More on Greatness… and Fear!

Written by Barbara Huson

Inspired by those “Life is Good” t-shirts, I’m launching a new campaign. And I invite you to join me. I’m calling it: “Fear is Good”.

As I see it, Fear has gotten a bum rap and a bad rep. Maybe it’s leftover from our Neanderthal heritage, when hungry predators were a constant hazard.

But times have changed. And so has fear’s function. Problem is, few of us have figured that out. We feel the fear, and either freeze or take flight. We don’t realize that, in modern times, Fear is rarely a sign that our survival is being threatened.

These days, the only survival being threatened is usually our egos. Fear has a new purpose now — to warn us of approaching Greatness. And as I’m personally discovering, we’re as afraid of our Greatness as our ancestors were of carnivorous beasts… maybe more.

So, I’m on a crusade to change that. It’s a fact… Fear is the clearest signal we will get that we’re on the precipice of greater success, greater happiness, greater impact.

Imagine if more of us finally realized that Fear is nothing to fear. Quite the opposite. Fear is Good. Imagine if every time we got scared, instead of freaking out, we gave each other a big high-five and exclaimed: “YES! We’re on our way to Greatness.”

As for my Fear is Good campaign, our motto is: Fear is My Friend. And there’s only one requirement for membership. Every time you get scared, you shout, at the top of your lungs: “I go where I fear!” And off you go… in the direction of your fear, in search of your Greatness.

Fear is every high-achiever’s best friend. Fear, especially for women, is often a prelude to financial success. Fear is a cosmic finger pointing the way to victory. Fear is Good! Can I sign you up?

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Twitter Barbara at: http://twitter.com/barbarastanny

The $100 Savings Challange

Written by Barbara Huson

Just as the cherry blossoms were bursting into bloom, Obama was issuing instructions to his cabinet: cut $100 million from the budget. Three months later, mission accomplished — $102 million in expenses had been slashed.

When I read this in the Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124882436513388423.html, my immediate reaction: “Why hasn’t the media made more of this fact?” We hear, ad nauseum, about the stimulus (read: spending) packages, dragging the nation deeper into debt. But what about these recent efforts to save money? Now, in my mind, that’s news!!

Granted, that $102 billion is a microscopic portion of the general deficit, 0.0006%. But the real story is how quickly and seamlessly government made those cuts… and the public never even felt the pinch. If a giant bureaucracy can do that, certainly each one of us can too.

Washington called this program “The $100 Million Savings Challenge.” Imagine if you began your own “$100 (you determine the zero’s) Savings Challenge?” Imagine if you started today, right now, shaving small amounts from your spending every month. Then imagine if you took it one step further, and stashed the savings in the bank. Imagine what that would do for your personal fortune!

There is a saying; “It’s easier to find 500 ways to save $1, than one way to save $500“. That’s exactly what these government heads did: found all kinds of ways to trim small amounts. For example, making double-sided photocopies, emailing documents instead of printing them, cutting unused phone lines. Small. Simple. Painless. Very effective.

I’ve always said, small steps consistently taken create remarkable results. Now what about you? What teeny-tiny cuts can you begin making right now? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Twitter Barbara at: http://twitter.com/barbarastanny

Giving Debt a Whole New Meaning

Written by Barbara Huson

This will give you cause to pause… especially if you’re in debt. Have you ever looked up the definition of “debt” in Webster’s dictionary? Try it: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debt

A client of mine did recently, and, in her words, “I was absolutely shocked!” Merriam-Webster’s first definition of debt – Sin. Yes… SIN!!!

Do you realize that a whopping majority of people are “living in sin”? Are you?

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Twitter Barbara at: http://twitter.com/barbarastanny

Looking For Signs

Written by Barbara Huson

I am always on the look out for signs. It’s a game I play. And I take every sign very seriously.

My children often tease me. ”Sometimes, Mom, a cigar is just a cigar.” Not in my world!

Yesterday I got two huge signs. I wanted to know if I was on the right track. And I got confirmation. In neon.

First, came a call from a well-known financial website seeking my involvement. That would’ve been enough confirmation to convince me I’m on target.

But then… are you ready for this?… a major Hollywood production company called ME! They were interested in creating a TV show based on my book; Prince Charming Isn’t Coming. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather!

Look, I know, the chances of anything coming out of either opportunity is slim. As my seasoned agent reminded me about TV-land: “generally, these type of requests go nowhere.”

And you know what? It doesn’t matter. I really mean that. These two signs have shown me something very profound — there’s tremendous value in Surrender, in taking time out for going within. In our “doing” world, Surrender is a pejorative term. When, in truth, surrender is an extremely practical, highly beneficial success strategy.

Those two calls yesterday felt like the Universe was giving me a big high-five, congratulating me for taking time out and assuring me great stuff was on the way!

I’d love to hear from any of you who have benefitted (or not) from taking a retreat.

