College Bound in the 9th Grade???

Start those conversations with your kids and start the training of being an adult. Going away to school means they will have alot more than just book work to do.

Here are two tips for those high schoolers.

9^Th Grade-

1)      Education is play- Invest in summer programs (or go to the library and take as many classes as they offer) that have hands on training in computer programs that will be fun like design or robotics.

2)      Reaffirm the college savings plan and start teaching basic life skills. Teach shopping skills, staying within a budget,  cooking, menu planning,  laundry, public transportation and maps, online shopping, personal safety training, and how to have FUN for a very few dollars.

College bound in the 8th Grade???

Yes,  you read it right, 8th grade (or sooner) is the magic year to start college conversations with children. If you have not started to put money away for college for your kids or if you are strapped for cash do not let that the unbelievably high price of college stop you from stacking up at least a few dollars. START a savings plan and enlist as much help as you can get from family, friends, and community organizations. You would be surprised how helpful EVERY dollar is at college.

If you are within 5 years of college, it is time to start college planning on the bigger life skills training plan. We have outlined some easy tips of how to give those beautiful children a few extra points on their life skills training and give parents a few ideas to help their students grow even when dollars are tight.

 8^th Grade –

1)      Affirm that all is possible- Kids who are told they WILL be going to college or have a family expectation that additional education will be supported have a dramatically higher likelihood of actually going to college and finishing a college degree.

 2)      Put your money on the table.  Start a matching account for the teen that has ½ of their money and ½ your money that will be paid out over the 4 years at college for everyday living expenses that parents have a HANDS OFF relationships to. The amount available at college will be divided into 4 years (or college length) and sent with them in September when school starts. Open as a custodial account and do not remove parent name on it before age 21.

Pigeon Payments

Pigeon payments are useful when you have a bill that needs to constantly pecked down in size. Items like a credit card or an item on layaway.

Pigeoning is the term for paying down a bill by pecking away at it with small continual payments known as pecking. This works well with banking relationships that have both your debt and your everyday banking online. Credit unions are really the best fit for pigeon payments because  you can do an automatic transfer of just a few bucks out of everyday cash flow that start to add up over time.

Some people try to use pigeon style payments to build savings, but that is really a technique called kindling ( the idea of putting many small twigs together to start a fire)  or they use the savings that they got from one place and push it into savings and that is a different technique called cross investing.

Tell us how you celebrate the everyday things that are meaningful to you

Ten things that you can do to celebrate–in ways that leave your pocketbook is a state of zen

1. You’ve paid off the car- Have it detailed and spiffed up it will feel like new!
2. Co- worker congratulations- A single cupcake on their desk.
3. Birthday of a coworker- A single balloon tied to their chair
4. A raise at work- A fresh manicure/pedicure
5. Awesome neighbor- Homemade cookies are still a great treat to have delivered
6. Weight Loss- Walking nights with friends at the mall
7. Marriage- Date Nights! Say yes to a planned activity like a museum, or a movie, go OUT
8. New pet- Get your picture taken with your pet
9. New house- Make some return address labels for the new house address
10. Nagging chores finished- announce it on facebook and let your friends celebrate with you

What are some ways you celebrate??

All Things are Possible

 This month, let’s  focus on the concept of introducing yourself to the wealth you already have and then take the critical step of asking it out on a date- a wonderful date.  A date that sets the mood for “all things are possible.”

The way each of us interacts with our resources will define how often and to what degree those resources present themselves.  You would be surprised how many willing resources have been shut down because we do not interact with them.  Sometimes we obstruct our own wealth through prosperity blocking behaviors, belief systems that no longer fit, and sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to create a new direction. That is why this month we have an actual assignment for you so we can fast forward putting YOU in front of the wealth you already have and dumping the junk that is not serving you.

Take out a sheet of paper. Make a quick list of the top five things that are bugging you or that you feel are lacking (notice it’s lacking and not slacking- add only things that need additional resources to solve not stuff you have been putting off) .

After eleven years of this exercise RICH CHICKS has found some patterns that people often pick– some combination of the following: cash flow, debt, personal relationships, meaningful life experiences, basic direction and goals, legal work, business plans, grief, health, savings and security, or repair.

