Knowing I wanted this article to take a hard look at our concept of money, I started out with the picture for this article first before I wrote it. What is it exactly about money that makes many of us uncomfortable? A good place to start is to look back at our early views of money.

Childhood concepts

When you were growing up, how did your family view money? Did your parents talk about money? What were their conversations about money? In my household. money wasn’t really ever mentioned. I remember always living in a nice, middle-class home. We weren’t rich, but we always had enough food on the table, heat in the winter time, and clothes to wear.

My mother made most of my clothes. I know she liked to sew. Looking back, I don’t know if she made my clothes because she couldn’t afford to buy them from a store, or if she just liked to create.

My parents never talked about money. My dad and my mom grew up in the depression. They were always frugal and held on tight to their money like they were afraid to let go. Like I said, they didn’t say much about money; it was what they didn’t say.

Fast forward to today. My dad passed away about 8 years ago and since then, my mom has lived by herself. Mom inherited money from my grandparents many years ago, which has been in a special bank account since then. Mom is afraid to touch it because she lives on a fixed income and says if she starts spending it, how will she live in her later years? Mom is 80.

Mom doesn’t buy new clothes because she can’t afford it. She lives in constant fear of lack. She is struggling right now to keep on the internet. She got the internet for a $14.00 a month special, and it is now $29.99 per month. She thinks she may cancel because of the money. My mom has somewhere between $50,000 -$100,000 in money stashed away for a rainy day. She is not enjoying any benefits of her inheritance.

How this affects me

I realize looking back on my childhood that my money concepts started as a child and continued into adulthood. I married a minister in a denomination which holds the belief that the minister shouldn’t have any money. I’ve lived with a mentality of lack all of my life. After going through many coaching programs, I have a mental realization that God doesn’t desire lack for my life, but abundance in all areas. So why is it that I still have this money block?

In my head, I KNOW I have value and worth in the content I share. I have been a nurse for 22 years and have extensive knowledge of natural health. Why is it I haven’t been able to monetize this passion and let abundance flow through me?

As I am teaching these free classes, more and more people tell me, “Joyce, you really could charge for your information.” Am I still coming from this mental mindset of money, passed down through the generations?

I KNOW I am. Does this need to change? YES! God CANNOT flow financial blessings from me to others when there is a block about this subject. I have allowed false beliefs of money to hinder the flow of money. Money is called currency. That’s because it’s supposed to FLOW…

Getting ready to flow

I have one class coming up on Healthy Chocolate. It will be free. I’ve already announced it is free. Guess what? The next class I have, I will be charging for it. It will be worth what I charge for it. My knowledge is worthy of a paying audience. Working through the mental money blocks has not been easy for me. I am realizing people will never take my knowledge and worth seriously if I am not taking it seriously. Guess what? Money cometh!

Joyce Harrell, RN, OCN is a Christian holistic nurse who provides natural solutions to common health problems. Joyce utilizes the art of nursing by implementing essential oils, enzyme therapy, vision boards, wellness coaching, and nutritional therapy to help you create an environment for your body to best heal.

Joyce is a wife, mother, nana, author, holistic healer, and above all committed to her relationship with God. You can find Joyce at www.NurseCoachOnline.com or email her at joyce@nursecoachonline.com.

I have been sad lately. I won’t go into why, just that I feel I have lost something  important and meaningful to me. I have taken steps to overcome this sadness and was driving myself crazy, trying to figure out why I couldn’t get past this brick wall of depression that I kept hitting.  I was using the tools that I have to overcome it, but apparently not the right tools for knocking down a wall. Why couldn’t I allow myself to feel happiness?

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:12, “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.”

Tonight my weird thinking brain came up with this. It’s like frosting a cake that tastes like poop. I mean, who would waste perfectly good and delicious icing (happiness) on a cake that tastes like crap?

I still don’t know the answer to that. I guess I need to bake another cake. I am missing key ingredients. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I had too many ingredients and that’s why my cake tasted awful.

Now I need to figure out a new recipe for a cake so I can ice it, and it can be the lovely, delicious, and happy cake for which I’ve been yearning.

