead you to your dreams. We'll be hosting one workshop each month through the end of the year on the first Saturday of the month. These workshops will cover topics such as the mindset of a business owner, daily business building habits, and how to develop professional business skills as well as how to turn your dreams into money in your account. It's not enough to just have the How, the Why, and the When. Without the What you're not going to be able to affect all the lives that you guys desire to help. With the skills you'll learn in these workshops you'll have the tools you need to turn your dreams into reality. We'll be adding information on these workshops to our website as we finalize the details so keep checking in.



Once again, I am pumped to know so many awesome people decided to go to the next level and not just talk about their dreams but started putting in the work to making them happen. I would love to hear your thoughts about the event and your commitment to go after your dreams because you realize its your time !
Always remember ...
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What are your non-negotiables?

Wow, what a deep question? At least that's what I think. It's one of the most life altering questions you can ask yourself. Have you ever stopped, sat down, and wrote out your non-negotiables. I believe everyone who wants to do something great with their lives has to, at some point, take the time to identify their non-negotiables. I am constantly reviewing my non-negotiables. I have to! They keep me focused on my dreams and help me to not settle in this life.


Do you ever feel like you are settling? Like you have stopped fighting for your dreams and are becoming content with just getting by? Having a job that barely pays the bills? Having ok relationships instead of your Prince Charming? I believe that having non-negotiables helps you proclaim your decision to have the life you know you deserve. It's a reference point for you to use to verify that you're on track.

So lets talk about what exactly is a non-negotiable ...

There are decisions that are made in your mind based upon on your values and beliefs and convictions that you will not change. These are 'deal breakers' to you, your non-negotiables, the lines you will not cross. If you don't know what your 'deal breakers' in life are, those things that no one can talk you into doing, then you don't really know yourself very well.

Some non-negotiables are things you won't do under any circumstances. Others are those things that you refuse to let anyone stop you from pursuing. There are some things that we all (hopefully) agree are non-negotiables for everyone, like not committing murder or not stealing. Other non-negotiables are things that are very personal and specific to us.

Here are some samples of my non-negotiables:

Here are some things that I WON'T do:

• I won’t break the law. (ehem, this might not include the occasional speeding…)
• I won’t cheat on my husband.
• I won't jeopardize my health for the prosperity of my business.
• I won’t drink, swear, or do anything that violates God's laws.

Some of my non-negotiables are things I WILL do:

• I will pray and read the Bible daily.
• I will read a self-improvement book at least 15 minutes every day.
• I will educate and empower a minimum of 10 people every month.
• I will have a date night with my husband at least once each month.
• I will journal and write down my goals each week.

How do I know that these are my non-negotiables? I know because I have been tested. I have been in many different situations where decisions about these values of mine have come up and I haven't budged despite considerable pressure to do so.
Do I work hard on my business and put all of my energy into it? Yes! Will I allow my health to fail while I push myself harder and harder to get one more thing done at work? No! Having good health is non-negotiable to me.
Do I go out with friends and have a great time? Yes! Will we go out clubbing and drinking! No! Breaking God's laws is a non-negotiable to me. I'll find other things we can do and still have fun.
Do I have a date night with my husband at least once a month? Yes! Will we spend money we don't have to do it? No! Keeping my marriage fresh and new is a non-negotiable for me and we'll find fun things to do that won't break our budget.
Do I read my goals every day? Yes! Will I allow life and other people to distract me? No! Dreaming big every day is non-negotiable to me. I always keep track of where I want to go and how I'm going to get there.



Non-negotiables shouldn't be a chore
The idea of non-negotiables is that they aren't a chore to be done, but rather who we are without thinking about it. They're just a part of your day. You just do them.
How do you make them a part of you? Ask yourself these questions:

• What do I believe? What are my values?
  
• What actions would I say no to no matter who asked me to do them?
  
• When can I make time for things I need to do EVERY day? Where can I place them so that they're a priority in my life?
  
• When I wake up in the morning, how can I feed my body and soul today in order to bring my best self to the world?
  

