Embracing Your Authentic Voice

My voice has been tested, muffled, praised, encouraged, and dismissed—especially when I dared to create a ruckus.

I’ve discovered it, lost it, reinvented it, and found it again, learning that finding your voice isn’t a single milestone, but a lifelong journey of growth and rediscovery.

Today, my voice is fueled by intent and purpose, gaining clarity with every step forward.

But finding your voice is about more than just speaking—it’s about connection, the heartbeat of how we raise our families, lead our teams, and build our communities.

True power lies not just in the words we say, but in how we use them to bridge gaps and build understanding.

I vividly remember a moment when my voice was silenced—not by others, but by my own fear.

Early in my career, I had an idea I deeply believed in, yet I held back, only to see someone else voice it and be recognized.

That experience left me questioning the value of my voice, wondering if it even mattered.

But years later, I chose to speak up, and my words landed with purpose, teaching me that our voice is only as powerful as our willingness to use it.

There comes a moment when others may try to silence or undermine your voice, focusing on what you did wrong.

In those moments, ask yourself: Who is the problem and why?

Am I the problem? Seek honest feedback from those you trust.

Were you true to your purpose?

Could you have handled it differently?

And based on your reflection, how do you move forward and stay true to your voice?

This realization transformed not just my personal journey, but how I view the world—our voices have the power to shape confident children, impactful teams, and inspired communities.

But just as important as speaking is listening; the most impactful voices reflect the wisdom of others.

Your voice matters—whether it’s quiet or bold, hesitant or unwavering—it holds the power to influence, create, and connect.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, ignored, or unheard, know this: your voice is still yours to claim, refine, and use.

Reflect on how your voice has changed, silenced, or grown over time—how it’s shaped your life and the lives of those around you.

Finding your voice is a journey worth taking, over and over again.

Higher Slow Fire Fast.

Higher slow, fire fast... I heard this somewhere—credit to the person who said it. But the real question is: how do we implement this without feeling like a revolving door? The answer lies in culture and communication. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, a small business, a mid-sized company, or a large organization, your culture and how you communicate it will ultimately determine your retention rate.

Let’s not get too caught up in the weeds just yet. At a high level, it all starts with company culture.

Culture First: Who Are You?

Your culture is your DNA—it defines your company’s beliefs, values, code of conduct, and overall ethos. Every company is born from an idea, a need, or an opportunity that you pour your heart and sweat into. That foundation, that passion, is your culture. It’s a set of principles and a vision for how you see your company and the people who will be part of it. Your team carries this culture forward, making it essential to define it clearly and intentionally.

Communicate Relentlessly

Once you’ve defined your culture, the next step is to communicate it effectively. This is a crucial and ongoing task. Communicating culture isn’t just about talking the talk—you must walk the walk. You need to live and breathe your culture daily and lead by example.

But here’s the kicker: the right message can be completely undermined by the wrong messenger or the wrong medium. How you communicate—what you say, how you say it, where you say it, and to whom you say it—will determine how your culture is perceived. A single misstep in communication can break a relationship, derail a team project, and tarnish your credibility. And credibility? It takes years to build and seconds to destroy.

Sometimes, the message is fine, but the messenger isn’t. In those cases, you may need to make a tough call—because yes, sometimes, you do need to remove people who don’t align with the culture (fire fast).

The Hiring Process: Culture-First Approach

Now that you’ve built your culture and mastered how to communicate it, it’s time to integrate it into your hiring process. A strong hiring process is a direct extension of your culture.

• Start with the job description. Clearly define the role, responsibilities, and—just as importantly—the kind of person who would thrive in it. Don’t just think in terms of skills; think in terms of personality, values, and work style. Get hyper-specific. You can keep an internal version that’s detailed while writing a broader, more general version for job postings, depending on the role.

• Use personality assessments. These can help determine if a candidate is not only a good fit for the company but also for the specific team they’ll be working with.

• Create an interview flow. Develop a structured interview process with a clear chain of command. Ensure that after each round, interviewers provide feedback that informs the next stage. This prevents redundancy and ensures alignment in decision-making.

• Test for real-world fit. At some point in the interview process, introduce case study challenges that reveal a candidate’s blind spots. This isn’t about “gotcha” moments—it’s about uncovering how they think, problem-solve, and handle feedback. This will also expose biases and reveal if they are coachable.

Retention: Drink the Kool-Aid or Find Your Flavor

Hiring the right people is just the beginning. Retaining them requires reinforcing your culture every single day. Culture management focuses on placing people in the right roles, laying out clear expectations, and retraining those who believe in the company but aren’t thriving. Create an idea center where voices can be heard, innovations can be piloted, and concepts can evolve into meaningful contributions. People want to feel valued and heard, so fostering an environment where they can contribute meaningfully is key.

