Tearing Down the Walls: A journey of overcoming adversity and gaining financial independence

By Susan Fischer

Susan Fischer has led a life of diversity, overcoming emotional, psychological and financial abuse from a young age. Today, she is a proud business owner, financial consultant, educator and now, author and presenter, helping individuals to take control of their financial well-being.

Tearing Down the Walls is a raw and captivating

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Fischer Consulting
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781922465924

Book preview

First published in Australia 2021 by Busybird Publishing

© Susan Fischer 2021

www.sfconsulting.net.au

978-1-922465-91-7 (paperback)

978-1-922465-92-4 (ebook)

The moral rights of Susan Fischer to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. Any opinions expressed in this work are exclusively those of the author and are not necessarily the views held or endorsed by Busybird Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author.

Cover design: Busybird Publishing

Layout and typesetting: Busybird Publishing

Busybird Publishing

2/118 Para Road

Montmorency, Victoria

Australia 3094

www.busybird.com.au

Disclaimer

All the information, techniques, skills and concepts contained within this publication are of the nature of general comment only and not in any way recommended as individual advice. The intent is to offer a variety of information to provide a wider range of choices now and in the future, recognising that we all have widely diverse circumstances and viewpoints. Should any reader choose to make use of the information herein, this is their decision, and the author and publisher/s do not assume any responsibilities whatsoever under any conditions or circumstances. The author does not take responsibility for the business, financial, personal or other success, results or fulfilment upon the readers’ decision to use this information. It is recommended that the reader obtain their own independent advice.

Susan would like to thank people portrayed in this book. She recognises that their memories of the events described may be different from her own. They are each fine, decent, and hard-working people. The book was not intended to hurt anyone. Both the publisher and Susan regret any unintentional harm resulting from the publishing of Tearing Down the Walls. This is a book of memory, and memory has its own story to tell. But Susan has done her best to make it tell a truthful story.

To Leon and my boys, this is

dedicated to you for your constant

support, love and encouragement.

CONTENTS

Introduction

An Uncanny Ability

Losing on Purpose

Finding the Bright Side

One in, All in

What’s on the horizon?

Change is Afoot

As a Door Closes a Window Opens

New Beginnings

With Death Brings Light

Putting it all Together

When all Seems Lost

Conclusion

Glossary

Acknowledgments

About Susan Fischer

Susan Fischer Consulting (SF Consulting)

Have you ever been told that you should do something or follow a path that you considered to be totally and utterly crazy or completely out of your comfort zone? Throughout most of my life during times of sharing stories and experiences with friends, peers, colleagues and acquaintances, I was told repeatedly that I should write a book. This started in my early adulthood; however, my life would experience many more twists and turns. I had no idea that in June 2018, after my father’s passing, that my life would experience the greatest change I would ever know and would bring me to where I am today. To finally be open in sharing all my life experiences with you. This book isn’t just about my life, but a way I can give back to as many people as possible in the hopes that these experiences, combined with my learned skills in finance, can help educate others through their life with a strong focus on gaining financial independence.

So, you may be wondering who is Susan Fischer? What information or knowledge could she possibly teach me? I have asked myself these questions many times and only recently found the answers.

Firstly, you should know that I have worked in the financial industry for over 16 years and hold many qualifications including a Bachelor of Business (Finance) as well as an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning (Financial Services). My roles have ranged from (but not limited to) Client Service Manager to Financial Advisor. There isn’t much I haven’t experienced, seen or heard regarding people and their finances.

Secondly, I have lived a life of diversity. I’ve endured a range of abuse including bullying, physical, emotional, psychological, verbal and financial. The abuse was dealt to me by perfect strangers, peers, employers, and colleagues, but worst of all, by family who should have been protecting me. The majority of abuse came from judgements that others made about me, purely based on how I looked, how I dressed, my skills or talents, my thoughts and views on the world, spiritual beliefs, or simply taking advantage of my naivety and age. It was never about who I actually am as a person.

It wasn’t until my father’s passing, that I would come to realise I wasn’t living up to my full potential. That the judgements I endured for nearly 40 years had led me to believe that I was unworthy of being a better version of myself. I wanted more but had no idea how to get there. I also hadn’t fully comprehended the damage that years of abuse had done to me on a subconscious level. I thought I was happy in my life but never realised I was walking around with blinkers on. I was allowing further abuse into my life because I couldn’t see that the behaviour others displayed towards me was the same as what I’d endured in my past, and therefore, I had built a belief that this behaviour was normal and acceptable.