You are supposed to live who you are to the best of your ability, while constantly seeking to improve. Non-negotiables are the tools to help you do this.



Non-negotiable doesn't mean inflexible
Being flexible is important. Non-negotiables aren't meant to be a straight jacket for our lives. They're meant to define us and help us decide how we will behave without sacrificing that sense of self.
If we decide that we won't go clubbing, it doesn't mean that we don't spend time with our friends. It just means that we figure out how to do it somewhere other than in clubs.
If we decide that we're not going to hang around negative people and our boss is negative, that doesn't mean that we quit our job (although that might need to be an option). It just means that we spend as little time around him and listening to his negativity that we can get away with.
The thing to watch out for is that we don’t get so flexible that we lose our grip on what’s really important to us. Little by little, day by day, we can let things slide in such a way that pretty soon the things that matter are no longer a part of our daily or life routine. If that happens, we've lost sight of who we are and what our values are. In other words, we've forgotten what our non-negotiables are.

Here are a few thing that might need to be non-negotiable in your life.

• Your physical, mental, and emotional well-being

• A healthy relationship with yourself

• Keeping your word to yourself and others

• Associating with positive people

• Your values

What are the things that you won't compromise on, the things that no one can talk you out of either doing or not doing? Be specific and detailed. These are the things that define you. These are your non-negotiables and they make you great, not just good. I strongly believe that good is the enemy of greatness. Don't settle!

The Power of Aha Moments

Have you ever had one of those moments when everything clicked? When that light bulb went off in your head and you thought “Yes! I get it!” That's an 'aha moment.' That's a moment when everything that you thought you knew about something changed. It's a moment of clarity, a defining moment when you gain real wisdom – wisdom you can use to change your life.

Let me tell you about an 'aha moment' that really changed my life. It came when I was working for a mortgage company. This mortgage company was founded around the time when the housing boom was at its peak. At the time, everyone was either buying their first home or refinancing the one they had. The company was owned by Nick, a sharp, slick, 30-something Italian-American man. He was really good at what he did and you could tell it just by looking at him. His business was thriving, the market was booming, and he was on top of the world. Nick and I had developed a pretty good working relationship while I was there and I had become one of the company's top closers. As a result, I was making more money than I had ever made before.


One day, I told Nick that an opportunity had come my way to get involved with a financial services company; a company where I could learn a lot more about how money worked ... and not just in the area of mortgages. The income potential also looked a lot better than what Nick was offering me and I told him that I was considering changing jobs to go work for them.


A couple days after I told him this, he called me into his office for a heart-to-heart talk. With complete sincerity, he told me that I needed to keep working for him for four reasons:

1. First, because I was young and inexperienced (20 years old);
   
2. second, because I was a woman (and women couldn't be very successful in business);
   
3. third, because I was African-American (and everyone knows that we couldn't possibly be successful in business);
   
4. fourth and finally, because I was born and raised in 'the hood' (the worst drug-infested Project in Chicago from which no-one could ever possibly rise to success).
   

“You need to stick with me because this is as successful as you're going to get” he told me.


When you first look at it, everything he said made a lot of sense and it could have been very easy to have accepted Nick's view of things at that point. After all, I was making over $60,000 a year working for him as a mortgage agent, a fortune to everyone in my family.


What happened at that point is that I had an 'aha moment.' Oprah says the Aha! effect is “a sudden moment of realization, where an individual recognizes that they need to make a change or move forward in life.” At that moment, it 'clicked' for me. I got it. In that instant I realized that Nick was wrong for every reason that he believed that he was right:

1. My young age gave me the time to learn how to build a business before I got old and worn out.
   
2. Women are making great strides in business and more and more role models, like Oprah, are popping up every day.
   
3. African-Americans are moving into positions of leadership like never before (just look at our president).
   
4. My 'disadvantaged' childhood gave me the mental toughness to not take no for an answer.
   

In that moment, my 'aha' moment', I realized that all of Nick's reasons for me staying were all of the reasons that I had to leave. I could never reach my full potential by working in his business. I needed to move on and build my own business. I thanked Nick for his 'great' advice but told him that my mind was made up and I was moving on.