Now take your list of five things and right beside each item, list five resources or people that you have in your network or life contacts that can help you deal with that irritation. We are looking to magnify the wealth and diminish the size of the irritation. On your paper now, you have five resources to one problem. If you have no idea who or what can help you then it is time to push the subject of your irritation to your posse to get some new ideas or insight or e-mail info@richchicks.org to set up a Buddy Call and our staff will help you. 

Next, add step three—create a 2% change action list of 25 things you can do to reposition each item.  For example on Mary’s list CASH FLOW was listed as the item that is bugging her. She listed these five resources: Buddy Call to generate new ideas, going to a class and getting new information, billing her old clients who have not paid, attracting new clients, and networking. In step three she needs to magnify the solution again by compiling a 2% change list of 25 items related to increasing cash flow or decreasing outflow. 

 Now her paper has a ratio that has 1 irritation, 5 resources, and 25 solutions that can be done in small bits.

 15 minutes have passed and she has wealth flowing again.

 Now that’s a great date for Mary!  This month it is time to for you to make your own date because you are pretty darn awesome.

Excellence is a habit–RICH ways to give yourself a jumpstart

The economy is the pits, your job is iffy, money is tight–we all feel the pain of the new economic reality. But even when things are tough and you may not know where life might be taking you, there are RICH things that you can ALWAYS move forward with. Take time to give yourself an attitude jumpstart and spark yourself to get out of the doldrums and be ready for GREAT times anytime.

Respect yourself by being your own best friend. Best friends do nice things for each other so do something nice for YOU, take yourself out for a walk, style your hair. Try on your clothes and mix and match to make a killer hottie outfit.  Be that chic friend with all the panache and give some love to your oldest and dearest friend- YOU.

Inspire your message to the world with a few key words that describe your core values: trust, beauty, harmony, fun, laughter, strength, and look for ways to let your best intentions show in your everyday actions.  Ask yourself: Who can I share some laughter with today? How can I send the message of HOPE to small business owners?

Call a friend and get the mojo working.  Calling someone that makes you feel great will actually raise your body temperature and make you feel like giving life a push forward. Emotional capital is one of the most powerful tools on the planet and it fits into every budget. 

Hit the nail with a hammer HARD! Take action immediately- set a timer and with great urgency trick your body into an adrenaline rush with 15 minutes of furious work. Hammer away at your goals—this gets the juices flowing again.

Your turn to share—what are some rich ways you take care of yourself?

Live Rich–Right Now!

Women and Prosperity

 I was sifting through articles about women and money, and it became apparent how incredibly unique our Rich Chicks group is.  The mission of Rich Chicks is to promote personal prosperity through education and the creation of a healthy relationship with money. Women today have so many levels of decision-making that it is almost laughable that the vast majority of articles on money are about shopping.  Most of the articles directed to women on the topic of money are so surface and fake–it was excruciating to see how many articles grossly underestimate the complex minds of women and miss the point of prosperity completely.

 I celebrate how women are changing and attaining their personal power, but we are bombarded with information and worries that have nothing to do with who we are as women. We are told we should be looking to see if our socks are dingy, if our jeans are in style, or if our tired face needs a refreshing drink of aloe, and that pesky cellulite–well, you know the messages. Women strive to get to know so many parts of their inner selves. They are physical, vocal, educated, political, peaceful, and nurturing all in one super-ball of energy. Many of these qualities have a direct correlation to inner relationships with money and prosperity.

Rich Chicks are rich because of the blend of all the things inside of them that make them amazing: spirit, strength, vision, hope, associations, conviction, celebration, endurance, light, education, and commitment to make the world a better place for everyone. I continue to remind all people that RICHNESS is defined as a mixture of the very best ingredients in a way that is smooth and exceptional. The suggestion of combining ourselves into a whole person and mixing that entity with the material world is spiritually conflicting for many personalities.

 As the leader of Rich Chicks since 1998 I have witnessed time and time again that when people combine goals, sacred beliefs, and the way they use money/resources, it is a natural path to finding richness.  This path requires introspection, education, and a positive mentor. Our classes, business ethics, and underlying message are to offer resources to create that will help each person find their own special blend of richness.

 As each year passes I see more and more of our CHICKS graduate from our classrooms, and our web based coaching connection to set off into the world as representative for richness. I also watch our CHICKS become human conduits as they transfer energy and information on to the next person in hopes that the next person will become inspired to unearth their own richness.

