GRATEFUL FOR FEAR AND RESILIENCE

During my morning practice on this Thanksgiving Day, I read a passage on resilience from Oprah's book, 'What I know for Sure"  (I shared below)

It made me reflect on how I am grateful for the last two years as I made a decision to take on fear.  I found myself tired of operating from fear based on peoples words or my wild thoughts.

What did I do?  I studied fear ..  I leaned into fear and I got curious.  I asked myself internally, what do I need for myself to get beyond fear.  . in anything.  I also asked, what am I learning from fear?  I came to the understanding that when I and others are scared, and not feeling safe, we will use words to create an illusion of battle or protection.  I was experiencing this with myself and others.

So I bought a couple of books - "Fear" Essential Wisdom For Getting Through theStorm" by Thich Nhat Hanh and Gabrielle Bernstein's book - May Cause Miracles. I read, reflected on each word that spoke to me every day for 40 days.  Pretty powerful stuff.

So I offer this, when you operate from fear . . stop and ask yourself, what do I need to get beyond fear?  and What am I learning from fear.  . then listen to the little voice inside, reflect, be curious and study for YOU and see what you need for yourself to move beyond fear.

Happy Thanksgiving.  I am grateful for you.

Warmly -

Debbie

What I know for Sure - Oprah Winfrey

Every challenge we take on has the power to knock us on our knees.  But what's even more disconcerting than the jolt itself is our fear that we won't withstand it. When we feel the ground beneath us shifting, we panic.We forget everything we know and allow fear to freeze us. Just the thought of what could happen is enough to throw us off balance.

What I know for sure is that the only way to endure the quake is to adjust your stance.  You can't avoid the daily tremors.  They come with being alive.  But I believe these experiences are gifts that force us to step to the right or left in search of a new center of gravity.  Don't fight them.  Let them help you adjust your footing.

Balance lives in the present.  When you feel the earth moving, bring yourself back to the now.  You'll handle whatever shake-up the next moment brings when you get to it.  In this moment, you're still breathing.  In this moment, you've survived.  In this moment, you're finding a way to step onto higher ground.

FRIDAY'S STORY TO INSPIRE - Pick Up Your Oar And Start Rowing

Today's story is a heartwarming story, that just makes you think in more ways then one.  Keeping it light for you today.  This finance stuff can get really heavy.

An inquiry - what is your heart wanting for you today?

Enjoy!

Pick Up Your Oar And Start Rowing

My boss, two co-workers and I stood behind the hard plastic seats. We were in the front section, on the first-base line at Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. We were so close to the infield, there was a protective net over our heads. I was new to the New York City area and had never been to Shea Stadium. These were dream seats. My heart pounded with excitement.

We stood with our umbrellas held high. The rain beat down on everything around us. It bounced off the seats and quickly formed deep puddles on the cover protecting the field.

"Steve," I asked my boss, "How did you get such great seats?"

"They came from Ed at the office. His dad is a blind sports writer and has a long- standing relationship with the Mets and Yankees."

The game was called due to rain. We left the stadium disappointed. On the long subway ride back to Jersey City, I wondered about the man behind the seats. How could a man be blind and be a sports writer?

Years have passed since that rainy night. Old friends back in Canada often ask me, "Mike, have you gone to a baseball game in New York yet?"

I say to them, "I've been to a few, but let me tell you about the best seats I ever had but couldn't use."

Whenever this happens, the memory of that night comes flashing back. I wonder about the blind sports writer. What was his story?

It had to be special.

I sat at my computer one night. An email popped into my in-box. I didn't recognize the return address. The subject line said, "Inspirational SI article about my dad, Ed Lucas." I was curious.

I opened the email. It was from a gentleman sending me a clip of a story written by Steve Rushin for Sports Illustrated. It was a wonderful read about a special man. Through the article and the man who sent it to me, I learned the full story. The following is a synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Ed Lucas ran home from his school in Jersey City. It was October 3, 1951. He arrived in time to see Bobby Thomson win the pennant for his favorite team, the New York Giants.

After the game, Ed ran out to play ball with his friends. During the game, Ed was hit between the eyes by a line drive. The force of the blow detached both retinas, leaving Ed permanently blind.