You also want to build teams that can self-correct teams that challenge themselves, push each other forward, and elevate the company as a whole. When teams take ownership of their growth and accountability, that’s when an organization thrives.

The best way to describe this process? Drink the Kool-Aid or go find your flavor. Hire slow, and when done right, the right people will stay. Those who aren’t the right fit? Fire fast. That’s how you build a strong, cohesive team that aligns with your vision and drives your company forward.

Observation requires silence.

Waiting for your turn to talk isn’t the same as observing in silence. True listening means seeking to understand, not just preparing a response.

Jumping to conclusions and reacting impulsively wastes valuable time. Instead, responding with both emotional and intellectual intelligence fosters collaboration and sparks innovative solutions.

To truly listen—and quiet your inner critic—pay attention to tone, body language, and what is both said and unsaid. This awakens curiosity, leading to deeper, more intelligent questions. And with those questions comes the discovery of motive, desire, purpose, and intent.

Curious observation helps bridge misinterpretations and biases. By focusing on feedback rather than assumptions, we create meaningful dialogue that fuels connection and teamwork.

I do my best not wait for my turn to talk but listen to create an engaging and meaningful conversation by being curious. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this practice can be. The insights I’ve gained have been eye-opening. 

And hey—don’t be afraid to test this out on your spouse (hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge)! You might be surprised by what you discover.

did you make a Choice or Decision today

In last week’s post, we touched on the power of choices. The future is ours to shape. Don’t just make a choice—make a decision to lead the change.

Now, let’s take that thought further and explore the critical difference between a choice and a decision—because understanding this distinction can change the trajectory of your life.

Choice vs. Decision: What’s the Difference?

According to the Oxford Dictionary:

• A choice is "the act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities." (Example: "the choice between good and evil.")

• A decision is "a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration." (Example: "I'll make the decision on my own.")

We often use these words interchangeably, but we shouldn’t. Understanding their true meaning will shift your mindset and transform how you navigate life.

The Impact of Everyday Choices

From the moment you wake up, your day is filled with choices—how you take your coffee, the way you style your hair, the route you take to work. Many of these choices are automatic, made without a second thought. Ever arrived at your destination and wondered how you got there?

Some choices require more thought, especially when faced with unfamiliar situations. But most of the time, we default to what’s familiar—our biases, past experiences, logic, or external influences like reviews. Where is the critical thinking that pushes us beyond our comfort zones?

The Power of Making a Decision

Here’s the shift: instead of simply making a choice from the options presented, decide to consciously explore a different path by eliminating the bias and use critical thinking to achieve desired outcomes efficiently. Get into the habit of looking beyond the choices because by definition a decision is "a resolution reached after consideration". 

And that decision-making process is what fuels change—sparking new behaviors, fresh perspectives, and a deeper analysis of whether our actions truly lead to the results we want. 

There is immense power in the phrase: "I have made a decision."
It signifies commitment. It grants you permission to move forward. It sharpens your focus.

But decisions need fuel. And that fuel is discipline (we’ll explore this in a future blog).

Going Beyond the Status Quo

A true decision is more than just picking between options—it’s an intentional, critical evaluation of creative solutions. It’s what drives us to exceed expectations, break barriers, and build new systems, communities, and ways of leading.

So, next time when you're at a crossroad, ask yourself: Will I make a choice, or will I you make a decision?

The future is always in motion.

The Future: A Call to Lead with Intelligence

The future is always moving—shifting and evolving with every choice we make, and even with the ones we don’t. A single conversation has the potential to change it all. But potential alone isn’t enough. Leading change requires daring to imagine something different.

Shaping the future takes more than hope. It demands action, adaptability, and the courage to pivot when the path forward isn’t clear. It requires tenacity and a plan. But here’s the caveat: how often do we cling to a plan only to realize it isn’t working? Leonard Snart from The Flash put it best:

“Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to go off the rails. Throw away the plan.”

This is the power of the pivot. It’s not a sign of failure—it’s a sign of opportunity.

The future doesn’t wait. It doesn’t pause to let us catch up or keep things comfortable. It’s constantly in motion, always moving forward. The question is: will we move with it? Are we ready to rise to the challenge with open minds, ready to adapt, pivot, and innovate? Or do we need more time, more information, better technology, or the right people by our side?

The key lies in our willingness to explore, to think differently, and to act decisively when the moment calls for it—if it calls for it. But as much as the future demands change, not everything needs to change. Striking the right balance is essential. This is what I call leading with intelligence.

The future is ours to shape, don’t make a choice make a decision to lead the change.

We have fallen in love with the problem

Change is one of the toughest behaviors to adopt because we have fallen in love with the problem. 

Why Change?  Let’s change the question to: Is change the answer?  How do we know when to embrace change, and how do we handle it before things crumble? For that, let’s turn to a compelling framework for understanding how societies (and by extension, organizations) grow complex over time.

