Putting Yourself First

Written by Barbara Huson

A friend, after several difficult setbacks followed by an extended period of self-improvement, finally came to a profound realization.

“My primary business in my life is taking care of me!” she declared.

That statement may, on the surface, sound appallingly selfish. But in truth, it’s admirable and wise.

You can never fully help another until you first take care of yourself.

Even if you have young kids, elderly parents, or an overgrown garden depending on you, you must put your oxygen mask on first to be in any condition to take care of them.

Leap Before You Look: The Secret to Playing Bigger

Written by Barbara Huson

You’re eager to play a bigger game. You’re smart, ambitious, with a solid plan in place. But, damn it, you can’t seem to make any headway.

Want to know what’s holding you back? Those devilish how-to’s, the belief that you must have it all figured out before you even begin.

Plotting every step in advance may feel safe, even smart. But it’ll blind you to all the unexpected opportunities that will inevitably appear.

I was stuck in this mindset most of my life…until I interviewed six-figure women.

Their stellar success followed a three-step strategy:

Set a goal.
Commit to reach it, without having a full-blown plan in place.
Pursue any coincidences that fall in your lap.

Step 2 is the game changer. Commitment acts like a magnet, attracting opportunities that often come disguised as coincidences. If you’re not seeing coincidences, it’s likely a sign that you’re not totally committed.

The Trauma Trap

Written by Barbara Huson

She was a high-level executive who hated her job. Her boss was a bully, the work was boring at best, and despite her massive salary, she could barely cover expenses. The thought of leaving terrified her.

I could tell she didn’t expect my first question.

“What was it like for you growing up?” I asked.

She paused before replying: “My mother was abusive. My father an alcoholic. Money was a huge source of stress. I was always walking on eggshells,”

“It sounds like you’re recreating your childhood in your job,” I pointed out.

“OMG,” she gasped. “I did the same in my marriage.”

She was shocked. I wasn’t.

Law of Attraction Not Working for You? Here’s the Missing Piece.

Written by Barbara Huson

Is there anyone on the planet who hasn’t heard of the ‘Law of Attraction’. It’s the buzzword of the decade. I see it everywhere—books, articles, YouTube gurus—all singing its praises.

Simply put, the Law of Attraction says: you attract whatever you want into your life through your ability to feel good, think positively, and focus only on the desired outcome.

So, if you want to be rich, don’t focus on lack.

But there’s a catch: How many people—maybe you’re one—really want wealth, focus only on abundance….and yet, their bills pile up, their savings shrink?

3 Questions to Ask When Wrestling with Uncertainty

Written by Barbara Huson

Have you ever wondered if you might be settling for less than you truly desire? It’s a daunting question, isn’t it?

But the bigger question is, how do you even know what you genuinely want?

I bring this up because I feel like I’m hearing more women wondering if they’re in the right job, the right relationship, the right city….then inevitably asking: “But how do I even figure out what I really want?

If you’re wrestling with uncertainty, let me share a profound process I used years ago, when I was miserably unhappy and utterly confused.

I asked myself 3 questions. I’m not sure where I found those questions, but they proved to be a game changer as I sat quietly, pondering each one, allowing the answers to emerge until I had clarity:

The Poem That Forever Changed My Financial Life

Written by Barbara Huson

I was leafing through some old files when I found a poem from a lifetime ago. Suddenly waves of painful, memories flooded my brain.

My life was in shambles. My husband’s gambling was out of control. I begged God for help, just as I begged my husband to stop gambling. Both ignored me.

Then one day an envelope arrived with no return address. There was a poem inside- no title, neatly typed, all caps, on crisp white paper. I read it and gasped. The message was clear—I had to face my fear.

Finding Your Highest Purpose

Written by Barbara Huson

Studies have proven that a strong purpose is the secret to longevity. And in my experience, it’s the key to higher earnings.

What if you don’t know your purpose? Here are four places to look to help you find—or refine—your purpose:

1. In Past Pain

I’m not sure our life purpose has to come from pain, but it’s a good place to start looking. What has been your most painful challenge in life?

2. In World Problems

Ask yourself: What is the one problem in the world that you yearn to see solved, and would you be willing to spend the next 10 years of your life working on, talking about, and being part of the solution for?

3. In Childhood Play

As we look back at the tapestry of our lives, it’s easy to spot certain threads that show up in our youth and continually repeat, displaying an unwavering pattern holding clues to our purpose. What did you love to play as a kid?

4. In Secret Wishes

Once, someone asked me whose job would I love to have?” That was easy. Neil Diamond’s. Why? “I wanted to write my songs and sing them.” OK, so I can’t carry a tune. But I’ve managed to write my songs (books) and sing (teach) them. If you could have anyone’s job, which would it be?

It’s also quite possible for your purpose to shift throughout your life. Have you found your purpose? Tell me about it in a comment below.

“Set & Forget” Investing

Written by Barbara Huson

After my divorce from the gambling husband, my inheritance was pretty much gone, with the exception of a few properties that gave me a small monthly income. But I did something smart.

When the rent from the properties would arrive, before I spent a cent, I’d put a portion into my savings account. I did it automatically. I filled out a form and the bank took are of the rest.

I didn’t even have to think about. And even though it wasn’t a lot, it’s amazing how my savings grew over time.

Later, as the cash accumulated, I automated my investing, by using a technique known as Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA-click to learn more). DCA takes the emotion out of investing, reduces the risk of losing a lump sum in a down market and reduces costs because you buy less when your investments are expensive, and more when they’re cheaper.

The Difference Between Investing & Gambling

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ll never forget my first investment on my own. A friend of my father’s was forming a limited partnership. He’d just opened T.J. Cinnamons, a retail outlet that sold sticky buns. And he needed to raise money.

I knew what sticky buns were. I had no idea what a limited partnership was, or the risk I was taking. But hey, this was my dad’s close friend. He was extremely wealthy, very smart, massively successful. So, it had to be a great thing, right?

When T.J. Cinnamons went under, I lost all my money.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tracking Your Spending

Written by Barbara Huson

Keeping track of your expenses is a powerful tool. It’s perfect for reigning in your expenses and getting rid of debt.

But tracking reveals so much more. You’ll see where you’re spending your time and energy. You’ll discover bad habits and blind spots. You’ll realize where you’re trying to fill a hole in your soul. You’ll quickly see what’s missing in your life, areas of deprivation, like vacations or medical visits or new underwear.

Tracking also has a ripple effect. In an Australian study, where participants wrote down every purchase, not only did their finances improve, but they smoked and drank less, ate less junk food and they were more productive.

Life Lessons

Putting Yourself First

Leap Before You Look: The Secret to Playing Bigger

The Trauma Trap

Law of Attraction Not Working for You? Here’s the Missing Piece.

3 Questions to Ask When Wrestling with Uncertainty

The Poem That Forever Changed My Financial Life

Finding Your Highest Purpose

“Set & Forget” Investing

The Difference Between Investing & Gambling

The Life-Changing Magic of Tracking Your Spending

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