Or maybe the problem is that I need to be making something else… like chicken.

The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment is to give up what you are for what you might become. – W. E. B. Du Bois

Lauren Zotz, BBA, is currently working as a Medical Assistant for physician-assisted weight loss, works summers as a lifeguard, teaches Zumba, and is studying to become certified in personal training. 

Lauren intends to use this training along with her life experiences and unique motivational ability to help others reach their goals physically, as well as mentally and spiritually.

We are excited to partner with Thomas Nelson Publishing who is, “thrilled about the endorsement.”

The book was given to me in 2006 as a gift from one of my friends, colleagues, and mentors Kelly Thorne Gore, who is the founder of iBloom.us and EmpoweringCoaches.com and also a NACWE member. Sarah Young’s words have served as my healing balm, pruning tool, and proverbial couch as I have walked through the start of NACWE, numerous moves of my home and my office, a plane crash, and the ending of my ten-year marriage.  As Sarah shares from her own prayer journal, she speaks to my darkest places, hitting the target as the sharpest of arrows.  But her words also comfort me like a blanket; speak directly to me each day, no matter my circumstances.

Jesus Calling® is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue. She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure. Over 3 million in print.

– ThomasNelson
http://bit.ly/JesusCallingDevo

Many of our members use this devotional already, or have the iphone or ipad app.

Here’s what a couple had to share about their experience:

Because I am passionate about the use of writing as a healing tool, I was immediately drawn to Sarah Young’s willingness to journal her way into a deeper intimacy with Jesus. I envision her pen in hand, ear cocked for His voice, willing to step into the hard places. The outflow is an uplifting encouragement for us to draw closer, deeper into Him, and to be affirmed, nurtured, and reassured by Jesus’ very presence.

Jo Ann Fore
Founder, Write Where It Hurts
www.WriteWhereItHurts.org

I was given this book in September 2008 and it literally saved me through my greatest trial to this point- the ending of my 30-year marriage!  It never fails that I’ll read it in the morning and think, “God, how did you know I need to hear this today?!” I am going through it for the 4th time and it continues to speak to me daily!   I have given away about 75 copies because I want everyone to experience this amazing devotional!  

Lori Burrell, iBloom Associate
www.ibloom.us

I found myself down on my knees stricken with anxiety one morning at 3 am.  I was asking God to give me peace and direction on the path He was leading me.  I then got up, went to down the hall to the restroom and found the book Jesus Calling laying there on the table.  I began to read and immediately felt peace as though God was talking directly to me through this book I had found.  And since then there is not a day that goes by that I don’t turn to Jesus Calling to fill me spiritually.  I truly believe it was a God thing.

Georgeanne Wimberley
www.rwTrainingkennel.com

I’m passionate about the impact this book can have on your lives. So much so, that I approached Sarah Young and Thomas Nelson publishing about this partnership. And they were excited to partner with us, wanting to sow into the lives of Christian women entrepreneurs.

If you don’t have the book, go get it today!

This book will serve as the cornerstone for members of NACWE as we walk through the entrepreneurial path each day, watching for God’s promptings, listening for the still small voice of our Father, and trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Come walk (and read) with us! 

Facebook community at www.facebook.com/JesusCalling and Twitter at @Jesus_Calling

Connect with us at www.nacwe.org or join our fanpage at www.facebook.com/NACWE

Diane Cunningham is the Founder and President of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs.  She is a “business therapist”, plane crash survivor, author, consultant, speaker, marathon runner, and fun friend.  Find out more about NACWE and why 165 women joined in the first year at www.nacwe.org.  Connect with Diane at www.facebook.com/DianeCunningham for fun updates, silly videos, and lively conversation. 

You work hard on your business. Competition is expected. So what are you dealing with as feelings of jealousy or envy arise when a competitor or friend is excelling in business and you aren’t? Are there explanations for these feelings and what can we do to avoid them? How can you move forward in business?

Self-Image

How is your self-image? Do you struggle with areas of worthiness? The way we feel about others is a reflection of our own struggles. Do you have false belief systems that override your brilliance? Investing in a good coaching program or doing research on this subject can be a key to unblock this area. It is essential for you to be grounded in who you are or you will always look at the success of others with an envious eye.