Joseph Tainter, in his book The Collapse of Complex Societies, offers a fascinating perspective on how societies build layers upon layers of structure to solve problems—until they reach a point of diminishing returns. Each new layer of complexity is introduced to address a challenge, but over time, maintaining these layers demands more resources, more energy, and more coordination. Eventually, the cost of “just keeping it all going” starts to outweigh the benefits.

For instance:

• Problem-Solving Accumulation: Each time a society (organization) solves a major issue, it tends to add more complexity—new laws, new bureaucracies, new technologies.

• Diminishing Returns: As more complexity is piled on, it can drain resources without solving the core issue effectively.

• Potential Collapse: When complexity becomes too unwieldy, systems face risk of breakdown or, at the very least, of being forced to radically simplify.

What’s the lesson here for us ruckus makers? The more we prop up old structures or maintain outdated ideas, the more we risk building complexity that no longer serves us. Sometimes, the courageous act isn’t to “layer on” but to clean house and rip the band aid, question assumptions, and refresh our thinking. This is where ruckus truly begins—by calling out what no longer works and daring to reimagine what could.

Tainter’s ideas about diminishing returns on complexity serve as a powerful reminder for individuals, businesses, and institutions:

1. Assess Your Systems
   Look at the layers of rules, practices, or cultural norms you’ve built up over time. Ask: Are these solutions still beneficial, or just “the way we do things”? Challenge traditions that are more burdensome than beneficial.

2. Focus on Core Purpose
   Whether you’re a solopreneur, a teacher, or a Fortune 500 CEO, revisit your core mission regularly. Let that mission guide decisions about what to keep and what to let go. Clarity is the antidote to destructive complexity.

3. Embrace Simplification
   Simplification doesn’t mean ignoring complexity—it means strategically reducing what’s extraneous. Prune projects that weigh you down. Let go of obligations that don’t serve your higher goals. Space and down-time spark creativity and resilience.

4. “Piloted Experiments”: Prototype Before You Scale
   This is a must for me conducting piloted experiments before adding new layers of technology, hierarchy, or policy, experiment on a small scale. Gather real feedback and see if you’re truly solving a problem—or just building more scaffolding around a system that needs rethinking.

As ruckus makers, we’re called to question the status quo and create the conditions for healthier, leaner, and more vibrant systems—personal, organizational, and societal. Sometimes that means stripping away what’s no longer useful, sometimes it means layering on something bold and new. Is change the answer, keep asking: Does this change move us toward a better outcome or just deeper into the weeds?

Embrace the friction, harness the chaos, and make sure you’re simplifying as much as you’re building. That’s the sweet spot between harnessing complexity and staying true to your higher purpose.

September

September is my favorite month, a time when the weather begins its gentle transition from summer’s warmth to autumn’s crispness. It’s a period when many of us return to our routines, balancing hard work with the anticipation of leisure. As the year’s final quarter approaches, it brings a wave of holidays that unite family, colleagues, and friends—an exciting prospect to look forward to.

For me, September is akin to January; it’s a time for planning and setting intentions for the year ahead. While summer is reserved for play, rejuvenation, and exploring new ideas, September is when I shift gears. I focus on implementing strategies, making adjustments, pushing forward with renewed energy, and reconnecting with my goals. This month serves as a pivotal moment to align my actions with my aspirations, ensuring that the rest of the year unfolds with purpose and momentum.

THE ART OF ASKING: HOW MILLENNIALS CAN POSE THE RIGHT QUESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

In today’s world of too much or too little information, not the right information, questions about “are these my beliefs, values, is this the truth”?  Questions serve as a framework that guides us through our personal and professional journeys, helping us gather information, gain insights, and make informed decisions.

Throughout my life, I’ve not always been the most curious or adaptable at asking the right questions, particularly when it came to comprehending technical matters. However, along the way, I began to pay more attention, to listen intently, and this newfound curiosity often surfaced precisely when we were seeking answers, hitting rock bottom, or struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of the path we’re on, it’s imperative to cultivate the skills of attentive listening and asking curious questions.

While I appreciate Simon Sinek’s “start with why” approach, I discovered that we can’t always begin with “why.” Instead, I started asking, “Is this the truth?” Although, I found that beginning with “why” served me well it didn’t entirely satisfy my purpose. You see, I became fixated on finding my “why” and believed I knew what it was, only to realize that I needed to unearth the truth.  This forges an honesty to yourself that opens the act of listening and being curious. 

The pursuit of truth brought about clarity and a deeper level of understanding, fostering the art of unconditional listening, and enabling me to build robust relationships while avoiding those that didn’t align with my authentic self. Commencing with “Is this the truth” allowed me to unearth my genuine self, confront my fears, and gain insight into my relationships. This quest for truth initiated a profound honesty within myself, opening the doors to active listening and curiosity.