This was when I started on my journey of self-discovery and realised that my true passion in life was what got me up in the morning. I wanted to help people understand their finances better. But before I could help others, I had to change the unhelpful beliefs I was carrying around and were holding me back. Sometimes it’s hard to know that you are carrying around unhelpful beliefs until something happens in your life to help you realise it. Once unhelpful beliefs are realised and acknowledged, it then requires work and commitment to change them to better your life or outlook. I had no idea that these unhelpful beliefs had held me back from my full potential for many years, but I was now ready to face them. I want to use my journey to help you uncover any potential unhelpful beliefs you may have, especially those that may be holding you back from the financial freedom you desire.

I have also realised over the past decade that there is a lack of financial education being provided, not just in Australia, but globally. This lack of financial literacy education isn’t just experienced by women, or particular social classes, it’s everyone (outside those who have studied it, or been fortunate enough to have had parents or grandparents teach them). Education has been lacking in schools for generations, which has led to a society that is struggling to get themselves out of a revolving debt cycle. This lack of education is disempowering and is leaving people feeling helpless, especially when they then experience a major life change such as increase in family size (marriage, children or caring for an ill family member), separation and divorce, or death of a loved one.

I feel it is my life’s purpose to change this, not just by writing this book but by making this education easily accessible and affordable to all. There have been many authors before me that have tried to make change, but I can’t help wondering why nothing has worked. Maybe it’s because the books that have been written were by people who hadn’t really experienced the same hardship themselves. Maybe they were academics, and therefore, those who read the books couldn’t fully connect to the message being provided. So, my aim is to connect to you, the reader, in a way you feel inspired to act. Not tomorrow, not next week or next year, but today. When people experience a major life change or find themselves accruing debt they just can’t control, it can feel like you have lost everything. There is a feeling of hopelessness or helplessness. For me this feeling was like I was stuck in a deep, dark forest and surrounded by thick fog. I didn’t know what step to take first or in which direction. This feeling comes from lack of confidence and/or education. This book will provide insights not just to who you are personally but how you feel about money. This book isn’t about being ‘money’ rich but having a sense of financial independence. What your financial independence looks like will be different to everyone else. However, the feeling of achieving your own financial independence enables you to feel accomplished, like you can walk with your head held high. There is no greater feeling in the world, especially when you have experienced financial hardship. It has taken a lot of work, education, personal insight and growth to really find the answers, but I’m so glad I have and that I can now bring this book to life. Just like the saying ‘nothing in life is easy’, change takes work and commitment. Each step you take will get you one step closer to where you want to be.

For you to better understand the lessons in this book you need to have an understanding of my background and experiences. I will take you through my life’s journey so far, where you will see how the growth, expansion and lessons unfolded.

‘The things that make me different are the things that make me.’

Winnie the Pooh

Growing up I was the youngest of four children in Denmark (Scandinavia). I would never get to meet my eldest sister as she passed four weeks after she was born. I grew up with my mother, father and my other older sister, Eva and brother, Allan. My entire family had lived and descended from Denmark for quite a few generations. By the time I was four months old, in December 1979, my parents decided that we would all move to Australia. Departing meant leaving behind our entire family.

Having a sister and brother ten and seven years older than me respectively, always made me the odd one out. The age difference caused them to see me as the annoying little sister. I remember being told constantly to go away because I was too little, or too young to participate in whatever they were doing. When they chose to play a game with me, I usually lost as their experience superseded mine. I didn’t know it back then, but these experiences facilitated in my emotional abuse. I don’t blame them; it wasn’t their fault. They were still kids themselves and didn’t know any better. There were of course good times we shared but these became fewer as we grew older. This is the reason that I felt lonely most of the time, despite not actually being physically alone. I often found other ways to amuse myself. Sometimes it included being in the kitchen with my mother and watching her cook, most other times I played with toys in my room or the lounge.

Within a year of

Reviews for Tearing Down the Walls

[Suzanne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tearing Down The Walls is one woman's story of overcoming multiple layers of adversity and discovering the only way to be free was to be her authentic self. Author Susan Fischer hides nothing in this captivating biography about starting with less than nothing. With her never give up attitude she somehow fights her way to financial independence. There were so many twists and turns in her life that I had to read the book, front to back, in one sitting! An inspirational story for anyone wondering if they too can ever be financially secure.