There’s only one rule to success, you have to believe you deserve to be wealthy. Once you’ve convinced yourself of that, just focus on one project and go for it! Work hard until you’ve achieved what you set out to do. Respect for yourself, is the key.
FIND THE CHILD WITHIN
We’re all human but some of us believe we deserve the good life while others don’t, it’s that simple. Find the child within you by learning how to act like a child again; relax, have fun, laugh, play games and spoil yourself by asking for everything you want.
Never grow up, it’s too boring and life’s too short anyway!
CHAPTER TWO
Empowering Yourself
“Some goals are so worthy, it’s glorious even to fail.
We grow only when we push ourselves beyond what we already know.”
What’s stopping you from having what you want in your life? Do you have people saying, “Don’t be silly, you couldn’t possibly do that.” Every time I talk to someone who’s not happy in their lives they have someone else to blame.
I can remember my friend, Beverley at 46, blaming her husband for not achieving her goals. Those who know her now or knew her before she met him wouldn’t believe she let him talk her into closing three businesses within months of paying cash for all the office equipment. He helped her set them up and two months later was begging her to stop. His negative talk drove her to closing and losing thousands of dollars each time.
She’s still not sure whether it was his lack of belief in her ability or his fear of losing her, but now she’s successful, she can’t believe she let him hold her back for so many years. Once Beverley put her foot down and got on with her business ignoring his negative talk, she succeeded. You must believe in yourself and turn your back on those who don’t share your vision. In Beverley’s case, her husband did support her, once she proved to him she could run a successful business and make a good income. At 55 her businesses was booming. By then she and her husband owned a successful, national employment consultancy.
At 36 Rebecca’s only child, a son was born and her family convinced her to sell an excellent investment property, which she’d regretted ever since. She returned to work only five weeks after the birth because her husband, James was unemployed. The pressure from family members made her feel she was doing the wrong thing by her baby so she sold the property to keep the peace. She made a small profit of only $5,000 on the sale, but had she kept the townhouse it would have paid for her son’s university fees and given her and her husband an ‘Around the World’ holiday, because 28 years later the investment property increased in value by $500,000.
The question she asks herself now is, “why did I listen?” She enjoyed her position with the television network as State Manager and wanted to go back to work after the birth of her son. She didn’t need to sell the property. “I only have myself to blame,” she told me over coffee one day.
Many have stories similar to Rebecca’s because we let others influence our lives. Yes, people mean well, especially your own family, but you and only you, know what’s best for yourself and your child. I’m a great believer that if the parent is happy, so is the child.
My son has had a full and exciting childhood, travelling the world. He wouldn’t have had these privileges if I hadn’t returned to work and taken advantage of the perks offered to me as Sales Manager of a major airline.
A $MILLION FOR TALKING!
When you deprive yourself of something, you’re also depriving your family. My goal now is to make a million dollars speaking on the world’s stage. It’s humorous to recall being told off for speaking too loudly and too often when I was a young key punch operator. Perhaps I was only exercising my natural talents as a professional speaker!
If I’d listened to my boss, stopped talking, stayed in the job I hated and not allowed myself to grow I’d certainly not have written this book. I wouldn’t have anything to write about. Thank goodness I listened to my heart and let my instincts guide me to where I am now. I love my life so much and look forward every day to new adventures and mountains to climb.
To empower your life, you have to take control of it. Step outside the comfort zone of your home, office or current circle of friends and start something new. Even if it’s going back to school to do a part time course or taking up a hobby that has always interested you. If people say “Don’t be silly, you’ll look stupid. The others in the class will all be younger than you,” don’t listen. Everyone means well, but they’re not you and don’t know what makes you happy.
Sonya 49 years and Marsia 40 years worked in a large city dress boutique, cared for their families and spent most Saturday nights with six married couples who loved Rock ‘n Roll. Although the two women weren’t experienced at the dance, after a few months practising they created their own style. One evening Tom, 36, lead guitarist in a band, took his wife to dinner at the hotel where Sonya and Marsia were performing for their friends. Tom was so impressed he asked them to do a floorshow with his band the following weekend.
Tom and his audience loved the two and dubbed them The Girls. Tom introduced the women to his colleagues in the music industry, so Sonya and Marsia could learn a few Rock ’n Roll and Country songs. Today these two women are in demand in all the clubs and hotels in their state and they’re preparing for their first national tour. They dress in magnificent costumes and have learnt a few jokes, can do a couple of magic tricks and have their audiences in the palm of their hands.
You are never too old to do whatever you want in your life, it’s just a matter of finding the people who can help and guide you in the right direction. There are many networks these days of like minded people who’ll welcome you with open arms into their groups. I started the Australian Executive Women’s Network in 1986 to assist women (and sometimes men) to increase profits through a sharing of business leads, good ideas, knowledge, experience and to gain confidence learning how to ask for the job they want to become financially independent.
I’m an active member of many networking organisations. It’s hard to describe the inspiration and energy created by 50 or so people in one room who enjoy the same lifestyle and ambitions as yourself. It’s as if electricity is passing between the group. The empathy, sense of well being and belonging is overwhelming. There’s a genuine rapport felt between all members who care about each other and support one another’s businesses.
WHO DO YOU KNOW?
It’s not what you know, but who you know. I’ve proved this well known statement to be very true and that’s why networking is so powerful in today’s society.
I’ve seen some amazing changes in people who’ve attended regular networking meetings and seminars, especially the women who’ve taken the time to enter our awards and speaking competitions. By sitting down and writing their own success profile it’s given them confidence to either attempt something new or expand an existing business.
Often we presume we’re not doing much with our lives and that our achievements have been average, however — when we start to document our experiences — we realise just how much we have achieved and it inspires us to do more.
If you’ve never spoken publicly empower yourself by offering to speak in front of a group of people you know well. You may be overwhelmed at