Let’s embark on a journey to explore the art of asking the right questions and harnessing your curiosity to create a roadmap for understanding. It’s crucial to remember that the sequence of questions may vary depending on the situation, but the key is recognizing that this is a dialogue of discovery.

Clarity is Exploring

“Confidence without clarity is a disaster.  You need clarity of vision, not confidence.”  Sadhguru 

The definition of confidence: is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.

and the definition of clarity: the quality of being coherent and intelligible; the quality of transparency or purity. 

Let’s get clear to get some confidence.

Up to this point, I had to wear many hats and through this journey sometimes you forget who you are and pick up other people’s desires, fears, and goals.  Finding, having, and keeping clarity is a continuous endeavor because clarity can change.  What was my truth? Was I lost? This is where embracing the journey is extremely important. 

As a stay-at-home entrepreneur and mom, I had to understand that my journey time was not wasted or gone.  Even if you are in between careers or lost your job what you do with this journey matters the most.  I also realized that when you are helping others achieve their goals you are always achieving your goals.  You never stop being you if you are even if you feel like you are on pause this is where clarity should take form.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is this the path I want?

What can I do to get there?

What needs to change?

Who do I need in my corner personally and professionally?

Curious questions to ask in a professional setting:

How did get into this business – find out what’s their story.

What did you find the most challenging?

What was the most rewarding?

What advice would you give me for my line of work?

What will you do now (if they are retired)?

Where do you see the future going in your industry?

Would you write a book about your story?

What is one advice you received that fundamentally changed your course?

Learning is Listening

I naturally lean into learning, but still lacked curiosity and made it my mission to always ask questions so I don’t shortchange my wisdom.  In my twenties, I did a lot of talking because I wanted to be noticed, in my thirties I was busy living life to ensure everyone was taken care of, in my forties I wanted to rediscover myself and be a better version of myself and as I start my fifties I am living my best version that learns from other while helping others succeed.  I guess this is what they mean by wisdom comes with age.  

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

What stage of life am I at?

What is the next stage?

Who do I need to listen to, ask curious questions, and explore the world I don’t know?

Who are my mentors?

Do I need a coach?

Curious questions to ask in a professional setting:

That is an interesting take, I am very interested to learn the reason you chose this point of view.

Can you share your experience?  This question lends itself to the following questions based on their answers. Here you can discover not only how they felt, but how they dealt with it.

How do you feel about the current project direction?

Can you help me understand your perspective on this issue?

What factors do you think are contributing to this challenge?

What suggestions do you have for improvement?

What specific actions can we take to achieve our objectives?

By using questions to gain clarity, build relationships, and solve problems, millennials can take charge of their careers and businesses. Additionally, seeking guidance from wise mentors can further enhance their ability to pose the right questions. Clarity and listening lead to meaningful connections and this leads to building longterm relationships.  The path to success is relationships!

Embrace the power of questioning, and you’ll find yourself well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead on your path to success.

RUBBER BAND COMMUNICATION

Rubber bands come in all shapes and sizes, so how do pick the right one or change the one you picked.  Challenges or projects come in a variety pack where a standard solution may not be the answer. 

Lack of Elasticity

There are instances when nobody says anything, and everyone is trying avoid conflict. Maintaining the status quo seems perfect because nothing appears to be broken. In such cases, it’s like taking that rubber band and stashing it in a desk drawer alongside other untouched topics. This situation often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Examples of such scenarios include companies sinking into debt, firms failing to embrace technology and becoming vulnerable to extinction (think Kodak and Blockbuster), or neglecting discussions about growth strategies to remain relevant in their industries.  Tough conversations require a little elasticity.

Elasticity of Your Point

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re doing everything possible to convey your point? It’s like stretching a rubber band to its limits, and when you finally let go, it snaps, potentially hurting yourself or the other person, or miraculously, in some cases they see your point. It’s fascinating how those dynamic plays out. 

So, what’s the best approach in such situations? Do you persistently hammer your point until you have to let go, or do you give in early? The answer lies somewhere in between. If your point isn’t getting through, it’s time to assess the situation. Is it both important and urgent? If the answer is yes, it’s time to consider a different approach, a new narrative, or a creative way to convey your point, project, or concept for acceptance.  The true secret sauce that always works for me is ask the right question because sometimes the question is more important the answer!

If your point is important but not urgent then it may be a good idea to bring it up later when the time is right.  On the other hand, if your point is urgent but, not important , it might be useful to try my secret sauce ask the right question to create the urgency. If it is neither falls important nor urgent, it’s best to let go and save your energy for more meaningful battles.