Ed became depressed. His mother, Rosanna, took matters into her own hands and took Ed to a Newark, New Jersey men's store.

There, she introduced him to Phil Rizzuto, a part-time employee of the store and a Yankee star. Phil befriended Ed.

Rosanna wasn't done yet. She wrote the Giants Manager, Leo Durocher, about her son. Leo asked her to bring Ed to, what was then called, the Polo Grounds. On June 14, 1952, young Ed sat in the clubhouse with the members of the Giants. It was the beginning of a special relationship.

Ed enrolled in St. Joseph's School for the Blind in Jersey City. The nuns were demanding. Ed learned to make his bed and match his clothes. If he whined about being blind and not being able to do what other kids could, Sister Anthony Marie was quoted saying, "Isn't that a shame? We're all in the same boat here, Ed. Pick up your oar and start rowing."

Ed enrolled in university to study communication arts. He worked hard. He knew no other way. The nuns had made sure of that.

He graduated in 1962 and became a regular in the Shea and Yankee Stadium press boxes, where he interviewed the players. Years later, a young Mets rookie, Ron Swoboda, took Ed by the hand. Together they walked the warning track around the field. Ed traced his fingers along the outfield wall. His fingers, sensitive to reading Braille, seemed to read the history of the park. Every dent, scratch and chip he touched meant something to him.

Later that year, Ed married. He and his wife had two sons - Eddie and Chris. Sadly, at a very young age, their mother left forever. Ed had to raise his two sons alone. With the strength he learned years ago at St. Joseph's, Ed took on the task. He taught his sons to be strong.

It was not uncommon for the two young boys to see Billy Martin in their home. "Huge stars like Mickey Mantle would tell me my dad was their hero," Chris was quoted as saying.

Years later, a friend came to Ed and told him about a nurse, Allison Pfeifle, whose detached retina left her legally blind and unable to continue her profession. He asked Ed to speak to her.

Ed and Allison talked on the phone for many years before meeting in person. They were baseball fanatics and spent their first date at Shea Stadium.

On March 10, 2006, at Yankee Stadium, Allison walked from the dugout to home plate and became Ed's new bride.

With his two sons at his side, Ed started a new life, at the place he holds so dear, and with the woman who captured his heart.

Ed, now 68, was quoted saying, "Baseball took my sight, but it also gave me my life."

***********************

I sat in shock. Could it be? I mailed Chris back and told him about the seats we couldn't use that rainy night.

He confirmed, his father was the man who provided those unused seats. Chris told me later, "They are the first couple in the 80 year history of the stadium to have the honor of marrying there."

I finally knew the story. It was sure worth waiting for.

Michael T Smith

Michael lives in Caldwell, Idaho with his wonderful wife Ginny. He writes in his spare time and is completing a collection of his stories to be called, “From My Heart to Yours.” Michael writes inspirational stories in his spare time. To read more of Michael's stories or to contact him, go to Michael-Timothy-Smith Stories

For support e-mail me at d.rosenfelt@cfomadeeasy.com.

Warmly -

Debbie Rosenfelt

Chief Heart Officer

CFO Made Easy

DAILY SEEDS FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

This has been an exciting week for me.  I completed creating and launching Daily Seeds for Financial Success.

Boy have I learned a heck of a lot.  I know finances like the back of my hand . . yet when I am learning something new, something I have never done before as an Entrepreneur, it takes forever just to get that new thang accomplished.  Do you find that as well?

First, let me share what Daily Seeds for Financial Success is.  It is a daily inspirational message that you receive 5 days a week and the message is around finances.  One message a day, Monday through Friday.

You receive an inspirational quote, an inquiry posed around (business) finances and then a daily affirmation. The concept, how to encourage, empower and motivate you to work consciously on your finances.  Business or Personal.

I have 28 years of experience in the finance world working with CEO's in privately held companies and I made the decision to start working on achieving my own dreams and get back to being an entrepreneur and support many, many, many CEO's, entrepreneurs and business owners at one time. 

Yet know, as you are reading this if you are not an entrepreneur or business owner YOU are the CEO and CFO of your own life.  So this does apply to you as well.  Just remove "business' from finances and there is only finances.  Treat your life, your finances like a business and you too can achieve success.

