Monetary Identity: Understanding the Gap

The Monetary Identity class, which starts March 22, begins with an examination of “the gap.” What “gap” are we referring to?  We are referring to the gap of what we have been taught regarding what employers want and what the new rules are.

What business is looking for in the job area has changed. Now your outside life is included in your professional life, especially if you are seeking upward mobility.  Do you have a life outside of work?  What is the quality of that life outside of work?  Do you volunteer?  Have you received any social awards?  This is what employers or other organizations want to know.  This shows them what kind of leader you are.  It shows them your monetary identity.  What is worth your time?  Are you worth their time?  Will you bring social skills along with your business skills?

This gap also includes the still present wage gap between men and women.  Women have the upper edge in combining social skills and business skills.  Women need to realize and understand their worth to companies or other organizations and expect to be rewarded at the same level as a man with the same skills.

If you understand the skills you have, you can determine a clearer picture of your monetary identity.  What is it you want in exchange for those skills? Know what that is and accept only that or better. Monetary Identity: Prosperity from the Inside Out helps you discover what your gap is and appreciate with confidence what you bring to the table. Register here.  Use discount code gap by March 17 to get $50.00 off.

Ten Minute Trip to a New You

1440201632zm1nsTake 10 minutes to dream about lands far away.

Have paper and a pen handy.Relax.

Imagine you are in a new place with all new rules.

You have a chance to invent who you are.

There are no limits.

  • Where on the planet would you be?
  • What does your hair, clothing, and body look like?
  • What would you spend you daytime hours doing?
  • What would you eat for breakfast?
  • How would money flow into your life?
  • Where would you buy your food?
  • What kind of books or magazines would you read?
  • How would you communicate with the outside world?
  • How much sleep would you get in a 24 hour period?
  • What is exciting about this new land?

________________________________________

Now come back to your present life.

  • How does it feel to be back in your present life compared to the dream life?
  • Will you REALLY travel to your dream life or will it stay a dream?
  • What can you do to bring part of this far away land back to your present day life?
  • How can you add more juicy stuff to your daily routine?

Now sign and date this example and tuck it away so you can look at it when you feel your life gets crazy. Try this several times!

Art is part of prosperity–make something, move something

downsized_0417151356For your micro journal today, reflect on some kind of art that inspired you today.  It could be…

* a piece of music

* a work of visual art

* the dance or movement of a person

* a poem or piece of writing

* a piece of YOUR OWN creative work

* make your own magic!

Didn’t get the micro-journal? Here it is again.

Directions for folding journal   micro Journal

Match Up the Top Ten With Their Company

graphic-business-woman.jpg

How familiar are you with powerful women? Can you name the top ten in business?

Here they are, Listed below. Can you match them up with the company they run? Click on the companies to see if you match.

  1. Ginni Rometty
  2. Mary Batta
  3. Indra Nooyi
  4. Marillyn Hewson
  5. Ellen Kullman
  6. Meg Whitman
  7. Irene Rosenfeld
  8. Pat Woertz
  9. Abigail Johnson
  10. Sheryl Sandberg

Last Elf posting for 2012: Ebony’s Story

Our second family’s (Ebony) story is lower in this email.

The ELF Story

For those of you who are new to Project Elf, I want to give you some insight into ALL the different people and things that have to assemble to make this production happen. This year my estimate is that around 95 people worked on this project in some way.

This was our 7th year of the “crazy full house makeover” and the 12th year I have hosted this project. We still see many of the families that we served over the years because we all sort of fall in love with them and want to check in and see how life is going. I am proud of every one of these parents for raising great kids, and they all do.

The concept of this amazing GIFT is about aligning resources differently. Taking what one person is not using and gifting to another who needs it. Project Elf is based on gifting in a way that is purposeful, coordinated, and staged to perfection. And it is always perfect!

Our combined GIFT to these families is about $7,000-$10,000 in value to each family in recycled, handmade, and new items and about $4000 of volunteered time, not to mention storage units, gas money, delivery trucks, gift cards and a meal at the mall and wrist bands to ride all day (thank you Crave!). Had we paid the volunteers for their services for JUST delivery day we would have had a labor cost of about $1,600.