Skills

How do you handle areas of your business where you are not skillful? Do you look at websites of others in your field and wish your site looked better? How does this make you feel? Are you envious that others have something on their site that you wanted to add?

You need to change your thinking about this. Hire someone to do what you can’t do. If your budget is an issue, then do research online. You can learn to do anything you set your mind to do. Do a Google search to get information on any skill you need to acquire. Successful people do or delegate.

Sabotage

Many times when you aren’t seeing movement in your business, it can be due to self-sabotage. Sabotage comes when you get stuck and can’t move forward in business. You consciously or unconsciously do things to get in the way of your success.

Sometimes you look at others’ work and feel you’ll never measure up. Do you ever have the thought that you could never be as successful as XYZ? You place your eyes on the success of others and off the steps you need to take.

Success

I read somewhere this week that jealousy often arises because somebody else is already successful at something we are trying to do, should be doing, or can be doing, but aren’t. I can write this because I have been this person. I can’t tell you how many times I have been confronted by my insecurities. Success isn’t measured by how much money we are producing. Success comes when we have our eye on the purpose God has given us and we continue moving forward.

Do not look at the success of others with the green eye of jealousy. Realize God has purposed YOU, and when you are purposed, He will give provision. If you are stuck, find a business coach. Delegate what you can’t do. Embrace the success of others. Keep moving forward!

Joyce Harrell, RN, OCN is a Christian holistic nurse who provides natural solutions to common health problems. Joyce utilizes the art of nursing by implementing essential oils, enzyme therapy, vision boards, wellness coaching, and nutritional therapy to help you create an environment for your body to best heal.

Joyce is a wife, mother, nana, author, holistic healer, and above all committed to her relationship with God. You can find Joyce at www.NurseCoachOnline.com or email her at joyce@nursecoachonline.com.

Success comes with struggles – new struggles, unknown struggles, struggles with which you have no prior experience. Through those struggles are opportunities to grow in faith, love and trust, to come to know yourself fully, and to embrace who you are and own your power! Is it an easy journey? No, but it is worth every second of the faith walk.

Recently, a small success brought about a strong reaction from someone in my inner circle. This person has been a huge support to my growing business, so it was not the reaction I expected.

Instead of focusing on my disappointment or allowing myself to be angry, I stepped back and I looked at the situation from this person’s perspective. This allowed me to let go of my disappointment before resentment and my attachment to the reaction. I focused on the lessons to be learned and the opportunities for personal growth for both of us.

Quickly it became obvious that this situation was necessary to bring a new level of faith and understanding on both sides. Sometimes a struggle or a success in our life is needed to help another person along in his or her personal journey.

The situation has been resolved for both of us, and here are some tips I learned along this journey!

Not everyone in your personal circle with be excited or supportive of your business and may be outright unsupportive or sabotaging. Well-meaning as they may be, your family and friends are probably in the traditional thought of, “Get a job, get a paycheck.” Not everyone understands utilizing their God-given talents through serving others or through entrepreneurship.

Protect yourself from the negativity by only sharing with those who are supportive and with creating your support circles in business elsewhere. This is one of the things I love about NACWE – it’s a safe space to share ideas and struggles and to get the support I need to stay energized about my business, despite what others are saying. I have like-minded friends who are entrepreneurs, moms, and God-loving.

I am in daily contact with at least one of these incredible women to share my successes and struggles with someone who understands and supports my growth in all of these areas. I call them my “Success Sisters.” They are my mastermind team who love me and my dream. Together, we are growing in faith and success.

When you find yourself defending your business, be prepared! Do you know you are serving as God intends? If you answered “YES,” you have God-confidence in your business. You don’t need to bother explaining your choices to people who won’t understand. Just smile (or not) and reply with, “You might be right,” “I’ll take that into consideration,” or “Thank you for sharing your concern.”

Remember, you shouldn’t take business advice from anyone unless it is coming from someone who has achieved business success. Someone who has always been an employee doesn’t understand the 2-5 process of building a business, and they are NOT who you should seek counsel from in your business.