 When people ask me how these amazing events start to happen I just shrug my shoulders, sigh, and reply “CHICKS just do prosperity, it’s what they’re in the business of, and it’s what Rich Chicks is in the business of.”

 Keep your eye on what you prize–Mickey and Rich Chicks 

Rich Chicks Hosts Small Business Development Mastermind Series

Both Women and Men Welcome!

Wednesday Morning July 15th 9-11 am

With a follow up session August 5th 9-11 am

at the Lund’s Community Room, top floor of LUNDS,   25 University Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN  55414  Let us know you’re coming  info@richchicks.org

 Here is the template we will be working with for the next two sessions:

 http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html?gclid=CJn-2NbLxpsCFQZinAodSBR2Aw

 Print out  the Business Plan for an Established Business and bring it with you.

We will be working on and brainstorming the following:

The Marketing Plan: Economics

BRING: Facts about your industry to share with the group

Niche: Start and outline. In one short paragraph, define your niche, your unique corner of the market.

Marketing Strategy : outline a marketing strategy that is consistent with your niche. 

Promotion: How do you get the word out to customers?

Advertising: What media do you use, why, and how often? Has your advertising been effective? How can you tell?

Do you use other methods, such as trade shows, catalogs, dealer incentives, word of mouth, and network of friends or professionals? If you have identifiable repeat customers, do you have a systematic contact plan. Why this mix and not some other?

DEFINE YOUR Promotional Budget How much will you spend on the items listed above? Create a number- any number that you are willing to invest- business cards, all promotional stuff ot the percentage of investment- we will discuss on the board. GROUP WORK WILL BE ON: Should you consider spending less on some promotional activities and more on others?

Two Percent Changes Spread the Wealth Beyond Yourself

 POWER TO THE POSSE! As the founder of RICH CHICKS I frequently get to watch as women take a deep breath and break new ground for themselves and for their posse. These women pack quite a punch. POW! BAM! SPLAT!

Alice Barry is a RICH CHICK who took quite an action pose for her posse with the huge 3-day $uper Chick Stimulus sale she organized at the end of May. At RICH CHICKS, we are quite impressed (but not the least bit surprised) at how much imagination, forethought, laughter, and business skill Alice showcased at this event.

To everyone who came to this event- our posse thanks you. Our CHICK leftovers from the sale provided 32 pairs of shoes, 10 winter coats and over 150 items of clothing to the homeless shelter. We sent chairs, linens and kitchen supplies and our intern Josette has filled the shelter’s van for the last two Wednesdays because of Alice’s work. We raised money for our intern (who was someone our program moved out of the shelter last year) go out to dinner in a real restaurant with her family for the first time in a year, put $100 of food in a young unemployed persons cupboard, and added support for our scholarships.

I’d say that was some party, Alice.
Mickey Mikeworth  www.richchicks.org

 Alice’s Thoughts—After the Sale

 After a long pack up and an unexpected down day, at last I bring you my Super Chicks Stimulus Flea Market update.

The highlights:

• Hundreds of new and used items were shed. Everyone who participated is going through some kind of life transition either starting something and getting their legs, or shedding the old clutter that is in the way of their prosperity and clarity.
• Every person who cleared their clutter acknowledged this was a spiritual experience and the sale was just the catalyst they needed for positive change in their lives.
• Dozens of left over shoes, clothes, bags and toys were immediately donated after day three directly to a local homeless shelter sharing the prosperity even further.
• Every time someone rang our bell of prosperity upon making a purchase, more sales were made. When we didn’t ring the bell, we got in a lull.
• I discovered a new way to look at a task that requires physical stamina. The preparations and daily set up/tear down were exhausting. Then I realized that I was actually getting into better shape as I pushed myself through the tasks each day. It was like being paid to exercise. I remembered how strong I am and also how much I want to build more strength.

Great lessons I’m passing on to everyone

LESSON #1 – When you make a mindless purchase, it inevitably costs you.

The pleasure you may think it brings you for that split second is actually costing you more than it’s worth to buy it, move it around your house, think about the best way to get rid of it and to finally dispose of it. One participant bought a lot of things in the past to make herself feel better. She had numerous items, many quite expensive, which were unused or used once. She got back $0.01 on the dollar for those things — I repeat, one cent on the dollar — for most of that stuff at the sale, but it had already cost her a good chunk of sanity and clarity so she felt like it actually put her in the hole. Where are you mindlessly spending your money, your time, your emotional capital, your integrity, your joy, your spiritual capital?

