#2. Desire. The desire to experience your wildest dreams, it helps you overcome your fears and tackle obstacles that you come across along the way. Your subconscious mind will present many excuses to you to keep you where you are. Your deep driving desire is your will, your will is your effort and your efforts form your destiny.

#3. Dreams. What great things would you dare to dream if you knew you couldn’t fail?

#4. Mentor/Coach. All successful leaders have a mentor or coach who will help and steer them on their path which significantly fast-tracks their course and results.  

#5. Gratitude Journal. The tendency can be to only see and focus on what’s not going right – instead focus on all that is good in your life. Affirm in the present what you want to bring about: I am so happy and grateful now that_________________________.  

#6. Surroundings. Do they nurture and support you in living and being at your best? To live your best life you have to surround yourself with a positive space of possibilities.

#7. Support. Start where you are and build a team that will provide the space for you to show up and live at your genius level. The bigger your dream – the bigger your team.

But did you know there are some mistakes that women make more often than men do? I know it’s hard to believe ladies but true, here they are;

1. Women are more likely than men to want to financially bail someone out when that person is in trouble.  

2. Women are also more likely to engage in retail therapy or shopping to make themselves feel better, and that can sometimes lead to overspending. Even if you saved 40% you still spent 60% more than you had planned!

3. Here is one that I see that might surprise you; women are more likely to financially support their children ahead of paying off their own debts. I have seen women and men get over their heads helping out their kids.

Having a plan is the key, do you have one?

It is a fact that money is the main source of most couples’ fights. In fact, their core problems can start with those money conversations.

I have seen couples get bogged down in monotonous conversations around money instead of truly talking about the actual financial issues that are bothering them.

Here’s a sample of some conversations that might start on the following themes and go round and round:

“We should really move to a bigger house/better area.”

“We can’t afford that.”

Another money merry-go-round:

“I think we should invest in XYZ stock now, while it’s hot!”

“Why don’t we start an RESP for the kids instead?”

Here are 3 tips to help you to stop having conversations around money and start talking about it.

1. Stop and ask for directions. Sometimes we listen as a way of making judgments or giving out criticism. Instead, ask your partner, “Tell me why X is important to you. Help me to understand what you’re thinking.”

2. Listen slowly. Don’t jump to your usual conclusions, (as I have learned after 3 marriages!). Always be open to having your philosophies challenged. I know, it may be hard but the emotions around money will come up and overwhelm your brains – and this is one conversation where you really need both! Quite often, there’s an underlying emotional issue that’s unaddressed. Like I always say – It’s never about the money!

3. Accept the gap! The more things change – the more they stay the same… Are you going to agree 100% on everything? Not a chance. So start by offering a tradeoff: “I’m willing to try X. Could you try doing Y or Z?” Be willing to accept and really show you want your spouse’s opinion and actually value it, because after all in most case, you share the money decisions.

And lastly, please steer away from the “I win, you lose” standpoint. As the saying goes, sometimes “no” right now paves the way for a bigger “yes” down the line. Would you rather be right or happy?

PS – I offer ‘Couples Money Coaching’

Are you tired of the same old fight about money? Can you imagine the different future that’s possible when you and your spouse are on the same “money” page? My program helps you have better understanding and compassion for why your partner behaves with money as they do. As you go through my 3 Step System, the process will shift the same old fights into new action and commitment.

Sessions available in-person, by phone or Skype, e-mail me for more information. shari@moneymomentum.ca

“Things do not change – we do.”

I love this quote from Henry David Thoreau. Why is it that so many women today find themselves feeling limited and afraid to take action?

One of the main reasons I see (and I know from my own experience!) is that they are living by their old beliefs and ideas that keep them in poverty (lack) instead of being successful.

Most of those beliefs are unconscious and you don’t realize how they  are controling your current situation.

Here are a few tips to help you start to move out of a place of scarcity and into one of abundance and be empowered with money: 

Be aware of what you are thinking. Our thoughts create emotion and our emotions dictate our actions. So the emotions are dictating the actions to spend, not save, and be careless with your money. The more you understand that knowledge is power – the more you understand the power you have.