Finally, remember WHY you are in business. Understanding your WHY will be your anchor in times of turmoil. Being clear on your WHY will keep you focused on moving forward, instead of being derailed by someone’s opinion. Your WHY is from your heart. It is the place, I believe, where God speaks to us, and “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:32)

Kate Powers is a published author, speaker, consultant and coach. Kate has been helping women in business achieve greater success while achieving live balance for over 10 years.

Visit Kate at http://KFPowers.com.

Speaker: L.O. Nelson
Feb 20^th, 2012 at 1pm CST
Members Only

Bio:

Following the completion of college and graduate school, Mr. Nelson was atPurdueUniversityfor 16 years in the Department of Biochemistry.

After his departure from Purdue, Mr. Nelson founded and owned a private environmental and computer consulting business for eight years.

Upon his return toWichita Fallsin the early 90s, Mr. Nelson managed the family office supply business until its closure in the mid-90s.

In 1996 he joined theSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenteras a business analyst, becoming Assistant Director in 1999.

Mr. Nelson has trained and worked in the areas of environmental chemistry, computer applications and small business issues for over 35 years.

He is an avid racquetball player having earned his way to the state senior racquetball championships three times, winning his division twice.

He is married with three grown children and four grandchildren.

Speaker: Dr. Daisy Sutherland aka “Dr. Mommy”
Feb 6th, 2012 at 6pm CST
Members Only

Bio:

Dr. Daisy Sutherland is the Founder/CEO of Dr. Mommy. She is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Author, Speaker, Radio Personality, mom to 5 beautiful children and wife to a loving a supportive super-husband. She is a sought after speaker to share her knowledge of health and wellness.

Her main mission is to Inspire, Motivate and Encourage you to achieve the balance necessary to succeed in your life with her ‘Get Real’ approach to health and wellness and life in general. As a Doctor her main purpose and passion is to educate people about their health. Not only how to live a healthier lifestyle but more importantly the connection of the body, mind and spirit. When the 3 are truly connected, you will ultimately, without question live a happier and healthier life.

Dr. Sutherland shares her experiences weekly on her Family Talk Radio show on Blog Talk Radio as well as monthly on the nationally syndicated Mom Talk Radio. She can also be seen gracing the stages of local and national churches sharing her story with the masses. And if that was not enough, she shares her knowledge by authoring several books with the latest : Dr. Mommy’s Survival Guide for Busy Mom’s (Charisma House Publishing) slated for the Fall 2012.

Be sure to visit her website: Dr. Mommy Online (http://drmommyonline.com) or connect with her on the various social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook as Dr. Mommy as well.

I left the grocery store with my shoulders slumped. I had prepped for the trip by planning meals, clipping coupons, price matching and making an impeccable list. I knew exactly which stores I was going to and had it planned down to the minute detail. At the first store, I stayed in my budget. The second store was a different story. I had forgotten a couple of household items on my list, I went over budget. My planning was not a victory; instead, I was suffering another defeat.

Defeat is an amazing beast. It creeps into your life and before you know it, it takes over and defines you. Over the last few years, I have let defeat be my friend and not my enemy. Defeat takes your eyes off of what’s important and brings the focus to your past, your failures and everything you don’t like about your life at that moment. Any vision you may have for your life or for your business is clouded over when you embrace defeat.

Embrace God’s plan for you

The apostle Paul is an amazing example of pushing the defeats aside to embrace the plan and the victory God has planned for you. From the beginning of Paul’s ministry, he could have given in to defeat. Throughout the cities he traveled, he always had opposition, but instead of allowing the opposition to make him weak, it made him stronger. His message grew louder with each negative shout. His praise for his Lord and Savior became more passionate with each nay sayer in the crowd. His defeats didn’t define him, his victory in Jesus’ name over them did.

Back to my grocery trip…Going over my budget was only part of the defeat I was giving into that day. That one defeat reminded me of all of the defeats over the past few years. If only I had gone back to work immediately after moving, then the grocery store would not be a problem. If only my business was thriving, then I could provide for my family and there would be no guilt as I brought the bags of groceries into the house. How are we going to make ends meet with this paycheck if I overspent today?

