Let Go

There I was at 13,000 feet, leaning over the edge of an airplane, with a flight instructor strapped to my back. I was gripping the safety bars tighter than I think I’ve ever held on to anything in my life. I knew it was my turn to jump, but I couldn’t get myself to let go of those bars. “Let go, Mindy," the flight instructor said. I didn’t move. “Mindy, let go,” he said once again. Still, my body didn’t move a muscle. I knew what I needed to do but was paralyzed with fear. Then I heard him say, “It’s going to be ok, Mindy, take a deep breath, smile and just let go.”

And so I did.

I removed my hands from the bars, knowing that now there was nothing between me and the ground. All I had at this point was my fear, my faith, and my new found courage. I let go. For a moment I just sat there, completely still. Anticipating what was about to happen to me and knowing that I just let go of any and all control that I ever had. I sat there, completely vulnerable. Completely scared out of my mind.

We were sucked into the sky like a vacuum. I had absolutely no control over what was going on, I was just falling. Though it didn’t feel like I was falling, it felt like I was soaring. It isn’t often that I let myself be in situations that I cannot control. As I looked around, I couldn’t believe the beauty and peace around me and how quiet and beautiful the earth looked from so far above. I was so happy I let go of those safety bars.

I began to think, “What if I had been too scared to let go?” What if I had let my fear and my desire to control everything prevent me from this experience?” It would’ve been a shame and I would have robbed myself of an amazing life experience, one that I will not likely forget. Though I have never probably actually been closer to death, I have never felt more alive.

Are you holding on to the safety bars? Are you allowing your fears to prevent you from soaring to new heights and experiencing life to the fullest?

I don’t feel like life was meant to be safe all the time. If you’re always looking for safety, you’re never getting out of your comfort zone and you’re never allowing yourself to grow. Taking chances is what makes us feel alive. Maybe you don’t need to jump out of an airplane to feel alive, but maybe you do need to allow yourself to take some risks and allow yourself to do things that make you feel vulnerable and scared. When it’s all said and done, the payoff is worth the risk. Just those few moments of feeling so alive and so free was worth every ounce of fear that I had. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment, for proving to myself that I am stronger than my fears.

So, what if you take a chance and fail? I don’t think there is such a thing as a failure. Every time you do something new, you learn and grow. Maybe it didn’t turn out exactly the way you hoped, but at least you tried. You became a smarter, wiser person in the process and expanded your thinking and became stronger. Sometimes we have to feel weaker first in order to get stronger.

As far as we know, this is our one shot at our life as we know it today. Allow yourself to experience all life has to offer, even things that you think may be out of your reach. Especially things that you think may be out of your reach - those are the things that will give you the greatest satisfaction once you attempt to get them. Don’t let your mind create problems that may not or may never exist. Allowing yourself to miss out on life’s amazing experiences, happiness, and feeling alive, because you’re afraid of what may happen is a greater danger than letting go of any safety bars, at any height. Some of us build a wall around our heart because we feel like it will protect us. But all the walls really do is keep the hurt and fear inside.

Enjoy all the people in your life, experience all the fun and love they have to offer - and let go!!

Reasons to be happy TODAY!

A funny thing happened the other day. I was in a pretty heated disagreement with a long time friend when he told me that "he didn't want to be friends with someone who was so happy all the time for no reason." He went on to say that, "I have no reason to be happy right now in my life." I actually thought it was kind of funny and felt bad for him because he is obviously so miserable. The girlfriend that I was with at the time said that she was proud of me for laughing it off because some people would have been devastated if someone told them they have no reason to be happy.

After thinking about it for a while, I guess from the outside, I can understand why someone would think I have no reason to be happy. In the past couple of years I've dealt with a lot of difficult things. My mom passed away after a long battle with a terminal illness, my dad died a tragic death, and I had a large sum of money (that I spent years working hard for) taken from me by someone close to me that I loved and trusted.

While these were difficult, thankfully, my mind and spirit do not let me focus on the negative. You see, someone can take away your money, but they can never take away what is inside of you that helped you earn it in the first place. No one can ever take away your will and determination. If I focused on the deception and the amount of money I lost, I would probably go crazy. Instead, I choose to focus on the exciting things that my future holds and creating ways that I can be of service to others and replace that stolen money.