Be in financial integrity. Is your cheque book balanced? Are your bills paid on time? You need to be honest with yourself and do an evaluation to assess your true financial integrity. When fear takes over, then you may you need to get help with your money. Too many fear the shame and guilt of asking for help – let me be really frank here, it sometimes takes a lot of courage to ask for help, but in the long run it will be easier than staying stuck.

Be willing to receive. As women we need to make a habit of consciously practicing our ability to receive; a compliment, a gift, a smile. We often make excuses when someone acknowledges an accomplishment. “You look great today, new outfit? – Oh this old thing….” If we start with the little things then when we are offered a new job or an opportunity you will be more receptive to receive it. So learn to receive and give genuine thanks.

Be willing to give thanks. Gratitude expands love and love expands receptiveness. It is an opening to abundance, harmony and freedom. Keep a gratitude journal and write down daily thoughts of gratitude. This practice alone will change your life….

But having a process or a system to follow actually allows you to face realities and make decisions you may otherwise have avoided. Having a plan in place can help you when your circumstances change.

So many people are just plain lousy at planning. I think that for some they disconnect because planning involves the future, yet they don’t know what the future holds. They are great at evaluating where they are at (and making excuses why they are there), but barely capable of planning ahead. Some even refuse to do it at all, and the most popular excuse is that they don’t know what will happen in the future, so why bother – live for today! Is that you?

In my experience the biggest gap I see in most people is really between who they are and where they want to be (if they have even thought about it). It saddens me that so many people stay stuck and don’t even dare to dream. If you are not happy with your circumstances compared to where you want to be then having a plan and goals is a very important missing link for you. People with dreams, plans and goals tend to be much happier.

When it comes to investing your money it’s the same – you have the choice of ignoring the possibilities and hanging on to seemingly impossible dreams, or just planning for now – something enjoyable that you have a good chance of achieving (sabotaging your long term goals).

Ideally you should plan for your future or retirement not in the hope or expectation that things won’t change in the future, but in the secure knowledge that they will. The benefit of having a plan is that it is much easier to adapt to a new set of situations.

So what can change in a retirement or future plan? Almost anything and everything, career paths change sometimes for the better and sometimes they go off the rails. Family circumstances change, your personal interest’s change, markets change, or housing costs change. If you have a plan which accounts for the unforeseen, it’s easier to adjust than if you do not.

If you would like more information on planning – please contact me. On my website I am offering my free digital book; Maximum Money Momentum – a goal setting workbook. (Click here to get your copy)

It’s time – your destiny is not a matter of chance – it is a matter of choice.

I’ve come to think that it’s really our human nature to want to go against the grain like that. It helps to instill our rebel mentality that creeps up now and then! But, are you fighting the same uphill battle against the grain with your money as well?

Many of you are. You’re on a cycle of debt, living pay-cheque to pay-cheque, and often don’t know how to get off the hamster wheel that makes up your lives. It’s possible to stop going against the grain.

Here are 4 action steps to take to gain back control.

1. Don’t use your credit cards – stop adding to your debt.

At some point in your life, you’ll have to say enough is enough. There comes a time when you will hit a brick wall. Sometimes things come crashing down around you. But, the sooner that you realize that you have a problem, things will get better. So, make today the day that you stop adding to your debt. Tip: Ask yourself these questions before you buy; why do I really want it? Do I have the cash for it? Do I need something else more? Can I get by without it? What if I don’t buy it now? How much time will have to work to pay for this?

2. Know your numbers and have a monthly written budget.

Whether your family is 2 people or 6 it is really important to have your monthly needs written down. It’s your money – so every dollar that you make needs to have a name. Here’s a tip for you – at the beginning of the month, sit down and list out where every single dollar need to go. Spend every dollar on paper every month before the month begins. Track every month where you are spending your money – Tip: great free tool is www.mint.com

3. Put your savings on auto-pilot.

The best way to get into the habit of saving money is to make it automatic. Almost everyone has heard the phrase, “pay yourself first”. You should set up automatic withdraws from either your bank account or directly from your pay-cheque before it even hits your bank account. Start small and then you can work your way up to larger sums every month. This is a great way to start saving for an opportunity fund (aka – emergency fund). Tip: You can start saving with automatic debit as small as $25 per month. The point is to ‘start’!

