Let me ask…Would you willingly sign up for a 30 minute job in exchange for a cup of coffee? Our students do.

The issue isn’t with making money, when push comes to shove we know how to feed ourselves. It is  that the money being made is being spent without regard to the portion of life given in exchange. i.e. I knowingly give THIS many hours of my life in exchange for the money to purchase THIS item.

Choices are everywhere… Starbucks (+$ needed) or sleep (No $ needed)? Clothing item (+$) or study (No $)? Drink something other than water (+$)? Fee based activity or free activity? Clothing store or thrift store? Eating out or preparing meals? Decor (+$) or cleaning, organizing, and taking care of what you have?

Let’s look at it differently… How much do you make per hour IF you factored in the time it took to purchase work clothes, get ready, commute, and unwind afterwards? Then add work lunches and other related costs. With that figure in mind, is a pair of jeans worth 30 hours? Is going out to eat worth staying an extra 5 hours at work?

America’s economic future needs a simple paradigm shift. Economy is just as much the wealth and resources of a country as it is the SPARING or CAREFUL use of something. If you want to change the economy be economical — be sparing and careful in your spending. Your spending includes investments set aside to spend at a later date. Spend Smart and Work Less.

I believe God will bless America IF we are worthy of blessing. My goal is lofty; it is to change America’s economy. Will you help me? As I diligently work on getting FreeToSpend into schools, colleges and universities, may I ask if you are associated with any form of education, purchase FreeToSpend for your family, see firsthand the benefits of how simple it is to incorporate into your daily life, and then schedule an appointment with your school administrator and introduce it to them.

God Bless OUR STUDENTS with the truth they need to succeed,

Sharon L. Nash

P.S. If your unfamiliar with FreeToSpend, click here.

I moved form Montana to California 3 months ago. I didn’t know anyone or have a job. I am single and 47. I am a mover and a shaker, a very outgoing person. I am a mentor for many, and yet even I face the same challenges in making new friends.

Challenges I see:

1. Insecurities.

2. Lack of communication skills.

3. Busy.

4. Lost the art of hospitality.

5. Hard time accepting new people.

6. 

   Not sure what they want or like doing.

7. Lack of imagination.

Take The Lead And Say Hello:

People are dear to my heart, and yet even I realize when people stop learning, growing, and giving they have little to nothing to add to the relationship and it often dies. I am a giving person, but I only have so much to give.

Whether we are friends for forever or out grow each other…

I will always cherish the time we spent together. I am who I am today because of the influence of you on my life.

All my love,

Sharon L. Nash

P.S. Please do not feel left out if your picture is not included. I only had so much room on this post. I love you.

Speaking from experience, both personally and through witnessing the transformation in other people’s lives here are the TOP 3 Tips for getting out of debt.

1st: You need a paradigm shift in how you see your spending, FreeToSpend provides that.

2nd: You need a way to see the impact each spending choice is creating, FreeToSpend shows you.

3rd: You need a way to communicate with those in your family who spend money, FreeToSpend sets the record straight of what you have and don’t have.

Bonus: Teach your children by example. The student version of FreeToSpend is for ages 7 to 17.

FreeToSpend is a simple paradigm shift that allows you to see the whole picture when making spending choices while opening up the communication lines. Once you begin FreeToSpend, further debt reducing ideas begin to appear. Can we give $20 of our grocery bill to our debt? Can we sell some stuff that we don’t need and apply it to our debt? etc. etc.

Check out FreeToSpend here.

FreeToSpend is currently undergoing a packaging redesign. Here is a sneak peak at the new logo. It is fresh and exciting. The work of Toby Sudduth of www.SudduthDesign.com. Thank you, Toby! You are the greatest!

Ever experience talking to an employee and even though they are looking at you, they are not hearing anything you are saying? Are the bill collectors words of losing their house or the spouse saying, “I want a divorce.” drowning out your voice?

Here are The Top Ten Culprits of Stolen Productivity:

Relationship Issues

Financial Issues

Poor Communication

Lack of Sleep

Low Self-Esteem

Lack of Focus

Poor Hygiene

No Passion

No Purpose

No Drive

The Top Two outranks them all. Resolving the first two issues will help correct the latter. Having available the self-help tools for your employees both relationally and financially will show you care not only about getting the job done but also about them.

Here are Two Solutions that can improve your bottom line. Have available for all employees Free To Spend. It is a simple empowering decision making tool that helps an employee see their paychecks and spending options proactively. It takes less than 45 minutes to learn. Plus an added benefit, the same concept works for their spouse and children. Secondly, have available and recommend reading the book Live The Life You Choose. We all know someone in a relationship that they should not be in. One in four women have been in an abusive relationship. Knowing someone who has been there, gotten out, and now thrives will teaching others what is healthy vs unhealthy relationally will give them hope that they can do it to.