A few weeks later I left Nick's business and went to work for that financial services business. As a result of that 'aha moment,' I learned a whole lot more about myself and business than I could have ever learned if I had stayed with Nick. Those great experiences gave me the knowledge and ability to create and build F.I. Coaching and I've never looked back or regretted my decision. I have an awesome life.



What's your life like? Are you happy with how things are going? Are you satisfied?
or …
Do you have a nagging feeling that things could be better? Do you feel that you're not reaching for your potential? Do you feel that there's something special that you were born to do? Maybe your 'aha moment' is just around the corner.
When an 'aha moment' happens, it's usually the result of a determined, hard-working and open-minded person trying, and failing, to find a solution to a given problem. One day, all of that work suddenly becomes an “I get it!” That person has an 'aha moment' and their life is never the same afterward.

The French inventor Louis Pasteur once said, "Chance favors the prepared mind."

What are you preparing for?

Ignorance is Expensive!

Are you ignorant? I know I am. Now that may make me sound like someone you shouldn't be taking advice from, however, let me clarify this. The definition of ignorance is: 'a state of being uninformed' or 'lacking knowledge.' Now based on that definition, isn't everyone ignorant about something? I know that I don't know anything about ... say ... rocket science. Does that make me ignorant on the subject of how to build a rocket? Of course it does. Everyone is ignorant about a lot of topics. The important thing to know is what you're ignorant about. If it's rocket science and you don't plan to be an astronaut, then you can breath easy knowing that being ignorant about rockets probably isn't going to impact your life a lot.

On the other hand, suppose you're ignorant about the speed limits in a certain town and you're caught speeding. There's a legal principle called ignorantia juris non excusat, simply that means "ignorance of the law is no excuse." It stands for the proposition that the law applies also to those who are unaware of it. If you're ignorant about the speeding laws, and you're caught speeding, then you're still going to get a ticket. An expensive ticket at that! So, where am I going with this? Being ignorant in certain areas of your life can really cost you. Let me give you an example.

Several years ago my husband and I had just moved to a new town and were looking to buy a house. We were young, recently married, and knew absolutely nothing about buying a house. Were we ignorant? Yep. Did we understand any of the pages and pages of papers we were signing to get that house? Nope. Did the real estate agent take the time to explain what was going on? Well, was it really his job to make sure we understood? Not really. The question is, who needed to know more about buying that house, us or the real estate agent? Us! It was our money! If we got a bad loan (like one of those adjustable rate mortgage you may have heard about), who should we have blamed it on? US! Because we were ignorant even though we could have learned the ins and outs of mortgages ahead of time! Fortunately we didn't get a bad loan (like millions of Americans) and our real estate agent did explain a lot of stuff to us. However, after leaving that meeting and getting that mortgage, I knew that I needed to know everything I could about finances so that I wouldn't ever have to depend on the knowledge and good intentions of others.

I feel that knowledge is powerful and that if you're ignorant about finances, bad financial decisions can be made. Your ignorance makes you powerless. Those with the knowledge have the power. I've spent the last ten years learning everything I can about money; from mortgages, to insurance, to investments, to debt elimination. In all those years of studying, there's one thing that I find is true over and over again. IGNORANCE IS EXPENSIVE!

I'm a pretty passionate person, especially when it comes down to educating and fortifying my families here at F.I. But here's the thing. PEOPLE NEED HELP and I want to help them. Too many people are uneducated (i.e. ignorant) about common, everyday finances! I am determined to help those who have had their own personal 'ah ha' moment; the ones who have said enough is enough! If this is you, I want to encourage you that this is your time and your year.

When I founded Financial Independence Coaching, I went on a mission to help people take back control of their financial situation through education. I wanted to take the excuse off the table that there is no one out there willing to teach them. But do you know what? I am proud to say that there are plenty of families who have made the decision and can finally say “ I am in control of my destiny” What are you doing to take control of your destiny?