The vast majority of those who donate to this project are individuals who are moved by the project and have enlisted their friends and families to participate. That included gathering friends from church, and a work group, making cake plates, sewing quilts, driving to Hudson for a high chair, driving across the state to pick up a sewing machine, making a meal to leave for the family, bringing lunch to our hungry volunteers, painting a picture for these people to hang on their walls, gathering wallets and filling them with gift cards for the families, gathering quarters for laundry machines, sending in bus cards, having a family gather and gift kitchen items, giving a free hair cut, buying bed pillows for every child, sending cleaning products and laundry soap, or concentrating on one special area like make-up or accessories.

We also have support from small business owners that contribute, like Officenters who donated all the stockings and filled them to the brim with goodies and sent some very cool furniture. Three new beds came from Easy Rest, PC Doodle manages the computer needs and gifted a home PC and some jamming speakers, Crave restaurant gave the generous multi-course meals for the families and the MOA wristbands for every child, and to the various small businesses that make various cash and in-kind donations.

Many people are shocked that these families often have five people in a single bedroom. There is a rental shortage in the twin cities for the third year and the average market rent for a 2 bedroom low profile rental is about $1,200 a month. The cost to wash and dry a load of laundry is $6.

The homes Elf services are homes that are nearly devoid of resources. So something as simple as buying spatulas and measuring cups has to wait until there is enough in the budget to sustain the family. For the families coming out of a shelter 75-95% of their income goes to keep a roof over their heads. In this case, the monthly income of one of our participants this year- her family of 5 has a monthly income of $931. Her subsidized rent is $700 of that monthly income. She has a roommate that pays the other $600 of the rent with a total monthly rental of $1,100 a month plus utilities.

You can see that in order to buy the items that we gift would require an immense amount of time to create enough additional resources to supply an entire houseful of basic needs. One benefit of arranging resources in this manner is that families get all of your items through ELF as a gift and they can start to build a foundation. Whereas when you gift items to a thrift store-based donation system these families would have to purchase those items from the store.

Funny story- on this delivery: One volunteer teen noticed things she had gifted a few months ago being used in the home of the people we were serving. It brought home the message of how MUCH she had to offer by just sending her cast-offs to another young girl who would LOVE her cute stuff. And she did have cute stuff and that girl LOVED her cute stuff. I love her cute stuff too.

The immense amount of STUFF we bring is often the first time they have ever had a home where “it all adds up”. We create a foundation of strength and offer to help them keep it if they have to move, by raising cash for a moving truck. In project Elf we fill cupboards with food, drawers with socks, closets with clothes and coats, fill bedrooms with beds, sheets, blankets, provide cooking utensils, art on the walls, a design to the house, dishes, cookware, flatware, storage containers, furniture, rugs, lamps, décor, toys, books, medicine cabinets, cleaning supplies, and every teeny thing we can think of. All you have to do is look around your house and see how much it takes to make a house complete.

We needed every one of the 95 people to add to this project!

So for those of you who are hooked on this project, we always need cash to buy items that did not come in and that were not on the list, Home depot gift cards for building materials, bus cards, and people who can act as gatherers. For those of you who are shopaholics, clearance bin sifters, garage sale divas, or thrifters, you can start right now gathering for a new home that we will serve next year. I call for items every November.

All of the donations that did not work out on this year’s design go to the 5 back-up families that are also waiting for our gifts. The need is great and you cannot gift too many socks, back packs, cleaning supplies, diapers, personal care items, or small toys. I also host a year round closet that serves these families while they are IN the shelter.

Thank you for all that you do and for the great things we accomplished together.

Mickey Mikeworth
Founder, Rich Chicks Project Elf
President, Mikeworth Consulting

Ebony’s story

This is the next morning. Ebony talks at the speed of light- so imagine words falling out of her mouth at a pace that makes you want to catch your breath. She is as excited and bright as a kid- she is a kid- she is 23.
——–

I am so excited I do not know where to start other than it is beautiful and LOVE everything! I have not stopped cooking or eating. ( big laugh)

It so much more than just a bed, we have a bigger outlook on life. I want to cry to relieve my happy feeling being so BIG. (Exhale) I am so happy I don’t know what I have to cry about- but this is sooo cool. I did this for my kids but I had no idea so much would be about ME! ( big laugh)

I do not know how one day can be so impactful. The fancy food at Crave (Crave West End, a partner in the Elf story) and the rides in the park were awesome and tried new stuff and loved it. . We had so much fun it was like being someone famous. I felt so “in” like I should have worn sunglasses and been signing autographs.