Back to the story of the creating part . . . so creating Daily Seeds for Financial Success came about last March though my meditation practice and I started writing messages.  Check . . .

Next I learned about what it would take to launch Daily Seeds for Financial Success . .

Purchase a URL that supports Financial Success ..  √ www.dailyfinancialsuccess.com

Set up hosting for the URL . . √

Set up Word Press . . √

Purchase Optimize Press . . √

Create a Banner for the Opt in page - find a designer . . . √. . Thank you Holly Firth Russell

Find someone on Odesk to set up Opt in page . . √

Create Welcome and thank you videos  . . 5 tapings later . .√

Set up all messages on Aweber and ask for help from Aweber. . √

Start promoting . . . √

These one liners do not even describe the length of dedicated time it took to get through little hurdles.  The point is, when you are committed to your DREAM . . to achieve what you see for your business, you will take all the steps needed to accomplish what you want for you, your business and the world. 

First . . go and subscribe to Daily Seeds for Financial Success so you too may be encouraged, empowered and inspired to move forward with your business and personal finances.

And be inspired to share below what your dream is for your business.  I love hearing each of your unique stories of how you started your business in the entrepreneurial world.   Be proud and celebrate every little success . . it makes our hearts stronger.

Thank you for reading and listening . . I look forward to connecting with you next time.

Warmly -

Debbie Rosenfelt

Chief Heart Officer

Chief Financial Heart Guidance - SEEKING & PRACTICING

Yesterday I read an article in the March issue of Science of Mind written by Barbara Leger who interviewed Dan Millman.  He wrote the book "The Four Purposes of Life."

I read every day, and each article, daily reading and/or book passage I read I usually receive a hit or an idea that can be applied to life, business and/or finances. 

Dan Millman's interview had a core fundamental value to consider in day to day life.  Here is a portion of what he had to share.

Seeking and Practicing

"Purpose, practice and peace  are like holographic images, entry points into the core issues of our lives.  the topic of practice centers around the ideas that we are each a H.I.T., a human-in-training, and that life is a lifelong practice."

I LOVE the idea that "we" .. i.e. each of us are a human-in-training.  SO TRUE!!  With every area of our lives. How upbeat the acronym  H.I.T. feels . . . the fact is, as a human-in-training the concept allows us to play, explore and be with whatever shows up in our lives.

The Barbara Leger interview continues, "What is the difference between 'seeking and 'practice' as it relates to living a purposeful life?" Millman responds, "the journey may indeed be more important than the destination, but without a destination to aim for, there is no journey - we only can wander." thus we seek.  We form an aim, an idea, and a mission (large or small). But seeking - having a goal, desire, intention, or wish -is only the first step. The mind provides the map; the body must make the journey.  Thinking about doing something is the same as not doing it."

How many times have you thought you made changes, because you mentally realized it must be done, but somehow still didn't do it.  Examples would be, creating a new habit to update business finances, shifting your subconscious around a new perspective, etc.

Millman continues, "In fact being a seeker can become a chronic condition - and the search can, in many cases, only reinforce the dissatisfaction that sent us seeking in the first place.  Practice provides the bridge (or stepping stones) between the map and the journey.  Practice reminds us that we are moving toward something and helps provide purpose.  And since we cannot control the outcomes, but only our efforts, we could say that practice itself is a form of success: moving in the direction of our dreams.  this is why I encourage people to DREAM BIG, but to start small - then to connect the dots.  One step, one moment at a time".

I highlight this in red to share the point of practicing and to encourage you to practice, practice, practice, play and explore with your business finances.  On a daily, weekly and monthly basis.  The act of practice, builds confidence, develops and allows exploration to try something new, and opens the door to ask questions.  All questions are good questions.

So what do you see is available here for you? 

What is next for you around business finances?

Is it to explore what is needed to get started?

Is your business growing so fast that you need to finally embrace the heart of finances, and you need to know what to do to get organized to file taxes?

Or is it to embrace growth, and you want to play to see and reveal what's possible?

I have this gift, to see Entrepreneurs and small business owners DREAMS through numbers.