Then the next step towards greater productivity is up to them.

If your relationship is a mess, your finances are a mess, and when your finances are a mess, quite frankly you don’t care about work — and it shows.

I begin each day with devotions/quiet time with God. He is the source of my inspiration and drive. He creates in me a thirst for knowledge and a quest to change the world. Out of the love and acceptance that He has shown me, I love others. My heart is filled with a child-like ambition to have everyone come out and play with me. My greatest desire is others would know the true peace and happiness that I know.

I am a sponge. All that I absorb is filtered through my experiences, my beliefs, and my conversations with God. I enjoy reading how to books, autobiographies of great men and talking with random strangers. To me strangers are family members that I haven’t yet met and taken the time to hug on and hear their story.

I am fascinated to know why a person thinks the way they do and what has shaped their core values. I continually ask why. I find when someone asks for advise, they already know the answer they are looking for and are needing reassurance that what they feel to do is the right thing. And sometimes they need to be reminded that we all have the freedom of choice to do what we feel is right at the time. The idea to pose the questions I am asked to my facebook friends and see what their comments were was simple courisouty.

If you have a question, something weighing on your mind, email me, I will anonymously post the question and together we can see if what others think you should do is what you think.

All my love,

Sharon L. Nash

To find out more about me check out my website. www.SharonLNash.com

YouTube Analytics showed that 10% of online marketing to websites is being funneled through YouTube Videos. So let’s look at what may be stopping you from increasing your profit margin by 10%.

1. FEAR OF LOOKING STUPID: If you are like me, maybe you are too critical of yourself. I look at the two YouTube Videos I did in the past and can point out every flaw. UGH. I say this to myself as well as to you, “Get over yourself.” Do you have something that could help my life. Please show me. Below is my first video. It was a Christmas gift for an unsuspecting client. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT: Most of us have some form of recording devise on our computers,   mobile phones or on an actual camera. There are lots of variances in what is the best equipment for you and what will it cost? Research it. However the question lingering in my mind is — are you using the “I don’t have the right equipment” as an excuse?

3. DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY: I am a stranger. I walk up and meet you. What do you say? Most of the time you would introduce yourself. Start the conversation by telling me who you are and what you enjoy. Then, share with me something you know that may benefit my life. Keep it short, as my attention span is seldom longer than 3 minutes. In my second YouTube Video I am reading a list. I don’t like how my eyes shift down when reading the 38 Red Flags. The background setting, the lighting and even the sound passes my inspection. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

 4. DON’T KNOW HOW: Think of the process of gaining knowledge this way, IF a grade schooler can learn — so can you. There are 50,400 hours of YouTube videos uploaded every day eagerly wanting to show you how to_________ (Fill in the blank).

We have what we have because that is all we are willing to do. Want a 10% gain in your business? Give yourself a raise by developing your YouTube presence.

I will see you there,

Sharon L. Nash

 Is this something your parents talked to you about? I have found the general population takes sex all too lightly, yet is eager to discuss the subject.

When I hear a parent state, “I got my 15 year old set up for birth control so when she is ready…”

“Ready for what I want to scream back! Are you willing to have her pay the cost of sex?”

If you can answer YES after reading all 10 costs…

Then by all means go ahead and find as many partners as possible to have sex with. Don’t go onto a matchmaking site listing a false pretense. State your intentions. Know how far the other person is willing to go before the first date.

The 10 Costs Of Sex:

1. Love Me More Than I Love You:  People have been known to do crazy things in the name of love or rather lust. They have quit jobs, moved across the country, lost sleep, taken up hobbies they don’t enjoy, listen to music they abhor, gag down food they don’t like, worn clothes they don’t typically wear, and are even interested in people they can’t stand. When you don’t love yourself enough to be 100% you, while in a relationship you will find you are day by day losing a part of who you are until one day you wake up and don’t know who is staring back at you in the mirror.
2. Lost That Loving Feeling: When the music is playing and the lighting is low, things we would never do in the daylight are done. As the sun rises so does regret, disappointment, and sadness levels. Your feelings are road signs reminding you, you were made for greater things. What great thing were you made for?
3. The Not-For-Forever Breakup: A survey conducted by eNation revealed 1/3 of all Americans have experienced a breakup. Uncoupling is a common devastating emotional experience. Whether you were living together , married, or just “sexing” (dating never seemed like the right word to me) the emotional trauma is similiar.
4. BUT The Sex Was Great: There are eight forms of abuse before physical or sexual abuse happen. Every two minutes a woman is raped in the United States. 1.3 million women are assault each year by an intimate partner. With a swollen black eye I heard a woman declare, but the sex was great. Without the sex are you still in a great relationship?
5. Sign Up For Grief, Here: Because of the hardwiring at birth, the inventor tells us the sexual union is meant to do four things: Bind you together spiritually where you actually have each other imprinted on your brains. Blind you from seeing the other person clearly so you can live more peacefully together. Provide long drawn out passionate orgasms – God’s gift to humanity. And create babies. When we toss aside the manual, we get caught in the cross fire. When the sex stops in a relationship there is often grief. The stages of grief are shock and disbelief, followed by review and painful relinquishment. In order to move through grief we need to come to a place of reorganization, integration and acceptance.
6. Paying For Storage:  What do you do with the stuff you refuse to process and let go of? Unless you clean up and take care of the emotional baggage, the partner in the new relationship will pay the price for the former lover’s mistakes. Is it time to clean out the storage shed?
7. Death Or Disease By Choice: There are more than 25 Sexually Transmitted Diseases that are “shared” from sexual activity. Approximately 19 million new infections occur annually in the United States, half are among people 15 to 24, the other half is among “informed” adults. It is estimated 7 million people die each year from STDs. How do you want to die?
8. Opps, Is A Little Lame: National data shows there are three million unplanned pregnancies per year, over half are aborted. It always amazes me when women are shocked they are pregnant. It happens only one way.
9. A Price Tag Of $60,480: Yes, that right. According to the US Senses the average payment of child support is $280 per month. Was the sex worth it?
10. Your Final Destination: Is it going to be Heaven or Hell? Sure we may not want to think about death in the heat of the moment. However,  speaking of heat… If you are Hell bent, I would recommend you do all the sinning you can do, as it is enjoyable — well, at least for a season. If sin wasn’t fun no one would be doing it. If you are heaven minded, there is no action that is going to award you a free ticket, nor will any action take your ticket away. The price was paid for your sin, it’s a free gift. Your choice is to accept or decline the gift. To accept you admit your a sinner,  embrace the need for a Savior, turn 180 degree from your sin and follow Christ.

The 10 costs of sex are spelled out, with this information in mind, make an informed choice of what is best for you. Are you willing to pay the cost? Is your 15 year old willing to pay the cost?

Sharon L. Nash

Or compared to putting together a 3D puzzle, rebuilding an engine, and making a five course meal all at once.

Depending upon how complicated your website is and how anal you are on design, functionality, and flow you may find yourself a week later, still not quite done. Remember the joy is in the journey just as much as it is in the destination.

I found these three things the most helpful.

1. Watching YouTube videos several times, before you begin and while you are doing the steps, will help you comprehend the task at hand. The YouTube videos I found the most helpful where done by this person: Click here for Screen Cast Library’s YouTube videos on learning WordPress.
2. For learning basic HTML coding, I found www.w3schools.com was very insightful. Click here for www.w3schools.com.
3. A good attitude was essential. Learning is all about finding the answers that you need.

It happens to anyone regardless of race, age, educational background or financial status. How do they get there, why do they keep growing, and how do I to get rid of them? Let’s call in a paper exterminator!

Hello, Paper Exterminator at your service!

First, let’s dissect the paper pile to find out exactly what we are dealing with…

1. Financial items requiring action.
2. Bills to be paid.
3. Invoices and receipts to file, some to throw away.
4. Other people’s paper piles.
5. Ideas to consider in our businesses or personal life, others to throw away.
6. Adventures to experience some day, a few to throw away.
7. Things we have no idea what to do with, and objects to throw away.
8. Pictures to put in a picture box and ones to throw away.
9. Coupons for saving money, many to throw away.
10. AND LASTLY, STUFF TO THROW AWAY.

Yes, you are correct, the majority of your paper piles consist of stuff to throw away. So, let’s dig deeper and see why your paper pile looks so monstrous at times and what can be done to conquer the clutter.

