Dorothy was distracted, what about you!!

A friend sent me a text asking out of true and sincere concern seeing if I was ok, they noticed I had transformed ( in physical appearance) so much so that they wanted to make sure I wasn't sick, I thought about the sincerity and took a look at myself and acknowledged it's significance. I thought about how I've been so caught up in my day to day grind and likened it, a tornado of life, distracted by my own personal "toto" . The significance of my toto's (distractions) have had me so wrapped up I hadn't noticed my own transformation.

If you remember, it was that cold winter night that Dorothy went to take out the trash, just as toto dashed out the door into the storm....like a good caretaker Dorothy left her primary task and ran after toto, so distracted by her desire to make sure toto was safe she put herself in harms way!!!! Which makes me ask, What's your "TOTO"?

What task or thing of significance in your life  have you found yourself distracted by, What tornado's have you been caught up in because your "toto" ran out the door?

As women, we are excellent at multitasking, caregiving and caretaking..but at what cost? Your "toto" may be working instead of going back to school to increase your income or forgoing work ( income) to care for children, a parent, a spouse or  your "toto" may be FEAR....False Evidence Appearing Real...keeping you paralyzed in a rut, or like mine your toto may be not facing the truth that a tornado is what your in and transformation is happening regardless, while your distracted, running after your toto.

"Toto's" are anything that distract us from keeping the main thing the main thing.....

Dorothy was so distracted that she couldn't see the transformative tornado that was heading her way... 

What transformative something have you not seen due to your distracting Toto?

 Once you answer the question, pull out a sheet of paper identify the toto or toto's. Pull out another sheet, write or rewrite your goals,( those you forgot, said would never happen or gave up on) cross reference and see if toto's have kept you from them. Were you suppose to have that vacation home but spent the extra monthly income on St. John knits ( toto) , were you suppose to retire last year but wanted the new car so now your working an extra two years ( toto)...

Remember, all it takes is "Realization" to allow transformative  moments to be realized.

Reach out to me if you need extra sheets of paper!

The face of finance

Christyna with a "y"

Where the path leads or Lead and the path....will develop

This week I was asked a question , it's one I've personally asked for years to candidates I was offering employment to as a corporate recruiter....the question was, "design the life you see for yourself in three years." In other words, where do you see yourself in three years? I have never felt any concern in that question before, but for some reason I assigned such a level of gravity to the question this time that it stumped me. 

In the past when asked, I could rattle off my two year, five year and ten year plans as easy as breathing...but this day, I was swirling with mental chatter . As a women of a certain age, wife and mother extraordinar...the question now has so many factors to be considered, how will my decisions effect my future personally and those around me who depend on me...

As a professional financial consultant, my main tool of choice is the ability to help my clients DREAM and picture where they want to be in the future, my job is in helping them PLAN the steps to get there. So, why was it so hard for me to answer, for me to implement my tool to my own Dream Plan??? Could it be, like you, I now put my family ahead of myself in that role as "mom" and in that role, choose the selfless sacrifice of $150 towards the college fund opposed to the $150 steal of a lifetime cute "butter soft" leather tailored zip front "Theory" blazer at Nordstrom ( yes, it was that cute, a perfect fit medium, I already had the stark white button down, black pencil skirt and the open toed stilettos from my closet already picked out)  to be responsible and not seen as selfish.

Does this question also stump you or have you been resilient and steadfast in your reverent pursuit of your dreams,  withstanding the sway of life events and there impact on your dream plan?  So, how do we , those of us who have altered our Dream Plan, either by circumstance, situation or design, reclaim and ReLoad it back into our path without feeling guilty or selfish but empowered as leading? If you remember, ReLoad means to start again, redo with firm foundation . For some, you may feel your personal economy impacted your dream, others it may be a change in title from single to married, married to single, children at home to empty nesters.

No matter the reason, we have to make a Choice, to Re Load our dream plan.