4. Start setting goals!

Most people do not have any monthly goals for their money – other than to pay the bills. I know you don’t get out of bed in the morning saying; “Yippee – I get to pay my bills!” Goals are a great way to change the way you handle money. Is there something that you really want to save for instead of adding it to your credit card debt? Save up for it. Set a goal. Tip: Write you goals down and look at them every day. Post them on your mirror in the bathroom where you will see them as you pass by.

Money and your finances don’t have to be an uphill battle. Managing your money does not have to be a constant fight like a child on the playground struggling to get up the slide backwards. You can take control of your finances if you just chose to do so. Start with these action steps to take back control of your money.

Have you received a digital copy of my new book yet (Maximum Money Momentum)? If not go to my website here! www.molchanfinancial.com. If you want to start setting goals – then get your copy right away – I’ll tell you how!

Here are my 2 little rebels!

This is where mentors or coaches come in and are essential because they’ve been where you are and they can show you what you aren’t able to see. Getting support changed everything for me in my life.

Here’s what I hear from my clients all the time…. When I ask them what their biggest challenge is when it comes to money – either in their personal or business life, 95% of the time it comes down to them wanting and needing to make more money. Is that true for you? The big question is HOW do I make more money? I believe that we all have our own uniqueness, gifts and talents to share, a dream to do something great, go somewhere incredible, or achieve the unachievable. Unfortunately, more often than not, most dreams remain unrealized; silenced by fear and doubt. What’s needed is a reawakening to recapture the spirit and belief you once had as a child. When did you stop trying to reach for the stars? We need to remind ourselves in all that we desire to be, do and have… “I can, if I believe I can.”

My intention is to inspire as many people as possible to passionately pursue and live their dreams.

Here are three key factors to changing your life;

Mindset – what you believe you can achieve you will 100% of the time.

Your beliefs are the fuel behind your actions and behaviors. You can say all day long that you want to have a 6-figure income or be debt free, travel, etc., but if you have fixed beliefs such as; “Money is bad, rich people are greedy…” These are all stories and lies that many people believe, (and most of the time subconsciously!). When you change your beliefs about money in general and believe in your ability to create and have money, you will experience major changes in your level of financial freedom.

Action – I believe in affirmations, vision boards and the Law of Attraction. But if you don’t get off your butt and take action it doesn’t matter how much you say “I want to be rich”… it’s not going to happen! Those inspired ideas that come to you are no accident, now you have to DO something with them. 

I know many of you get overwhelmed by your big ideas; you don’t know where to start and so you end up doing nothing. That’s where getting help to build an action plan can get you closer to your goals. This is where having a mentor or coach will be your saving grace. We never see our own blind spots.

Discipline – A ‘stick with it attitude’ is the most important.

Great ideas and visions are a start. Taking action steps and building a plan is the next step. The final step is keeping up with action steps to attain your goal. This is where most people fail. Let me give you an example; have you ever tried to pay off your credit card debt? You put aside extra money – you have a plan – everything’s going great and then the car breaks down. The bill will be $2000. You have no money in the bank (or in your opportunity fund) so you charge it. Those few months of discipline just got thrown away by yet another setback. You’re tired of this game – it doesn’t work, and so you give up your plan.

When you manage these three things you will have more confidence, clearly see your next steps and believe that you can live your dreams. It’s not impossible, don’t give up. I believe in you!

Over the next 2 weeks I am offering a 30 minute complimentary money breakthrough session. I only have 8 sessions available. If you would like to be considered for one, email me at shari@molchanfinancial.com

 “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Wouldn’t it be great if you could influence your life in such a way, that you maximized the amount of time that you do what you love to do and get paid for it? Yes it is great – I am living it!

Some say that life is what happens to us as we live it. And in fact we experience life as it happens and a lot of things that happen are out of our control.

