Coping with Loss

Dealing with loss is not easy as we overcome our emotions and the new normal of losing someone we love. As women, it is even more challenging than any other time in history because we need to juggle life and loss at the same time. Talk about work life balance being put to the test when you add the loss of a loved one or dealing with an illness in the midst of life happening. If you own your own business, work continues; if you have young children, they still need your full attention and care.

I recently lost my father, my rock, my first love. I was daddy’s little girl and now my heart feels empty knowing that I can’t turn to him for support, for that strong hug that always let me know that everything was going to be okay. The man who taught me my values, work ethic and inspired me to choose my career. He is gone. I am somehow coping with my empty heart and loss as I find myself still having to take care of work, my son and the financial loose ends left to be settled. No one would fault me for letting a few balls drop in the midst of everything happening. It would make perfect sense to stop and deal with loss but the reality is that it is not that simple of a choice. As women in business, we know that there are many people counting on us at any given time. Our sense of responsibility and selflessness causes us to choose others over our own heartbreak. Our businesses can only function without our dedication and attention for so long and our children still need our care and nurturing. Life doesn’t stop because we are experiencing a life event, it keeps moving forward. Unfortunately, the daily juggles of work life balance don’t leave a lot of time to mourn and be with our thoughts.

I was recently sharing my experience with my best friend; she is experiencing a similar issue in her life. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing surgery. The biggest issue she is facing is this profound sense of guilt. She feels that she is being judged. She feels she is choosing between taking care of her motherly duties and being by her mom’s side. She has little children and doesn’t have the support system to leave them and be with her mom during the actual surgery. This feeling of guilt of having to juggle life and being there for those we love adds to the already fragile state that we are in when faced with these challenges. A work colleague’s husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. She has had to rearrange her work schedule to be there with her husband, causing a higher level of stress thinking of her business obligations and client commitments as she worries about doctor visits and treatment schedules.

My thought is that life is going to continue to move forward, oblivious of our personal challenges. It is important that we stop feeling guilty about having to take care of our life obligations and not necessarily drop the ball on those matters that are important to us because of life events that are out of our control. We mourn in our own way, we remember those we love and those we love during the moments we are alone with our thoughts, we can dedicate our time to mourn our loss and remember those we love without guilt as we find one more challenge in our quest for work-life balance.

- Bellaria Jimenez

5 Tips to Secure Your Financial Future

If you are like many Americans, the current economic environment continues to make it difficult for your family to make ends meet. Many of us have readjusted our spending habits to such an extent that there is now a new normal. For example, we may no longer shop as much as or where we used to; we may settle for a staycation, rather than a true getaway; and items that were previously considered to be necessities have been relegated to the “can’t afford” or “not needed” category.

Unfortunately, many economic analysts feel that these shifting attitudes are here to stay.

Tips to help improve your economic future.
Here are some tips to help you take stock of your overall economic picture, with actionable steps designed to help improve your long-term financial security.

Tip #1: Determine what is really important.
Take inventory of what is really important to you and your family—is the newest electronic game system or cell phone more important than creating a secure financial future?

Start by developing your family’s mission statement. This is easier than it sounds: Simply write out what is important to you as a group. Be sure to include what your long and short-term goals are, and what you are willing to give up in order to make these goals a reality. Don’t forget that along the way, you may still want to decide what little luxuries your entire family can enjoy (like a getaway) that you want to keep in your budget – since these can help you feel less deprived and even save you money (by keeping you from going out to first-run movies, for example).

Tip #2: Cut back, even if it hurts (a little).
Figuring out what is most important to your family from a financial perspective is a smart move –and a good decision for your long-term financial security. Making even small sacrifices in your spending can help you meet your goals. Look carefully at how you and your family members spend your money so you can identify where you can make small changes to cut back on non-essential expenditures. And don’t overlook the bigger-ticket items you pay for every month, such as your cable TV/Internet subscriptions and car insurance. Making minor adjustments to these items can free up more dollars than you might imagine, and play a significant role in helping you fund your family’s long-term financial goals.

Tip #3: Become a dedicated saver.
If you are like many families, trying to juggle financial priorities can make saving extremely difficult.

Successful savers use the concept of paying themselves first whenever they receive a paycheck. Over time, adopting that one smart move can help you reach your financial goal of saving for a car, a vacation, or whatever is a priority for your family. To help make it easier, check with your employer to see if you can have part of your pay automatically deposited into one or more savings accounts. It can make saving automatic—and nearly painless.

Tip #4: Run your numbers.
Do you know if you are on track with your current disability coverage, life insurance, and retirement savings plan(s)? In other words, will these important items provide you and your family with the amount of financial protection you’ll need – when needed? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take the time now to assess their adequacy and make the appropriate adjustments.

Tip #5: Get the help you need.
When it comes to Tips 1 through 4, you may feel you need some assistance. Whether you need help in just one area or all four, start looking at your future through a new lens – one that has your family’s financial goals in focus, with a plan to help you get there. Contact a financial professional to discuss ways they can help you put these tips into action—and your financial dreams on track.

Taking the right steps today can help to ensure a better financial future for both you and your loved ones.

New Year, New You… Where to Start?

New Year, New You... Where to Start?

Get a Mentor!

Here are a few reasons I strongly feel that mentorship is a base for women’s success in this industry.

1. You gain experience that is not shared in books or training. I have found in my 12 years in this industry that you can know every product, sales method and response to an objection from a client but the best training and know how is to experience it. Sometimes hearing someone else’s personal experience helps you to understand and gain the knowledge on how to handle certain situations. Hearing that others have struggles with your challenges to and found a solution may just be what you need to empower yourself through.
2. You are more likely to succeed with a Mentor. Every study these days shows proven scenarios where mentorship has helped with an individual’s success. A large percentage of CEOs and executive suite individuals all say they have had mentors and it has impacted their way to the top. Your chances of success in life and in business can be amplified by having the right mentor. The valuable connections, timely advice, occasional checks -- together with the spiritual and moral guidance you will gain from having a mentor -- will literally leapfrog you to success.
3. A mentor will help you stay in the business longer. I am the truth behind this reason. My time in this industry would have been over in 2010 if I had not met my first mentor. The guidance, the support and the reinforcement allowed me the confidence to pursue on in this industry to a successful career path.
4. Encouragement. As women, we need this. Failure, negativity and a bad day can all impact your mentality and productivity for the short term and worse the long term. A mentor can help keep your head high and provide you that outside encouragement to just keep pushing through. Your mentor has experienced the highs and lows of success and can help to provide you the positive advice you need to navigate your way.

My suggested New Year’s resolution for you would be to find a mentor and start your way to a successful 2018!

Stay Tuned for more blogs on mentorship!

- Kristen Esposito

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!