Both of my parents were 57 when they died and my good friend Chuck was just 36. I'm quite sure that if any of them were to give me some advice right now , it would be to enjoy the life that I have and that every day is precious. No - every MINUTE of every day is precious! When my mom was diagnosed with 4-6 months to live, it happened to be in the height of the real estate boom. Nothing is more important than my family or friends, but I never really could find a balance between my work responsibilities and personal time (I still work on this daily.) I was able to spend a good deal of time with my mom, but if I had the chance to do it all over again, I'd give back every sale and every dollar I made during that time in exchange for spending that time with her rather than working.

Time is so valuable and I think we forget that as we get caught up in day to day life. Right after Christmas last year, my dad called me when I was with a client. I sent him to voicemail and planned on calling him later. Later never came.

It's important not to take today for granted - or anyone in your life. They may not be here tomorrow. I know it sounds a little harsh or morbid, but it's true and sometimes the only time you realize it is when it's too late.

Don't be too late in enjoying your life. Be happy today and appreciate everyone and everything around you. I have so many things to be thankful for and I will always choose to be happy and grateful for what I have in my life. Even if people think I have no reason to be! :-)

Get R.I.C.H. Lesson #15 - Take Control of Your 2010

Now that 2010 is well under way, what actions are you taking to make sure that it is better than your 2009? If you do the same thing you did in the past, you will get the same results. In order to get different results, you must do different things.

Take some time to reflect on things you really want to do and have this year. Write the top 2 or 3 things down and keep them in front of you at all times. Next, make a plan. If you were going to drive from Florida to California and you didn't use a map or google maps, you MAY get there, but it will take you a lot longer and you'll more than likely get lost many times along the way. On the other hand, if you make small goals, such as driving from Florida to Georgia first and follow a precise plan, then you'll obtain that goal quickly, and can quickly move on to the next. One by one, you'll have reached all of your short term goals, and in the end, will arrive in California.

Now let's apply that to your life. Have you always wanted to take a trip to Italy or Hawaii? (insert your dream destination). If you break it down, it won't seem so unobtainable. Let's say you need $3000 to take your trip. If you want to go on your trip in one year, divide $3000 by 12 - this means you'll only have to come up with $250 per month. $250 sounds much easier than $3000, doesn't it? If you break it down even further, you'll only have to save $62.50 per week to take your dream trip in 12 months. (That's less than $9.00 per day)

Now for the action plan! What can you do to either make an extra $9.00 per day or save an extra $9.00 per day? The action plan is the time to make it fun and be creative. Keep your goal in mind every day. Instead of eating lunch out, take your lunch to work. It's a small sacrifice to make knowing that you'll soon be sipping wine and eating pasta in Italy! Here are some other ideas:
1. Go through your closet and take back to the store anything that still has tags on it. Even if you get the bottom clearance price, it gets you closer to your trip.
2. Sell anything you have used or worn in the past year on ebay. Not only will you make extra money, you'll de-clutter your life.
3. Work a couple of hours per week at a part time job. Would working one night or one Saturday per week for a few months be worth making memories that will last a life time? For sure!
4. Cut out cable. For some this is unthinkable, but you have to keep in mind your goal - watching Grey's Anatomy or driving through vineyards in Tuscany. Hmmmm. Once you start doing other things besides spending hours watching tv, you'll realize how much more full your life is!


I could go on and on about what you can "cut out" of your life, but my brain doesn't think that way. I think along the lines of "creation" and "prosperity" rather than "cutting out" and "lacking." Find pictures of all the places you want to go and things you want to do and keep them in front of you. Every day, vividly picture yourself going there and TAKE ACTION every day to do something to get you closer and it will happen!

Meet you at the Piazza!

Get R.I.C.H. Lesson #14 - Find Your Purpose

Last week's radio appearance on WJBC's "The Broad View" (thanks Susan!) was a blast and really made me think about my purpose for creating The Get Rich Girl.

What makes you feel alive!? Is there something, that when you talk about it, you just get a fire inside you and get so excited that you can talk about it all day? That's your passion! If your everyday life - especially your work life - doesn't include your passion, then you're cheating yourself of living the best life you can have.