LESSON #2 – When you’re telling yourself a task is going to suck or be really hard or impossible and you’ll have to sacrifice a lot for it, add one fun thing to the tail end of the equation and make it your duty to get to the fun thing last.

At the end of each day, I felt like I could no longer go on not only physically, but also emotionally. I was seriously  so drained; but I realized that I still needed to connect with my husband and be there for my friends and myself. So I had a fun movie night the first night with my hubby and the second night I went out to dinner with some friends. Now, in the past, I would have put my life on hold just to “get through” the big event. But guess what made it so easy to change my mind: my desire to do better.

Just a few of my rewards:

1. Experiencing my husband continue to astonish me with his love, support, patience, “no problem” style and brawn.

2. Numerous new and renewed connections with neighbors, business acquaintances, friends and dogs.

3. Some amazing surprise attendance from people who exclaimed, “I just like to come to the stuff you do.”

4. Visibility into my inner circle. I had to ask for a lot of help to pull this off. As a result, I now know who will walk through fire for me and who is on the sidelines. It really brought me a TON of clarity with some of my relationships.

5. $2,400 in total sales. I got quite a nice chunk of that and counting that money was SO MUCH FUN!

6. It was a pure pleasure and super fun to write checks to people who sold their items. At least eight of those checks were over $100-$400.

7. Helping spread the word about the artisans who made jewelry, oils, art and hair ornaments was so awesome. Not everyone sold their products, but the visitors loved their products and the feedback made it a great testing ground.

8. I discovered some talents that I forgotten I had and also realized how natural events come for me and how much my experience has taught me. Organizing this thing was fairly easy for me.

9. The prosperity pump is primed. Because bringing myself more prosperity while also helping others was the sole intention of this sale, within 2 days after the sale I also received 3 checks in the mail. And yesterday I received an offer in the mail for $100 free for opening a checking account at M&I bank. So I did that today with my Flea Market earnings and earned $100 instantly. Plus, I asked the banker how my friends could get that offer, too, and he said, “Just give ‘em my card.” Now I’m spreading the wealth. Oh, and I have the cutest new purse and sunglasses from the sale. Items that were given to me by two sellers for free. (Barbara, you will never have to complain about my threads hanging off my old purse handles again!)

 Alice Barry    Entertainingtheidea.com

Here are some other changes our Chicks have made 

These small actions helped them put $$$ in the bank or added richness to their health and happiness.

 

My 2% change was on the RICH CHICKS concept called scrubbing where you start moving through your STUFF and washing out what does not really work with your values. I tried the “7 things for 7 days” trick where for one week you just look for 7 things every day that need a new home and you put them in a box by the front door. Anyone who comes and goes can take stuff from the box and at the end of the week- I just run the left overs to Goodwill. Mary
 
My 2% change is about MOTHER EARTH and teaching my friends to use earth-friendly techniques in everyday life. So here is my summer tip to all you CHICKS! Mice do not like strong odors. If you are trying to keep mice out of camping gear use dryer sheets to “scent the message” something else lives here. The stronger the scent the more UNLIKELY they are to enjoy their stay in your stored sleeping bag and the more likely you may enjoy the smell of your gear at the start of the season. Martha
 
 My 2% change was using the CHICK concept of “CROSS INVESTING” where you use the wealth from one secure area to buy wealth in another higher risk area. I used the interest on my long term savings bond fund to buy international stocks while the stock market was at its worst this last year. I made 30% in the last 6 months! Amanda
 
I love the CHICK concept of “invest in your core values” because it gives me a whole new way to think about budgeting. I value “balance” and I was feeling out of balance every time I did not have enough for unexpected costs. I took the Buddy Call advice about putting the first 10% of every single paycheck I got for the next 6 months straight away into savings and then use the other 90% to live life. OMG! I have saved $4,000 dollars that is just for- ohhh anything I want. It changed everything. My bills are paid, I don’t freak out if the car breaks, and I know that more is coming to my pile of money in just two weeks! It is so fun to feed the FUN of my core values. DaLisa

 

Summer is Halftime-Is Your Life Growing?

June of every year is a great time to do a halftime assessment of how close you are to the goals you set for 2009. It is a chance to start putting 2% change into everyday life—small things that can make a big difference in the quality of your life.

