Tag: building wealth

I grew up believing that success is about what we do and how we earn, not who we are. Neither of my parents went to college. I feel like I was told at LEAST once a day: “you WILL go to college Annie.” I absolutely grew up trusting that. Interestingly I was also told that I would be a doctor. And I grew up believing that too.

I chose a top liberal arts college in Washington state where I grew up. With a top ranked pre-med program, recruiters told me if I got through it I would write my ticket to any med school in the country. I got in! My mom was so proud, she always knew I’d be a successful doctor.

Being in a liberal arts college, I was required to take credits in ALL fields of study, not just my major. My sophomore year was rocking my world. I was taking chemistry and HATING EVERY MINUTE of class. Across campus I am taking a sociology class….and loving it! I loved what I was learning about human behavior. And by spring break, I had to declare my major.

With thoughtful consideration, I went to the administrator’s office and filed my major and minor.

That year, mom decided to drive the 275 miles to campus to pick me up for spring break and bring me home. She hadn’t done THAT before, I always had to hitch a ride with friends or take the bus! She said it would be great mother/daughter time driving back.

We made an adventure of it: stopping at outlet malls, grabbing a bite to eat. It was a long, full day and I did not bring up declaring my major, and oddly enough she hadn’t either.

It was dark by the time we got back to the greater Puget Sound region. Mom is driving her little sportscar, me in the passenger seat. After a long day on our adventure, I think we were both a bit tired, we hadn’t spoken in a while. Suddenly, mom breaks the silence. Maybe she had been thinking it all this time? She asks: “Annie, didn’t you have to declare your major?”

“Yep.” (Closed ended question, so I answered accordingly….I guess somehow I knew this wasn’t going to go well.)

“So, what did you declare, biology? You always liked biology in high school.”

“Nope.”

“Pre-med then?”

“Nope.”

“Annie, you went for the hardest of them all chemistry? I’m so proud of you!!”

“Nope.”

“Wait, well, what’s left?”

“I declared sociology mom, I don’t want to be a doctor.”

The silence hurt my ears in this car moving at 65mph. Just deadening. And then she said: “You will never make any money.”

That was a pivotal story in my life, believing that I had to earn money to prove my success. I had to let go of other perceptions of my success. I had to define it for myself. The fear I felt stepping away from my family’s path for my success was overwhelming, I did it anyway. It took great courage to start my own business and keep hustling when the economy sank.

I now know that I am a healer, just a different kind. I heal women by teaching them self-love, the highest expression of self-esteem. I heal what stops them from being influential, powerful and loving. I also have healed my relationship with money and along with my husband show others how to heal and build wealth.

And the ultimate success? It is the long-time relationships I have had with clients and colleagues that stretch over decades because they love what I do and want to be a part of the adventure. Success is having a powerfully loving relationship. Success is the fun and laughter I have in my life. It is having these relationships because I am willing to be vulnerable and open my heart. That is success. Money has found its way through my passion for what I do with people every day.