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Twitter Barbara at: http://twitter.com/barbarastanny

Getting Out Of Your Own Way

Written by Barbara Huson

Greatness takes guts. No doubt about it. Sure, Shakespeare implored us: “Don’t be afraid of Greatness.” But here I was, on Day 3 of my retreat, seriously scared. From the moment I woke up, fear began to wrap around me like a second skin, seeping into my pores, coursing through my veins, constricting my chest with its vise-like grip.

Why was I so afraid, I wondered? I spent the last two days delightfully splashing around in this new Call to Greatness. Now, suddenly, I wake up drowning in fear.

In a split second, it made perfect sense.

The Call to Greatness meant I was being summoned to a higher level. I had grown very comfortable teaching women how to make more money and manage it wisely. I had the ‘overcoming’ stuff down pat. But going to the next level of ‘becoming’ (whatever that means!!!) was brand new territory.

I suspected what that meant for me personally – I had to come out of the closet, revealing and owning my value, my brilliance, my power, my exceptional wisdom and my unique talents.

The instant I wrote that last sentence, my tummy did a belly flop. Is everyone going to think I’m arrogant (a big fear of mine!)? Or even worse, will the world think I’m really just faking it? My brilliance is BS, my talents are, well… ordinary?

Somewhere during the day, I made a decision. This is a risk I’m willing to take. I’m going for Greatness, and taking every woman I possibly can with me. I am convinced the world desperately needs women to step up to the plate and into their power, to own their Greatness in the grandest way.

Just as I write this, the damndest thing happened. I get an email from my friend Suzy. “I read this and thought of you,” she said, sending me a quote from Marianne Williamson. The synchronicity was inescapable!!!

“It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves,

“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?”

Actually, who are you not to be?

YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

There’s no doubt in my mind – this a sign and a message, not just to me, but to everyone reading this blog!!!

Speaking of signs, be sure to read my next blog.

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money

[email protected] www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Twitter Barbara at: http://twitter.com/barbarastanny

The Retreat To Being…

Written by Barbara Huson

If you follow my tweets, you already know. I just returned from a 5 day retreat, to (as tweeted) “pause, get pampered, and ponder what’s next.”

I was bordering on burn out, and needed to get away. It wasn’t burn out in the normal sense… I wasn’t exhausted, depressed, or down on my work. I was just ‘blah’, as in: there’s no creative juice left in this orange… I was squeezed dry.

My coach, Martha Lynn Walker, told me what to do: “get away by yourself,” she said. “You’re too into ‘doing.’ You need time for ‘being.’” That was last Thursday.

You know how, when something is right, the seas seem to part? That’s what happened to me. I found the perfect spot within 2 hours driving distance. Unfortunately, it was booked solid. Magically, a room became available an hour later. Within 24 hours, I was unpacked, settled in, gazing at the water view, journal in hand… just ‘ being.’

My intention: to breakthrough my blahs… get my mojo back! I had no idea how… but as I always say; “when the intention is strong, the ‘how’ always shows up.”

Immediately, I had a realization. Well, it wasn’t really new… but I always ignored it. It was something I’ve long wanted to do, but couldn’t get myself to do it.

What I realized: I rarely blog about me. I rarely share my innermost thoughts or my personal journey… especially around money. Even though that’s the whole point of a blog, right? But I was scared, resistant. I’m great at writing other people’s stories or reporting facts and observations. Self exposure, however, felt scary, vulnerable.

Which made the next step obvious… I have to face my resistance by revealing myself. So that’s what I want to do, starting now.

I’m going to use the next couple of blogs to tell you about my retreat and my revelations. What’s more, I suspect what I learned about myself could inspire many of you. It certainly inspired me… I’m back to business, mojo intact.

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

5 Tips For Earning What You Really Deserve

Written by Barbara Huson

Want to make more money? Well, I’ve got the secret. And I’ll bet it’s not what you think.

It sure wasn’t what I expected when I interviewed hundreds of high earners for my books; Secrets of Six-Figure Women and Overcoming Underearning®. Very few of these highly successful women were driven by money, yet they still demanded to be well compensated because – and here’s the Big Secret – they felt they were worth it.

The good news is that it’s possible for all of us to build up our self worth. Here are some tips for pumping up your self-esteem along with your net worth:

1. Think Big, Then Think Even Bigger

What most of us do is unwittingly limit our earnings by lowering our expectations. Especially women. The idea is to think in terms of what you are worth, not just what you assume the market will bear.

2. Do Your Homework

One of the worst negotiating mistakes women make is picking a number out of the air that’s way too low. The smarter ones find out their market value by researching the going rates, then ask for more than is offered so they’ll have room to maneuver and negotiate.

3. Take the Initiative

Have tangible evidence of what you bring to the table. Maybe you saved your company x-amount of dollars or had an idea that generated so many sales. Every time you accept more responsibility, successfully complete a challenge or create positive changes, document it. Keeping records is an effective means of demonstrating your value to an organization.

