| | February 7, 2008 | The Money Minute Making the Most of Your Money |
| | Our
Editor |
 OOPS! In our January issue of the MONEY MINUTE, the email address for my editor
LAURA STRATHMAN HULKA was incorrect. Please be sure to contact her for any of your editing, research, or copywriting
needs. |
| Dear Joan,
"Trust that still,
small voice that says, "This might work and I'll try it." Diane Mariechild Wow, what a game! Super
Bowl 2008 was amazing how the underdog managed to forge ahead, never give up, and win the game. Who would have thought with
only 2 minutes left in the game that the Giants would win? I'll bet many of you walked away and thought it impossible
and missed that fabulous ending! No matter if you are a football fan or not, this was inspiring! In fact, it inspired me to use the UNDERDOG idea for my money muse this month! |
| What Does Being an Underdog Really Mean?  The term UNDERDOG, as many of you well know is used to describe the person or team
who is not expected to win. However, maybe you did not know that there was a REAL dog (no, not the beloved children's
character!) that was known as the underdog! It was called a Turn-spit Dog related to the dog pictured here.
This lowly, common creature was given the job of running on a wheel to turn meat to cook and on religious days, was
brought to church to warm it's owner's feet. This dog had real courage to be able to stand so near the fire and loyalty
to not eat the meat!
The term UNDERDOG, as many of you well know is used to describe the person or team
who is not expected to win. However, maybe you did not know that there was a REAL dog (no, not the beloved children's
character!) that was known as the underdog! It was called a Turn-spit Dog related to the dog pictured here.
This lowly, common creature was given the job of running on a wheel to turn meat to cook and on religious days, was
brought to church to warm it's owner's feet. This dog had real courage to be able to stand so near the fire and loyalty
to not eat the meat! |
| So, What Does This Have to Do With Money? Well now, that's a great question, one that I would be happy to answer! Let me first ask you, how many of you feel as if your money picture, managing it or understanding it,
is hopeless? Maybe even a belief that you'll never get ahead?
Then the concept of the UNDERDOG is perfectly used here, especially using the Giants as your paradigm. Do you think the Giants
felt like underdogs? Not for a moment, otherwise they would not have won! And they never gave up even when
it appeared hopeless! Moving forward, with your eyes on the prize (that Super Bowl ring!)
is the best way to beat the Underdog Syndrome. |
Sure, But Isn't That Football, Not Real Life?
Granted, the game of football is
not the same as your money. However, truly believing that you or your money is hopeless is at the core of the issue.
I believe that it cannot change if you do not FIRST DECIDE to see it differently. To know, as strongly as the Giants did,
that you can win no matter what the expected outcome. |
Okay, so How Do I Overcome The Underdog Attitude?
Remember that the REAL
underdog (not the cartoon)  had courage and loyalty ... courage to
face the fire and loyalty to not eat the meat! That is exactly what I encourage you to become as well. See yourself as courageous,
willing to do whatever it takes to turn your money picture into a WINNING picture. A willingness to face the fire no matter
how hot it becomes and to stand loyal to your decision no matter what! |
Do You Need Help Holding ONTO that Vision?
I
know many of you struggle to stay focused on the vision of your desired lifestyle. There is a separation between what
you truly want and what you already have. You know what you want because you do not have it and it continues to elude you.
I suggest you create a support team for yourself. That could be a friend, a co-worker, or even a family member.
Most times, however, we are not comfortable sharing our money worries and perceived inadequacies with anyone. That is where
I come in ... as a financial counselor I hold the vision for you. I stand with that vision, holding it to the light, calling
you to it. When you lose sight of it, I call you gently to it once again. |
Take On THIS Underdog's Attitude!!
 Just like the cartoon character of UNDERDOG ... take on the attitude, beliefs and behaviors of a winner! See yourself
as powerful, able, and capable. I encourage you to DECIDE today to see yourself as a winner, especially in your money picture! |
|  Bewildered About Your Credit Reports or your FICO Scores?
CREDIT REPORT REVIEW SESSION
|
| Thank you for taking a minute or two out of your day to read about money.
Here's wishing you a joyous relationship with it!