Accept and revel in the new economic status or title change, acknowledging that the path is only as clear and as wide as the dream that manifest it, for the dream must be the unmovable anchor.

Now let me hear you loud, bold and empowered...where do you see yourself in the next three years??? 

Remember, brickless paths help us develop fortitude and vision for our comeback !!!

Christyna with a "y"

The face of finance

What happens when belief is required???

The scene closes  with Diana Ross being serenaded by the great Lena Horn who is telling her to believe in yourself...for in your heart you'll know!!!

Sometime the brick road runs thin on bricks, sometime you have to rely on your instincts, mother wit or intuition and believe the path your on is correct and if you just keep your way the bricks will reappear. Often- times in our lives we see areas with thin bricks as signs to stop or turn around, however, sometime brickless paths are opportunities for us to create and develop parts of ourselves that maybe underutilized. Belief, is one of those areas.

 As a child, I believed I was a princess, now I believe I'm a queen, but I digress. I would do all the dainty things I thought a princess would do. I would put on my moms heels, one of her night gowns ( for the flow) and cover a wooden spoon in foil as my septor ...(c'mon it was the70's). You couldn't tell me I wasn't a princess, it was those simple items that transformed me and my belief, that to me made it true....That innocence a child brings in the way of Belief is what some of us must relearn, even Now as an adult, I sometimes use those same techniques to transform myself and my thinking harnessing a great deal of belief to make things happen, in business and in personal.  I must always believe the outcome is going to be positive and even though like Dorothy's travels, there are many  twist and turns to come along, I still have to continue the journey. 

Today I closed my eyes, clicked my heels, took a deep breath and started saying there's no place like home, there's no place like home.... Home is where those that love you, know you, the real you and except you and it's all good.

Home is where the experiences of the journey can be implemented for your comeback !!!

Let me know how I can help you get there

the face of finance

Christyna with a y

What does your Roar sound like??

I once had a manager who use to say, "A Lion wakes up in the evening prior to the hunt and ask's himself.... Who am I going to kill today"  this made me ask myself the same question, what is my ROAR -CRY!!!

As someone like you who wears many hats in life, Mom,sister,friend, businesswoman, domestic engineer ect...I sometimes find roaring more confused with saying, pickup your clothes, brush your teeth, it's where you left it yesterday or STOP FIGHTING and go to your room!!!!

When I think a little more on the nature of the Lion, I see why the Lion rules; The Lion is the king of the jungle, when the Lion Roars all that hear his roar run, for they know "it's on". 

A  roar may be your swagg, your vibe or your COURAGE!!!  I  remember My GRANDFATHER  had a roar. His was " steppin out", he would look as sharp as a new penny, hit the bottom stair open the door and tell my grandmother "steppin out" .. He was so pumped , knew he looked good , smelled good and was ready to conquer the day and whatever challenge that stood in his way. 

Which brings me back to, what's your Roar? As I said, it can be your vibe,  swag, courage or confidence.  Perhaps, over the past few years, through situations and circumstances beyond your control, your Roar has been a little shaky, unrecognizable or even silenced!!! Trust me, I know. Two years ago, my Roar sounded like that of a Horace baby cub. It took a sad Realization to let me know how I had stumbled of my path and had no clue how to get back, it took Realization to wake me up and make me take action.

The steps I took, I believe may help you recover your ROAR-cry.  It work's in any area, your relationships, finances even career, it just takes Realization and these five steps:

1. Pinpoint exactly where you are "right now" in your journey.

2. Discover if course correction is needed.

3. Identify tools or people who can help you rebound.

4. Create a plan, set a Start and   Completion   date.

5. Implement the plan " take action"

Let me know your success

Christyna with a Y!!!

The face of finance

Who's your Representative ??

