Check Your Attitude At The Door....

I have a little secret to share that I learned the hard way: the easist path to financial abundance has little to do with earning, saving, or even investing money. Yes, those actions can make a significant difference in how successful you will be financially, but you'll always find yourself scraping by if you don't first adjust your attitude about money.

Before I worked with millionaires, both young and old, I used to think there was something wrong with wealthy people. The media both glorifed and villianzied the wealthy. When I relied on the media as my primary source of information (which I did), it was easy to believe that rich people could jet around the world, drive the most expensive cars, and live in the most fabulous houses, but they were also drug addicts or alcoholics, emotionally unstable, legally irresponsible, and incapable of stable love relationships. Now I know differently.

Is it any wonder that people are both drawn to, and repulsed by, the idea of financial abundance?

As a perfect example, I was having lunch with a friend yesterday and she made a statement that wealthy people she encountered had highly dysfunctional lives. She further elaborated that all their money made it possible to pay for "therapy and rehab" and she made it clear that she didn't want any part of that for her life.

I do know, however, that there are plenty of people who barely have enough money to pay the bills, buy groceries, and keep a roof over their heads who also have plenty of dysfuntion in their lives. Money isn't dysfunctional, but people certainly can be depending on their personal and financial choices.

If that is how you view wealth -- through the lens of skepticism and disdain -- is it likely you're comfortable with the idea of financial abundance in your own life? Nope. And if you aren't comfortable with the idea, how likely are you to actually achieve financial abundance in your lifetime? Not very likely.

Before you can begin the crucial steps down the abundance path, you've got begin shedding those tainted beliefs about money. There's no doubt that financial abundance can pay for "therapy and rehab" should you ever need it, but what else can it do for you? Financial abundance can help you...

• Pay medical bills when your health insurance doesn't cover everything
• Keep to your car's maintenance schedule (for less headaches down the road)
• Take advantage of an unexpected opportunity (six months traveling the world)
• Make a donation to a family member in need or to a charity you respect

Money can't buy happiness, however, it can provide peace of mind and freedom when you need it most. And before you can amass it, you've got to believe you're worthy of every penny.

One Day At A Time

A friend reminded me last night how difficult it can be to remain in the present. She recently returned to the 9-to-5 workforce after almost four years of adjunct teaching at several local colleges so she could spend more time at home with her first born. She remarked that she felt like a captive stuck in an office for eight hours a day. "You know, I guess it's like being a recovering addict," she said. "I just have to take it one day at a time."

What does this have to do with financial abundance? Everything!

Too often we want to be rich and live richly while dwelling on the past and anticipating the future. Money lurks in our thoughts even when we don't consciously realize it. I should have paid more than the minimum on the Visa last month.

If I hadn't bought that great new suit on a whim, I would have had enough money to cover that unexpected dental bill. I hope that whirring noise in the car won't mean a trip to the repair shop soon. Next year I won't buy so many holidays gifts.

Living in the present means releasing any past financial missteps and accepting action in this moment for future financial success. The present moment is all we really get. If you aren't saving enough, set up an automatic savings plan today. If you know the car may need service, schedule an appointment today. If you bought an impulse purchase and know you don't honestly need it, you just thought it was too good of a sale to pass up, return it today.

When you live in the present moment -- not berating yourself for the past or worrying about the future -- you get to enjoy life more fully and abundantly, whatever actions you choose to take. This, of course, is easier said than done. But isn't everything that is worthwhile easier in theory than in practice?

Let Freedom -- And Abundance -- Ring!

On this day that we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of freedom and equality for all, I thought I'd take a moment to remind you that equality doesn't extend only to race, but to class, too.

We live in a nation that segregates itself more along class lines than race or religion, and we speak in terms of the haves and the have nots as if it is a natural and necessary line that we've drawn in the proverbial sand and we've all agreed upon it. We haven't. At least, I haven't. At the root of class is money and it's far too easy to buy into the belief that some people in the world are meant to have money and others are not.

So today, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream for equality, I thought I'd dispel three of the most prevalent money myths in an attempt to level the financial playing field:

Myth 1. Financial abundance is for a fortunate few.

Despite common perception, an abundance of money is not relegated to just a few people. It isn't just for the movie stars, professional athletes, oil moguls, or politicians. People from all walks of life, doing all manners of work, are living a financially abundant life right now -- why not you too?

Myth 2. Talking about money is taboo.