No Elasticity

When communication breaks down and there is no elasticity left and the rubber band has lost it’s hold it’s time to get a new one.  New fresh outlook with a new person to handle the discussion (a speaker, consultant, bring a different department to weight in, etc.), or go back to square one and rethink the challenge from a creative perspective (out of your head thinking), or take a break and come back to it later. To tackle a challenge or a project remember it’s a process, honour that, embrace it, have opened ended discussions because the end result is far more enjoyable than living in your head.

Broken Elasticity

Back when I used to use rubber bands, I remember there were times they would break at first use, faulty perhaps.  Conversations can be faulty right from the get-go, especially when someone comes in guns blazing, going right for the jugular.  This is a non-starter for some and lights a fire for others; however, at some point this is not a sustainable way of communicating. 

Elasticity

Maintaining the elasticity of communication shows meaningful conversations that results in direction and help formulate a plan. This encourages to ask curious questions and showing genuineness of your colleague’s input.  Through these discussions you can feel the rubber band expanding and contracting until it fits perfectly over the course of action and the project is completed and as the rubber band waits for new course of action.

The key to effective communication is understanding when to stretch, release, or keep the rubber band in the drawer, and making these decisions based on the importance and urgency of the matter at hand. Picking the right elasticity depends on whether you have an open mind to ask the right questions, adjust the elasticity and sometimes you may have to let it go.  It’s vital for personal and professional success to master the art of Rubber Band Communication.

PUBLIC RELATIONS REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE

To speak, is a profound responsibility requiring knowledge, wisdom, and foresight. 

Acquiring knowledge involves experience, being curious, asking lots of questions, understanding all sides, conducting pilot experiments, researching, consulting with experts, and the list goes on. 

Wisdom emerges from the critical thinking leading to the development of theories, their scrutiny, and organizing one’s thoughts.

The wisdom in turn, culminates into foresight, where the magic begins as your vision takes form. 

Although it may appear straightforward, this process can become a reliable method for enhancing your communication and propelling your vision. 

Once knowledge is acquired and wisdom is cultivated, the need to persuade diminishes, as you have already considered your audience’s desires, the existing market landscape, and its gaps.   Learning to harmonize these elements concurrently is akin to leading an orchestra, a skill that a leader can master to create a symphony of purpose-driven communication and visionary leadership.  

To help you here is an outline to guide you through the process.

Elevating Your Vision and Purposeful Communication

Summary:

Begin with an introductory paragraph that sets the stage for the process.

Step 1: Acquiring Knowledge

• Description: In this step, you’ll gather the knowledge essential for informed communication and visionary thinking.

• Techniques:

  • Gain Experience

  • Cultivate Curiosity

  • Ask Questions

  • Understand All Perspectives

  • Conduct Pilot Experiments

  • Engage in Research

  • Consult with Experts

• Outcome: A foundation of knowledge to build upon.

Step 2: Cultivating Wisdom

• Description: Wisdom is the next step, involving critical thinking, theory formulation, and organizing your thoughts.

• Techniques:

  • Critical Thinking

  • Theory Formulation

  • Thought Organization

• Outcome: Wisdom, which aids in shaping your vision.

Step 3: Developing Foresight

• Description: Foresight is where your vision begins to take shape.

• Techniques:

  • Vision Development

  • Questioning Your Theories

  • Organizing Your Thoughts

• Outcome: A clear, visionary perspective.

Step 4: Integration

• Description: Integrate your knowledge, wisdom, and foresight for purposeful communication and visionary leadership.

• Techniques:

  • Align with Audience Desires

  • Analyze the Market Landscape

  • Identify Market Gaps

• Outcome: The ability to communicate with intent and drive your vision.

This process sets up a solid foundation, a framework, of your purpose-driven vision, but how you deliver this message is the most crucial part of this process. Look out for future blogs on delivery…stay tuned!

COMMUNICATION IS A JOURNEY

How do you stay true to yourself and still get your message across that creates trust? How do you stay the course and grow with criticism and judgment?

Having confidants, doing some reflection, and time are the three things that have helped me through my true communication journey. Getting in my own head and not being able to see what perception was building up in people’s minds became a hindrance in the way I communicated.

I have learned to rely on my confidants, I have not one, not two, but at least three to help me see the things I don’t (getting out of my own head). I know it’s difficult enough to find one let alone three. It does take three to really give you different perspectives because you may show up differently with all three of them.

Second, after you consult with your confidant (s) go into reflective hibernation mode and give it the time it needs before adjusting how you communicate and how you show up.

The goal is to add layers of goodness to your existing communication style that results in the outcome you desire.

COMMUNICATION STARTS WITH BELIEF

The way we communicate is an extension of who we are and is an accumulation of our experiences that translates into our beliefs.  And as humans, we believe that our thoughts and beliefs are the correct ones. The real question is, are these your thoughts and beliefs? 