So, I invite you to schedule a 30 minute complimentary finance strategy call with me to explore and see what your next step may be.  Here is the link to schedule your 30 minute financial strategy call. Complimentary 30 Minute CFO Finance Strategy Call

I look forward to connecting with you.  

Warmly -

Debbie Rosenfelt

Chief Heart Officer

FRIDAY'S STORY - LEAP FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES

I love reading the deeper message in each Friday story I receive.  I absorb more from a story, it really makes me think.  This week's leap was to create short videos to share quick tips. I tend to over think things, it's not right, I didn't say this right or I did that wrong.

ENOUGH already. How did I get over myself?

I tapped into a couple of my strong values, I know I love connecting with people and sharing knowledge. One of my strongest driving values is the Italian family connection value.  So I saw the video's as opening the door to connect with you, to share information and for you to meet the real person behind the PC.  I hope the tips have been valuable.

As you read this, reflect on what has been itching for you to take that leap.  Enjoy Friday's story.

Leap for New Opportunities

Callie, the little kitten we rescued from the brush, walked across the back of our sofa and looked anxiously at me. Her eyes were wide with anticipation. I slipped my hand under the blanket we use for naps. My fingers wiggled under the soft cloth. Callie prepared herself. Her furry bottom twitched. Callie swished her tail back and forth, as she focused on the moving blanket. I watched carefully, ready for her attack.

Callie twitched her rear end one last time, leapt into the air and with her paws spread like the wings of a bird, landed on the scary moving blanket. Armed with sharp claws and teeth, she fearlessly attacked the ferocious moving cloth. She sank her dagger sharp teeth and claws into fabric and shook her head to make sure she made the kill.

The blanket was not ready to give up. My hand, slightly protected by the blanket, fought back. Callie tumbled to the left, got a new grip on the evil blanket and was thrown to the right, where she landed on her back, but continued to do battle. The fight seemed to be over, but Callie did not give up. She withdrew her claws, ran to the end of the sofa and planned a new attack.

She dropped to the floor and watched the blanket from a new angle. Her eyes followed every movement it made. She waited for an opening in its defense and leapt on it again. She landed hard and gripped my hidden hand with a vengeance. Her claws and teeth pierced the fabric and my skin. I screamed and pulled my hand away.

Callie won! She always does.

I wish I had her fearlessness. Where would I be today, if I did what she does? I've looked at many scary moving blankets in my life. There were a few I had the courage leap on, like taking a new job in another city. Mostly, I've seen the blanket move and ran away, afraid of the challenge.

We saved Callie from a life of dumpster feeding and that little furry girl taught me a life lesson - have no fear! Accept the challenge. Leap for new opportunities.

Michael T. Smith
Michael lives in Caldwell, Idaho with his wonderful wife Ginny. He writes in his spare time and is completing a collection of his stories to be called, From My Heart to Yours. To read more of his stories, go to:
http://ourecho.com/biography-353-Michael-Timothy-Smith.shtml#stories

Debbie Rosenfelt
Chief Heart Officer

TUESDAY'S CFO TIP - ORGANZING YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS

Welcome to today's easy CFO tip, to help you organize your business financial records.

Today's tip is about setting up file folders for your business for 2012.

This past weekend I created 2012 file folders for my businesses financial records and my clients.  I picked up manila folders and I have a label maker and I created labels for:

Checking statements

Savings statements

Credit card statements for

            American Express

            Bank of America

A/P paid

2012 Deposits.

I made it easy by placing my business name at the top and then placed the description below.

For example:

Financial Mapping LLC (Insert your business name here)

2012 Deposits

An additional tip for deposits, photo copy the deposit slip and bank checks received before taking it to the bank.  Tape or staple the bank receipt to the photcopy  confirming the deposit was made, and stick it in the folder.  Anytime you have a question for a spcific customer payment you are able to go to the file folder.

Also any payment received from third party vendors, such as PayPal or a credit card company, print off the receipt and place it in your payment folder.  You will then have all deposits in your account nicely organized.

Make sure to add a tick mark or some type of indicator that you entered the deposit in to QuickBooks.

This was Tuesday CFO tip.  Was this helpful and easy?

Leave a comment, question or suggestion to let me know what easy financial tips you would like to hear about at the bottom of this blog.

Debbie Rosenfelt

Chief Heart Officer