Who's your Rep

Have you ever been in the company of someone and started imagining what their life might be like based on their CAR, TITLE or maybe their REPRESENTATIVE...yes, their representative. Over the course of this week I have been checking in with friends and was sharing how I was thinking about mom, how I use to envy my mother for her style, her model looks and her awesome abilities as a mom.. My mom was the quintessential "hot mom" she would pick me up from Jr.. High School and teachers or people in general would ask ME if SHE was my sister....it would burn me up!!!  I wanted so much to be like my mom, she was a tall women, (those of you who knew her, know what I'm speaking of) with a slender model frame ( guess that's why she was a model) she had naturally long hair high, and a broad smile. She was a high ranking executive within the federal Government system, traveled back and fourth to Washington D.C. and had power and influence, in the sense of her title. The one thing my mom never did because of her job classification was "flash", even-thought she had the look, power of her position and the smarts, when you met her, you met her!!! Unlike what is common today.. 

Which takes me back to the "representative".  I live in L.A. Where there are as many kept men as there are kept women, where you can see someone who drives a Bentley and lives with their mom, or the most well put together women dripping with designer labels and no bank account. Representatives, come in all forms, ( job title, car, fashion ect.) they are who you have people meet first. Don't get me wrong, representatives are good, they allow us time to decide if we want to engage or not, but what if there is nothing beyond the Rep??? No depth to the story, just a car, just a title ect. Do you think you'd be satisfied, I think not. If your like me, you want your"authentic you" to be just as strong or "bomb" as your representative.

So my question to you is Who 's your Rep? and what are you doing to make the Representative you, the Authentic   YOU ???

Here's your chance to reload ( there's that word) and develop your Rep to look more like the you, your destined to be.. Perhaps now's the time to revamp your look, take on a mentor for career development or get your finances refreshed ? In whatever stage your in, the steps are the same. 

            With the two majors being: 1) Identify where you are and 2) Question where and who do you want to be. 

The Authentic you is always going to be more sustainable and interesting than the representative you, might as well make them one in the same!!!

Let me know how it's going

The brick road to a comeback 

I've spent the past two weeks between 2012 and 2013, maybe like you, reflecting on things I did right, what I did wrong and what I want to improve on in the new year.. However today, I spent a little time thinking about my mother. It's been nine years since her transition and (when I want to feel close to her I go through all of her jewelry) today a funny thing happened, her ruby ring kept falling out of the jewelry bag for no reason. It's a ring I remember she always wore and I guess because of that, I refused to ever wear it, let alone try it on. As fait would have it I slipped the ring on and here on this paper is the result of what the experience made me think of.

I thought of the wisdom that poured out of my mom like water, how she was so graceful under such pressure and in a split second I felt like Dorothy from the wizard of oz. ( I know, I know) the stresses of juggling family, career and seeking to make a financial comeback , has had me feeling like I'm on the proverbial "yellow brick road " knowing I'm on the right track and taking the curves the road throws. I'm sure your road too has taken some unexpected turns as well... I thought about the COURAGE it takes to stay on the road...(ahhhh the lion). Knowing that I may have to Relearn some things, some old ideas or thoughts I had  on various subjects, that they may have to be re-examined. Thoughts on family values, gender roles and money; What I learned to get here, isn't going to carry me through to where I want to go on this leg of the road.

I with my moms ruby ring, (my version of ruby slippers) am embarking on this leg of the "yellow brick road" of life with a desire to find what, is my way "back home". Join me weekly maybe you'll find something that helps you find your way "back home"..

I will be speaking on good ole kitchen table topics and financial fortitude for your come back. These three words will always be the thread of each conversation to help you ..... And me too!!!

Realize - realization , according to webster is, bring into actuality. I believe it is a submission to the thought or reality that something has to change, and putting your focus on making that happen.

Relearn - learn, according to Webster is, come to know or know how. I believe it's the opportunity to know what you thought you knew, this time knowing it correctly.

Reload - load, according to Webster (4) is, make ready for firming. I believe reloading is the ability to start over, redo with the correct foundation .