My kids are enthralled with their room. They did not stay in that room when it was the other way now they do not leave it. They have a place to play and it is so peaceful and bright. I love the flowers.

When we got home I covered the girl’s eyes and just let them walk into the room. They just saw magic. My nieces felt the magic. And then the girls saw the dolls in the vintage bassinette.. We were ALL in awe.

I have never imagined a room so put together and with so many treasures. I love it and want to explore every little thing in that room. The flower shop sign made me giggle it was all so pulled together. The vintage vibe was so cool, and made it more fun.

The ART blew me away- the kids love their room but I love having things be about ME sometimes.This place certainly has more of ME in it. ( big laugh)

The dishes are so cute and the table – we are going to have a fairy breakfast or something. I want to put cereal in those bowls and sit on my comfy couch( that is the same couch but now that it is covered it feels more cushy.) Or maybe a big bowl of ice cream and watch late night TV. Those bowls just make you want to hold them.

I was impressed by the unique ways you manage storage in our teeny place and how the whole place looks bigger. I feel like we have more space.

Everything was thoughtful; I do not know HOW all those elves made every little thing so perfect. The extra blankets stuffed inside big pillow covers to make floor pillows was brilliant. I would never have thought of that. I am going to keep that idea for the rest of my life because I have a lot of nieces and nephews and I need to keep a lot of blankets around and they always look messy.

We never understood how to organize a house or make a place for things. I love that everything has a special place. That is totally new for me. ( big laugh) I may have to have some lessons. I know those elves hated my “garbage bags of clothes stuffed in the closet method”. I am glad about the shelf to sort stuff. I just had no idea what to do with the stuff we had and now we have extra space. I am willing to learn.

There is so many goodies and so many delightful things – and I keep finding them! It is like getting more of the gift every day. The girls came out with clothes I have never seen, I mean lots of clothes I have never seen! It is a surprise in every way. I loved the hotel folded towels. I told the kids to use other towels and not ruin the pretty ones.

The mall was fun. I love the fact we will have pictures to remember the day. I was glad I had a phone that takes pictures. We ate like rock stars. I did not want to leave, but the kids wanted to ride the rides. I have never had such a long lunch in my life. We sat there for like 2 hours!

I could not have imagined this experience would turn out like this. I am blessed, silly, and just want to sit in here for a week and not let anyone in. Just bake and eat. Thanks you to everyone who made this happen. It is so blessed.

I can’t wait to meet some of these people in real life. Mickey tells me all the names of people, those dishes came from so and so, this person dropped of your pans, the art was painted by this lady. I feel like they are my friends too. ( big laugh) I like that.

Thank you for everything . I am tickled, enchanted, and excited. I took out every pan to enjoy it. This is more stuff that I LOVE than I can ever remember.

Tell us how this project went for you–all of it?

I came from a BIG family and when my mom died things just changed and it was never the same. Life without a mom when you are young is sad but when you are a mom is just extra-hard. We are all close and all, but you learn habits in your mind like you just always settle for what was not broken, smile when something was new, and just try to keep getting by. My dad had his hands full and we mostly live in the cities.

I chose to go the shelter because I wanted to actually BUILD my life and not rely on family to let us crash on their couch. They would have kept my mind in the same pattern and I needed skills and I needed to rely on myself. I am 23 and I have 2 kids that need me.

I wanted to REALLY make it on my own. It is definitely part of my story for when I am a successful person and so is all the weight I lost. I used to be a fat girl not any more! I am going to be running this spring.

Life in the shelter is awful and kicks you down further that you thought possible. The food is awful, you have so many ignorant rules and you feel you want to escape but you have nowhere to go. You cannot even know yourself because nothing is solid. There is no peace and no justice, you fear for your kids every second, some of those people are REALLY bad people and you feel them. I just had to keep going. I said every day I can’t wait to eat something that was made with love. That will stay with me forever.

In the shelter, Ms Toni the advocate, offered us a chance to go to Mickey’s classes and those two would make us laugh, help us plan a life, feed us real food, and it gave me more than hope, it gave me a chance to think about being myself for the first time. Not someone’s sister, mom, or coworker. A lesson on how to be ME and how to think differently, they challenged me and gave me some hard talking too. Having a personal support system changed my direction in life to a place that is more powerful. Through this education experience and knowing these women I felt noticed and looked after. They just kept hooking me up to the next thing and solving problems.