We just have to deal with it and make the best of it, right?

Well, that may be true to an extent, but we’re not entirely out of control. We have an influence on how our life evolves, and it is up to ourselves to use that influence to live the life that fulfills us the most. 

Over the years many have said to me….“I don’t know what it is that I love doing.”  (Which saddens me)

 Or… “I could never make a living if I only did what I love to do.”

I’ve even been told that … “It must be nice to do what you love.” (sarcastically mind you)  and I’ve heard others say this… “I’d love to live my dream, but I have to keep it real and live in the real world!”

That makes you wonder doesn’t it? If doing what you love to do consistently doesn’t make you happy, how on earth are you going to create happiness and prosperity in your life?

Is it a by-product of life? Is it up to someone else? Are you really a function of the environment?

Or are you just lucky if you’re happy?

Of course not! So what do you want?!

Want help? - Have you signed up for my monthly e-zine yet? Would like a complimentary copy of my new book on goal setting? Click here!

To be good in golf – there is no doubt that you have to “practice”.  Consistent good rounds of golf and a low handicap are the rewards for good practice. So goes your relationship with money and your goals in life.

Most golfers don’t know how to practice. They don’t make time to go for lessons or the driving range, they play once in a while and expect to have the perfect shot and get a low score.

It never works. They may get lucky on a few holes but it definitely catches up with you on the next one…

The same is true in real life. We want the results and for some, they measure it by having the biggest home – most toys, lifestyle… but at what cost?  

In my experience most people don’t want to be ‘rich’, they just want to have a comfortable life, have the freedom to do what they enjoy and really… to be happy. What does being ‘rich’ really mean to you anyway?

Same is true in golf – we think a low score is the ’be all – end all’. Is it? Most definitely to some, and that’s okay, because if it is – guess what they are doing… you got it – out there practicing and golfing 3-5 times a week (my husband!) And trust me – they really have to love the game and enjoy what they are doing to make that commitment. If you don’t practice – you miss the whole point of the game and your life; you miss the shots in between the tee and the flag. When the ball is in the hole, there are no more shots.

If you genuinely measure success on how well you play the shot, rather than where it finishes, you will considerably raise your chances of playing your best shots, shooting low scores and really enjoying your game.

As soon as you measure success by the outcome of each shot, or hole, or round, you place yourself at the mercy of the golf course. Not only will you feel more pressure before shots, you will be less present over shots (thinking about all the things that you need to do!) and find yourself looking up too soon to see the result and then be relieved or angry depending on where it finishes!

Struggling in golf can be the same things you struggle with in life and money. Whenever you think you are starting to get good, the swing you thought you’d mastered becomes inconsistent and ineffective.

One piece of advice that’s made a huge difference in the consistency and improvement of my game, is to ease up and don’t swing so hard. Relax your grip. Let the club head fall naturally through your swing. This is however counter-intuitive. If you have a goal that you want to achieve and you really want it, usually your first inclination is to wind up and swing with as much force as possible. You golfers know what happens next … not a good shot.

In golf as in life, sometimes you need to go back to the basics, refresh your skills or learn new ones. Welcome past mistakes or failures, without them we don’t grow, learn or get a chance to do it differently.

Nearly all women I talk to have a secret issue with money that causes them to lose their power along with their CASH!

On the outside you do everything you can to be successful, but on the inside, your money mindset and beliefs are sabotaging your ability to enjoy your achievements.

Did you start your own business to have all the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, family-time, and fun that life has to offer? But – lately you’ve realized that you’ve traded them all in for frustrated, frazzled, and freakin’ tired?!

You may even find yourself compromising the things you value the most because you’re not working with enough of the right customers, you’re having problems keeping yourself accountable, sales are down, or you just don’t have much free time to breathe.

If you struggle with never seeming to have enough money – even when you’re making more, then join me for my complimentary teleclass on Thursday March 8 at 6:30 pm.

Click on the link below to register!

(If you can’t make the call – make sure you register anyway – I’ll send you the recording!)

Register here