Pursue the path – even when it’s not totally clear

As I was driving down the road, I was becoming more of a mess with all of these thoughts in my head. Then I hear a little two year old voice from the back seat sing, “You put the light in me,” and he keeps singing it over and over. He is singing a song about how God put a light in him to shine for all people.

In that moment, I sat a little taller and pushed defeat away. I had a victory. Not having that permanent paycheck from working outside the home has allowed me to be the mom I want to be to my boys. It is allowing me to pursue the path God has for me, even when I don’t see it all clearly.

Defeat is not your song

I will no longer let defeat define me. No matter where you are in your life – starting a business, growing a business, pushing through a divorce – you cannot let defeat be your song. Let your defeats fall quickly at the hands of your victories, and the life God has planned for you will be a much better journey of joy.

Alison Gillaspie is a marketing expert who has a deep passion for seeing small businesses and non-profits thrive through correct marketing practices. She loves seeing businesses work through a branding process and embrace their a-ha moment in marketing that is going to make their business succeed. Her marketing technique is very sensitive to the workings of God and the Holy Spirit within each business.

Alison lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and two boys. She loves working with her clients and is ready to work with you today. Check out her website www.DeepRootedMarketing.com for more details of her marketing services that will make your business succeed!

Guest Post by Cheryl Cope

Spiritual self care—how to take care of your spirit

Your spirit needs self care just as much as your physical body does. Being “busy” as an entrepreneur is not an excuse for not taking the time to do spiritual self care. On the contrary, it just means that you may need to do a little extra planning or work a little harder to turn some beneficial actions into habits.

Spiritual self care at its root is connecting with God privately and corporately in relationship. Relationship at its core is simply talking and listening, back and forth.

Talking to God

Talking to God is usually the easier part of the two main components of relationship. Still, it doesn’t always happen automatically. You need a specific time set aside to talk to God. For some people, this may mean making an appointment in your calendar just like you write down your doctor’s appointments. For others, it may come a little more naturally, either through practice or personality.

Take some time to talk to God. This is what a lot of people typically call “prayer.” You can do this either out loud or silently in your head, although I don’t recommend doing all of your talking to God silently. You can talk to God about anything because He cares about everything about you.

For an entrepreneur, you don’t want to leave out talking to God about your business. You may want to set aside a specific time each morning, or set aside time before each meal, or set an alarm on your computer or smartphone for a few minutes throughout the day, whatever works for you. For this private talking time, it works best if you have solitude and quiet.

Listening to God

Listening to God seems to be the harder aspect of our relationship with God. Listening needs to involve reading God’s word in some form. The word of God is likened to spiritual food. (See 1 Peter 2:2, Heb. 5:13-14.)

For most people that means they need to interact with God’s word on a daily basis. Exactly how you interact with God’s word is a personal matter, but it usually involves reading, memorizing, meditating, or studying.

I recommend getting into a quiet place alone and reading God’s word until you hear from God—until something “jumps out” at you. Stop and do something with that verse; turn it into a prayer, meditate on it, obey it.

There is a listening to God that is apart from His written word as well. God likes to speak to His children all day long in various ways. Pay attention to your dreams, to sermons, preachers and songs on the radio, Christian articles, but also commercials, billboards, headlines, nature, what your friend is saying, your own intuition—pay attention to everything.

If you have been in the habit of reading God’s word, you probably already have a good idea of what God sounds like with His still, small voice. Compare what He seems to be saying to you in these other ways with the scriptures themselves and with what you know He sounds like.

If you don’t know what He sounds like yet, that’s o.k., but you will need to cultivate that. Hearing God is like a muscle and just like any other muscle, it needs to be exercised or practiced.

Corporate ways to strengthen your spirit

Fellowship with other believers is important. The most convenient and often the best way to do this is to attend an organized traditional church. For some people, this could be a home group meeting. The point is that you need to get together with other believers on a regular basis where you can worship, pray together and study God’s word. All three of these are needed and you may need two or three places to get them all. Make sure there is that talking and listening back and forth, with God and others.