I would get ideas from Mickey that were so far out of my minds reach- here is an example:She texted me one morning at 6:30 am and says:“I think you should go to Paris- for real”

HA! I texted back – “LOL with what money?”

Instant reply back : “You leave that money part to me, I can figure that out. Just make a point to get your passport. You will love the food and it will inspire you.” Who thinks like that?

I am on welfare with two babies and I should go to Paris because I like the food? ( big laugh) She is crazy. But now I have Paris on my list and it feels possible. AND TA DA!

I got a job i really like in a French restaurant! They have been training me to do all sorts of stuff.

Mickey says to me when I got the job:“Try everything on the menu with an open mind. Don’t look at what is in it, just TRY IT and then make your decision.” I used to be scared to try new stuff, now I found out I like steak tartar and snails. ( big laugh) Snail are so good. ( she lights up) I get them at 1/2 price and no limit to how many I can order on my shift.

All that stuff prepared me for this new life I am making. At the Crave restaurant for Project Elf I tried all sorts of new foods and LOVED everything that came to our table. I had some food literacy and I did not feel out of place or stupid. I felt complete and proud of all the good work I have been doing. Working and getting ready for school. It feels so good to have a group of people that can help you get on your way.

I am still in transition and there are many rules and stupidity, but for the most part I am doing a great job. I know I am a role model for my nieces and nephews and my kids and I definitely take that seriously. But I also know I have my own mark to leave on this world.

I am thankful so many people are willing to reach out. I feel your love and it makes me keep going.

It is breathtaking if I think too long on it. Thanks for everyone’s support.

Your future success story,

Ebony

Elf Report 2012: Quiana’s Story

I spoke with both of our families and they are in AWE of the amazing work all of you on the Elf Project did to make their lives better.

I do have to give some extra special KUDOS to Cy and Peggy for hand building TWO sets of bunk beds hauling them to MN and rebuilding them on site, and Icepick and Cathy for the third set dragged in and built, Terri and the bed man for the 3 emergency beds delivered, and George for managing the BIG truck and to ALL our new elves. You are a treat!

This year I added the word OMNI-SHAMBLE because even with all the unexpected chaos we had, this project STILL came out perfect.

The Elf team really worked hard to get perfect. I have never in all the years we have done this project has so many quirky things happen in one delivery day.  I felt like checking the zodiac. We had five elves call in sick (we hope today is better), and our healthy troops just picked up the slack, we had one blown tire, one $160 expired tabs ticket, three lost and frantic elves, a last minute truck rental, wrong addresses, lost phones, lost sheets, one truck unloaded at the wrong site, phones running out of batteries, and one actual hot-pink cotton candy barf on doorstep of one site. ( impressive)

We also made new friends and had a BIG reminder that we have a blessed life. I watched families come together and really celebrate the joy of just being.

I frequently remind people that this is not just an event—it’s a life-changer for every one of these parents. The energy and love that you put into the gathering, the shopping, and the support is felt in every molecule of the things we bring into their life. It is a wake-up call that they do not have to go through this world alone; they are loved and supported in ways they cannot even see.

That is the gift ALL of you give.

I thank you for your time, sweat, investments, and love for this project , and in spite of all the setbacks in the day- we had in the actual delivery- we collectively have changed 12 people’s lives forever.

And maybe even yours too. Be sure to pass this on to your teams, and pictures are on the Rich Chicks Facebook page.

All My best- Hope to see you next year.

Mickey Mikewoth
Founder, Rich Chicks Founder
Owner, Mikeworth Consulting

Post-Elf Interview with Quiana

This part of the interview was done while she is crying and screaming into the phone as she is walking around the living room the night of Christmas Eve.

——–

OH MY LORD! It was so thoughtful and joyous. I just do NOT know what to say. Thank you to all of the elves for a wonderful home. I love everything. It is just my style, and I did not know how to even start asking or making this style. It is so perfect and I feel like I am in a different home.Everything is so perfect, I just had NO idea.

I could never have imagined someone would do this for our family. It is like being on TV or winning a lottery. I had no idea.  I am in shock and I just keep walking around my house. The kids locked themselves up in their room.

I can’t ever remember a day that they each had a bed. My daughter says “ now I do not have to worry if my shirt moves in the night”. I never knew she worried about her shirt moving in the night. All three just went in there with their beds and closed the door. They just wanted to be alone with this.

