This is my third and final post on ‘Narrowing the Gap’ and it specifically addresses the 99% of Americans. Some of you are not familiar with my story, so I’d like to offer it here. As a first generation Iranian, I saw my single mother overcome great financial and cultural obstacles to provide her family …
In my last article, I discussed how many of the 99% have not had the same opportunities as the 1%, nor the good fortune to have mentors, or maybe had obligations that did not allow for the advanced education and training required for higher paying jobs. I also admitted that I’ve seen some friends simply …
The good news is there is more wealth in the world than ever before. According to a recent survey by Oxfam, the bad news is the wealthiest 1% will soon own more than the rest of the world’s population. Agreeing that the scale of global inequality was “simply staggering,” executive director Ms. Winnie Byanyima, said …
I just got back from two amazing weeks in Cuba, and it felt like I entered a country frozen in 1959. Everything is still as it was at the time of the revolution; large, rusty Pontiacs and Buicks, Cadillacs and Studebakers, crumbling yet elegant plaster buildings, and appliances with all metal parts (imagine!). Yet while …
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMnn3tNDy-k[/youtube] What is working in your life right now that supports your happiness & wellbeing? What is in conflict with that vision of happiness? I encourage you to sit in quiet contemplation right now and think about how you spent last year. Were you doing work that supported your family AND supported …
One of the best things we can do to really get present with our financial wellbeing is to assess it. By asking ourselves a few pivotal questions, we demystify money and are able to focus on what we need to get in financial shape. I encourage you to take the Money Anxiety Quiz (and share it with …
Material possessions come and go. The more you have, the more you have to worry about losing. The harder you work, creating these material goods, the more you potentially lose in quality time with those with whom you could share your love. Suddenly, you’re at the end of your life and you’ve missed it. I …
How much would you be worth if you lost everything? Read More »
A former VP of Sacks Fifth Avenue, Gina was found guilty of participating in her husband’s white collar crime. We met in the Northern California jail where I volunteer my time every week when she showed an interest in the Spirituality and Communication classes I’ve taught at the jail for the last several years. Gina …
Meet Gina, Former Inmate Turned Therapist/Mediator Read More »
Many of the prisoners I help are ex-Goldman Sachs traders, real estate barons, and others whose lives fell apart when they were unable to stop the cycle of greed and shift back to financial and spiritual wellbeing. They learned the hard way that this is not a sustainable, nor a healthy way to live. Hopefully, …
Sometimes, the idea of taking on large investments or achieving greater fortune is daunting, and seems impossible. But I am reminded of the leaf that rides on the currents of a raging river. It floats on the top of the water, weathering storms, spinning gracefully and traveling far, eventually washing up on a new shore. …