We are in a world of information overload, filling our mind space, and amplifying our thoughts.  Denzel Washington sums up where the world is today in this brilliant short interview:

“…if you don’t read the newspaper you’re uninformed if you do read it you are misinformed… what is the long-term effect of too much information one of the effects is that the need to be first not even to be true anymore…”  http://wapo.st/2hmDMZl

Communication has taken on a whole new meaning where we are being propagandized with unfiltered opinions.   The absence of critical thinking with forced feed information is shaping our future generations. We are in the middle of a silent pandemic of misinformation driven by emotion and sometimes communicated to create division and thoughtlessness.  I have first-hand experience with my own children.  I consistently challenge them to think outside of social media and the news by empowering them to dig deep and find their voice.

Let’s dig deep and have intentional communication that promotes growth, kindness, and collaboration. 

LEGACY

he Story Continues With The Imprint of Your Legacy

Is your legacy built on your own traditions?

How do you want your story to be told?

How do you want your family legacy to be remembered?

The next chapter…In your Story

How do I leave my legacy?

It’s time to create a bespoke legacy that embodies discovery, education, wisdom, traditions, and financial foundations to build upon.

Building a legacy for the next generation

Discovery           Education          Wisdom             Traditions              Financial           

Each of these legacies can be a building block to a “Living or Passing Legacy”.

Discovery – a conversation that uncovers the hidden treasures; the start of a chapter.

Education – starts with a dialogue with your loved ones; the beginnings of a purposed and intentional legacy that lives for generations.

Wisdom – comes from the depths of stories of adversity and triumphs.  Wisdom is meant to be passed on not buried.

Traditions – discovering unnoticeable traditions that will be part of your story and for generations to come.

Financial – as important as money is, it should be anchored with education, dialogue, and wisdom of intended wealth.  Too often monies are either not passed on or passed on with no purpose and becomes misguided fortunes with no legacy for the next generation. 

A “Living Legacy” is legacy given before one’s death.  The purpose for this is to guide the inheritance, to see the benefits of the legacy and to ensure the legacy passes to the next generation.

A “Passing Legacy” is given after one’s death.  The intent and purpose are communicated through wills, videos, and letters after one’s death.

It’s time to get control of your legacy…let’s begin.

MONEY TALKS

Money Talks, Wealth Grows…Family edition.

Page One: Important money talks as individuals and as a couple

Talking to family about money isn’t always easy. But open conversations can help keep families’ finances on track. Families that do talk about money often find themselves better set up to meet their basic needs. They are also often more prepared for unexpected life events.

You’ve prepared the money for the family, but have you prepared your family for the money?

Asking the right question, having open conversations, and having the right approach can help build your family’s legacy.  Isn’t the worth the conversation?

Page Two: Starting the conversation.

Dialogue #1: Discuss your values around finances your Money EQ (Emotional Quotient).

Where have you been, where are you now, and where do you want to be? Talk about how many influence your childhood. What values did you each grow up with? How did these values shape your thoughts on money now?

Dialogue #2: Determine where each stand financially.

Talk openly about credit scores, earnings, expenses, savings, and debts. Don’t forget about dreams and goals.  They key here is to remember to avoid judgement and they way to do this is to go back to dialogue # 1.  There are always reasons why money decisions are made the way they are. 

Dialogue #3: Determine where each stand with Money IQ (Intelligence Quotient).

Again, with out judgement figure out where the gap is and where each one can learn a little bit more about investments, financial protection, or additional health care.  It’s about knowing you have options and having a knowledgeable financial advisors can help guide.

Dialogue #4: Determine important decisions and the timeline.

Prioritizing the important decisions helps clear the path and unnecessary arguments.  The crucial part of this process is to figure the timeline.  When will this happen, how quickly can it happen and what are the challenges.

The Conversation: Determine what behaviours need to change to reach your wealth.

This conversation will determine if you have the tenacity and the urgency to change certain habits that will lead to better money decisions.  Coming together and recognizing your blind spots and having a plan of action better the chances of reaching your financial goals. Remember planning with purpose redefines your wealth. 

These dialogues build a foundation that will lead into meaning conversations that construct the framework to wealth intelligence where growth and prosperity is always in check. 

I personally run my family like a corporation, we have annually meetings on budget, goals, aspirations, and a plan to make it happen.  Involving your children at the right age with appropriate discussions will enhance trust, teach them the value of money and legacy, enhance their own lives, and respect and understand your wishes.  

Page Three: Conversations with your children

Dialogue #1: Right time to start the conversation.

You will know when it’s right to introduce money to your children.  For me it was when my six-year-old told me to take that “plastic” thing to pay for the toy she wanted that I said no to.  This is my oldest; she is very good at putting two and two together.  My younger daughter the conversation came a few years later.  For general purposes, I think age 7 is a good place to start the introduction, but this is a personal choice.

Dialogue #2: Take them to the bank.