1. Financial papers: These papers often remain in the pile and on the To Do list when they require funds which are not accessible. Create a file called “Financial Action Items.” Proceed to do everything required up until the payment, so that you are ready to secure closure when the funds are available.
2. Bills to pay: IF you do not have the money needed to take care of obligations as soon as they come in, those papers logically go into the pile along with a heaviness in your spirit of failure and defeat. But let’s stop right there. Make a file called “Bills to Pay” and on the folder write: “Am I working towards changing my financial position?” If so, write “YES,” along with, “My self-worth is not based on whether or not I can pay my bills.” IF you find you have the money and still don’t pay the bills on time ask yourself, “Why?” Often times it stems from the fear of not having enough. In this case, ask yourself two questions: Is this an item I need? Does it prevent me from creating an emergency savings? If you don’t need it or it is preventing you from saving, cancel the service immediately. IF this is something you do need switch your thoughts from yourself to the providers and ask would you expect payment when it is due or whenever the client felt like it?
3. Invoices / Receipts: The world of online buying and banking has thankfully made a reduction in the invoices and receipt pile. However, the switch to paperless is often difficult bringing with it a feeling of loss of control. And yet, what control is there in piles of papers? On your computer make files for each month. Drop into each appropriate month the bills, receipts and invoices that you receive for that month. Do the same thing for the physical papers. When you receive your bank statement, summarize your spending online with a spreadsheet or on the physical bank statement and if the item is on your statement and you don’t see that you are going to return the item throw the receipt or invoice away. Aim to go paperless in as many ways as possible. Check with your accountant to see if proof of the item being deducted from your account is adequate.
4. Other people’s paper piles: Give them back when at all possible. Otherwise, follow the same rule as yours.
5. Ideas To Consider: Creating an Ideas box and throw the items in there. When it starts to overflow go through it and toss the least important ones.
6. Adventures To Experience: Same as the Ideas To Consider.
7. How Did This Get In Here? When you don’t know where to put it The Salvation Army is a great place to store stuff.
8. Picture: The digital age is certainly a blessing. Take the time to go through and categorize photos, delete the not-so-great shots and periodically change up your display of cherished loved ones and places. Create a Photo Box and toss photos in.
9. Coupon Craze: Yes, a coupon will save you money and at the same till cost you money. We exchange part of ourselves everyday for the things we love. What is your time worth? By all means clip those coupons you regularly use. Put them either in a filing system or in a box. Before going shopping or out to eat see if their is a coupon for the activity or item. A penny saved is a penny earned as long as it didn’t cost you two pennies to save the one.
10. Stuff To Throw: Not only does your paper pile have things to toss, if you looked around your house you would also find objects that are taking up physical space with no added benefit in return. Give yourself permission to get rid of anything that diminishes the quality of your life.

Reminder about life: In life we are daily bombarded with pests such as: decisions, tasks, and papers. Oftentimes they grow out of proportion under the false identity of busyness. Busyness is not a fact, it is a place in our mind where worry has the upper hand. We live a certain number of days and then we die. When passing on, our paper pile will either be picked up by someone else, gone through, or thrown in the trash. Don’t sweat the small stuff, exterminate today.

Live the life you choose,

Sharon L. Nash

I question myself why didn’t I do that for the first book – spinning my wheels Should I go back and do it for the first book – going backwards

Once my analyzing mind played with the question wisdom ended the insanity with: Give yourself a break, every step is a step forward. It is the knowledge gained from having been up against a wall, going nowhere or retracing your steps which is needed to propel you forward.When you are moving forward remember the words of Steve Jobs: Stay Hungry: don’t be too easily satisfied or grow too comfortable. And Stay Foolish: Be okay thinking of yourself as a “fool” in an overly serious world.

When things in your path do not feel like they are going in the direction that you want them to, be okay with it. Take a nap, a break, go for a short walk or go sit in the hot tub. Then come back and start again.

Keep moving forward,

Sharon L. Nash

Do you cover up the feeling of hurt or disappointment with a snide remark? Do you quickly cast it aside and keep fishing?

When I feel like I am searching for a diamond in an endless haystack I stop and review my efforts, my message, and then the haystack – my target market. IF any of them are off course I make the needed adjustments and return to work.

I do not keep track of rejections. I do not count how many no’s I receive before I arrive at a yes. My focus is on listening to feedback, making modifications where need be, and visualizing the look and feel of having the diamond in my hand.

Every no is simply pointing me in the direction I am to go.

Go for the diamond,

Sharon L. Nash

Will it create a new future for you or will it sidetrack you?

When our brain is in a dream state it rehearses the events of past days and projects into the future possible scenarios. Sometimes you will remember your dreams other times not. If brought to memory moments after you awaken, you are being provided with the opportunity to research the idea and see if there are justifiable reasons for pursuing the vision.

