Problems Are Your Starting Points

Written by Barbara Huson

I saw it so clearly, when interviewing successful women. Their financial achievement was invariably preceded by a financial challenge.

Problems have a purpose. They’re trying to get our attention.

The place to begin when faced with a problem is admitting what’s not working in your life. It could be anything from bankruptcy or burn out; from feeling undervalued or overworked; from getting a divorce, or desperately wanting one.

No matter how subtle, how small, or how sizable and scary, your willingness to face the problem head on the first step to breaking through it.

Facing a problem means looking it straight in the eye, even if you haven’t a clue what to do about it…especially if you haven’t a clue.

You Can’t Do That!! Who Do You Think You Are?

Written by Barbara Huson

We all have internal critics. The ones that tell us what we can’t possibly do, how we’re sure to screw up if we even try.

Those voices may never shut up. Mine sure haven’t.

But recently I had an epiphany. Just because I hear voices in my head, doesn’t mean I have to heed them.

As Vincent Van Gogh once said: “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you can not paint,’ by all means paint and the voice will be silenced.”

Instead I just keep reminding myself: that’s not my voice. It’s the voice of my dad, the culture, teachers, something ‘out there.’ But it isn’t mine.

Then I simply say to that voice: Thank you for sharing. Then I replace that critical voice with a more positive statement, a personal mantra or affirmation.

Are You Ready to Radically Change Your Relationship with Money…and Your Life?

Written by Barbara Huson

Want to radically change your relationship to money…and your life? Write down everything you spend. It’s called tracking your expenses.

Believe me, tracking is not just for budgeting or those with limited means. The numbers reveal a story about your life.

You’ll discover bad habits and blind spots; where you’re putting your time and energy; what’s missing in your life; where you’re not living your values.

Here’s how it works. Buy a small notebook or find an empty checkbook register that fits into your pocket or purse.

Whenever you buy something—be it a yoga class or a cup of coffee, whether you use cash, check, debit or credit—jot down the item along with the cost.

Warning. Do this at the point of purchase. Otherwise, as receipts pile up, you’ll likely give up in overwhelm.

Beware Excuses

Written by Barbara Huson

Here’s an interesting exercise. Notice how often you set a goal or express a desire and immediately start finding reasons why it can’t happen.

I see it all the time. A new client walks in, declares her desire—”I really want to make more money,”—and then comes the ”but…”

I have little kids
I’m scared
I never went to college
I don’t have time
I’m too old
I’m too young

Beware excuses!

Is Busyness Your Drug of Choice?

Written by Barbara Huson

Are you achieving the kind of success along with the quality of life you truly desire? If the answer is no, you may be addicted to busyness, a condition that’s epidemic among women.

We tend to stuff every cranny of our life with so much activity that we’ve lost touch with what’s really essential as opposed to what’s actually irrelevant.

But ask us to say no to a task, and we start to panic. As if our world would shatter if we slowed down. The truth is, we’ve lost sight of what’s honestly important and truly necessary.

I didn’t realize busyness was my drug of choice until the pandemic when my life slowed down significantly. I’m the first to admit—busyness is a bitch to give up.

Feeling Stuck? Ask Yourself This Compelling Question

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve been feeling stuck for a while now. Like I need to make a change, do something different, but what?

This feeling started about 5 years ago. I lost interest in my work, which took me by surprise. I loved what I did, but suddenly my heart wasn’t in it. I kept wondering: what else can I do?

I had no desire to change careers. I definitely wasn’t ready to retire. So I decided to write another book. The research was fun. The writing was challenging but fascinating. The book, Rewire for Wealth, published last year, has done quite well.

And yet, here I am—still restless…still dissatisfied…still feeling stuck. This time, there’s no book in me. So I’ve been praying hard: God, show me what to do!

The Unhealthy Dependency on Self-Imposed Deadlines

Written by Barbara Huson

I’m making myself crazy. I’ve been doing it for months. Ever since I decided I was ready birth to my next body of work. In a fit of over-zealous optimism, I gave myself till spring to create a brand-new class, complete with a workbook.

Well, spring is quickly coming to a close. Neither the class or the workbook is near completion. Not even close. I’ve been beating myself up—unmercifully—for missing my deadline.

I’m a big believer in setting deadlines. They’re terrific tools for staying on track. But, I’m recognizing, there’s a major downside to made-up deadlines.

The trouble comes when I don’t meet them. Rather than rethink the timing, I scold myself severely for screwing up.

Power is Scary. Let’s Change That!

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve long known that women’s difficulties with money have little to do with money per se and everything to do with their fear of power.

In a 2012 study, “Women and the Paradox of Power,” 38% of respondents said they’d rather be well-liked than powerful. As if the two were mutually exclusive.

Our confusion around power should come as no surprise. Historically, girls haven’t been groomed, expected, or encouraged to be successful, powerful adults.

If anything, we were raised to be the power behind the throne, often punished for even aspiring higher.

I’m convinced, beneath our dislike of or discomfort with power, lurks a deeper, more ominous concern—the dire consequences we might suffer if we become truly powerful.

Have the Headlines Got You Spooked?

Written by Barbara Huson

Let me introduce you to Huson’s Law of a Lousy Economy. It goes like this: no matter how tough times are, there’ll always be people who are prospering. Why not you?

I discovered this law after I wrote Secrets of Six-Figure Women, at the height of the dot com boom. But when the bubble finally burst, I called each woman back to see how they were faring

Even as the economy was tanking, many of their careers were thriving. They were finding new jobs, negotiating raises, winning promotions, doubling (even tripling) their client base, making more money than ever before.

“Just because it’s a down time,” said a woman whose coaching business was up 40 percent, “You don’t have to go down with it. There’s lots of opportunity. You’ve just got to find it.”

Getting Past Guilt

Written by Barbara Huson

There’s an old joke: What do you call a woman who feels no guilt? A man. You may laugh. But sadly it’s true. Studies have confirmed that indeed women suffer significantly more guilt than men.

Guilt, simply put, is feeling as if you’ve done something wrong or bad. Every time you deviate from the norm, from what you ‘should’ do, your Ego goes berserk, using guilt, like a whip, to keep you in check, warning of dreadful consequences if you disobey its rules.

Guilt is self-destructive, immobilizing, a short cut to unhappiness, a hindrance to healing. You know you’re acting from guilt whenever you hear yourself saying I should….

As my dear friend and songwriter, Athena Burke, always says, “Anything that comes after ‘I should’ is a lie.” Our Ego’s lie.

Rewiring

Problems Are Your Starting Points

You Can’t Do That!! Who Do You Think You Are?

Are You Ready to Radically Change Your Relationship with Money…and Your Life?

Beware Excuses

Is Busyness Your Drug of Choice?

Feeling Stuck? Ask Yourself This Compelling Question

The Unhealthy Dependency on Self-Imposed Deadlines

Power is Scary. Let’s Change That!

Have the Headlines Got You Spooked?

Getting Past Guilt

Meet Barbara Huson

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