What drives you every day? What makes you get out of bed? What makes you smile through the tears?

As parents, it is normal for us to say our children or our spouse and I completely agree with you. Those are definitely the top two (four technically) on my list.

However, I really want you to go deeper this time, and one step further. Why do your children or spouse inspire you? And, I don’t want the cliché answer. I want you to think about specific examples. MORE

While I was at the eWomenNetwork “Think Big” Business Summit in Roseville, California on Tuesday, I received a wealth of information from the speakers. They were wonderful and had a lot of fantastic information to share.

The problem that I find I run into when I go to events like this is that I get completely overwhelmed. I figure I cannot be alone in this feeling. I have to admit, I get a little frustrated too. Is it bad that I am admitting that? I get frustrated because sometimes the presenters almost make “it” look easy, when we all know “it” is not.

What is “it”? Success…

I don’t know about you, but I have been busting my butt for the last fifteen years. And while, yes, relatively speaking I have done very well for myself, it has been a very long and hard road. Not only that, I find I always want more. And, being the overachiever that I am, I want it now (and I think we would all like it to be easy).

My latest shift began just over a year ago. I was doing very well with my tax practice. However, I wanted more. I really wanted to change people’s lives. Although taxes are “fun” and all, I really do not feel like I am “changing people’s lives”.

So, I have decided to add different lines of service that I feel can really make a change. But, it seems like I keep running into obstacles everywhere I go with these new ventures. Everywhere I turn, someone or something seems to knock me on my proverbial butt.

So, what is the difference between success and failure? I really hate to be cliché, but…NEVER GIVE UP!!!!! Trust me, there are times I feel like the whole world is against me. Sometimes I feel like there are things out of this world that are against me. I feel like someone or something is constantly giving me gut checks when it comes to my life and my business. But, you know what? I consider myself a huge success. Do you want to know why? Because no matter how hard I get hit, I shake my head, stand up, dust myself off and keep on keeping on.

As my mother used to say when I was a child, “Watch out world, Kristi is coming through!” Well, now I am saying it…loud and clear. When I look into the eyes of my husband, my children, my parents, my employee, and especially when I look into the mirror I know how much they are relying on me to pick myself up and keep going. That is what gives me the strength I need.

So, why am I sharing this with you? Because I am not alone. And while some people may not want to share their struggles, I know I am not the only one. People need to know there are more people out there in the same boat.

Go look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you are a huge success because you have and never will give up. You already are a huge success!

Why is it that when you see your neighbor driving a nicer car than you that you feel the need to get a car that is as nice or nicer?  Have you noticed that feeling more over the last several years?  I was sucked into that vortex.  I grew up in a family that was very money conscious.  We lived in a nice area, but had probably one of the smallest houses, just what we needed, nothing more, nothing less.  My parents drove nice cars, but nothing fancy.  They never had credit card debt, always paid cash for their cars and only bought cars when they needed them (what a concept!).  Since that was the way I grew up, that was the way I thought. 

Then…things changed.  I am not sure if it was just California or the United States, or the entire world, but things changed.  All of a sudden, sufficient was not good enough.  It was like we all caught this disease that made us think we needed and deserved more than we could afford (myself included).  When my husband and I decided to have children, we knew we needed a larger vehicle, so instead of buying a practical larger vehicle, we went for a full size SUV with navigation, DVD, fancy rims and tires.  Did we really need all that…no.  But, why shouldn’t I have the best?  Right?

I remember feeling pangs of jealousy if my friends had a bigger or nicer house than me.  Wanting a new car after buying the last one six months before because the new one had Blue Tooth technology that my current car did not have.  What did all this do for me (and probably the rest of America)?  It got us into a lot of trouble financially.  Why did I feel the need to have the name brand jeans from an upscale store, when I could go to a discount store and get the same ones for half the price?  I look back now and I don’t know what got into me.

One day, I literally just woke up.  I got it.  My material possessions did not define who I was as a person, nor did they define my family.  I don’t think my friends really care if I am wearing name brand clothes, and if they do, then they really are not true friends, are they? 

As a society, we seemed to get really attached to our material possessions and where that placed us in society.  I saw one of the heirs to the Johnson & Johnson fortune on Oprah several weeks ago and he noted that it was not “cool” any more to flaunt your wealth.  Thank goodness!  When you think about it, it is pretty sad that society got to the point where it was cool to basically rub in everyone’s face how “wealthy” they were.  Maybe we have turned the corner and America has learned a lesson.  What is that lesson?  There are a couple I would like to share with you that I have learned from personal experience.

• Material possessions do not define who you are.
• It is more important to have money in your savings account than material possessions.
• Take note of how your possessions make you feel.  (i.e. If you are buried under an enormous mortgage or car loan, consider selling the house/car.  You will be amazed at how much better you feel without the weight of that mortgage/car loan on your back.)
• Who cares what other people have, you need to look at what is right for you and your family.

Now, I am not saying everyone should go out and buy the most economical house, car, clothes, etc.  I just want people to start being conscious of needs versus wants and what fits into their budget.  If you do that, you should be on the right path in no time.