One of the questions someone recently asked me was: What would you do today if you had to rebuild your life after a financial loss? And it got me thinking back to 2009 and my devastating bathroom floor moment. Now, if you’re new to Redefining Wealth, you might not know this story. So, let me quickly give you the gist.
First, thank you to Experian for sponsoring this episode. All thoughts and opinions are my own. To learn more about Experian Boost as mentioned in this episode, visit Experian.com/patrice.
Straight out of college, I built a 7-figure business. Then at the height of the recession, I went from making a million to scrounging for change in couch cushions, old purses – any and everywhere possible. Fortunately, though I was able to pick my life back up and rebuild everything. And if I had to do it again, I’d use the same tangible things we talk about on today’s podcast.
Give Yourself Grace
I know for many people who find themselves in financial despair, it can leave them ashamed, embarrassed and downright depressed. I know for me, when I lost everything, we’re talking foreclosure, repossession and creditors calling left and right, I felt guilty and ashamed and I beat myself up about the situation – wondering how could I have let this happen.
You see, it’s so easy to fall into that beat-up mindset, BUT I want you to remember (and tweet) this vital point:
[spp-tweet tweet="[bctt tweet="“You are not a failure simply because you find yourself in a failed circumstance.” – Patrice Washington" username="seekwisdompcw"]
Now, a big part of Redefining Wealth is the Faith Pillar, and one thing that it has taught me is this:
[spp-tweet tweet="[bctt tweet="“Nothing in life happened to me; instead, it happened for me.” – Patrice Washington" username="seekwisdompcw"]
I want you to remember these two things and show yourself some grace. Yes, take personal responsibility and acknowledge what you could have done differently, but drop the shame and beat-up mindset because they’ll not serve you well at all.
Instead, get curious. Think about what you could do differently in the future. What changes would you make? What might you notice sooner?
Commit to a Plan
One of the first things I remember doing in 2009 when everything was falling apart was to refocus and reflect on my goals at that moment. Not what they were back when I was making 7-figures, but what they were in that moment of financial scarcity.
This approach is similar to the concept “So What, Now What” from my book Real Money Answers for Every Woman – meaning, “Okay, so this has happened, what are you going to do NOW?”
In creating and committing to a plan, it’s essential to get clear on the “now” piece. What can I do now? What are my goals now? What is the next best step I can take now? What is my “why” now? The other part of this approach is having a why – a reason for working through your situation.
The best advice I can give is to take it step-by-step and write everything down. What is your first goal? Is it to downsize and move into a smaller space? Is it to figure out your car situation? Is it to look at your budget? What is the new normal you’re willing to embrace? And what is the plan that goes along with that?
In other words, for you to take your next best step, what do you need to do? Who do you need to call? Where do you need to go? What do you need to sacrifice?
Add a Boost to Your Credit
If you’re like many people, when you’re in a financial struggle, you avoid opening your mail, you stop answering the phone, and you likely avoid checking your credit report.
Now, dodging your credit report is one of the worst things you can do. Why? Because credit is weaved into so much of your life  – many opportunities you’ll have (or won’t have) are directly linked to your credit.
Hill Harper, brand ambassador of the credit bureau, Experian, says this:
[spp-tweet tweet="[bctt tweet="“The most important thing you can do is pay your bills on time and not take on too much debt.” – Hill