Strange as it might seem, talking about money is an integral part of financial abundance (thinking about money and seeing money are the other two). If you never ask questions about money -- how to make more, invest more wisely, or enjoy money more fully based on your personal values -- are you really desiring financial abundance or just pretending that you desire it?

Myth 3. You are your net worth.

Most any financial advisor, counselor, or personal finance guru will define your financial wealth (and health) by determining your net worth. Your net worth, of course, is a simple equation of subtracting your assets from your liabilities. When you subtract your assets (savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, and equity in your home) from your liabilities (car loans, student loans, medical bills, balance remaining on home loan) you either have a positive net worth (good) or a negative net worth (not so good). It's easy to feel bad if you fall into the latter category, somehow thinking you are doomed to financial purgatory, but your net worth is not your personal worth. Too often people confuse the two. It is not the means to the end.

Wherever you fall along the financial spectrum, know that you are not a second-class citizen. You have a right to financial abundance just as anyone else and you can begin your journey in that direction once you begin to dispel your own myths about money.

Financial abundance is not like age, it isn't just a number. It's a way of thinking, believing, and creating the life that you want, in the way that you want it. Despite appearances to the contrary, there's nothing, and no one, but you to stand in the way.

Every Dime, Every Dollar

As of this morning, I have embarked on a brand new way of managing money. New for me, anyway.

Instead of my usual checkbook balancing (to the penny), followed by a regular screening of my bank account online (you'd never believe how many incorrect fees, wrong charges, and double check deposits I've found), I've gone to the old-school method of detailing every purchase in a financial log book that shows me each day of the month and every spending category all in one glance.

This is scary, even for me.

While I have drastically improved my financial bottom line over the years by voraciously reading personal finance books, meeting with financial advisers, keeping meticulous financial paperwork, and making better life choices, I'm still not perfect. I still have money triggers -- primarily boredom -- and if I'm not careful, I can still blow a $20 bill on something I didn't plan to buy.

Good for me (and you) that financial abundance is not about perfection, but about accountability. So tracking where every dime and dollar I spend is less about being fiscally anal and more about getting a clear and immediate picture of how much more abundance I might have if I were to make different financial choices. How much you bring home is not nearly as important as what you do with what you bring home and that's the case at every income level.

For example, I love reading books. I make a daily trip to the Borders bookstore next door to my office. More days than not, I walk out book-free. If I see something that interests me, I'll check the book out of my local library. For special books that I know I'll read again, and I'll refer to often, I choose to buy them. I feel this is a prudent choice because I'm a messy reader and there aren't many books on my shelves that don't have dog-eared pages, underlined sentences, highlighted paragraphs, and notes in the margins.

However, even when I choose to buy books (which I know the more frugal-minded would say is a waste of money), I do so with a clear plan in mind. Pay the absolute least possible and still get what I want to buy. Today, with the help of a 25% off coupon that I received by e-mail from Borders (I get them weekly even though I rarely use them), coupled with a special Borders $5.00 reward, I helped myself to two books and a small raspberry mocha for the lovely price of $11.04.

I saved $17.50 that I can now use for something else I value in the short-term or save for a different purchase in the future. Mind you, that still doesn't compare to the woman I heard on the radio recently who said she regularly goes to her local grocery store on double-coupon day and buys $185 worth of groceries, only to pay $3.25 after all of the coupons and double savings have registered. Even better, she uses the groceries for a local food pantry. Without a doubt, spreading the abundance is the supreme goal.

Making the most of your money isn't terribly hard, but it does require some thought, a little time, and a clear plan. A dollar doesn't stretch very far these days and a dime does even less, but watch both and see how quickly they add up to more money than you can possibly ever imagine having at your fingertips.

Do You Have The Right One?

A few years ago I can remember watching a Pepsi commercial featuring Ray Charles, with the ad ending with the question, Do You Have The Right One, Baby? It was an annoying ad to say the least and another feeble attempt by the cola company to drum a song into your memory to get you to buy their product. However, the question can be applied in so many instances and I was reminded of this just last night.

This past summer I made a personal decision to proceed with a particular situation without consulting my spouse. That decision carried with it financial ramifications for not only me, but my spouse as well. And last night, my beloved life partner and spouse discovered for the first time just what those financial repercussions were.

I expected anger. I expected sulking. I expected blame and criticism unlike any I'd ever encountered before. What I received instead was compassion, patience, and a deep desire to understand the intentions behind my decision, while also expecting my full accountability in the matter.

