5 Things I Learned from Writing “Earn Grow Give”

Last week I was honored to have a book signing for Earn Grow Give, my personal finance book for women, in my home town of Tupelo, Mississippi, at the downtown landmark retailer, Reed’s Department Store. I grew up with Catherine Reed, who works in the gift and book department, so, personally, it felt more like a homecoming than a business venture for me. I was truly touched by the support of each person who attended the signing, especially since writing and publishing a book felt like a big and scary thing in my life.

Did you know that you have a book in you? Everyone does, I believe, whether that book is personally written, or created by a ghost writer. I also believe that everyone has some gift or talent to share with the world that can affect the lives of others in a positive way. This is much of the “Give” in the “Earn Grow Give” philosophy. If you increase your income and sequentially grow your money in the process of sharing your special gift, then the result is all the more expansive.

Several friends asked what led me to write the first book in the Financial Woman series, Earn Grow Give, Simple Steps to Create a Rich Life. When I decided to launch Financial Woman, writing a book seemed like a great place to start sharing what I had learned as a personal investor and in my previous corporate life, but then I put the book aside after a few chapters for a couple of years.

Here are a few things I learned in the process of finally finishing Earn Grow Give:

Imperfect action is always better than waiting for perfect action, as it will never come. How many times do Apple, Dell and Microsoft improve their original product after launch? If they can use this strategy, so can we. Do the best you can with integrity; you’ll hear what needs to change on anything you create; trust me on this, as I am already in my second edition.

If you want to expand your presence and improve your life, you’ll need to leave your comfort zone. Growth simply doesn’t happen there. Know that discomfort is part of the growth process; I have just tried to embrace discomfort.

Not everyone will like what you do. It simply doesn’t matter. A couple of financial advisors have seemed almost resentful that I am providing financial education while not a licensed advisor, which is certainly not a requirement, while others have loved my work and then hired me to do teleseminars for their clients. One advisor at the Austin Conference for Women returned to my booth to hug me because she so resonated with my “wealth art” sketches. (This gave me such joy!) All I need to continue is knowledge and feedback that the information and processes I offer help women become more financially empowered.

You will have to make some trade-offs, at least initially during the learning and growth phase. Notice that the word is trade-off, not sacrifice. I no longer have as much “free” time to shop and do other things that are not high priority things in my life, however, I love that I have gotten to learn about so many new things in the process of building FinancialWoman.com. This knowledge has created opportunities, and opportunities provide financial security.

Allow God to be part of your personal growth process. Acknowledge the source of your special gifts, talents and knowledge that you are meant to share with others; have gratitude for those gifts and open your heart to divine guidance.

This seems the perfect place to end today’s article. What could go beyond point five? Ask yourself where you are resisting growth today. What inkling have you carried for years without acting on it? What would you do if failure was not a possibility? Remember, financial security comes from knowing you can support yourself regardless of the changes in your life.