My passion is helping people. I'm no Mother Teresa, and I don't claim to be, but I have been given so many opportunities in life and I want everyone else to have the same. Flying first class to a private yacht in the Mediterranean is FUN and COOL and there is NO reason why you shouldn't have the opportunity to do that - or anything else you want in life!!

I'm passionate about what I do because I used to be on the other side of opportunity. What I mean, is that I didn't really know what kind of opportunities were available in life until I went out and got rid of my self limitations and fears and started looking for them.

I spent a lot of my childhood in a trailer park. I used to have to pray that my car would start. I drove an entire winter with no heat in my car and actually used to have to scrape the inside of my windows to get rid of the ice. I drove 60 miles each way to school for a week holding the driver side door because it was frozen and wouldn't shut.

I've been poor and I've been rich, and let me tell you, it's a lot more fun being rich! Driving a Porsche is way more fun than driving a clunker! Those people that say money can't buy happiness have never really had it because it is tons of fun! Money won't make you a better person, but it provides security, fun and enables you to help others.

My purpose is to help you realize that you are just as able to have more money than you imagined AND you can have fun doing it! I'm no Harvard graduate - I don't even have a college degree. I certainly had no silver spoon or rich uncles to give me a head start.

What I did have was a desire to do great things and travel the world and be able to afford anything I want. I can now and so can you if you start to work on getting rid of the fears, worry and excuses that you've been making up in your head.

Find your purpose! Live your passion!!

Get R.I.C.H. Quote of the Day

Fall seven times, stand up eight. ~Japanese Proverb

Get R.I.C.H. Lesson #13 - Take a Baby Step

“One of my best moves is to surround myself with friends who, instead of asking “why?” are quick to say “why not?” That attitude is contagious. - Oprah Winfrey

So the discussion between my friend who is in (what she calls) a dead-end job, continued the other day. She said she really needed change, has never lived anywhere else and would love to move to Texas.

I said, “Great! When are you leaving?!” She said, “Well, I’m not actually going to do it!” When I asked her “why not” she said, “I just can’t!” And I said, “Ok, why not?” Then the conversation went something like this:

“I don’t have a job.” - Her

“Have you looked?” - Me

“Well, no.” - Her

“Ok, then look for one.” Me

“I can’t leave my job” - Her

“You said you HATE your job” Me

“It’s very hard to find a job” - Her

“How hard have you looked?” Me

Blank stare

“Do you really want to make the move?” Me

“Yes” Her

“Let’s get on the internet right now and look for jobs” Me

Internet opened - job search begins.....

Now she has actually moved forward and is applying for jobs and doing phone interviews. She has been talking about moving for 2 years and all it took was the first step. She now has an idea of what area she’ll live in and has someone lined up to sub-lease her current apartment.

Maybe living your dream isn’t so hard after all!? Maybe it just takes one baby step to get your thoughts focused and your plan into action!?

Your Get R.I.C.H. Action Step of the Day: Take your baby step right now!!!

Lessons From the Great Les Brown

I recently had the honor of spending a weekend training with Les Brown, one of the world's most successful professional speakers. He's been one of the top motivational speakers and authors for the past 30+ years.

Watching and listening Les speak was mesmerizing. When he speaks, it doesn't come from his throat or even his diaphragm -it comes from deep within his heart. And it shows. He gets a gleam in his eyes and gives off an energy that will make you want to run a marathon.

When you do your job, are you gleaming? The best way to be successful is to do what you love. When you love what you do, you have that fire inside of you that will prevent you from failing. That fire will keep you up at night because you're so excited to get to work the next day. (As I type this, it is 1:30 am!) There are times in the middle of the night when I think of a quote or phrase that I think may help someone deal with a difficult or challenging situation, and I can't help but wake up and get to work!

Within one minute of meeting Les, it's obvious why he has been so successful all these years. He loves what he does and he loves helping other people.

I'd like to share with you some of Les' powerful quotes.

"Commitment is the courage to go from failures, defeats, and disappointments to manifesting your destiny without losing your hunger from your dream. It is the willingness to do whatever is required."

"Passion is that magnificent obsession for a cause, an activity, or a purpose..that as much as we have chosen it, it has chosen us."

"Develop a vision of your greatest self that you pursue wholeheartedly, with an unstoppable spirit"