The idea of creating a site called Verified by Sharon occurred, after having spent the past 10 days searching through Craigslist and apartment rental sites for housing. Thoughts: other people relocating could come to this site or find the insignia on craigslist knowing that this listing has been verified by me. I could feature services to landlords of taking pictures, creating a floor plan, properly listing features and neighborhood setting, as well as suggesting property improvements. To renters I would visit the places they are thinking of renting to verify the information and fill in missing pieces. I could also offer services for interior design, organization, and networking once they arrived.

Sound like a good idea or bad? Let’s see…

Pros: From my perspective, it is a needed service. My name and who I am backs me as a person who is trustworthy. I have the ability and the skills. It would be enjoyable and creative work. I would meet people.

Con: It conflicts with my goal to market my writing, speaking and financial concept.

Solution: Tell my son… I have a business idea for you.

Here’s to ideas,

Sharon L. Nash

My excuse is I lived the majority of my life as a homemaker, flying by the seat of my pants while taking care of everyone around me. That is who I am. When I am stressed I stop working and start cleaning and organizing. Once everything is back into order and everyone is taken care of I peacefully return to work. Excuses have to go if you are going to be successful.

To be an entrepreneur means I am stating to the world that I am someone who makes money through risk and initiative. Someone who takes full responsibility for the outcome of my business be it to perish or flourish. If I eat and pay my bills is a result of the efforts I put in today.

For me planning a week in advance down to the hour makes me feel paralyzed and causes panic. Acknowledging my weakness, I write down or review tomorrow’s work before I go to bed. My average day consists of 2 hours per day on marketing, 2 hours on new speaking events, and 2 hours on creative planning and design, and 2 hours once a week working on paperwork.

Without a set time, you may feel like you are not getting enough done. How much is enough for one day? There are times I have so much to do, I wonder how I will get it all finished and can feel quite overwhelmed.

Advise: What I write down, I accomplish. Give it a try, write down what you want to get done and keep the list in sight. The only thing you have to lose is one more thing off your list.

To the power of writing it down,

Sharon L. Nash

It clearly defined myself, Karest, and Cody yesterday, and then when you think things could not possibly get any worse you are sucker punched.

Place and after place was a no go. We had set out early to search for possible locations to live, knowing that we first needed to figure out where we were going to live so that we could find jobs relatively close to our home. One place was beautiful and fit us personally, yet the price caused an uneasiness in my gut.

Thoughts: We had not made any headway.

Feelings: We all wanted to cry. The pressure in my heart was squeezing tight. 

A good nights sleep was had. Sleep helps to put things into perspective. We have one day at a time to live, there are no guarantees of tomorrow. Can I shake the stress by tomorrow?

It just didn’t feel right. The next day while Karest headed to a job interview, Cody slept, and I searched for more places. Karest returned informing us it just didn’t feel right.  She questioned how can something not feel right when it was all falling into place.

Advise: You will know when it is the right job, just as we will know when we get there if it is the right place to live. You will also know if and when you are suppose to do something different with your life or your business.

A sucker punch saying, “Welcome Home.” As we got into Karest’s car, I glanced over at my car and realize one of Cody’s bikes have been stolen. The lock is gone. NO FLIPPING WAY — UGH!!! We all wanted to scream, cry, and run home. This is more than we can bear or so we felt at the moment. It was little consolation that I recalled the second week of living in “safe” Kalispell, MT both Cody’s and my bikes were stolen from the front yard! What a welcome.

And yet more STRESS. We found a place. We all felt a great sense of peace overcome us as we toured the complex. We knew this is home. As we filled out the applications, we were relieved we found the place. Though we had cash on hand for several months rent, we didn’t have verifiable income of $4000, and they could not process the paper work. Stress 1: Get jobs and letter of wage verification before Saturday or Stress 2 occurs: The u-haul is due back in two days, find storage unit and unload it, knowing that we will have to load it again and unload it.

Be stress free,

Sharon L. Nash

And when someone else packs for you you may find yourself in my predicament — clothes to sleep in, sweater of some sort, and papers I need this morning are all nicely packed in the U-Haul far out of reach.Last night, I didn’t sleep well my body was exhausted and sore from all the activity of packing. There were no racing thoughts, just an overflowing thankfulness that I have been able to stay in this beautiful house for three years while it has been in foreclosure.

Feelings: I am over tired and a bit frustrated that I am not more organized. I believe the frustration is spurred on by the fear of the unknown. What is going to happen? Where will we live? Excitement and peace have a way of bringing everything into it’s proper place of you will know when you know.

Thoughts: I am very organized so just relax. You actually don’t need to control the universe. When you are moving give yourself some slack. Go with the flow and smile there is a new adventure waiting for you.

Don’t fight change,

Sharon L. Nash