Cheryl Cope is a Christian woman’s weight loss and habit change coach, helping women achieve healthy and sustainable weight loss, greater health and closer intimacy with God. She helps her clients change their eating, exercising, health, thinking and spiritual habits for the better. She incorporates prayer, biblical principles and the leading of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of her work.

Cheryl offers private and group coaching programs. Her next group weight loss program starts on Monday, January 23rd, 2012. For more information on Cheryl or her services, please visit www.CherylCope.com or email her at cheryl@cherylcope.com.

Guest Post by Joyce Harrell

How My Recent Journey Began

I learned a lesson the long and hard way over the past few years. I met a wonderful mentor three years ago who changed my life as far as business. I had prayed for a way to combine my nursing skills with my passion of natural health. This was a seasoned business woman and a nurse. She had a successful business and incorporated wellness education. A product company was involved and because of her leadership program, coupled with her success as a nurse entrepreneur, I connected with her.

The company is a good one. I became involved and lost 35 pounds. I led successful weight release groups and taught low glycemic living. More importantly, I began my journey into personal development and leadership skills as an entrepreneur. I was learning how to create a business and incorporate my nursing skills. But there was a problem; in my heart of hearts, I had a different passion. I wasn’t making any money, and I continued to invest in product, month after month.

My Inner Battle

I began to feel a conflict. This company didn’t carry products that reflected the full spectrum of my natural health interests and had policies in place which prevented alignment with other product companies. I remember participating in a conference call in which a popular business coach made a frank comment. Sandi Krakowski said, “Do not be emotionally involved with the company you are partnered with. If you are not moving forward financially, you need to find what works for you.”

Those words pierced deep. But Sandi, you don’t realize… I owe so much to this woman who has mentored me, and invested in me. For a year and a half, I resisted what my authentic self was telling me.

My “aha” Moment

I continued to grow a presence on Facebook and Twitter as a Low Glycemic Specialist, yet I wasn’t attracting paying clients. My inner voice became stronger, but I continued to neglect it. As I grew by investing in business coaching, I had a wake up moment. I have been in a program for several months now called Wake Up Academy. Heather Madder is the belief breakthrough/business coach.

This class was on marketing to your ideal client. As I listened to her, I realized I was not marketing to my ideal client because my message was no longer my message. I had allowed internal pressure to keep me in a place where I didn’t need to be.

The moment I embraced MY truth, I began making changes. I developed a website just for nurses, and I am in the process of revamping my main website to reflect my passion for natural health and whole-person wellness. I felt whole after I reconnected with essential oils, a passion I had for over five years. I’m incorporating my studies as an herbalist with enzyme therapy from the Loomis, and still utilize my training as a wellness coach.

After three years, I have been honest with my mentor in the company which wasn’t working for me. I will no longer be building that business. As I am connected with new companies whose products support my truth, I am amazed at the people I am attracting. There is a new energy inside me. This is the real me. I am a purposed, passionate nurse, who has natural solutions for common health problems.

Why This Change Is Important

As I learned how to grow personally and professionally the past three years, I will always be thankful to the woman who jump started my development. Now new mentors are coming into my path to guide me on my journey’s next step. The important take-away is to be clear on your message. Your message needs to reflect who you REALLY ARE!

Your message needs to be your TRUTH! Just because a path is profitable for one person doesn’t mean it will be profitable for you, especially if you aren’t being honest with your inner passion/purpose.

Take time to make sure you are being authentic. Don’t follow someone else’s path just because it was good for them. When you are authentic to your purpose, the tribe YOU are meant to reach will be those who are drawn to your truth.

The New Year is a good time to get clear on your goals and focus. It’s God’s blueprint for you! You are meant to reach certain people! Are you reaching your tribe?

Joyce Harrell, RN, OCN is a Christian holistic nurse who provides natural solutions to common health problems. Joyce utilizes the art of nursing by implementing essential oils, enzyme therapy, vision boards, wellness coaching, and nutritional therapy to help you create an environment for your body to best heal.

Joyce is a wife, mother, nana, author, holistic healer, and above all committed to her relationship with God. You can find Joyce at www.NurseCoachOnline or email her at joyce@nursecoachonline.com.