This is like they each got their own home inside of our home, a cozy place that is about them. My son said he feels more space in the house even though there is LESS space. Isn’t that crazy?

This whole thing is crazy.

I guess that’s because he has HIS OWN space. And the fact that we now have places we can sit and be together and not feel like we are always hiding in our room. I never liked our room more.

I saw all those gifts under the tree and I told them DO NOT TOUCH anything. Those are for Christmas day and we will enjoy that whole tree. I won’t let them sit at the table either until I cook something.

I don’t know , they might have to eat something that is not messy. Good thing we have a high chair and a second table. The second table was such a good idea. Now I can leave the table set.

That table was one that I had always wanted- it was like you people were in my mind and reading my dreams. That is the most beautiful table I have ever seen.

I do not want to move a thing.  That kitchen just made me want to start cooking, all the new utensils and the cookbooks.

I have NEVER in my life seen such a place that I get to keep. My aunties were so happy and now we can all just sit down and take a minute and enjoy the blessing of this roof – not just BE somewhere. We are now in a home, and a lovely one. This is just so joyous. I have no other words for what this is.

I have never KNOWN that the decorating could change my heart forever. I felt so loved it just stopped me, and the kids.

WHO would do something this extraordinary for us? My heart just changed. I feel lifted and bright.  Now I see that others can care for me.

I swear, I keep patting myself on my chest because my heart is ready to burst OUT. I can SEE what a burden it is to hold up all the world up on my shoulders. I keep to myself and try to just keep my kids safe. I could not of even dreamed to have ALL this for my children. It was like a weight was moved.But it was moved off by love. I do not have words to explain this. It is better that money. This feels like nothing I have known.

We felt the change as soon as we walked in the door. We all fell silent because we could see the reflection in the mirrors. We took off our shoes and silently walked up the stairs.

The kids look at me and asked- “What happened here? “ “We have been blessed. That is what happened here”. My head kept shaking like a bobble head.  And then they tore off to look at our room. That is not their room.

They aint never coming outta there. Their beds are so perfect and they had bags of gifts on their beds.

Jamel says “we can turn the heat down now” because the furniture will keep our room warmer, and I think he is right. It IS warmer in this whole house.

While they are claiming their spots The baby saw a box of pampers and went and sat on it and said “ this is mine!” . It was so cute! I said “yes, those are for you” and he was so proud.

I cannot believe the clothes for Kinean, he looks like a little man! Not a baby. He is going to look sharp and he will love all the toys. All those diapers- that is a huge blessing, I feel like I can rest a minute. I am always worried about running out of diapers. I have enough to last me a month! That’s craziness in my life.

All of this makes my head spin because I do not need a single thing.That is truly the oddest sensansation to have in my heart that I HAVE everything and it is perfect.

Did I tell you our toilet paper was wrapped? All in fancy paper, Each roll. That is something I never have seen.

It is like a contentment or a peace. I have enough of everything all at the same time. Our cupboards are full-up. The canned corn made me bust out in laughter because I remember putting it on the list for the baby. He loves his corn. Those fruit roll-ups made the older kids happy. They are probably eating them in their beds right now.

THOSE BEDS! I have never seen a bed so fine. It is like what I imagine a fancy hotel to be like. I can’t wait to sleep but there is no way I am going to be able to sleep tonight. Kinean is interested in his own little bed. I want to put him in it but I also just want to hug him and have him crawl in with me.

I want to get music playing and I already called a friend to come over and look at this. I need another adult to tell me I am not crazy. I just do not know how you all did all of this. The house was clean in a whole new way. But the best part is that I feel different in this house.

I was smiling ALL day at the mall because I was so happy to have a secret but I was nervous too. This is a big leap of faith I was expecting maybe some stuff under the tree, or something smaller. The feelings that are in this house make me want to turn up the music and dance all night. I have heard people talk about a house filled with love but I have never felt like this.

I really cannot think of one thing more that I could even wish for. I did not even consider I could wish this big- for real I mean.

I just had to let something new INTO my life. I was trapped inside my own fear and being in the shelter I just wanted OUT- anywhere I just wanted OUT of that shelter. That place kills a part of you. That i know now how much of me it had killed off.

I did not know this saying yes to this project could turn into THIS. You cannot explain this change in our hearts.

Everything is great and this has been a big twirling and swirling day.

I love the desk and the computer. They kids will sure enjoy that.