4. Daily Affirmations – Act As If

Affirmations are positive statements expressed as if they’ve already happened. For example: “I have the confidence to ask for what I want” or
“I deserve more money in my life“. Write them down. Post them in full view. Say them out loud as often as possible. When you act as if you’re worth a lot, you’ll eventually convince yourself as well as others.

5. Challenge yourself in other areas

A stretch in any area of life has a ripple effect in other areas as well. If you can’t quite get yourself to volunteer for that tough assignment or ask for a raise, try signing up for an art class or running a marathon. Anything that puts you out of your comfort zone builds confidence and self-worth.

By practicing these tips, you’ll begin to notice a shift in how you feel about yourself. Making more money becomes not something you should do, but something you have to do – because you know in your heart you’re worth it.

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

It May Be Time To Let Go!

Written by Barbara Huson

Want to kick things up a notch (or 2 or 3) in your life? Ask yourself this: “What do I need to let go of?” Seriously. “Letting go” is a profound strategy few people fully understand.

When you pinpoint what’s holding you back, and are willing to let it go, miracles occur. There is one catch, however. Usually, the very thing you most need to let go of, is that which is most scary to give up.

Let me give you an example. This just occurred in my latest Overcoming Underearning® teleclass (see www.barbarastanny.com/coaching-tele-seminars). One woman, let’s call her Dee, was desperate to get out of debt. Her main problem – her house was more than she could afford, but she couldn’t bear to let it go. Her home was her sanctuary, a retreat from the world, tucked away in a little village that was nearby, but felt worlds away from the big city. Her closest friends were her neighbors. She never had to lock her doors. How could she ever leave this?

Yet as our class continued, it became clear. Dee needed to sell the house. It broke her heart, but it was the right thing to do. From that point on, things happened quickly.

She’d sat down to write a newspaper ad when there was a knock on the door. A man introduced himself as the father of her next-door neighbor. He wondered if, by any chance, she’d sell her house. Dee’s jaw dropped, but she kept her cool. They closed the deal, that very day, for $15,000 above what would’ve been her asking price. And the man paid cash (yes, a big wad of cash now sits in the bank).

Dee’s bound to miss her house. But she won’t miss the debt. And the relief in her voice was palpable. In fact, she was down right giddy. Besides, she’s surprisingly excited about looking for houses in her price range.

The moral of this story? The next time you feel stuck or weighted down, instead of asking; “What do I need to do?” Ask yourself; “What do I need to let go of?” Then take the leap and watch for the miracle… and please share your story with me!

Barbara Stanny

The leading authority on women & money
[email protected]
www.barbarastanny.com

https://www.barbara-huson.com/inner-circle-join.html

Ready to $tart getting $mart???

Written by Barbara Huson

Does this sound like you?

“It’s a new year! I’m finally going to tackle my finances. Yep, I’m really ready to get smart about money. Well…sort of. I mean, I do want to learn…but it just seems so overwhelming. Where do I start?”

Start with this article: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news /savings-money-club-comeback-1264.php. Not just because I’m in it! The author, Dana Dratch, does a fabulous job of explaining how to make financial education fun! FUN????

Yes, FUN! Invite some friends, bring some food, and start a Money Club.

“The idea has been around for years,” Dana writes. “A small group of friends, co-workers or, in some cases, complete strangers meet regularly to polish money skills, discuss money challenges and set concrete goals. Don’t confuse money clubs with investment clubs, in which members focus on investing skills and may even make investing decisions as a group or pool their money. “

Dana also interviewed Ginita Wall, the co-founder of www.wife.org (which I believe is the best financial education site on the internet for women) and a major proponent of money clubs. Ginita created the site; www.TheMoneyClub.org, where you can download a free Leader’s Guide for “individuals interested in starting a club, and a menu of lesson plans for meetings.“

Money clubs are exploding in popularity. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s in a money club…got any tips or advice for the rest of us?

Women In Power – Best Kept Secret

Written by Barbara Huson

I want to share with you one of the best kept secrets in the world of women and power. It’s called Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts. I had no idea what Mama Gena’s was all about until Regena Thomashauer (aka Mama Gena) asked me to speak earlier this year. When I walked into the room, the energy was so high and the women I met so extraordinary, I knew I had to check it out. So I signed up for Mastery.

The course explores power in ways that will deeply transform your relationship with yourself as a woman along with your ability to create your dreams and desires. What it did for me was help me identify and overcome barriers that have kept me from living my life to the fullest.

Regena’s work is truly cutting edge. I’d love you to check it out at http://www.mamagenas.com, or contact me with any questions. A new Mastery is starting soon…I’d love to see you there!

News & Updates

More on Greatness… and Fear!

The $100 Savings Challange

Giving Debt a Whole New Meaning

Looking For Signs

Getting Out Of Your Own Way

The Retreat To Being…

5 Tips For Earning What You Really Deserve

It May Be Time To Let Go!

Ready to $tart getting $mart???

Women In Power – Best Kept Secret

Meet Barbara Huson

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