Mentoring for Personal and
Economic Freedom

Sue speaks about Paul and Money Mastery

 

Dear Paul

I wanted to let you know what this past year has meant to me.

The first year of Money Mastery has been one of the most challenging of my life! Perhaps because I've been so comfortable in my old ways of being. I've been well practised at those old ways, they're established and (I thought) I had a grasp on them. What I didn't realise was how ineffective they are. They were all I knew, so of course they were "comfortable".

This year I've learnt that following traditional ways of knowing is not about being effective.  It is not about being satisfied with myself and my choices. It's quite the opposite. For someone who has invested a great deal in these ways of knowing, this is revolutionary.

I've wondered often why I've found it so difficult to put the new knowledge into practice, to be more effective.

There are lots of reasons but one of the main ones is my entrenchment in the old. Still! I remember many telling me at the beginning of the year that, coming back for their second year of Money Mastery, they felt they were just beginning. I know EXACTLY what they mean now.

So what have I learnt?

I have learnt to observe more, to notice things in myself and others. I’ve learned to look at what we all do with a new question. What's the effect?

I now see so many of my old beliefs and habits as limiting. Some examples: my close relationships are the most important thing in my life, my work is making a difference to the world, I am honest and responsible, I have done a good job as a parent, money's not important. There is some truth to each of these but they are no longer as simple as they used to be. My black and white thinking is much greyer now!

I've learnt there is huge amount of information I never knew existed.  I've loved my beginning understanding of spiral dynamics, the psychology of selves, voice dialogue, marketing and business, consciousness and awareness. I now really appreciate why financial freedom is so essential to being free. 

I am acutely aware of how imprisoned I am. And I'm starting to see that I can change that. I'm even getting ideas for businesses (this has been a real shock!)

So at the end of this year I feel freer in my thinking, in my experience of the world, in my understanding. I have so much more to learn and now I feel excited by that, if a little daunted. The support in Money Mastery has been fantastic. The women's group has enriched the year enormously.

Paul, any thanks is totally inadequate to acknowledge what you've given me. I have often felt a poor student: in not putting into practice what you teach, in not taking the risks you've encouraged me to take, in not meeting you as often as I'd like, in not doing as much reading and learning as I'd like. You've often reminded me that "This is a process" and it's true.

I love your intellect, your curiosity, your adventuring in your learning, your support to us to learn, your acceptance when we don't. For all these and much more, I thank you.

Barry, you set the tone and organise everything with such grace and so quietly that I'm often astonished at how easy it all is. I know it is not, but you make it seem so and provide the framework and supports for our learning in Money Mastery. I love your humour, your little stories, and your humility.

You create the atmosphere and foster the relationships that support our learning.

Thank you.

Sue Crook