Our RICH CHICKS™ members  have made so many great things happen just 2% at a time that it is mind boggling. Some of them have planted gardens, cleaned out trash, sold unused household items and reinvested the cash into things that were more meaningful. The largest 2% change I have witnessed was the recent Superchick Stimulus Sale that turned stuff into cash through the combined efforts of several women. Members who participated, KMO, KM and ML, have committed their part of the cash they realized from the sale to building up their savings.  AB and RC have committed to invest their proceeds in their businesses to stay competitive during these stressful economic times.

One of the secrets of making 2% changes that matter is to tie them to your values. Do you know what your values are?  Many of you have taken our Core Values workshops and already look for ways to weave those changes into your values. This is a great time to delve into what matters most to you and see how you can add 2% changes directly to those values. For example, if you value relationships, it may be time to host a BBQ for friends. If you value financial security—check on tweaking those savings goals. If you value beauty, something as simple as investing the time to wash the windows will let you see the summer beauty flourishing outside.

June is a time to review, plan, and reassess your path—to plant those small seeds that grow into great things. Take a few minutes to invest in what feeds you and you will find that the payoffs are prosperous.   

Take a look at our upcoming Gray Market Income class–what a great way to create a more prosperous life!           

                www.richchicks.org

Live Rich!

Mickey

If you would like to view Mickey’s profile  and hear what others are saying  about her work use this link:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeymikeworth

Use What You Already Have!

 We all have too much STUFF—take a look around your living space. Reevaluate what you have STUFFED in your cupboards, your closet, basement, attic and garage. May is a great month to purge old energy so that the rebirth of spring can be felt throughout your life.

 I found the way I get too much stuff is from continuously bringing home more innocent looking everyday things.( that I am sure I will use). When I took a close look I found that I was re-buying mostly the same stuff, just different same stuff: clothes, beauty products, household furnishings, toys, paper and garden stuff. I was shocked–I have everything I will need for the next twenty years already stockpiled in my home.

 So about a year ago I wrote myself a very powerful three word reminder and posted it near my clothes closet.

 USE PRESENT RESOURCES

 At first it was just a reminder to eat the food that I was avoiding in my cupboard, to fix the hem on my pants, or repair the couch leg. It turned into a different outlook completely when I realized my life is full of resources that I was not tapping into.

 I started using the resources of friends by asking if they knew of anyone that could repair my bathroom. My pals jumped to the ready. Each friend offered some assistance in my project, one helped me hang new shelves and rip out the old cupboard, another set the tile, my neighbor gave me a new toilet seat that they could not return because they lost the receipt, and another friend scraped, primed and painted my bathroom. Wow!

 I had a team of about fifteen friends who had some input in my bathroom renovation. By asking loved ones to share their resources, we give them a chance to shine, and we get the benefit of their help. My friend who helped me put up the curved shower rod still looks at it every time she is over. She remembers how fun it was to be in a postage-stamp size bathroom—two giggling friends poking each other in the belly button while reaching high enough to get the stupid rod in place. We were out of control.

 Not only will you keep more of your hard-earned money but you will feel wealthier by NOT spending or repurchasing things you already own. The action of looking for an answer within yourself or in your surroundings allows the laws of prosperity to reveal the true wealth of abundance. In a nutshell, using the skills, talents, and items that are already present makes us more prosperous because we are working life energy in its primary state.

 OTHER MAY ITEMS

 May is a magical time to haul STUFF out, use it or get rid of it and get ready for summer.

Great Garage Sale!

 http://superchickssale.wordpress.com/

Sweep the garage

It is official- put the winter stuff away!

Pull out the summer stuff

Get your beach bag ready and by the door

Review cupboards and add items that can grabbed for lunch or dinner outside.

Plastic forks/plates/napkins

Sandwich bags

Cheap food containers

Great lunch bag that will keep your stuff cold

Our TOP 10 summer items—great for easy picnic meals with friends

Limonada bottled drinks

Small bottles of chilled champagne (or wine)

Tuna Salad

Dried fruit

Cashews/nuts

Summer cookies like Lorna Doone  or Nilla Wafers

Sandwich potluck (everyone bring an ingredient)

Olives and crusty bread

Hummus and veggies

Nice big blanket for after-picnic relaxing!

See you soon–Mickey

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