The bank is good place to start to understand concepts of accounts, loans, line of credit, credit card and why banks exist. And open savings, checking and mad money bank account!

Dialogue #3: Setting up a budget.

Start by giving them an allowance and dividing this into different categories, this will start creating the right habits and behaviours.

Dialogue #4: When to bring them into the family annual meetings?

Again, this is a personal choice; however, the longer you wait the harder it will be changing any unwanted habits.  The best time to start is grade 7 or when they get their first real job whichever comes first. 

The Conversation: Discuss your family’s manifesto and the importance.

This is the most important conversation you will have with your kids as adults.  Life starts to get complicated with your children’s aspirations, future spouses, and with your future health needs, and final wishes.  The importance of this conversation is that this embeds legacy for you, for your children and teaches them to create a legacy for their own family.

BE THE 'I' IN TEAM!

“Be The I in Team” is the idea that no goal is achieved, or movement started, without one catalyst to kick it all off. While the success of a collective effort should be credited to the entire collective, we must also acknowledge the importance of “The I in Team”.

The world has problems. Problems need leaders. We are having a leadership crisis, not because it’s riskier than ever to be a leader (although there may be an argument for that), but instead because the risk is too hard to measure. “What’s the worst that could happen?” used to be a roundabout way of saying “It’s really not that risky”. Now, we don’t know what the worst outcome is. That ambiguity makes voluntary leadership difficult to commit to.

As a licensed “Ignite Your Culture” facilitator I am dedicated to providing people development programs that helps companies all over the world get the very best from their people at work, and that’s a journey that begins with helping people increase their self-understanding.

Whether you need support with teamwork, leadership, change, sales and service, or culture and engagement, your learning journey will start with what’s most important- your people.

Over 65% of performance issues could be solved by improving employee relationships, and that’s why we start with people, not processes. And why we follow this approach:

UNDERSTANDING + APPLICATION = BREAKTHROUGH

Every meaningful journey begins with knowing yourself well. That’s the first step. Then, understanding the people you work with – your colleagues and teams – comes next. When these two things come together, magic happens. Things start to change for the better throughout your whole business.

When we get along well with each other, everything just flows. We work faster, we’re more effective, and we focus on getting the right things done. We offer solutions that go straight to the core of what’s going on in your business. But don’t worry, we keep things easy so everyone can join in. This means everyone gets to understand themselves and others better.

And then, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. We speak your language, making it a breeze for people to take what they’ve learned and use it in their day-to-day lives and jobs. Right from the get-go, you can use what you learn to tackle the real issues affecting your teams and leaders. So, real, lasting change kicks in.

Here’s the golden moment – when everything clicks. We’re all about helping folks build stronger relationships at work. When that happens, every part of the business gets a boost. People work better together, communication is a walk in the park, customers are happier, the vibe in the workplace is positive, teams click, and leaders shine.

Every chat, every meeting, every collaboration becomes an opportunity to make things better. So, the good stuff doesn’t just stay in one place – it spreads across the whole organization, fast. Welcome to a world where positive change isn’t just a hope – it’s a reality that you can see and feel.

LET'S START A RUCKUS!

My ruckus spirit and the energy of creation is relied upon to fix systems and start new trends.

Why create ruckus?  What does it do?  How do you create ruckus that moves the status quo?

Quest One: how do we bring people together for a common cause that creates the highest impact.  Figure out what you are good at, fill in the gaps, and lead your team.  Lead them, people have to be lead.  Don’t assume they know what’s in your head.  Set expectations. Set the intent in motion.  Captivate your team.  It starts with you.

Quest Two: how you do project this to the audience.  Craft the message with precision allowing for changes to hone the outcome that is required.  Even if you are experimenting be precise about it, set it in motion. 

Quest Three: what to do when people start to gravitate towards you.  How do maintain the moment, by consistently showing up, by creating opportunity to have a dialogue that creates conversations that creates a movement.  While maintaining the course a leader must be able assess, reflect, adjust, communicate, and continue to lead.  At this point, the radicals may fall off which is necessary to continue the evolutionary growth to move forward.  A radical does not want to move forward they want to drive their point at all costs. 

Important to note:

Types of leaders: needed to create an impact and making it last:  Movement Leader, Motivating Leader, Delegating Leader, and Maintenance Leader there is one ingredient that is required for all types of leaders: charisma.  Look out for a future post on this where I will dive deeper.

Quest Four:  what happens when things fall apart, when people fall apart or when situations beyond your control destroy what you have built.  It will happen.  Anticipate minimizing the damage and be prepared to pivot without any carnage.

Quest Five: when do you walk away and let someone lead.  Everyday.  Setting up for the generation of leaders starts on day one.   This gives you the opportunity to evolve constantly and consistently to enhance your identity.

Go create a Ruckus that gives your community the purpose to create change for the better!