Joan Silva
Financial Counselor Certified
Credit Report Reviewer Serious
Solutions To Your Everyday Money Questions! |
|
|
|
| Save 50% | As a Financial Counselor and Certified Credit
Report Reviewer, it is my job to help individuals, couples, and small business owners to GET REAL with their money. If you
would like to get past denial and truly understand what you are spending each month, then give me a call. You do not have
to do this alone. Just ask for help, it is a phone call away. Keep in mind your
first session is 1/2 off. No obligation. Find out how to get real with your money. | | Telephone Sessions Available |
|
Silva's Financial $olutions | 101 Gregory Lane | Suite 46 | Pleasant
Hill | CA | 94523 |
| | February 7, 2008 | The Money Minute Making the Most of Your Money |
| 
Thank you Vanessa & Dan Lippman for sharing MAX with us this month. Do you want to
share your DOGGIE with me? Email me your photo today! |
| Our
Editor |
 NEED HELP with your newsletter? Website? Article? or Research? Just ask LAURA STRATHMAN
HULKA a.k.a. Reader Woman! |
| | Dear Joan,
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together
is success." Henry Ford Last weekend
I hosted my daughter Lisa's baby shower. Much to my delight and surprise, I am to
be a grandmother in late April. The baby is a boy and his name is Everest. And as you
can see by this photo of us, I am rather pleased by the impending birth. As
I thought about the baby shower, how I planned it, who was included, the gifts given, and the friendships involved, I realized that this was the perfect beginning to the topic of GIVING, specifically giving from the heart. For many of us, giving is an easy
affair, yet as I see repeatedly with my clients, much of the giving puts them
financially at risk. So the Question begs to be asked, "How can I give
without worrying about breaking the bank or my budget to do so?" |
| What is the Definition of Giving from the Heart? The way I would define giving from the heart is "to formally grant or bestow
something to another without expectation of response or condition, surrendering to the end result whatever it may be."
In other words, without thought to what may come of it, just giving to another. This includes the giving of material goods
as well as non-material. The way I would define giving from the heart is "to formally grant or bestow
something to another without expectation of response or condition, surrendering to the end result whatever it may be."
In other words, without thought to what may come of it, just giving to another. This includes the giving of material goods
as well as non-material. |
| Giving is Easy for me so What is the Point? What I have seen in my 10 years of financial counseling is that most of us give in one of two
ways. Either we give with an expectation of something in return or we give something beyond our means. I believe both
ways comes from something missing within ourselves. |
What do you Mean by Missing Something Within?
Recently I went to a SUCCESS seminar (see http://www.davidneagle.com/events.htm) by David Neagle and he shared with us that there are three  basic areas that we are usually trying to fill. Those areas are love, self-esteem, or security. Without
realizing it, everything that we do we are trying to fill, fix, or complete one of those areas in our lives. In other words,
without knowing it, we go about our days trying to fill up on one of those areas. And in the area of giving, we are doing
the same. Trying to fill up emptiness we believe we have in love, self-esteem, or security. It is the very reason we give
with condition. |
I Don't Believe I Give Conditionally ... How Can You Say that?
I do not mean to say
that you do it purposefully, although there are times in which each of us may do so consciously. However, until we recognize
the very reason we are giving, then without knowing, we give with condition. |
How Does this Affect my Bank Balance?
It
affects your own money picture simply because you do not come from a place of inner knowing. Most times, it comes from
a deep belief that the OTHER PERSON needs the item or the help. And with good intent, you give to them based upon
THEIR needs or wants and not your own. After all, we are taught to give without selfishness, are we not? And when you come
from looking outside yourself the tendency is to give all that it takes to make that person happy or fulfill their need. Does
this usually work? Most times not. Quite often, we just set up a relationship of taking, not of the true cycle of life of
giving AND receiving. |
Go Within to Determine True Giving!
 Am I against giving? Most certainly not. I encourage all my clients to give without condition. To give naturally and openly.
The major difference is that I desire for us all to come from a place of true giving, of completeness within that we desire
to share with others. Not out of a sense of obligation, neediness, or trying to fill an emptiness of our own. |
|  Bewildered About Your Credit Reports or your FICO Scores?
CREDIT REPORT REVIEW SESSION
|
| Thank you for taking a minute or two out of your day to read about money.
Here's wishing you a joyous relationship with it!
Joan Silva
Financial Counselor Certified
Credit Report Reviewer Serious
Solutions To Your Everyday Money Questions! |
|
|
|
| Save 50% | As a Financial Counselor and Certified Credit
Report Reviewer, it is my job to help individuals, couples, and small business owners to GET REAL with their money. If you
would like to get past denial and truly understand what you are spending each month, then give me a call. You do not have
to do this alone. Just ask for help, it is a phone call away. Keep in mind that
I offer 1/2 off on your first session. No obligation. Find out how to get real with your money. | | Telephone Sessions Available |
|
|