The restaurant was spectacular- I just stayed open about trying new things and I found out that I like flatbread and dipping sauce.

The family portrait was so meaningful and I was sure glad I had gotten my wish to get my hair done. I have a whole new look and new make-up.

At the mall the kids just kept running from ride to ride crazy to get on all of them.

This was like a dream to them. We had no worries all day. Those kids played like they had not played in long long time. They had no worry in their hearts.

This experience has changed me in so many ways. I cannot thank you enough.

Every single thing is meaningful and I just can’t name them all. My words have run out. I am speechless. Please tell all those elves that we felt the blessing and that it is joyous and loud.

Quiana

 

Project Elf 2012

Do you want to participate in adopting a family this holiday? Do you have items that you can donate, or volunteer time to help out? Maybe you are willing to send the 2012 elf list to friends who love this type of gifting ? Yes? Then welcome to Rich Chicks’ Project ELF 2012! 

 Project Elf, in cooperation with PICA (Parents in Community Action) is adopting two families who are coming out of a homeless shelter and rebuilding their lives. It takes ELF Central (that’s us) about 6 weeks to prepare for the ELF event, collecting what is needed by the families, coordinating transportation and volunteers. Everything is delivered in secret by volunteer elves on Christmas Eve. It is an INSANE and totally fun project. 

Here’s how it all goes down: We make plans for the families to go off and have a great day on the 24th. (Our partner Crave West End is a great help here!) Then our team of volunteers swoop in and in 6 hours totally transform the families’ living space, taking their nearly empty apartment (remember, they just moved from a homeless shelter) and move in furniture, set up beds, fill cupboards with supplies, grant Christmas wishes, and make what was a bare space a new fabulous home for them to start their lives over in. They just come home and “Santa” must have come while they were out!

 Please partner with us to create two very special Holiday Stories. I invite you to become an ELF yourself by donating any of the items on this list or doing hands-on delivery and set up of items the day of December 24. New and gently used items are BOTH a great fit for this project.

 Mickey Mikeworth, Head ELF  info@richchicks.org

Project Elf 2012

Our favorite project of the year is BACK!  Are you in?

Project Elf is a Holiday surprise to families that have recently moved out of the homeless shelter.  We pull together a team of Elves to gather supplies and gifts and then sneak (with the families permission) into their house on Christmas Eve and make a very special holiday delivery. This is no small process because often we are moving in furniture, hanging curtains, setting up beds, filling closets with new outfits, stuffing stockings, and filling  cupboards.  Our Elf team has just six hours to get everything done and get out of the house before the family returns. It is a magical experience for the family to come home to a BIG surprise while they were out Christmas Eve day.

We need your help before the actual day to gather items from friends and family. The actual day (December 24) we need a crew to load, unload, set up, clean and organize, and people to manage the delivery stuff as it gets assembled. LET US KNOW WHAT ELF PART YOU WANT TO PLAY! We will keep you updated with a weekly ELF Update as the gathering happens. Contact info@richchicks.org

The Families

The families we are helping are clients of PICA’s Project Secure. You can read about PICA and its programs here.

Four Steps to Creating a Positive Money Mindset

The Rich Chicks idea of true prosperity is that it isn’t just about money. True richness comes from the integration of body, mind, spirit and resources. We know that a certain amount of money and resources are needed to have a comfortable lifestyle that encourages flourishing in all areas of your life. The Law of Attraction (LOA) says “See it, believe it and you will receive it. Many people think that see, believe, receive alone will develop a Positive Money Mindset, and they wonder why it isn’t working—‘why isn’t money flowing to me?”

The reason might be there are a couple of missing parts to the LOA, such as knowing what you want and DOing something to make it happen. Another big piece is to truly examine your relationship to money itself. How you think and feel about money are the most important factors in determining whether you are wealthy or not.  Rich Chicks has a fun exercise to help you explore your relationship to money. Going deep and identifying old beliefs is the first step to developing a positive money mindset, one that can help attract more money and resources in your life. You and Money exercise.

You may not even be consciously aware of many ideas you have about money. Were you taught to think negatively about money?  Children are often told things like “money is the root of all evil,” and “money doesn’t grow on trees.”  No wonder we have such difficult time thinking positively about money! You may have even been taught that rich people are greedy. These messages can cause you to subconsciously avoid wealth and miss out on the great opportunities having money can provide.  When you hold on to negative and incorrect beliefs about money, you will not create the wealth you desire or deserve. Using information from the exercise above, check out your own feelings and beliefs about money. What old beliefs do you have? Take a few minutes to quickly write about your beliefs—are they really your beliefs, or are they messages from childhood?