Where have you been, where are you now, and where do you want to be?  What does this all mean to you?

Money EQ – Money is the most emotionally charged topic of praise and disappointment; it has solved and created many problems. Money takes on many meanings, it can be a status symbol or considered evil, an end to a means, or maybe it means giving back. How we view money determines the stories we tell ourselves and how unconsciously we pass them on to our children.  

“Money is the most misunderstood, chased after and necessary thing in society.” -Jayshri Amin

Some people have taken their parent’s view of money and gone in the opposite direction; either way, it still influences your story. When I started examining my money stories, I was amazed at how similar my decisions were to my dad’s.  My dad influenced my money stories more because I followed in his footsteps as an entrepreneur.   

Money does buy happiness; however, when it defines you, it buys you misery.  It’s time to break down the barriers, myths, and bad habits, get real about your Money EQ, and have an honest and sincere self-reflection. To do this, it starts by asking some tough questions.  

I usually ask my clients some starter questions; this enables them to develop a framework of their belief system and the stories they live by.  Once we have established this, we dive into more challenging questions. 

Be honest with your answers because the realization will become apparent, and the change will be profound.  You may have some ah ah moments mixed with OMG, or I already knew about me.  

Mindset – Here is a list of some foundational questions to ask yourself:

• Where does your money come from? (Working, trust fund, from one spouse’s earnings. rentals, investments, alimony, etc.)

• What does money mean to you, and why? (Is it an end to a means or a status symbol; be as specific as you can).

• Do you like money? Why? And how does it make you feel? Ex. anxious, happy, and frustrated.

• Is it hard to make money, or does it come easy?

• Do you obsess over money, or are you carefree?

• Are you a spender or a saver?

• How do you protect your money, if at all?

• What makes you happy: when you spend or when you save?

• Do you usually have buyer remorse, and if you do, do you return your purchase?

• How did you grow up with money?  How did your parents make, spend and save money?

• What is one small thing you would change about your money habit today?

Let’s dig deeper.

• Where is your money?

• Are you a risk taker or risk-averse, and why?

• Do you have a fear of missing out (FOMO)?  Give examples.

• Do you and your spouse have separate bank accounts and joint?

• Who holds the money bag in your home or makes the financial decisions?

• What is your biggest money fear? What keeps you up at night or consumes you?

• Does money help you with whatever you want to achieve? Or is it an obstacle that always gets in your way?

• Because of money, have you been unable to start your dream project or leave your unsatisfying job?

• How do you feel about owning property or renting?

• How do you feel about paying taxes?

• Are you happy with your financial situation now?

• What stories do you tell yourself about your money?

• What did it mean to your parents?

• Do you find yourself saying the same things your parents did about money?

• Do you feel blessed and energized about life when you think of money? Or do you feel frustrated when you think of money? Why do you feel this way?

• What is enough for you?

What happens when you answer all these questions?

It’s time for thought to understand your money strengths, challenges, obstacles, and biases (SCOB). This exercise helps you discover where the gaps are and develop an understanding of where you are and the capacity to make decisions. Creating a new habit requires focusing on which mindset to change. Let’s start changing behavior’s.

If you would like to learn more about SCOB please email me at jay@thewealthintelligence.com

Money IQ –   There are many products, platforms, and advice to tap into or tap out of.  Term Insurance, Whole Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Disability Insurance, Long-term Care, Segregated Funds, Stocks, Bonds, RRSP, TFSA and Non-Registered and the list goes on. How we comprehend and navigate financial complexities can become overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating.  I don’t know about you, but when I am overwhelmed, I just don’t deal with it, which has consequences. 

Let’s demystify and simplify these concepts to overcome the fear of the unknown. Then I will help develop how they work to encourage decision-making that results in growth and prosperity in redefining your wealth.  

Knowledge – Knowing what is available is half the understanding; how it applies to your situation and goals is the true knowledge.  Finding the right financial advisors makes all the difference in the world. 

Time – Time is money. – Benjamin Franklin.   “The key is not spending time but investing it.” Stephen R. Covey

The best time to start is now and especially when you are young. We are young, healthy, with minimal debt; thinking about life insurance or investing is not the first thing that comes to mind. But if think of time as compound, you can learn how to get more out of life. One way is to avoid high premiums due to age or health issues, purchase life insurance early enough to prevent them.  Investments should start the minute you are legal to do so. 

A financial advisor can guide teenage children in the family with financial literacy, strategies, and sustainable goals. 

Wealth Intelligence – Taking what we learned from MEQ and combining it with MIQ, The Wealth Intelligence is the path we have chosen to prosperity, growth, and legacy.  My mission is to help families get to wealth, keep their wealth, and create legacies that the next generation can build upon.

MEQ equals mindset plus reflection

MIQ equals knowledge plus time

WI equals MEQ plus MIQ

WI yields prosperity plus growth