I realized again, as I often have throughout our five years together, that I am indeed with the Right One.

One of the best ways to achieve financial stability, independence, and abundance is to partner with your right money mate. Nothing can ruin your financial life faster than making a commitment to another who does not share the same financial vision, who will not accept 100% responsibility for his/her financial successes and shortfalls, and who is unable to communicate his/her needs, financial or otherwise, in your relationship.

Managing money as an individual does not come naturally or easily. Merging money with a spouse or significant other, requires that much more vision, discipline, and communication. Have you ever tried telling your spouse it's not a good time for vacation, or you don't want to go to that expensive five-star restaurant, or the new car that looks so great and will impress your friends, co-workers, and family is going to put a not-so-pretty dent in your finances?

Not easy, is it?

You may not be perfect money matches when you first meet, or even after you've made the initial commitment to spend the rest of your lives together, but at some point it is absolutely essential that you begin the often difficult conversations about how you both spend, save, and value money in your lives. The sooner you start the conversation, the better.

Easy it is not, but it is certainly possible when you've chosen the Right One to share your life, and your money, with.

Taming the (Un)Conscious Habit

Have you ever tried to change one habit and realized it was impacting several others? Without much fanfare, I decided it was time for a change in my diet. Too much caffeine, too much dairy, and too many nights lying awake while trying to breathe through my worsening congestion.

So when I walked into my local coffee store for my 3:00 p.m. latte, I was at a complete loss. I stood in the store for nearly two minutes staring at the menu, then walked out. It was at that moment that I truly understood that every habit is dependent on another, although all too often we'd like to believe that our habits work independently in our lives. They don't.

Not only did making a small change in my dietary habits also change a work habit (stretching my legs and getting fresh air at 3:00 p.m.), it also changed a spending habit, too. I walked out of the coffee shop caffeine-free, dairy-free, and $3.64 richer.

Too often we unconsciously spend a significant amount of our money on habits we consider essential. I have a quote that I keep close at hand: Money is the Root of All Fun. In fact, money is the root of nearly everything, including our daily habits.

Only five days into the new year and people are resolving to change all kinds of habits. But to change a habit usually requires replacing it with another, and any habit can have an impact on your finances, even when the change is positive. Consider the possible financial ramifications to the following common resolutions:

• Loose weight: join a gym, buy workout gear, eat healthier foods, choose organic
• Quit smoking: nicotine replacement (often increased food or drink or exercise)
• Quality Time with Friends & Family: more dining out, more entertainment
• Learn Something New: cost of class, cost of materials, cost of socializing with new friends
  

Some habits save money. Some habits cost money. All habits have a financial impact.

A Formula For Success

It's a new year and a time when people set their annual resolutions. It should not be surprising that most people have at least one resolution in common: earn more money.

There are as many reasons for wanting to add a few extra zeroes to a paycheck as there are people, but there are generally only two formulas people choose to bring their desires to fruition: get a new job or get another job.

No matter the reasons for wanting to earn more money, we all carry a deep desire to create what every person deserves, a sense of financial security, independence, and ultimately, abundance. The formula for getting a new job often includes updating the resume, identifying positions that include your skill set, landing an interview, impressing the interviewers, asking for a higher salary and, finally, getting the new job. Another formula might look like seeking a second, part-time job to supplement your full-time income that either requires longer weekdays or seven day weeks.

Either choice, even when the result may appear successful, can lead to disappointment. In case you’re wondering, financial abundance is not synonymous with how much money you earn. Not only do we have a natural tendency toward increasing our spending when we increase our income, but we also need to consider that it’s time for a different formula.

Einstein’s formula for success: "If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut."

What does this formula have to do with financial abundance? At its roots, financial abundance is about how you choose to spend your time, at work and at play.

Abundance is about balance.

Abundance is also about honesty and authenticity.

Making money your goal without taking into consideration your unique talents, worthy skills, individual values, and personal interests might mean getting more than just money in return. You could also find yourself with a world of heartache and headache when you focus on picking the fruit before cultivating the roots.

How much do you enjoy your work? How authentic are you in your workplace?

When I use joy and work in the same sentence, do you cringe? Do you show up to work as one person, and when you leave, a different (happier) person emerges?

If you answered yes to the last two questions above, find a quiet space where you can ponder the three questions below to begin a more authentic and rewarding journey toward earning more money in 2008:

1. What is your favorite form of X?
2. What is your favorite form of Y?
3. What have you been 'Z'ing about that you know you need to release?