Now that you know what negative beliefs are there, you can change your money mindset. Money is not good or bad by itself. It is just a tool—money creates choice. Money is more often used for good things, like the many charities that have been able to help people all around the world through donations of money. Take a moment to appreciate all the good that money is used for. It is an important part of life and is often used to make positive changes in the world.

Here are four steps you can take toward your Positive Money Mindset

  1.  Recognize that money is abundant. When you were young, you may have been told that money doesn’t grow on trees. If you’re holding onto a belief like that now, your own mindset could be holding you back from attracting money. Money may not grow on trees, but there is an abundant amount of it for everyone, including you. The poverty mindset believes that money is scarce. Having that belief or a similar one, will keep prosperity far away from you.
  2. Giving money away is another way you can develop a positive money mindset. Wanting to hang onto every cent you have is a sign of a poverty mindset and reinforces the idea that there is not enough of it. Giving reinforces the concept of abundance, and creates choice for someone or some cause that you help with your money.  You can be a philanthropist with any amount of money—pay it forward!
  3.  Be grateful for what you already have—this immediately puts you in a positive mindset because you are focusing on what you have, not what you lack. Mindful appreciation is powerful.
  4.  Finally, be happy for those who are successful and have money. We might remember being told that those who have money are greedy and are tempted to think negatively about them. In fact, the opposite is usually true. Rich people often accumulate their wealth by sharing what they have with others and believing in the idea of abundance. When someone else has money, don’t resent their success. Jealousy will only hold you back from achieving your own wealth and success. Instead, be happy for their abundance and remember that there is enough wealth for you too.

By making these changes in how you think about money, you will be on your way to developing a Positive Money Mindset. Once you begin thinking about money in a truly positive way, you will be on the path to attracting wealth.

Project Elf Update December 5

Note: You can drop off nonfurniture items or mail stuff contact info@richchicks.org for address BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH. Bring items to the Brain Spa Event, or the NW2 meetings.

Our delivery team is now up to 11 people! 

TOP Priority items: Tan loveseat that is a pullout bed, Table that seats 6, second Truck for December 24th, someone artsy to help us put together a huge wall mural made out of maps that we can adhere to kids bedroom wall.

Some items to keep your eyes peeled for or ask friends if they have any of these items on this list: Maps ( all kinds), magnifying glass, white crib and accessories, boy baby stuff- everything, LOTS OF simple one color shelf liner, modern style dining room table that seats 6 and chairs, RED tablecloth for that table, 2 Sleds, queen size comforter in neutral- browns , 1 CD player, 10 closet organization bins that match to put kids socks and stuff in, 1 small fry pan for eggs, over the door shoe rack, age 5-12 Children’s books on travel, space, exploration, animals, diapers for a child less that 1 year old, paper goods, cleaning products, 2 mops, 1 cleaning bucket, kitchen size garbage bags, paper towels, diaper wipes, building blocks like Legos, 3 flashlights of all sizes, books on CD for adults and kids, mittens kids size small Boy and Girl, holiday CD’s, mittens size med boy, snow pants girl size 5, snow pants boy size 10-12, snow pants boys size 6, Girls NEW underwear size 4-6, Boys NEW underwear size 5-7, baby supplies, bus card, target gift cards, size 16 young women’s clothes, dressy winter coat women’s size 16, boys shoes size 13, cupcake making supplies, kitchen drawer stuff, white laundry baskets, clothes hamper to fit in a closet, new/nearly new boys clothes 6-18 months, 4 packages of children’s hangers, 3 packages of adult hangers, kitchen shears, 1 kitchen timer, spices, baking supplies, cookbooks, strainer big and small, spatula ( both kinds), canned frosting and sprinkles, teething gel, Neosporin, Advil, Landry soap, dryer sheets, rolls of quarters for laundry, fabric sheets, laundry soap, Kleenex, size 5-6 boys clothes 2 outfits needed, size 10 boys clothes 2 outfits needed, 1 used laptop, back massager, small tool kit for an apartment, NEW 2 person tent / cabana that we can put Kissi’s bed inside of -must be 72 inches in length, 2 LONG adjustable curtain rods to hang a mural, Space themed mobile to hang from ceiling,